12 month long term review | Giant Trance 27.5

Giant Trance 27.5 review after 12 months ownership.
2018 Giant Trance 27.7 2
Shimano SLX review

[@stephenspring4308]

Just bought a 2021 Trance 27.5 first ride today I am so stoked Awesome bike incredible ride up hill down hill does it all very pleased

[@alvinyu8300]

Pick up my Trance 2 last week and ridden to my local trail and so far the best decision I’ve made. This bike is killer, a good all rounder budget bike. Ascending to Descending this bike will put smile on your face 😁

[@oltislife4535]

"Budget"

[@jeffloucks2120]

@@oltislife4535 Seriously... bikes are out of control.

[@Ty-sm9cv]

I got a trance custom off a guy on marketplace, he bought the XL frame and then built the bike out as he wanted. I'm super happy with the bike. really fantastic. Changing the seat/bar height to make the bars more inline with the sear or slightly lower will make it easier to keep the front down btw, but there's a limit to what you can do there before comfort becomes an issue.

[@mtbjonny757]

This video literally is the reason why I bought my 2021! Trance 27.5. Took sky park jump line 25 foot jump no problem.

[@168grhp]

Awesome riding footage! I have the 2019 trance 2, it's a great "do everything" bike.

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate, perfect do everything bike.

[@stevefish6310]

I have this bike too in XL size (186cm tall). Best bike for a bit of everything!

[@graphixkid100]

Finally a review with actual trail riding!!! Sick of the tech only reviews.

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate, glad you got some use out of it.

[@vmxd]

I ride my 2018 Giant Trance 2 Advanced - love it.

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Would love an Advanced, maybe the next one ;-)

[@vmxd]

Biking Car Fanatic I got it on sale almost 2 years ago, since then I have upgraded drive train to sram gx. And this year I will need to service rear shock and fork. Put many miles on this bike - for trails and climbs it just perfect for me.

[@BikingCarFanatic]

@@vmxd Still loving mine too, to be honest not even thinking of changing it over yet! Perfect all rounder. Hanging to see if there will be an updated 27.5 frame soon.

[@andrewcollver5663]

Ive got the 2021 version it does it all , love my bike🤟

[@smjbbambam311]

You know how to ride a bike bredrin! I have an Anthem 2 2017. Giant make awesome bikes which can be thousands less than other brands for better performance. Happy riding!

[@sicsixonerecords]

Great Video. I have 2018 Trance 2. Upgraded rear to Fox DPX2 and front to Fox 36 160MM and I love it .She’s an absolute beast!!

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Sounds like a worthy upgrade, very nice!

[@jorgepartida3168]

Thanks for the review! Awesome video and riding!

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Thanks mate, now another 6 months later and I still couldn't want any more out the bike.

[@dustabuster]

Awesome review and riding, just subscribed! I have been told the trance are for more mellow trails but seeing what you can do on this bike really tells a different story. It has just gone to top of my list for my new bike. Cheers!

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate, It is a really good all round bike. Can do the mellow trails, but I'll also be racing Enduro on it in a few weeks.

[@samocarroll4768]

Best video I could find on this bike keep up the great work

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers Sam, still riding and loving this bike.

[@josep.peruga]

Nice! Great vid, impressing riding. I liked and subbed. Keep doing what your doing buddy!

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate, she is almost ready for her 2 year review now!

[@murraythomson1559]

Great video mate, excellent review + footage.

[@heulsuse2322]

i have the same bike but with 22 gears... its a perfect Allrounder. some days i drive a tour up to 60km and some days i visit a bikepark and everything works very good from suspension to geometry.... a really good choice for me for that price but i will update the brake discs to 200mm thats the only negative thing

[@gabrielleute9911]

I’m 13 and 5ft and I went with the size small. The XS ran really small, especially on the reach and had very little stability compared to the small.

[@mcrennagade873]

Good vid mate, I have the identical model (with some upgrades) and loving it!

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate. Mine has a few upgrades now as well 👌

[@mickfromrocky]

Really nice riding . I too have aTrance and love it . Great review and really enjoying your videos mate. I too moved the seat forward and put on a 160mm fork and that changed the whole bike . Hard to beat bang for your buck bike .

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Thanks for the comment. I'm still loving the Trance and still haven't changed a thing on it. Just maintenance as things slowly start to wear. Very hard to beat, bang for bucks!

