2022 Giant Trance X29 1 The specifications, details, geometry and suitability of this Mountain Bike

This is the 2022 Giant Trance X29 1, Giant's top of the line (in Canada... maybe different elsewhere in the world) aluminum version of the Trance X29.
Giant also offers the Trance X29 in Carbon (they call those bike "Advanced").
Giant also offers a standard Trance 29 (freshly updated for 2022 but less suspension than this "X" version).
Giant also offers a Trance X - a version of this bike with 27.5" wheels designed for more creative, jumpy, playful riding.
Trance X 29 1
Current price: $4,399
Frame: ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum front and rear triangles, 135mm Maestro suspension, flip chip, 12x148mm thru-axle
Fork: Fox 36 Float Performance, FIT4, 44mm offset, 150mm, 15x110 Kabolt, custom tuned for Giant
Wheels: Giant AM 29, alloy
Shifters: Shimano SLX SL-M7100, 1x12
Crankset: Shimano M511, 30t S:165mm, M:170mm, L:170mm, XL:170mm
Colours: Panther / Phantom Green / Chrome, Chameleon Blue / Black / Chrome
Frame
ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum front and rear triangles, 135mm Maestro suspension, flip chip, 12x148mm thru-axle
Fork
Fox 36 Float Performance, FIT4, 44mm offset, 150mm, 15x110 Kabolt, custom tuned for Giant
Shock
Fox Float DPS Performance, 185/55, custom tuned for Giant
Handlebar
Giant Contact TR35, 780x35mm, 20mm rise
Grips
Giant Tactal Pro Single S:120mm, M:120mm, L:130mm, XL:130mm
Stem
Giant Contact SL 35 S:40mm, M:40mm, L:50mm, XL:50mm
Seatpost
Giant Contact Switch dropper, remote S: 125mm travel / 30.9 x 395mm M: 150mm travel / 30.9 x 440mm L: 170mm travel / 30.9 x 450mm XL: 170mm travel / 30.9 x 450mm
Saddle
Giant Romero
Pedals
N/A
Shifters
Shimano SLX SL-M7100, 1x12
Front Derailleur
N/A
Rear Derailleur
Shimano SLX RD-M7100
Brakes
Shimano BR-MT520, hydraulic, Shimano RT-56 rotors [F]180mm, [R]180mm **some bikes may be substituted: Tektro HD-M745 Orion, 4-piston hydraulic, [F] 203mm, [R] 180mm
Brake Levers
Shimano BL-MT501 **some bikes may be substituted: Tektro HD-M745 Orion
Cassette
Shimano SLX, 10x51
Chain
KMC X-12
Crankset
Shimano M511, 30t S:165mm, M:170mm, L:170mm, XL:170mm
Bottom Bracket
Shimano, press fit
Rims
Giant AM 29, alloy
Hubs
[F] alloy, Boost 15x110mm, loose bearing [R] alloy, Boost 12x148mm, sealed bearing
Spokes
Sapim
Tires
[F] Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT, EXO, TR [R] Maxxis Aggressor 29x2.4, EXO, TR, tubeless
Extras
tubeless prepared, 2.5" max tire size, 34t max chainring size

[@lizardears4861]

I just got the 2023 Trance x 29 1 at EOFY sales in Australia. It’s the best bang for Buck bike in its class. Thanks for sharing your videos that helped me in my purchase.

[@simplemanmtb143]

This was the absolute best boring video I've ever seen/heard. I do mean that as a compliment, no loud music or clips of you ruining a trail. Just info about the bike. I love the simple; "you push a button and the seat comes up, it works" attitude of your video. Thanks

[@Insta360MTB]

I just love my 2022 Giant Trance X29 capable all around mountain bike

[@pilotleader]

You provide some of the best overviews out there - really appreciate and respect your honesty too - well done.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Thanks very much.

[@chrisbfleetwood]

One of the best shops in the western hemisphere! Beautiful bike.

[@EjMacarus]

Helped me make my decision to get one! Thanks for taking the time to create this video.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

thanks, I'm glad you found the video useful.

