Engineered with the new SyncDrive Pro motor and stable, nimble 27.5 inch wheels, the Giant Stance E+ 2 Power helps riders conquer challenging terrain with power and control. So the Stance features a light, well made frame with a component set that will get the job done—great brakes, good shifting and a wide spread of gears. But how does it all come together as a package and what is it like to ride? There are two remaining components that influence the on-trail performance; the RockShox fork and rear shock.
Since the battery pack has a plastic shield semi-permanently fixed that matches the frame, it’s not as convenient to buy two packs for extended range and just swap them. I also suspect that replacement shields could be expensive or unavailable in the matching color. There wasn’t a slap guard sticker on the cover, and there appears to be a gap at the bottom where dust and water could get into the plug interface area . While I do have some complaints about the size and weight of the charger, it is nice to see a fast device like this which can reduce your times between rides. It offers 6 amps vs. the more common 2 amp or 3 amps devices I usually see. The EnergyPak 500 is cleanly integrated into the downtube of the lightweight ALUXX SL frame.
Flowing over obstacles with less rolling resistance and maintaining speed just got a lot more efficient. The bikes at the bottom of the price bracket did not really impress me and would need some serious upgrading to make it at least decent. I figured I would need to spend another $700 to make the bike suited for the light to medium trail riding that we would be doing. After countless hours browsing through the interweb and going through showroom floors, we came across the Stance at a local bike shop.
The Stance 2 also comes equipped with SRAM SX Eagle DUB cranks that deliver unrestricted travel and sustained ride control regardless of the terrain you’re traveling on. The giant ROAD BIKES is a well-designed mountain bike that performs exceptionally in a multitude of terrains and conditions thanks to its intuitive build and full suspension system. When looking at Stance 2, several unique elements combine to create the fluid action and movement delivered in this mountain bike. I noticed when taking this bike out for a spin that it feels very stable and grounded even when going over gnarly features. The own-brand finishing kit, wheels and dropper post could all pass for branded parts. It’s also supplied set up tubeless, with 2.4in Maxxis Ardent tyres seated on 25mm rims – a good trail-riding combo.
Testers were quite impressed with the performance of the suspension on the Stance. Our expectations of the Suntour fork and rear shock were quite low, but it didn’t take long to exceed them. The FlexPoint rear suspension design is much simpler than Giant’s Maestro suspension found on higher-end models. Despite the simplicity, testers were quite impressed with the functionality of this platform. Small bump compliance was decent, mid-stroke support was good, and it felt progressive and comfortable on larger hits. There is only 120mm of rear-wheel travel, but thanks to the performance of the rear suspension design we never bottomed out the rear shock.
To some, a longer stem might help to keep the front end straight or maybe it is just me and my lack of biking skills. This bike has modern features, so upgrading or finding parts when you progress shouldn’t be an issue. It has a tapered fork tube and even cable hangers for if you want to have a seat dropper which by the way is my next upgrade. Again, as an entry level full suspension, this bike would very difficult to beat for the price.
Your bike shop can also take care of this for you and get your fit dialed in. I just bought my first mountain bike yesterday and I am super excited to get going. I am a new rider so it made sense to join a forum to get advice from you guys. Now that you know all of the critical information and details you need to know about the Giant Stance 2, use this article as a buying guide to assist in making your final purchase decision. As long as you consider all of the most important features and needs that you desire in a trail bike, you’ll be able to find the right one for you in no time. SSYUNO 26 Inch Mountain Trail Bikecomes equipped with a 21-speed gear in addition to a high-carbon steel double suspension, which delivers efficient actioning and mobility.
A proven “single-pivot” design that uses the flexing action of the chainstay/seatstay junction to produce a lightweight and durable suspension system with 120mm of rear-wheel travel. Handcrafted with lightweight, stiff and durable ALUXX aluminum, it’s the perfect entry to full-suspension performance. The lightweight, stiff and durable ALUXX aluminum is hand-built and engineered in-house by the world leader in alloy bicycle technology.
Most of the cockpit is comfortable and modern, except for the fixed-length seat post. This is a new addition to SRAM’s drivetrain lineup and it is quite impressive to see a bike in this price range come with a 12-speed/Eagle drivetrain. It has an tooth cassette paired giant ROAD BIKES with a 30-tooth front chainring giving it by far the biggest range and easiest climbing gear of all the models in this test. Giant chose Shimano MT200 brakes for the Stance 2 and they worked well enough for slowing and stopping this bike once they broke in.