[@mickfromrocky]

Biking Car Fanatic mine is a 2016 but recently had frame replaced under warranty . Great all round bike . Have a good weekend mate

[@BikingCarFanatic]

@@mickfromrocky Glad Giant were good with the warranty for you. Stories like that is what swayed me to the brand originally. Have a good one too mate, hopefully get out for a ride :)

[@ozziejim8472]

Good review mate and some good peddling too👍

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate

[@donnovicki9771]

Nice review and some great looking trails. Subbed for ya

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers Don

[@DIRTLINEWILD]

coming in from rotorburn great review

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers mate, been enjoying your videos too. Keep it up.

[@graeme5364]

Great informative video, thanks for posting

[@billfleming8344]

Great clip. Thanks

[@christopherpratt8066]

Hi mate, I'm a new subscriber. I've noticed you love jump trails? I usually ride at 'enduro heaven' I was wondering if places like Silvan have good jump trails? If not where would you recommend? Thanks mate, keep up the sick videos

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hey Christopher, There are a few medium sized jumps and some bigger gaps around. But nothing like you will find at your local and places like You Yangs or Harcourt. Buxton has a nice Jump line, but is still only 3 good sized jumps. I've got a video on my channel showing a few jumps around the different areas. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmPHaGOljZdsqaM Cheers

[@christopherpratt8066]

@@BikingCarFanatic thanks a lot another great video!

[@nickg3076]

My next bike

[@lukemurphy7936]

Are the older trances relatively similar to what you are riding? I'm looking to upgrade from my first bike on a budget to something that climbs better as I currently ride a 2008 Ironhorse 7point 26er with 180mm front and rear and weights 20kg and I'm a bit sick of riding 1000m of elevation on it. Great video by the way.

[@BikingCarFanatic]

These were first released 2017, model for the previous 3 years to that was similar but a little less travel I think.

[@lukemurphy7936]

@@BikingCarFanatic Ah I see, Cheers mate

[@seangreyvenstein6819]

Great review! What are your thoughts on the 29er? I'm on the 27.5 and loving it still (2016). Cheers

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Thanks Sean, Unfortunately I've had a bad accident and will be off the bike for a little while. But the new 29er X looks very promising, might have take one for a ride when I'm back!

[@seangreyvenstein6819]

Biking Car Fanatic Ah sorry to hear that! I’m just coming back from ankle issues to trail running. Seems this year hasn’t been a great one all round. Get well 👍

[@slawomirzdarowski]

Hi. Would you recomend this bike for full day trips? How is it in higher mountains?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Great bike for long distance imo, I regularly do 50km with 1500m vertical in the mountains. Great compromise between capable and peddling efficiency. I have not taken it on an uplift day, but it has no problem on rougher black runs.

[@The44kGaming]

Nice vid. I am thinking to get Trance 2 2020 from my local bike shop tomorrow... it's demo version. And I'm wondering when you are not pedalling and just rolling down the path does the hub make clicky sound? quite loud. cheers

[@BikingCarFanatic]

I wouldn't be put off by that, it depends on the design of the freehub pawls. Some people actually desire the louder ones ha ha. My bike is not that loud, some of my other bikes are much louder.

[@jacobewald671]

Hi great video, I was just wondering what maintenance you do to the suspension (fork/shock).

[@BikingCarFanatic]

@Jacob Ewald To be honest I haven't done anything but wash them. Still feel the same as the first ride.

[@jean-pierrekenil5350]

Very Good rewiew thanks

[@petervu9773]

how do you make the jumps look so effortless ? I cant get any air lol

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Just practice mate :)

[@samstephensmtb]

Not looking for a bike but I know this would be hella helpful. What trails were u riding apart from Buxton and Lysterfield

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Thanks Sam, also some trails from Silvan and Warburton.

[@benobiker]

Nice riding! How tall are you? I have Trance in M size too, I'm 179cm, maybe 180cm tall and M size is playful for me, I ride biketrial too, but I thing L size can be more better fot trail riding, I thing.. :-)

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Mate, Thanks, I'm 176cm. The M is perfect for me. I could go a large and actually one of my other bikes is a large, but the M gives a nice playful ride for me on this bike.

[@frankmilkovics7598]

Hey BCF, I have a question, i just ordered a 2021 w/27.5 wheels and MD frame like this, im 5'10 and 165 lbs, i'm thinking i should have went to a large, im 51 yrs old so i wanted something a little easier to manage, but after seeing this i feel better, how tall are you? Thanks

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Frank, I'm 176cm (5ft 9.2in) right in the middle of M and L. I went with a Medium so I could throw it around a bit and just liked the feeling of it on test ride. Hope you enjoy the new bike. Cheers

[@teamgreg1837]

What is the entry level model for the trance line up?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Mate, entry model is the Trance 3 one step below my bike.

[@teamgreg1837]

Thanks appreciate that.

