2021 Giant Trance X Advanced Pro 29 1 | Test Ride and Review | The All Day Mountain Bike

[@diyfilmlab]

Just ordered the 2023 version of this bike. I found by lowering the psi in the rear tire it helped the skipping factor of the rear suspension. I ride around 20 psi, also went slightly below recommended sag and I’m loving the setup. Also the drivetrain pulls so well I feel like climbings not an issue. I do feel high on the bike compared to others in the category.

[@rjahn3000]

Nice review, thanks! I hope you can do one on the new Pivot 429 Trail....cheers!

[@jctrails]

Thanks! Hopefully I’ll get on the 429 soon.

[@endoalley680]

I like those east coast trails.

[@adamrussell9117]

I have this same bike...the first thing I did was get rid of those terrible G2 brakes...replaced them with Hayes Dominions...never been happier.

[@AlinB1108]

Love my X29 2 Large. I’m 6’ and it was way too long still, wrist pain from too much weight on hands. I had to shorten and raise the stem and also get a bar w more sweep. 12 degree. Overall shortened the front an inch and moved the seat up an inch. Now it’s comfortable and perfect. Medium would have been a better fit. Also had too many peddle strikes in low and only ride high now. Great AM bike. Climbs unbelievable well. Of course descends well.

[@marm7335]

I am also 6ft and ride a large hardtail, now with reading this I may downsize when some stock comes in when purchasing a dual, was looking at the exact same bike too

[@mikekittmer2630]

I’m 5’10” with a long 34” inseam and run a large. Swapped to 40mm stem and run stack higher and it’s spot on. Medium would be too short and unstable at speed.

[@michaels8607]

thank you..going to consider the Trance 3

[@benjaminkaufmann893]

Oh, snap diamond Hill!

[@raivkka4313]

Why are you riding in the LOW position? For New England riding I want as much BB height and quick handling I can get!

[@jctrails]

I never encountered any pedal strikes pedaling in the low position. Also I like the STA in the low, it’s a bit steep for my liking in the high setting.

[@ronhau1542]

I have the aluminum ll trance x. In Oklahoma I keep it in the high. Turns better for me but to each their own.

[@oklahotb3217]

@@ronhau1542 Oklahoma represent! We do have a lot of tight turns. I've ridden in several other states and none have trail designs like we do here lol

[@ronhau1542]

Did you have it in the low setting? It handles different in the corners in the low setting and you weren’t going down hill much.

[@LUCKYSOB]

Can't go wrong with Maestro suspension. But damn !!! $5700 for gx build is kind of steep. I remember when Giant was the poor mans affordable bike.

[@AlinB1108]

Trance x29 2, Al frame w slx is a better value at 3200, w a good wheel set I’m at 4K. Perfect.

[@LUCKYSOB]

@@AlinB1108 I agree 👍

[@mikekittmer2630]

Value is in the fork and rims vs brakes and drivetrain.

[@mikekittmer2630]

Comment did not age well in the then unforeseen runaway bike pricing era...

[@LUCKYSOB]

@@mikekittmer2630 you ain't kiddin 😂

[@madhatter9631]

Love my trance advanced 27.5!

[@47homeslice]

I’m 5’10 175lbs with a 2020 27.5 trance (basic)medium love the bike

[@Ponypal1966]

I always enjoy your content, thanks for the reviews. I have a couple of questions for you about a few bikes you have reviewed: 1. Trance X 29 or Delano Peak; which one and why? They both have 135/150mm travel and seem to have the same target rider. And 2. if your throw in the poppy Stumpjumper, which is kind of close, 130/140mm and the shorter travel awesome climbing Ripley 120/130mm, if you had to choose only one of these four rippers, which one would you pick and why? Thanks.

[@michaelwalker4363]

do you think if you slowed down the rebound 1 or 2 clicks it mite help the skipping of the back wheel?

[@jctrails]

I forgot to mention in the video I did mess with the rebound. It didn’t have much effect on the bike’s performance. I think a Fox X2 shock would be a good fit for this bike if you were riding trails like in the video.

[@01nmuskier]

I'm 69". I went from a L Trance 27.5 to a M in the Trance X

[@patdrumm3770]

Glad it was a great review. L def would have been too big for me. FWIW it is coil compatible but needs the right spring.

[@jctrails]

Good info. I would love to try a coil on it.

[@50mtb44]

Good to see you back on the bikes, James. How is the knee?

