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First Look: 2015 Giant Trance and Reign – Plus Actual Weights

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2015 Giant Trance_Range_0

Last year, while the other members of the Big Three had not fully committed to the 27.5″ wheel size, Giant proclaimed that this was the future of the sport, and launched an extensively redesigned lineup that featured dozens of new 27.5″ models.

At Crankworx, we took the opportunity to visit with the company and take a closer look at the Carbon Trance and all new Reign.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_1

Roughly two years, Giant introduced a new headset standard called Overdrive that specific to their own bikes. Rather than having a 1 1/8th inch diameter, these forks has a diameter of 1 1/4, and tapered down to 1.5″, which they claimed resulted in a 30% increase in stiffness at the handlebar.

The new standard created a headache for customers, so the rep we spoke with stated that going forward all of Giant’s bikes will just use the industry standard for tapered head tubes.

2015 Giant Trance Weight

The Trance is available in two different versions. A SX trim which sports a 160mm Pike up front, or the Advanced pictured above which has a 140mm fork. Both bikes have 140mm of rear travel.

The fanciest trim of the Trance Advanced retails for $7,750. That kind of money nets you a 25 lbs 13 oz (11.7 kg) bike, but prices for a complete start at $3,600.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_2

The Reign 27.5 2 retails for $3,400 and is the entry level version of Giant’s new Enduro race worthy platform. With 160mm of travel front and rear, high quality suspension, and a Deore level build kit throughout, it’s a pretty solid build for the money.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_4

All of the Reign bikes, regardless of price point, will receive a dropper. In the case of this entry level build, it’s the Giant Contact SL. The cool thing about this post is that the internals can be flipped, so that the dropper cable can be routed externally or internally.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_3

Like the other bikes in Giant’s line up, the Reign utilizes the much heralded Maestro Link suspension platform.

2015 Giant Reign 27.5

Weight for this bike, with aggressive tire tread front and back, plus lots of room for upgrades is 32 lbs 9 oz (14.7 kg).

2015 Giant Trance_Range_5

On the other end of the spectrum, the Reign Advanced 27.5 0 Team model represents Giant’s top of the line offering. Retailing for $8,250, it’s sports a carbon front triangle, and the best of the best.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_6

Giant bikes have been rather beige in the past, but this year the graphics have been carried subtly throughout.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_7

Spec’d with a wide bar, short stem, and a top guide with a lower bash, the Reign is ready to shred right out of the box.

2015 Giant Trance_Range_8

Despite the huge 2.35″ Schwalbe tires, there is still plenty of breathing room in the rear triangle.

2015 Giant Trance 27.5 Team

Weight for the bike is a respectable 27 lb 10z (12.5 kg ).

Giant

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23 Comments
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jeff
jeff
9 years ago

I like Giant, really wasnt a big fan until the “ballsy” move to 27.5″ wheels.
Jeff..is that you working for Giant? or with Bikerumor?

JohnL
JohnL
9 years ago

I am really dismayed by the continued escalation of full suspension mountain bikes, far exceeding any estimate of inflation and in my estimation not providing value to the buyer, unless they are a poser. Sure the new bikes have better suspension and better brakes than my Stumpjumper 2004 model with more travel and hopefully a bottom bracket that does not find every rock and stump (mine does and shows it).

I am a large (6’3″ 220lb) rider who has ridden many bikes and owned many. With the continued escalation of prices I think I’ll pass on a new bike and find a used one. If money was no object I would by a Turner, but that would put me out in the dog house.

Jeb
Jeb
9 years ago

Giant can go on and on about how their aluminum rear triangle is just a stiff as a carbon one (not buying it) but until they (deleted) and start making complete carbon frames they are off my radar. It’s hard to justify the pricing for half a carbon frame, especially considering Giant (C-Tech) are supposed to be leaders in carbon technology.

Johan
Johan
9 years ago

“Overdrive” is standard taper on all Giant Bikes, and has been.

“Overdrive 2” has the non-traditional dimensions that was problematic with upgrades to and from OE parts.

So you will still see Overdrive on the stems and head-tubes, it’s just standard taper.

Ride Giant, they are a blast!

Johan
Johan
9 years ago

@ JohnL… cost of technology sir, try saving a few pennies before they’re 20k.

@Jeb… who else would offer a lifetime warranty on the whole frame? Until they get it perfect, Giant doesn’t offer it. When they do, it will be lifetime warranty, not a five year window, or ‘except for the rear triangle which is only 1 year’. I believe quality craftsmanship beats ‘nutting up’ every time.

Michael
Michael
9 years ago

@Jeb. The old Anthem Advanced used to feature a full carbon rear triangle but they dropped the design. Not sure why. From my own experience, rear carbon triangles are more fragile than aluminium. E.g. Rear mech punching a hole in the underside of a carbon chainstay (although clutch derrailleurs would solve this :))

jugz
jugz
9 years ago

I have a 2014 alloy trance 2…been riding it all season in the midwest with aggresive xc riding style.

Its been a great package and a very good performer once I got the suspension really dialed.