[@texerr1017]

Hi, I’m a little bit late, but would it be good for beginners?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi mate, perfect bike for beginners I think. You can still get both a alloy and carbon version of this bike new.

[@floyd398]

How tall are you and what size are you riding? I'm 5ft 10.5in with running sneakers on. What size should I buy? Torn between M/L

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Mike, I'm 176cm (5ft 9.2in) right in the middle of M and L. I wen't with a Medium so I could throw it around a bit and just liked the feeling of it on test ride.

[@floyd398]

@@BikingCarFanatic Thanks bud

[@maxturner5666]

Hi, I live in Melbourne, is there any good jump trails that you know?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Not a lot of Jump type trails around Melbourne mate. But there are some bigger jumps on the DH trails of the You Yangs and one nicely formed flow trail out at Buxton. Lake Mountain also has a few bigger jumps now as well.

[@jordanrimmer5821]

Hey mate where abouts are you riding?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi mate, most of the trails in this video are on the east side of Melbourne. Dandenong Ranges, Lysterfield park, Silvan and Yarra Ranges.

[@jacobewald671]

What’s the weight of this bike? Just curious as I am comparing this to the 2020 model

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Jacob, I have it as 14.0kg with a set of shimano XT pedals on it.

[@seahippies]

Thank goodness an Aussie voice and not a droning yank.....Great vid and very informative...Thanks mate

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Cheers Mate :)

[@herbb8412]

That’s funny. I really struggle to understand you Aussie’s. What language do you speak down there anyway? 😆😆

[@BikingCarFanatic]

We speak ozzy 🤙

[@herbb8412]

@@BikingCarFanatic 😁 Hey, just paid for mine today. Picking it up on Tuesday! Can’t wait

[@BikingCarFanatic]

@@herbb8412 Enjoy Herb, ripper bikes 👌

[@selrahc9376]

Im torn between a giant reign2 or trance2 i want a bike that can be all mountain and enduro at the same time any recommendations tnx mate😊

[@BikingCarFanatic]

I test rode the reign and seemed too much bike for everyday riding on my trails which are very steep up and down, Trance was the better all mountain bike. Reign is really focused on the downhills and would be a chore to slog up hill all the time. Trance can be ridden down anything with care and skill, just not as fast as a bigger bike.

[@juku118]

I have similar problem,questions?I just ordered 2021 trance x2 but thinking about reign 2 29 because it's in the sime price.The lads I met say go straight away for enduro,but they are advanced riders Im stll beginner faraway in skills from this what you do on the bike no this video;).Which will be better bike for learning process?Would you advise somthing please?I live in ireland and we have all kids of trails here. Great review btw T

[@peterrobbins6691]

That's an awesome trail, where is that?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Which bit Peter? Footage is from a number of different trails around the east side Melbourne. Cheers

[@peterrobbins6691]

@@BikingCarFanatic it all looks good. that's an awesome area to ride....

[@ogy9792]

i dont know to buy this or downhill bike?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Unless you a going to be able to do a lot of shuttle / chairlift days, much better off with a trail or enduro bike.

[@tips4life63]

Hello what is the size of this bike?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Mate, I'm riding a size M. I'm on the upper side of it and could have maybe gone a large. Cheers

[@CoorangaCorrella]

Would you be comfortable doing enduro on the trance?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

Hi Mate, I have raced enduro competition on this bike. Does it no problem, but would depend on how serious the trails were. An Enduro specific bike like the Reign might be better.

[@CoorangaCorrella]

Ok, thanks! I wouldn't be doing lots of enduro races, maybe some here and there, but mainly something that will be plenty of fun on the trail with 150mm up front and 140mm rear travel for security. Great video!!!

[@BikingCarFanatic]

@@CoorangaCorrella Cheers mate, I see it as the perfect weekend bike that has no worries doing the odd enduro race. Much easier to pedal up hills :)

[@CoorangaCorrella]

Great! I'm trying to weigh it up against the Polygon T8, I would probably prefer the shorter travel of the trance for uphill efficiency and also I can imagine the trance is more fun on the trail with the travel. On the other hand, the T8 would be more suited for enduro and probably faster on the downhill, but heavier. What do you think about the T8?

[@BikingCarFanatic]

@@CoorangaCorrella The T8 looks to be a pretty good spec for the dollars! Does look to be at the more modern end of the trail bike geometry so would be fun downhill. But has a very different rear suspension setup to Giant. You would have to ride both to feel the difference but the rear on the trance is awesome in how it feels very plush with no pedal bob. T8 has a single pivot design so would likely feel a bit firmer for general riding but would be great for the big hits.