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Giant Introduces All New XtC Advanced SL 27.5 Race Bike

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XTC Advanced SL 27.5 0Giant’s top level XC race performance is now available in smaller wheels. Well, not as small as the original XtC Advanced SL with its 26″ wheels, but smaller than the most recent model with 29″ wheels. Along with the appearance of the 27.5″ XtC Advanced SL on Giant’s website comes the disappearance of the 29″ version in the SL model. We’ll have to wait and see if it’s gone for good.

In the meantime, feast your eyes on what Giant is calling their lightest XC frame ever….

XTC-Advanced-SL-27.5-0

As will all XtC Advanced SL models, the 27.5 is designed to be a pro-level XC bike worthy of the Giant Pro XC race team. Already ridden to victory by Dutch national champion Michiel van der Heijden and Swiss World Cup racer Fabian Giger in prototype guise, the race team seems satisfied with the mid-sized wheels.

“My teammates and I have spent a lot of time training with and racing this new 27.5 bike on all types of different XC courses and terrain,” Giger said. “It feels amazing on the climbs, and it descends with more confidence than any hardtail I’ve raced on before.” 

XtC-Advanced-SL-27-5-FR-Comp-Blue

Built using Giant’s Advanced SL-grade carbon fiber, to create a frame with a claimed weight of just 970g. Listed as using an OverDrive steerer tube, we hope the listing of 1 1/8″ to 1.5″ steerer tube isn’t a typo. Additionally, the rear dropout is convertible between 142 and 135mm spacing (142×12 standard) and the frame is equiped with internal cable routing and an integrated seat post clamp. The frame only will be available for $1,625 in team colors…

XtC Advanced SL 27.5 1While the complete bike will be available in the team level XTC Advanced SL 27.5 0 for $7,225 or the 1 above for $5,150.

giant xtc sl 275 geometry 2015

XTC Advanced SL 27.5 0 Spec:

Frame

Sizes S, M, L
Colors Composite/Blue
Frame Advanced SL-grade composite
Fork RockShox SID World Cup XX w/ 15mm thru-axle, OverDrive steerer, X-Loc remote lockout, 100mm travel
Shock N/A

Components

Handlebar Contact SLR Flat XC, Composite, 31.8mm
Stem Giant Contact SLR, Composite w/ Titainum hardware
Seatpost Giant Contact SLR, Composite, 27.2mm
Saddle Fi’zi:k Tundra M3, K:ium rails
Pedals N/A

Drivetrain

Shifters SRAM XX1 Trigger, Rear only
Front Derailleur N/A
Rear Derailleur SRAM XX1, Type 2
Brakes Avid XX World Cup, Hydraulic disc, [F] 160mm [R] 140mm
Brake Levers Avid XX World Cup
Cassette SRAM XG1195 10×42, 11-speed
Chain KMC X11SL
Crankset SRAM XX1, 34T
Bottom Bracket SRAM, Press fit

Wheels

Rims Giant P-XCR0 Composite WheelSystem; 25mm wide, Tubeless compatible
Hubs Giant P-XCR0 WheelSystem; 28h, [F] 15mm axle, [R] 142×12 axle
Spokes Giant P-XCR0 WheelSystem; DT Swiss Aerolite Bladed Stainless
Tires Schwalbe Thunder Burt EVO, Tubeless ready, 27.5×2.1, Folding

XTC Advanced SL 27.5 1 Spec:

Frame

Sizes S, M, L, XL
Colors Composite/Grey
Frame Advanced SL-grade composite
Fork RockShox SID RL w/ 15mm thru-axle, OverDrive steerer, PushLoc lockout, 100mm travel
Shock N/A

Components

Handlebar Contact SLR Flat XC, Composite, 31.8mm
Stem Giant Contact SL
Seatpost Giant Contact SLR, Composite, 27.2mm
Saddle Fi’zi:k Tundra M5, MG rails
Pedals N/A

Drivetrain

Shifters SRAM X01 Trigger, Rear only
Front Derailleur N/A
Rear Derailleur SRAM X01, Type 2
Brakes Avid Guide RS, Hydraulic disc, [F] 160mm [R] 140mm
Brake Levers Avid Guide RS
Cassette SRAM XG1180 10×42, 11-speed
Chain KMC X11SL
Crankset SRAM X01, 34T
Bottom Bracket SRAM, Press fit

Wheels

Rims Giant P-XCR1 Composite WheelSystem; 25mm wide, Tubeless compatible
Hubs Giant P-XCR1 Composite WheelSystem; 28h, [F] 15mm axle, [R] 142×12 axle
Spokes Giant P-XCR1 Composite WheelSystem; Sapim Race 14/15g
Tires Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO, Tubeless ready, 27.5×2.1, Folding
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24 Comments
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Ck
Ck
9 years ago

It should be a standard tapered steerer (which Giant calls OverDrive because they like marketing terms). OverDrive 2 is the silly standard with the wider upper part of the steerer that required a non-standard stem. Giant dropped OD2 on all MTBs for this year.

I test rode last years top model XTC 27.5. It was super stiff (to the point of being physically abusive) and accelerated like a Ferrari, but I immediately missed the rollover and momentum of 29er wheels.

Ricardo
Ricardo
9 years ago

No 29er!! No more Giant for me!

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

I am pumped on this bike and think it will be my next purchase.

One question, the SL 1 lists composite (carbon) wheels, but Giants size has the P-XCR1 as alloy. Are they infact carbon – if so, that is great pricing for the SL1.

brattercakes
brattercakes
9 years ago

This is hot.

