Interestingly, the rear hub is not Boost and uses 141mm hub spacing with a traditional 9mm axle and skewer. Quick release for both wheels and seat clamp offer easy transport prep and trail maintenance. Large 203mm hydraulic disc brakes and quad piston calipers offer quick stops and fast cooling. The $1,750 Stance 29 1 upgrades you to Giant’s Contact giant ROAD BIKES Switch dropper post and RockShox Recon fork and Monarch rear shock. This performance level frame material features 6061 alloy with single-butted tubes to produce strong, lightweight framesets for a variety of different bikes and riding styles. Plus if you destroy and have to replace the rear wheel you’ll find a lot more options than with a QR axel.
Tubeless reduces the chances of getting a flat tire, so riders can use lower pressures for better traction. The Stance 2 has 120mm of travel front and rear and its 27.5 wheels come set up for tubeless wrapped with 2.6-inch tires. The rest of the build includes a Suntour fork and shock, a 2×9 Shimano drivetrain, and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.
The frames still do feature front-derailleur mounts, presumably to serve regions of the globe that still cling to their left shifters. Bicycling Australia is the magazine of choice for road cyclists looking for high quality information and entertaining articles that will help them become better riders. Gearshifts are positive if a little tinny, but the performance is great given the price-point. Running a triple provides a wider gear spread and compensates for the narrower range offered by the nine-speed Alivio cassette—something the legs will appreciate when you’re tired and the hills get steep.
The neutral riding position and wide tires make the Stance 2 feel comfortable almost immediately. The suspension paired with the wide tires keep the ride feeling smooth and the bike feels stable and planted through choppy terrain. The Stance 29 we tested has what Giant refers to as 29-specific trail geometry. We measured our size large test bike and found that has a 1200mm wheelbase, a 622mm effective top tube, and 448mm reach. The head tube angle is 66.5 degrees and the seat tube measured 74.6 degrees.
We’ve criticised Giant in the past for dumbing down the build kit on its entry-level bikes, but no such complaint can be levied at the latest Stance 2. With wide 780mm handlebars, short 55mm stem and a 150mm dropper post, it has the best finishing kit in test. It also shows just how light the Stance frame really is, because dropper posts typically add 0.5kg to the overall weight of a bike.
Thanks to a combination of the efficient Maestro dual-link suspension design, versatile geometry and a value-oriented build kit, the Trance has earned favour with many riders giant KIDS BIKES for many years. Indeed the latest model is one of our favourite short-travel trail rippers. It’s a great bike for riders who want a capable yet affordable trail bike.
Many brands strive to list the lowest possible weight, but in reality weight can vary based on size, finish, hardware and accessories. All Giant bikes are designed for best-in-class weight and ride quality. A high quality ebike from a mainstream company with loads of dealers in North America. The purpose built full-suspension frame comes in four sizes and features internal cable routing, custom metallic paint, and all-black accessories. It delivers cross country geometry with 130mm front and 120mm rear suspension travel.
Smaller rocks seemed to disappear, and when racing through corners, the tires held traction even when the trail got loose. If you’re not planning on getting super gnarly then the Stance 2’s Suntour suspension will be adequate. But if you’re likely to ride bigger and more technical trails, the RockShox suspension on the Stance 1 will provide a smoother ride and give you more confidence, benefits that are well worth $200. The Suntour fork and shock handle choppy sections with small rocks with ease but when I rode in an area with larger obstacles the ride was noticeably rougher than with RockShox or Fox suspension parts .