[@rileyparrish184]

Came by a few weeks ago and picked up an Alpine Trail C1 from Ben, great buying experience, thanks guys.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Thanks for that. Ya, Ben is a great guy. Fun to work or ride with. Congrats on getting the Alpine Trail. It is such a great bike! Happy Trails!

[@chuckkutscher8988]

This is an excellent video. Thanks for doing it. Also, I called the shop with some questions and received very helpful answers. Much appreciated!

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Awesome, thank you!

[@armandocardenas6094]

I own the 2022 Giant Trance X3 27.5" aluminum in Good Grey and Gloss Black and I love this thing.

[@stenly311]

Great review, thanks mate

[@MrAnimal1971]

Thanks for the detail. My 2020 trance 29 2 is at 66.5 ht and 74.5 st and is a beast of a climber and right for me for downhills. I tried the Trance X at our shop and I did not like the more aggressive feel but that's just me.

[@PredatorHelmets-tr6uu]

thanks for the great video and educating me on my new bike - panther black of course

[@FreshYoungDude]

This video format was extremely helpful. Just perfect. Thank you so much. I’m torn between this bike and the Jeffsy core 2 right now. Did you ever get the actual weight for this? It’s pretty annoying how Giant doesn’t list weights on their site.

[@allenwaldman464]

well done. Thanks for making this video. you helped me make my decision to buy this bike.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Glad I could help!

[@3SpeedGeek]

The Giant Trance X29 1 was my first choice for a new bike this year. However with the supply chain issues I ended up with an Ibis Ripmo AF that I have been happy with. I have been getting lots of information from your videos and enjoying your video format.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Thanks for the feedback. Awesome choice with the Ripmo. I'm a big admirer of Ibis and appreciate how important and influential of a brand they are. Happy Trails!

[@j-b776]

Same as me.. i did order this same bike/colour last August & my ETA kept being pushed.. as past month my ETA is week 43.. so i ended up getting a Ibis Ripley AF NGX build.. so far i love the Ibis, but i still haven’t canceled the Trance X.. This bikes colour looks lovely. but i will see end summer what bike i choose

[@fewzioran]

Perfect video thank you.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@igosan8523]

awesome

[@chip9832]

Good slack and steep information

[@curtiswatkins2219]

Keep doing what your doing👍

[@adrianlanglois2093]

About the long reach... I'm 5'11"" and it's too long. Giant Store sold me on the length and I was game to get into this new fangled Geo. It's a bit of a stretch however - I've reduced the reach with a short stem. 32.5mm I believe and I'm now going to get a bar with more sweep. Moral of the story is know what you want before buying. That said. This is the fastest bike I've ever owned in 25 years of MTBing. It is an insane climbing bike. The steep seat angle is a game changer in this aspect. And I've never been this fast descending. Due to the length I've adapted to riding forward to insure front tire traction and often drift the back tire and corner like a boss lol 🤙

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Hi, thanks for watching. Interesting feedback. Our feedback has seen 5'11 to 6' to be the sweet spot for a Large. I do agree with your choice to shorten the stem unless you're after a more xc feel.

[@adrianlanglois2093]

@@BikeBrosBikeShop my local riding, Vancouver and Victoria is all steep janky, rocky and rooty. The long reach requires serious commitment to the forward position - for me it's faster absolutely everywhere except I have personal issues navigating extreme steeps with no transitions.. pretty common feature on traills I've always enjoyed. If I was shuttling laps on moose this bike would kill it 🤘- it still does really ... Kinda looking for a Ripmo to get me into that more manageable reach though.

[@danielvbarbato]

I’m same 5 11 and I really feel the bike too long for me’ Im trying to get the shop to get me on a medium frame as I just got the bike this week

[@pinoycarnbikeguy8888]

Thanks for filming this video! I have one on reserve coming in September, supposedly, in a size Small. But to one point you said about the difference in reach between size L and M: wouldn’t the size M/L (size in between M and L) be a good compromise and negate the issue of the 30+ mm difference in reach?

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

A size M/L would be awesome. Maybe someone from Giant will see this and create that size!

[@OntarioGuy430]

I am 5'10" and was stuck deciding between a M and a L size. Nowhere close to me has either size to check out. May end up going for something different. I was leaning towards medium, but your discussion at 31:22 kind of made me rethink things.

