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As in the title, I had almost made up my mind on getting a Giant Trance X (frame only), but have seen the Cove G Spot on CRC. Is this really such a bargain and more importantly would it do the same job as the Trance X?
I appreciate that the G Spot is probably heavier.
Christ! I'm tempted myself at that price as well - looks like a defo bargain - anybody else got views?
19.5" only on those G-Spots, so you'd have to be 6ft plus for it to fit.
I used to lust after a G-Spot years ago, until I demoed one...
WORST SUSPENSION DESIGN EVER! Can only say I was grateful of the one I rode having a Fox Float RL shock on, which meant I could lock the shock out whilst climbing. I've never ridden a bike that bobbed quite so badly (and I'm including Kona's and Ventana's in that too, and other low pivot "faux bar" designs), primarily because pivoting the swingarm round the BB, whilst diminishing any chain growth (and hence pedal feedback) also maximises pedal induced bob!
By contrast I own a Giant FS bike with the Maestro suspension system (A Reign X rather than a Trance X), and they are quite simply the best pedalling suspension design out there IMO (other than the Maverick Monolink). I can climb and sprint on my Reign X as if it was a 4" travel bike, yet it feels bottomless when it comes to the rough stuff. Chaingrowth is minimal compared to a single pivot like an Orange, and so is pedal induced feedback.
Then there's the weight issue. Sure, Giant's are no lightweights compared to some, but the Cove G-Spot is a bruiser. IIRC the G-Spot frame is about 9lb with an air shock, so probably almost 10lb with a coil shock. My Reign X is no lightweight, but it's in the 8lb bracket with more travel than the G-Spot, the Trance X is under 7lb frame including air shock I believe.
As you should always do, ask yourself why that Cove is a Bargain... Too good to be true? Of course...
Not taking away from Cove in general though, they're very well made frames, good geometry, strong, reliable etc. Just the G-Spot is one shockingly bad suspension design IMO!
Oh, and if you're buying a Trance X, buy a whole bike from Pauls Cycles for barely any more than the cost of a frame alone, then sell off all the bits you don't want (which will be quite good anyway) in the classifieds on here, or on ebay, will work out quite a bit cheaper that way...
Thanks for the advice, I guess I'll give the G Spot a miss. [i]"No change there, then" said the wife[/i]
I'm intending to use parts I already have including some Revelation forks. Pauls' have lots of different versions of the Trance X, are all the Aluminium frames the same? I see the cheapest does not have a fox shox, but the others do.
I think you're missing the point of the G spot if you are worried about its climbing abilities... I run mine with a DHX5 and a ti spring, and just whack the propedal on full for climbing. Its not one for sprinting out of the saddle, thats for sure! But descending is where it comes alive.
Its a heavy, burly bike but I'm a heavy lad at over 16 stone and 6ft5. If you dont need the bombproof build, get the giant.
the trance x aluminium frame is the same, but they all have different shocks...
i always thought the G-spot i had climbed like a firework...certainly wasnt slow up the hills...didnt bob too much either....and amazing on the downhills...but in comparison to a trance x...if u want a trail bike the trance is what to go for....the g-spot is over kill...its a bike for everything tho....id have no arguements taking it down any dh track...