[@jctrails]

Good to be back! Knee is about 80%

[@50mtb44]

@@jctrails awesome. Keep rocking.

[@bryanbabb9462]

First! Never happens! Unrelated - Still have the Epic Evo? I picked one up after a couple of your videos, and I love it. Thanks for the solid reviews & recommendations. Stay safe!

[@bryanbabb9462]

Actually I ended up 3rd behind the spammers.😡

[@jctrails]

Haha stupid spam. Thanks for watching!

[@mandretti2381]

Great review as always! Wonder how you would like the Reign? Norco or Transition review?

[@jctrails]

I’m hoping to get a hold of a Reign soon.

[@Paul-yx6fx]

Hi very interesting review do you think you would get accustomed to the large or was it just too big? I am looking at buying the same bike .My local bike shop swapped the stems on the large and medium so that the distance from seat to bars was the same .I had a carpark ride on both sizes .I’m 5’10” and I found the L felt to big but the M felt too small . I have read reviews that say exactly this that Giants sizes have a larger gap between them now . I have a 2018 Trance Advanced M with a 65mm stem that gives me 670mm from saddle center to handle bar center (which was maybe a bit long) Both the bikes I tried were 625mm .The guy at the shop said installing a stem longer than 55mm would change how the bike handles too much .So 635mm would be about as long as I could go on the M . I’d be interested to know you thoughts

[@mikekittmer2630]

I’m on a large at 5’10” with 34” inseam. Stock 50mm stem. Couldn’t live with the medium; too much post out and a bit too short overall; mostly seated climbing (top tube length) is too short on M. Giant really needs an ML like in their road line. I’m used to the large but am going to swap to a 40mm stem to try that.

[@durace99]

I like that it’s quiet, my old reign (2012) was so damn clunky and loud. Also, maestro sucks on repetitive sharp hits. It Shits on itself.

[@dirtbike9003]

Good review, how’s it compare to a Ripley/Ripmo suspension wise?

[@jctrails]

Not as efficient as the Ripley, but definitely more support on the bigger compressions. I haven’t ridden a Ripmo 2 yet so I wouldn’t know.

[@determinedskeptic]

Trail to the far right, pretty sure you did Rhody Flow into Macgyver, meeting at the bottom of Chuck Norris Also, how would you compare this the the Switchblade and the new SJ?

[@jctrails]

Thanks for the info. The Trance X feels similar to the new SJ in climbing efficiency, but does not have the traction like the Switchblade. The Switchblade is a better all around bike IMO it has a great pedaling platform that hooks up thru chunky sections and doesn’t feel like too much bike on smoother trails. The only draw back I guess with the Switchblade is that it weighs more than the other 2 mentioned above.

[@marm7335]

Can anyone please advise I’m 183cm (6ft) (86cm leg) I cannot determine wether to get large or medium as I am borderline for both argh my hardtail Merida is a large fits well however I find I am reach to far for my linking however it isn’t all that uncomfortable, I don’t want to get medium and not be comfortable…

[@mikekittmer2630]

Large.

[@justing888]

How does the Delano Peak compare?! Which climbs better and which descends better?

[@jctrails]

The Trance X feels more efficient on the smooth climbs while the Delano handles the tech climbs better. I would give the edge to the Delano on chunkier descents(better small bump). If I could throw a Fox X2 on the Trance it would prob be a better all rounder than the Delano.

[@justing888]

@@jctrails thanks alot for answering that! Keep up great content!

[@peterramirez2746]

Slow down the rebound in the rear

[@jctrails]

Tried that

[@trailblazeratv6306]

I have the regular Trance 29 Adv Pro 1. It's great

[@deputydog4680]

I love mine. I didn’t get a hat though

[@Daryl524]

1) Trance X. ❌ 2) Stumpjumper ❌ 3) Canyon Spectral 29 ✅ With the lack of inventory in Toronto and the border being closed, #3 is my only best option.🤷🏽‍♂️

[@jctrails]

That stinks! Spectral looks like a dope bike though.

[@stevenjam7119]

Get a knolly

[@Daryl524]

@@stevenjam7119 Not sure about the fit. 6’-3” with a 6’7” wingspan. Plus not sure about the value.

[@LEFTY4U]

Pull out the 3mm hex and adjust the Compression setting on that DPX2. It’s probably cranked up....

[@jctrails]

@@LEFTY4U can’t it’s just a performance shock. Not a performance elite

[@ronaldd8741]

you look like the rock