Giant Trance 2

BJORN KRAUER
Reviewed: 29 November 2006

WOW! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

No bob, Incredible Handling, Fantatsic Looks, Reliability

A bit Weghty - But then I am WAAAY Heavy so shouldn't really be calling the kettle black!

I have had a Cannondale F800 for a few years now, and every single ride I break something, be it the shock seals riding around Richmond Park, the saddle pillar clamp on a flat piece of tarmac outside my house, the mavic crossmax sl's on a rock garden, the list is never ending.... So I convinced She who must be obeyed to let me get a replacement. Nirvana Cycles in Westcott were brilliant and organised me a test ride, then arranged a GREAT price on a 2006 Trance 2. I didn't bother with the tyres, bars or saddle from the word go.... and haven't looked back since. I've used it as a commuter bike in Wet rainy London, as a jump bike in France, as a downhilly type ride on the Zugeberg in Switzerland and a general thrash it as hard as you can and never have any problems bike around the UK. This thing just loves to be ridden. The first time out I scared myself by how fast I was taking bends and jumps and clearing roots..... All I can say is WOW!! Now if only I was allowed to get my wife one and share the joy!

kumapanda2
Reviewed: 19 June 2006

EXCELLENT

Suspension, steering and feel. I took this bike out on the trails that i usually ride a hard tail on and i scared myself at how fast i could go with so little effort (downhill) and on the ups the extra weight from the bike was hardly noticed. Excellent handling, as you can chuck the bike around and it'll do exactly what you tell it to.

Fork is very basic and clunky (but copes alright with most terrain - you can feel it knock when climbing), have swapped it out for Fox float to match the rear and now the suspension is beautifully smooth. The hayes nine disc are a bit wooden - its pretty much on or off with little modulation - again i've swapped them out for brakes with much better feel. The tires - they really don't make you feel safe!

Got this for a bargain from my lbs, knocked 330 off and added hayes nine discs. What an improvement over a hardtail (my first full sus) and i don't wish to go back.
Loads of places are doing this cheap (and apparently this years frame isn't as strong as the 05 frame, so you're better off for less money!) so grab a bargain.

can't comment on reliability as i've only had it a week.. will report back later.

Squig
Reviewed: 11 April 2006

BRILLIANT!!!

Excellent groupset. Just a great XC bike all round.

Tyres! What were Giant thinking. On muddy cambers and slopes I was literally all over the shop!

This bike was an absolute STEAL at £1150 from Pedalon (Presumably 'cos the new models are imminent) The suspension works really well. I'm just looking round for some new tyres 'cos these Hutchinson's really aren't very grippy in mud.
Looks better than the new Trance 2 and it'll be cheaper! Anyone considering one... you won't be disappointed.
Only had bike a month, so can't really score it on reliability.

Starterman
Reviewed: 30 December 2005

BLUR-BEATER

Wonderfully chuckable
Neutral handling

Dire cable routing
Slightly porky

After 9 years of single pivot Marins I was looking for the fastest and most fun bike for woodsy single track and the odd foray to Glentress etc. I really wanted a BlurReignTranceLite but couldn't seem to find one. The XC Marins feel a bit fragile and the Tara ones don't seem to do corners very well, actually I tried a Whyte 46 and thought it was awful - totally isolated from the ground and the slowest steering this side of a Harley.
Tried Blurs at various times but although they have superb cornering ability the stupidly low BB and nervous handling on steep descents (+ the silly price) put me off.
Demoed the Trance 2 and it was an absolute blast. It turns-in nearly as sharply as a Blur and climbs almost as well, but is much better balanced and is much more confidence inspiring off drops and the like.
So I bought one and put my Pace RC38LTs, Mavic SLs and carbon bars on it. The RC38s and carbon bars were soon "downgraded" back the originals - the RF bars are somehow a better shape and feel more solid than the carbon jobbies and the Rebas have better damping and require 10X less maintainance than the Pace's.
The rear suspension is excellent, it works exactly the same no matter what you do with the pedals and the brakes. Out on the trail I never notice it working, yet every ride I use all the travel and I've never felt it bottom out.

The best thing about the Trance is the sheer chuckability - big grin factor!

Knocked the reliability down to 4 for the poor cable routing giving very occasion ghost shifts. I'm too tight to give it 5 for value!

Martin Bunch
Reviewed: 24 June 2005

AWESOME RIDE,GOOD SPEC,LOOKS GREAT!!

Great frame with low top tube and suspension thats way better than my old marin.
All components good quality ,especially the race face chainset and dt hubs.
Great deal from lbs with over £300 worth of accessories free with points scheme.Tested loads of brands and this definately felt the best.

None so far.Maybe put some more grippy tyres on for wet days .But bike came with 2 sets of tyres free anyway!

Fantastic bike ,tested the £2500 Trance 1 aswell but this one seemed like a better deal with the easily repairable wheels and a better colour (in my opinion!!).Don't know the weight but never really thought about it while riding anyway.Don't know what else to say but Get out there and Test ride one!!!!Only marked down on reliability as have just done 100 miles off-road.