[@EliotBay]

Excellent review, X 1, wow super nice bike & what a sweet deal now, X 2 model: not interested anymore! thanks a bunch

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Bike Bros would you say this is one of the best bikes around $2500 for a newb just getting into it that is also very large?

[@moostswingin]

What hubs came on this build?

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

I got the 2023 trance x 29 I love the frame and shock but most of the components are pretty cheap, the rear hub on these AM29 wheels is always loose since new, the bearing are perfect it's just the non drive size "cup" that fit with a O-ring. That's a friggin joke the shifting won't ever be right and brake pads will rub. That's intolerable tolerance... it's 2023 and it's a 3k+ bike here in Canada, anyway these junk hub are binned I laced onyx hubs , also the dropper is pretty slow to operate since new... about to throw it away, it was replaced under warranty once ... Still love the bike, I wasn't supposed to upgrade it this season but Giant left me no choice... 😂 *Oh yeah the tektro Orion 4p, I blew the rear caliper at the first bike park day, got multiple issues in the first month, eventually both calipers were leaky so I now have SRAM brakes ...

[@david029014]

I have the 2021 trance x 29er 2 usa model. Is that color the same as mine or is it different? Looks bluish green, mine is more green

[@jm4472]

This is the 2022 in chameleon blue. Totally different color.

[@theadventuregamer6693]

Does the 2021 Giant Trance X 2 come with sram udh?

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

I don't believe it does. Anyone else know for sure? We got so few of the 2021s and they were all presold so we didn't have much chance to do more than assemble them

[@steveinoz8188]

Another bike with a SLX drivetrain but a KMC X-12 chain - which is commonly swapped over to the CN-7100 for better shifting. Big brake rotors and front suspension - nearly Enduro spec'd. My Siskiu T8 is similarly spec'd - but for 2/3 the price.

[@billrose2339]

Hi. This is a great comment. I have this bike in the 2021 29-2 version with the KMC X-12 chain. Can you elaborate on your chain comment? I was thinking about upgrading to a CN-M7100 or M8100 for better shifting... Thanks.

[@steveinoz8188]

@@billrose2339 The Shimano chain is "shaped" so that links slide onto shaped teeth better. Shimano call this "Hyperglide". The KMC chains are cheaper to buy and easier to fit. The Shmonao chain has to go the right way around and the joining link has to be around the right way - instructions come with the packet. This is why OEMs fit KMC chains instead.

[@billrose2339]

@@steveinoz8188 Just ordered one! Thanks for the info.

[@herbb8412]

Siskiu suspension is more like the Giant Stance model, isn’t it?

[@yengsabio5315]

@@steveinoz8188 Hi there! Do you recommend replacing the KMC with a Shimano? Thanks in advance!

[@brianrichard1768]

What tire pressure do you generally run in this tubeless setup?

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Between 19 and 24 psi is common. Higher pressure in the rear.

[@radiffff]

Thanks for the review. Does anyone know or rode one to tell how it climbs or how efficient is paddling on flat? Is it worse than 29 1 or the same?

[@TheBeardedMANchild]

I have one and in my experience it climbs and descends very well on moderate trails in my area which is rock and hard packed dirt. The main issue I have with climbing is that I’m out of shape.

[@radiffff]

@@TheBeardedMANchild thanks, I got one and returned, good bike but parts and price don’t match…I got yt Izzo while it was on sale

[@bradwilliams1869]

im debating this vs the ripmo! hmmmm

[@BS-np7ms]

great video ! i am 5 9 ,60 yr old and new to mtb but i love it and think this is the bike im going with , should i go with a small or med?

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

You sound like a medium to me. I think if you went with a small you'd feel like you were pedalling with your hands in your lap when seated.

[@guillermovazquez4197]

The spec sheet says it comes with Shimano brakes and Shimano cranks.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Substitute parts are quite common these days and depending on the country you're in, Giant does tweak specific details in different countries

[@lizardears4861]

@@BikeBrosBikeShopyeah I just got a 2023 model and although the website had Shimano Deore BR-MT520 calipers I got Tektro Orion E 23 calipers. I was a bit peeved off but at the end of the day they are same 4 piston quality and for what I do on a bike they will more than suffice. I know they ship with what’s available from suppliers. But Everything else was the correct specs, so happy purchaser.