Mark Zaragoza
Mark Zaragoza
9 years ago

XCR 1 has an aluminum and composite. These are gonna be bad a**!!!

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

A question to bike shop owners – I am in the market for this bike, however I absolutely will not ride any SRAM made brakes. As a bike shop, can you switch them out or give me credit towards XTRs at the time of purchase, or is it impossible to break up the grupo that the OEM uses?

Thanks for the help.

logic
logic
9 years ago

I wish those 142 / 135 convertible dropouts were also convertible to a SS version

Ck — I think this bike IS standard tapered headtube. Indeed Overdrive 2 is Giant’s proprietary larger headtube that no one really likes, but this bike is just listed as Overdrive (NOT Overdrive 2). In Giant marketing lingo, just Overdrive means standard tapered steerer.

brattercakes
brattercakes
9 years ago

@Matt

Curious, whats the beef with SRAM mtb brakes? I haven’t had any problems with mine. I am thinking about getting Magura MT6’s though…

Tyler
Tyler
9 years ago

@ Matt

It will be hard to find a shop that will do that for you. I know I wouldn’t. Even if I lost the sale of the bike. You’re essentially asking them to eat up $250-350 worth of labor to swap out internally routed hydraulic brake lines.

We have no way of selling the pair that came on the bike, no packaging to put them in, and would have to manually enter them into our inventory. We would have to cut and pull the lines out of the bike, install new rotors and possibly mounts, new calipers, route new lines internally, and then bleed the entire system 2-3 times to ensure solid feel.

My advice? Don’t piss off your local bike shop by asking them to do this. Avid Guide’s are supposed to be great brakes, use them until they die and you need to upgrade/replace.

Andy
Andy
9 years ago

“It will be hard to find a shop that will do that for you.”

Really?

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

, thanks for your response as it is helpful and certainly don’t want to be “one of those” customers.

@Cakes, I have been fooled by SRAM brakes too many times. Google the topic and prepare to find the end of the internet.

Topmounter
Topmounter
9 years ago

Expect to pay something for parts and labor for a shop to do the swap on a pre-built bike.

Dave
Dave
9 years ago

Matt,

You should look at getting a PIVOT LES 27.5. They offer about 7 different build options including XX1 and at the shop level you might be able to get them to put XTR brakes on the bike as PIVOT builds the bikes to order. They do not just sit in a box waiting for a shop to order one like with most manufactures.

On a side note, new XTR is not going to be available unless October at the earliest. You could always go with the Magura MT 8 or MT 6. Yo will love them and Pivot stocks theses as well.

And a PIVOT LES 27.5 XX-1 at ful MSRP is only $6,199.00 with DT Swiss spline wheels. If you wanted that same bikes they are offering the REYNOLDS Black Label carbon wheels with DT 240 hubs. then the bike runs you $7,449.00 but you are getting a brand name wheels set and not a Giant in-house wheel. Just saying.

Limba
Limba
9 years ago

The Giant wheels are supposed to be great and Reynolds have had issues with their past wheelsets. Maybe that has been fixed?
I’d wait and see what Scott do with their 27.5 bike.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

@Dave, thanks – will definitely check out Pivot

Peter
Peter
9 years ago

@Matt, at my shop, we would be more than happy to make that swap for you. We would go over the details beforehand, and there would be a small labor charge to do so, but I figure a shop should jump at the chance to sell a bike of that caliber. As far as us getting stuck with the stock brakes, no biggie, we’ll unload them eventually as a brake upgrade for another MTB user.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

I checked out the Pivot. Very cool bike but you don’t get the carbon wheels in the deal.

@Peter – If you are in CA, we should probably talk.

kuif73
kuif73
9 years ago

i ride the scott scale 710, 27.5. /650b version of 2013/2014, and do not understand all people praising the 29″ bikes. yes they are good for long straight roads, go into the forest and drive singletracks with a xc handlebar of 58cm…. then you feel the difference with the 27.5 and the 29ers, 27.5 much more controlable flexable riding!

do not fool your self with marketing stuff that 29 is heaven!
yes if you are 2 meters tall it could be a good one, but for the average sized person 27.5 is all you need.

regarding wheelsets, it’s more important how it is build and performing than which brand is on it. do not know the giant wheelsets but assume they use good technics at a 7000 usd bike.

my scott has syncros which means dt swiss 240 hubs, and these wheels will be replaced by shimano xtr wheels somewhere next year, why just because i loved my xtr wheels in my scalpel.
would i consider buying this giant, yes why not, put all the specs down and have a test ride, if it rocks i would go for it.

David
David
9 years ago

Just remember that these Giant wheels are composite (alloy and carbon) and not just Carbon.
What about 2015 Norco Revolver available in 27.5 & 29 the 29er has a RRP of $5999 AUD with the new Rockshox RS1 forks. Sounds like Giant just got trumped!

Andy
Andy
1 year ago
Reply to  David

They are carbon composite. Where do you get the alloy thing from. Look up what carbon composite is

Limba
Limba
9 years ago

The Norco frame will be heavier. Norco’s lightest bikes are never light.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

@david. What do you mean they are alloy and carbon. The rims look all carbon.

stewart
stewart
9 years ago

It was interesting seeing the 27.5 riders at the mellow Johnny ‘ s classic getting gapped in the technical sections.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

@ Stewart, that is a ridiculous comment on so many levels, it is hard to even respond to.

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