The overdrive2 system is annoying and I almost didn’t get the bike b/c of it – its even more frustrating that giant is moving away from it. Im lucky that the stock stem suits my riding location and style.

jeebas
jeebas
9 years ago

And comments today, brought to you by the letter ‘J’

Chris Morris
Chris Morris
9 years ago

Overdrive 2 is simply a normal 44.1mm upper headset cup with a thinner bearing to fit the larger 1 1/4″ steerer tube. You could easily change it by replacing the headset cup (or headset from Giant £35 RRP) for normal 1 1/8″ and fitting a new fork and stem to suit. Granted, it means more expense, but it just means that if you reach a point where you can’t stand the Overdrive 2, you can change it easily!

Going back to Overdrive is the best thing, because you want choice, which Overdrive 2 doesn’t give if you want a super short stem.

The only criticism I can find with Giant, are the stupid little bolts that hold the replaceable hangers to the frame. They also don’t always line up from non-driveside dropout to driveside, all because of the hangers.

Mark
Mark
9 years ago

@Jeb… seriously. Almost all bike are sporting a rea aluminum triangle on their carbon full suspensions. To many of them were breaking across the board.

@JohnL… yeah bro bikes are getting pricey. Butgot ride some of these new bikes and you will see why. Technology is allowing us to really enjoy the heck out of them. Whether your a Giant, Trek, Specialized, Niner.. ect. Goto a demo ride and see what you might be missing.

Warrenty on Giant Reads

Giant Bicycle, Inc. (“Giant”) warrants the frame and rigid fork of each new Giant brand bicycle and Giant brand frameset to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the bicycle. Paint finish and all other original components, and all Giant brand repair parts, replacement parts, and accessories, are warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one year from the original date of purchase. This warranty applies only to bicycles and framesets purchased new from, and assembled by, an Authorized Giant Retailer

Gotta get your intel right about stuff people.

I rock the Giant Trance, even for XC racing. Rides like an XC and allows me A LOT more room for silliness in the process.

Erwin
Erwin
9 years ago

^ unless you have weeds and vines making use of the overdrive2 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 Fork in your garden. There’s no idiot who will buy that off you once you decide it’S a PITA.

Steve
Steve
9 years ago

Giant has really stepped up in quality and performance across the line. They do honor lifetime frame warranty which is huge.

You need to ride one before you decide against it.

Alfredo Solano
Alfredo Solano
9 years ago

This is the very first time in my 25 years in the sport that I actually like Giant’s graphics and color schemes! 2015 Giants look killer, I really wouln’d mind having a Reing waiting for me in the garage, if they just wouldn’t spec their bikes with RS crap…

Reformed Roadie
Reformed Roadie
9 years ago

The custom offset of 46mm is significant…I have experienced it with Xfusion’s forks. It makes the handling better.
I hope you can get them aftermarket.

Simon
Simon
9 years ago

Really, the only issue Giant has with their bikes, is the fact that they say “GIANT” on them. Folks in this sport (myself included to some degree) are fashionistas and divas about brand name. Giant makes some pretty d*mn good bikes, and you get pretty good value for money, but at the high end, not nearly as many people have ’em on their radar because the brand name isn’t “cool” enough to justify the purchase.

Hell, I bet if these things said “YETI” “INTENSE” or even “SPECIALIZED” on the downtube, the comments here would be going “OMG! SO SEXY! PERFECT!” etc, etc. Yes, the OD2 was a bad idea (as are nearly all proprietary design additions), but quite frankly, I think Giant’s biggest issue is their name! And it’s not just Giant. For example; SR Suntour makes some fantastic higher-end suspension products, but they’ll never be cool like FOX because of their image as a maker of cheap shocks for cheaper bikes so therefore even their higher end stuff must be cheap and crappy! X-fusion has mostly managed to escape this stigma, but they’re a rarity there.

Jon Palmer
Jon Palmer
9 years ago

Giant was also the first manufacturer to bring , now standard, tapered steer tubes to the market on the 2006 Glory and as I recall everyone hated on that too.

Jeff Sayegh
Jeff Sayegh
9 years ago

Simon, you just have to pronounce Giant, Gee-aunt, that way it sounds Euro and a lot more prestiges.
That being said, I do like those Gee-aunts!

Steve e
9 years ago

I’m picking up a Giant Reign 2015 tomorrow and cant wait.
even the bike shop owner thinks there great value for money compared to the stumpjumper etc

john
john
9 years ago

Did you guys weigh the orange 27.5 1 alloy??

jacko
9 years ago

the reign 1 weighs mid 29lbs the trance sx is a tiny bit lighter
I bought the sx as specs are very very close to the reign 1 but 1700.00 cheaper

Shane
Shane
8 years ago

I raced a Giant ac back in the day xc and down hill every part on that bike was toast amazing machine though did well too ,swore I’d never go back. Have a budget Trance 2 27.5 now because it’s all I can afford threw on a used Pike and better bars and wow what a ride I’m actually pretty happy with it for my aggressive riding style obviously I’d like a Reign but Motorcycles are cheaper more fun and have better resale. Trance is a good buy for sure.

Landon
Landon
7 years ago
Reply to  Shane

I have a trance x 29 2. Love it also. Looking for a better fork in the future. You’re right though. Awesome bike for the money.

Landon
Landon
7 years ago

Race face makes an overdrive 2 size 50mm stem. I have one one my trance x 29ER. Got mine on amazon. In case anyone is looking.

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