They’re a hefty set of hoops and tubeless compatibility isn’t really on the radar at this price-point but we can’t see them presenting any durability issues. Visually it closely echoes its longer travel big brother; the Trance. In fact the Stance looks a lot like the Trance Advanced 0—a bike that costs four times as much. Giant has certainly done well to retain the appearance of a premium bike on this entry-level dually. The Stance is Giant’s latest entry-level dually and it’s priced well enough to lure would-be hardtail buyers over to the land of squish.
This trait is less apparent in the granny ring but it’s best to remain seated and smooth on the pedals when you’re using the two larger chainrings. The Stance 2 is packing a lot of intuitive features that will aid any beginner giant ROAD BIKES or intermediate rider in their riding performance and capabilities. Before buying any trail bike, you need to take a close look at what you value most as it relates to reliability, versatility, design, and accessibility.
Our bike tipped the scales at 30 lbs and 9 oz with tubes but without pedals. Giant has made a slew of other smart choices in building out the rest of the bike. There’s a single chainring up front, with a mount for a derailleur (if that’s your thing). A wide, 12-speed, 11-50t cassette is truly modern and has enough variety to both climb techy trails and bomb down paved roads. The Giant-branded wheels and Maxxis Forekaster tires are both tubeless-ready .
When the leaves start falling and the weather becomes more unpredictable, the Forekaster is the late-season tire of choice. I applaud giant for being able to hit that price point for full suspension but there are a lot of things you’re just not going to find on most modern full squish bikes. Maintain a steady spin in the granny ring and you’ll crest the climbs with minimal fuss—slow and steady is the best way up on the Stance. In regards to tire pressures- need to know your weight with riding gear, are you set up tubeless, and what size tires are you running to get you into a ballpark range.
The Stance 2 comes outfitted with Maxxis Rekon 27.5×2.6 wide tires in the front while having Maxxis Ardent Race 27.5×2.6 wide tires on the back. The amount of traction added to the bike by way of these tires delivers a smooth ride regardless of where you are riding. The Stance 2 is considered an entry-level full-suspension mountain bike.
Rather than putting extra pivots near the rear dropouts, the seat and chainstays are one piece. They are designed to flex slightly throughout the suspension travel—Giant has dubbed it the ‘FlexPoint’. In addition to reducing mechanical complexity, it also and serves to keep the price down and makes the frame lighter. Numbers wise the Stance sits somewhere between the Anthem and Trance.
The brake levers have adjustable reach so you can dial things in on the trail as you need more control or switch from bare hands to gloves. This probably also benefits smaller and larger riders who select the different sized frames, so the brakes are reachable and feel comfortable. The calipers have been upgraded to quad piston for a larger braking surface, which adds power and cooling. The rotors giant KIDS BIKES are large 203mm vs. 180mm, improving the mechanical advantage and offering better control over the large 29er wheels. Vast network of dealers means that you get in-person advice, fitting, post-purchase tuneups and warranty support. This should not be overlooked if you ride frequently or have limited experience with bike tools, even though it does add to the price of the initial purchase.
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 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.