Home > Bike Types > Mountain Bike

Giant pumps up the volume with carbon XTC Advanced 27.5+ and dedicated XTC+ Single Speed

21 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

giant-bikes-xtc-fathom-plus-size-single-speed-carbon-mtb-2017-1

First unveiled to the world earlier this summer, Giant is now rolling out the big tires to shops around the county. The Plus size explosion continues to spread, with all of the big three now offering mid fat bikes of their own. In Giant’s own style, and thanks to the influence of pro riders like Carl Decker and Adam Craig, the line not only includes race inspired carbon in the form of the XTC Advanced 27.5+, but a complete single speed build.

If chunky tires and one gear is your speed, the XTC+ SS might be the answer, though there’s a lot to choose from in their 2017 line up…

giant-bikes-xtc-fathom-plus-size-single-speed-carbon-mtb-2017-7

Want to have your cake and eat it too? The new Giant XTC+ carbon frame is both a true single speed compatible frame, and a geared frame. This is the same frame that is built into the XTC+ 1 and 2 below, as well as the XTC+ SS above. The full carbon frame includes a sliding rear Boost 148 dropout with a derailleur hanger so you can run 1 or up to 12 gears out back. Built with spacing for 27.5+ tires, it can also be built to run 29″ wheels and tires (not plus) for a versatile bike. Official tire clearance for the frame isn’t provide, though the complete bikes all run 3.0″ tires in the front, and 2.8″ tires in the back. Regardless of build, each bike runs a 120mm travel suspension fork. Additional frame features include a BB92 bottom bracket, ISCG 05 tabs, post mount disc tabs that move with the dropouts, internal cable routing, and a 27.2 seatpost. Dropper equipped bikes are running a TranzX YSP-11 27.2mm.

giant-bikes-xtc-fathom-plus-size-single-speed-carbon-mtb-2017-6

giant-bikes-xtc-fathom-plus-size-single-speed-carbon-mtb-2017-5

 

One of the few plus bikes available as a single speed, the XTC Advanced 27.5+ SS will sell for $2,450 complete with a RockShox Reba SL 120mm Boost fork, Giant’s 35mm rims with Schwalbe Nobby Nic 3.0/Rocket Ron 2.8″ tires, and a single speed drivetrain with SRAM Level TL hydraulic brakes. Adding gears to the equation bumps the pricing up to $2,800 for the SRAM NX equipped 2, or $3,750 for the Shimano XT 1×11 and Fox equipped XTC+ 1.

giant-xtc-geoemtry-2017

xtc-adv-29-2-comp

The same frame will also be offered in a number of 29″ builds though fork travel has been reduced to 100mm to drop the front end and the bottom bracket to compensate for the slightly larger effective diameter of the wheels. In total the XTC Advanced will be offered in three different wheel and tire combinations, though the 27.5+ and 29″ bikes share a frame, while the 27.5″ uses a dedicated frame. After going exclusively to 27.5″ wheels, it looks like the 27.5+/29″ combo could be the path for Giant back into offering a full range of 29″ builds.

Complete bikes and framesets are shipping to bike shops now.

giant-bicycles.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

21 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
dave
dave
7 years ago

Internal wedge seatpost binder on an MTB? No thanks.

ronshev
ronshev
7 years ago
Reply to  dave

Why not? It works fine. I’ve had one on a Giant for a few years. Never a single issue, and I ride quite a bit (10 – 12 hr weeks). Do you have personal experience with one?

dave
dave
7 years ago
Reply to  ronshev

They work fine, but you can’t fit a quick release.

Not everyone uses a dropper.

ronshev
ronshev
7 years ago
Reply to  dave

No they don’t..I don’t use a dropper on mine either. For my local trails, you really don’t need a dropper so never cared about a QR option but I see what you’re saying

mech9
7 years ago

I am on my 2nd replacement on my 2016 giant tcx, and on my 3rd seatpost. I weigh 140lbs so it’s not a stress issue.. it sucks.. Want to change it to another seatpost?? Oh wait you can’t proprietary Design compliments of Giant who used to not do proprietary crap. Stupid D-Fuse shaped seat post means you are stuck with only theirs. You cannot buy or use a replacement. Just like their proprietary OD2 steer tube.. Want to change your stem size from 110 to 100 with one of the 1000’s of options you have out there? Oh wait you can’t.. That too is proprietary. You have to use a Giant OD2 stem.

Yes , I understand other companies do proprietary things, but on common components like seatpost and stems its lame.

Marc L
7 years ago
Reply to  mech9

That sucks about your experience- but from what I’ve seen these bikes have neither the non-standard Overdrive 2 steerer nor a proprietary seatpost. It’s something to keep an eye out for, but thankfully Giant seems to be listening and has backed away from some of their proprietary parts.

