27.5in isn’t dead and thanks to the new Giant Trance X it looks like it has an exciting life ahead!
Giant has had a mixed relationship with 29in wheels, and although they now make plenty of big-wheeled bikes they haven’t turned their back on 27.5in just yet and are in fact still releasing new models with the smaller wheel size.
The argument for 27.5in wheels is that while they might not be quite as fast as 29ers, they do allow for a more playful and agile ride. The smaller wheels mean less rotating mass, allow for shorter chainstays and make for a stronger wheel, so what’s not to like?
For 2022, the Giant Trance X rolls on 27.5in wheels with enough frame clearance for 2.6in. The small wheel and chunky tyre combo allow for 430mm chainstays across the range promising an easy to lift front end and even fewer excuses for not being able to pop a manual.
Each Trance X sports a 6061 frame made from Giant’s ALUXX SL tubing offering a good balance of lightweight, strength and stiffness. The idea is that the frame won’t be overly stiff in terms of shock absorption but should be efficient when stamping on the pedals. Speaking of which, the Trance X has a flip-chip adjustable geometry that takes the steep 77-degree seat tube angle to a more relaxed 76.3-degrees. The chip, located in the composite Maestro link, also adjusts BB drop by 10mm from 30mm to 20mm and can slacken the head angle from 64.5-63.8-degrees.
This makes for a very enduro and gravity orientated geometry, but the Trance X isn’t an all-out enduro race sled. With 145mm of rear-wheel travel and 160mm up front, Giant is marketing the Trance X at trails riders who want a bike that can handle everything from jump lines to downhill runs.
Giant will be offering 3 builds of Trance X for 2022 with complete bike pricing starting from £2799 and rising to £3999. Visit the Giant website for more information.
2022 Giant Trance X Pricing
- X3 £2799
- X2 £3099
- X1 £3999
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