[@matthewphillips5785]

Where is your store located?

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Bike Bros is in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.

[@user-qb6nh8gr4e]

Hi, I am torn between the the trance x 29 1 and trance 29 1. Price on both is the same at the moment. What would you suggest? Would I lose the climbing efficiency on the X model? Thanks!

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

This could depend a bit on your local terrain or types of trails you enjoy most. If the descents aren't too steep or chunky I'd go with the Trance 29. Given the efficiency and the fact that the Trance X29 still isn't too big of a bike, in most areas I would probably choose the Trance X29 in most places - it will give a bit of extra performance and room for error if the terrain offers up chunky areas that you need to be braking through, less likely to shake your feet off the pedals in areas with a lot of roots and rocks and a bit of extra squish if you do any drops.

[@user-qb6nh8gr4e]

Well, the terrain here really varies. We have trails that have chunky rooted sections and rock gardens as well as steeper climbs. However the climbs although steep, are not too long. Weight wise, is there a big difference between the trance and trance x ? Thanks in advance!

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

@@user-qb6nh8gr4e There is very little weight difference. It is actually surprising how similar the weights are.

[@user-qb6nh8gr4e]

@@BikeBrosBikeShop That's good to hear. Appreciate your advice. Will update you on which ride I end up getting. Cheers!

[@6___________99_____________64]

What bike did you end up getting ? ​@@user-qb6nh8gr4e

[@stenly311]

Anyone knows how much this bike weights? 🤔

[@jm4472]

It’s 34lbs exactly with pedals in size large.

[@AnAmateurAdventurer]

I find it hard to believe this bike ways under 30lbs considering the Trance 29 weighs 33lbs. Were you able to weigh this bike and get an accurate number?

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Sorry, I would check but haven't seen a Trance x29 for a while and not likely to receive more for months

[@jm4472]

Large size is 34 lbs with pedals. I have the exact same bike

[@cliffordrichardc]

udh or not model

[@jm4472]

This is the Wrong Praxis chain ring on this bike. I had the same one installed on my 2022 Trance X 29 1 , and it should be the 3mm offset version NOT the DM-B , which is 0 offset. The DM-B 0 mm offset put the the chain line Measurement at 55 mm when it should be at 52 mm standers for this Bike. I know some brands are moving to the 55 mm boost chain lines but not this bike yet. Anyone having issues with dropped chains or issues shifting should check the chain ring specs. Your local bike shop might not even catch it but it’s definitely covered under Giant warranty. Either Praxis or Giant should replace you with the correct chain ring.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Hi, yes, this was among the first of these we received and soon after realized the chainring issue (it happened on other models too). Giant looked after the issue for us. I hope you're enjoying your bike.

[@ricobeusekamp8351]

: )

[@junglist_matty]

I'm 189cm tall and have an XL trance x 29 --- The worst thing about this bike is pedal strike, it's so bad it's often impossible to climb anything that gets just a little bit technical. Other than that, it's fun, but I wouldn't buy another one and am considering a frame swap.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Before switching bikes, have your sag & air pressure in the rear shock checked. This bike has a pretty average bottom bracket height so you shouldn't be having the problems you are with pedal strikes.

[@junglist_matty]

Yeah I triple checked sag, the last thing I'm going to try is adding a volume spacer

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

@@junglist_mattyhave you tried flipping to tall mode on the flip chip?

[@junglist_matty]

@@BikeBrosBikeShopI have not yet - and that was my last resort change as it raises the centre of gravity, something I want to avoid

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

@@junglist_matty if you're trying to solve pedal strikes it is the only way you'll do it, whether raising the bb on your current bike or if you find another bike with a higher bb - same difference. The alternative would be switching to really short cranks.

[@erfansoltani678]

No for god's sake do not add any music to your videos I agree it is not as dopaminergic as musicful videos but it is in fact far more informative and educative