I, for one, am stoked to build up the blue/orange 29er shown above as a singlespeed. Ordered one from the LBS last week!

jim rawson
jim rawson
7 years ago
Reply to  mech9

Wrong….There are several stem options. Giant, Zipp, Ritchey, Fourier, PRO…..

jim rawson
jim rawson
7 years ago
Reply to  jim rawson

besides 1-1/4″ is only on a few road and cross models…NO mountain bikes have proprietary seatpost or stems

Mike
Mike
7 years ago
Reply to  jim rawson

My giant trance had a giant od2 steerer. It was tapered 1-1/2 to 1-1/4. I was able to put a normal tapered fork by switching the top of the headset and using a normal stem. It was a terrible idea with no real benefit. I wasn’t able to sell the takeoff fork, either.

Necromancer
7 years ago
Reply to  mech9

Sorry you’ve had all that trouble, my 2015 TCX is running strong though luckily

Chris MacDonald
Chris MacDonald
7 years ago

Argh this is *so* close to what I’m looking for in a new ride (the XT build), but then with the 27.2 seatpost. Difficult to find a good dropper… 🙁

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

Thomson makes 27.2 droppers…

postophetero
postophetero
7 years ago

Thomson, PNW also make 27.2 droppers–two very different price points too.

smeagul
smeagul
7 years ago

Gravity Dropper

luddite
luddite
7 years ago

Gravity dropper 27.2’s work great, and I think 9point8 just released one too

Collin
Collin
7 years ago

I received my XTC+ 29er-2 (SLX build) a few weeks ago. Its great. I did not weigh the thing completely stripped as it has internal routing for the brake and I didn’t want to have to rebleed it. As shown, its a hair over 20lbs with the OEM rear wheel. It has a WAY stiffer BB/rear end then my previous Stumpjumper SS Carbon frame. Already took 1st place at Michigan’s ICEMAN SS class. Can’t wait to build up a pair of 275+ wheels for winter. comment image

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago

@ Chris Mac – Agreed, so close to being a perfect bike but why a 27.2 post. Oh well, I’m sure there will be other brands coming out soon who have 30.9, 31.6 carbon frame with similar spec.

Personally tired of all the proprietary steer tubes/stems, seat clamps, etc… I will not be spending money perpetuating poor customer service oriented spec some brands seem to have. Bike companies need to think about the end users/dealers experience with their products instead of making their products hard to deal with. Companies like Jamis, Marin, Haro, Masi, Kona, Soma and other smaller brands seem to get this and understand their customers needs. Monsters like Trachea, Spec-ed, Gizzant, Cannon-Dull are lost in over engineered, non-compatible, customer service nightmares. Even Pivot Tricycles w/ their new, plus, plus rear frame spacing are blowing it since it’s their hub or nothing. Yes these companies put out some sweet riding bikes/spec but there are other brands same of close in performance which ride sweet. Hell, I’d ride a EVIL before I’d ride a Pee-vot just because of compatibility (both ride great).

“Check it out, our frame/spec is 3% stiffer then the current standard at a cost of non-compatibility and limited replacement options.” Over all these suckers, peace out. – drop the mic.

Ford
Ford
7 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

maus haus you do realise pivots super boost plus is a piss take at boost don’t you? it is a current widely used downhill hub standard that can be found fairly cheap 2nd hand… all the did was move the hub flanges further out to give a better bracing angle, same disc and cassette spacing as before.

it is what boost should have been.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago

Ford, I hear ya on the current standard of DH hubs but most people do not run over-built heavier DH hubs on carbon light weight trail bikes. Yes boost should have been 157, however it is not the standard making it an odd ball and limiting spec to regular boost. How much stiffer is pivot boost? What about having limited wheelset options compared to regular boost? It’s the same issue with being an odd ball spec compared to the industry. Boost is way stiffer then 142; if we ride a Pee-vot 157 compared to 148 boost will there be enough difference to justify customers having limited spec? Maybe but I would guess people can not tell the difference. Not saying we should not innovate but it’s reckless to provide poor customer service limiting spec just because it’s 3%~5% better, especially since we just had a big improvement w/ boost. I’m going to go ride my boost bike right now. Bet I don’t wish it had even stiffer boostie boost plus o-matic 157 because “it should have been the new standard.”

anoncx
7 years ago

Giant never stopped making 29ers – they made XTC Advanced 29ers last year, and 2015 and 2014…

They even made Anthem X 29ers last year.

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

Would have been better with interrupted seatstay to accommodate belt drive with IGH.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.