Now for you who don’t know me, I would like to point out that I hate going uphills. And I mean, hate to the point that people that ride with me would start rolling their eyes once they see a grade in the trail and would soon have to bear my constant moaning and complaining. In that note, for me to be able to climb this bike and still talk at the end says something. I can’t really point out the gearing since giant ROAD BIKES it was the standard 3×9 drivetrain setup, and the fork and rear shock is pretty much the same as what I usually use, so it must be the bike geometry. The front end felt light, unconnected to the ground and felt wobbly every time I hit a bump or root on the way down. After a few minutes, I was able to adjust to the bike and find it very maneuverable and was zipping through the trees while going downhill.
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.
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 giant mountain 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.
Despite the lower sticker price, Giant has brought in many of the hot-ticket items. You get Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, air-adjustable suspension, a 1×12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain, and tubeless-compatible wheels and tyres. There’s no dropper post as standard, but the frame is ready to fit one. Wider than standard yet narrower than fat, plus-size rims and tires hit the sweet spot in grip, stability, and speed, giving you more confidence on technical terrain.
The fork also proved to be a pleasant surprise with sturdy-ish 34mm stanchions and a plush feel that balanced very well with the rear suspension. It’s not high-end suspension performance, but for the price, it works far better than anticipated. The new Stance has geometry numbers that are more modern than the previous Stance models, yet are relatively moderate compared to some of the more long and slack bikes we’re used to seeing these days. The 1200mm wheelbase is the longest of the models in this budget bike test which helps to give it good stability at speed. At the same time, the 622mm top tube length and 450mm reach are more moderate in length.
In the past, brands haven’t placed much of a focus on geometry for budget hardtails and full suspension bikes. The thing is though, geometry that inspires confidence on the descents and control on rough terrain is important for any rider, but it’s even more important for beginner riders. All-new for 2020, the Stance 29er is a budget-oriented full suspension trail bike that’s based on the popular Trance 29 platform.
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 giant mountain 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.