I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Giant electric bike forums. Sign up to receive the latest store news, special offers and other discount information. That being said, I think hardtails suck and I would certainly test ride one if that was my budget. If you get into mtb seriously you will be shopping for another bike soon i bet.
As much as I like the performance of the Yamaha mid-drive motor, it is larger and hangs down more than competing products from Shimano, Bosch, Brose, and Mahle. There’s no shift sensing built into the Giant motor controller, and this can lead to increased chain and sprocket wear if you don’t back off a bit on your pedaling while shifting. I am not a big fan of the cage style platform pedals that Giant includes with this ebike. They don’t offer a wide surface area and can bend and become sharp if the bike is laid on its side frequently.
A hardtail however will be robust and light at the same price point, and it’ll probably have more durable running gear too. I called my local bike shop and they quoted me $10 for resizing the seat tube. Most people on the forums throwing shade on this bike have never ridden it.
It’s super obnoxious when you’re trying to keep up with other riders or powering up hill. The 26-Inch Folding Mountain Bikeis equipped with a very durable frame made from premium grade metal material that utilizes advanced welding technology. The flipside is that small bumps aren’t always absorbed by the back wheel. That does mean there’s a giant ROAD BIKES solid platform to push against if you get rowdy in the turns, although you may notice some flex from the rear end. Although the shifting is acceptable and there are plenty of gears to choose from, the chain has a habit of derailing off the big ring when things get rough. The bike also suffers from chain suck when changing to the small ring.
The price for your bike includes professional assembly by an Authorized Giant Retailer. Your purchase price also includes a basic fitting (seat height, shifter/brake lever positioning) to make sure you’re on the right size bike. Bring your order, with proof of purchase, to the local Authorized Giant retailer who giant mountain assembled your bike. You may be eligible for a full refund of the purchase price, not including initial shipping and handling charges (S&H) plus any applicable tax, so long as any such bicycle is like-new and undamaged. This handy chart should show you the right size of road bike you need based on your height.
Not only does this feel like a throwback to days gone by, but, if you’re not careful, you could find yourself riding your top tube. When it comes to descending though, the main hindrance is the 2x drivetrain. But as soon as you open the proverbial throttle, chain rattle, chain slap and – if you’re really gunning it – chain drop all become unwelcome partners on your ride.
In fact, this bike was faster and more comfortable on the climbs than any of the budget hardtails we tested for this review. The 29-inch wheels, fast-rolling tires, and supportive suspension platform combine for an efficient approach to uphill travel. This $1,550 mountain bike is the kind of bike that I would be happy to recommend, without reservation as to quality or ride—a pretty rare and wonderful find.
When you factor in the high-quality components that this bike is made from and its intuitive design, it’s definitely worth a buy. These features combine to create a more than capable trail bike that you can take with you on any adventure you may be on. With durability, versatility, and functionality at the forefront of the bike’s design, you can be confident that it will be able to meet any of the real-world trail-riding standards you need. The Stance 2 comes packing many advanced technology systems that are interwoven into the very fabric of the bike’s design from top to bottom.
130mm of travel up front allows you to easily navigate trail obstacles and singletrack terrain. A massively oversized bottom-bracket/chainstay area features a fully integrated, 86-millimeter-wide bottom-bracket design. Formed from raw materials in Giant’s own forging facility, this proprietary alloy features 30 percent additional stiffness over traditional 6061-series aluminum, while also reducing overall weight.
There is no definitive right or wrong size, it all comes down to personal preference and what feels comfortable. The different types of bikes are all explained within our buying guides. Boost hub spacing with a 15mm thru-axle adds stiffness and strength for the front wheel.