Revamped and Ready To Ride: Giant Stance Review | 2024 Value Bike Field Test

Review - Giant's Stance is all new for 2024, with this value trail bike offering 125mm of rear wheel travel via Giant's Flexpoint suspension system. How did the house brand components stand up to our test laps?
The 2024 Pinkbike Value Bike Field Test is supported by Ride Concepts:
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[@AGMTB.]

My wife recently purchased the new Liv Embolden E+ (female Stance) after owning a hardtail for a few years. Couldn't believe the progression and confidence built up in just a few rides. Couldn't recommend highly enough as a first full-sus...

[@andyk3643]

I've been interested in a stance since getting back into riding last year. Now, I'm no beginner but, I've only ever had hardtails. Not knowing what I really "need" as far as a FS bike, the stance seems to be just a step about a hardtail, which is kinda what I'm looking for. Not too slack, not too much travel, efficient enough to pedal all day without getting bogged down. I'm glad they finally went to TA in the rear, and slightly slacker geo. I'm definitely more intrigued now.

[@vlbz]

Bikes in this price range make so much sense.

[@TeddyParker]

Love this update for the Stance, very necessary. What I am wondering is given a similar design... Is that shock still an old imperial measurement? Or did they finally switch to metric standard so that riders can upgrade to a shock with more adjustments if desired? (without struggling in the secondhand market all day.)

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Nah it's not a trunnion either, 190x45. You can fit a dual chamber DNM air shock with compression & rebound adjustment for about $150 cdn. *Maybe less on Ali.

[@TeddyParker]

@@LaurentiusTriarius Oh, nice. 190x45 so you can run a Marzocchi or Fox air shock. Nice. Wish they found a way to run a 210x50 instead as that's super common right now, and opens up more RockShox options.

[@vishaljosealukka4258]

I have the 2022 Stance and yes, it's my first proper MTB. It is a great bike for a beginner, but you can easily point out the weaknesses within a week. That in-house fork failed after my first ride and the manufacturer's warranty covered it, but I still had to pay for labour. Now that I have spent +$1500 on Fox forks and shocks, it is a beast! I don't think I'll ever have to buy another bike to progress since I'm not planning to compete.

[@ogmr.c3714]

Why did your fork fail. Where you doing 20 ft jumps. Did you adjust sag, air pressure in the fork etc... before you went out on your first ride!?

[@vishaljosealukka4258]

@@ogmr.c3714 not at all. I was hitting green and blue trails for warm-up and it couldn't even take that

[@vrwgq3q]

If this plows better than the older 115 trance 29 maestro w/ house components, with more modern geo, w/o a crazy reach - this could be a very "nice" trail bike for most recreational riders.

[@grantzahara9998]

Although I'm all for cheaper bikes servicing that custom oem suspension is a nightmare if you aren't a giant dealer

[@baddriversofcolga]

It's too bad they spec it with SRAM SX instead of Deore or even Microshift...

[@DB-sd3cw]

Yup. For some reason companies love throwing that trash on there instead of a similarly priced groupset that actually functions.

[@vlbz]

Right. Shimano is really king in the budget range.

[@danielcobb8886]

Why do these brands still spec rubbish bin Sram SX?

[@Arturito2017]

The only thing I don’t like it the flex point suspension other then that it’s Good but I’d go with other brands for the price

[@BoxCarBoy12]

I'm still very skeptical of the use of flex stays on an aluminum frame, seeing as aluminum has poor fatigue properties

[@leanderd1]

If you reach the point where you break a seat stay you should have upgraded a long time ago

[@BoxCarBoy12]

@@leanderd1 my point is that you might reach the point where aluminum breaks much faster if you're using a suspension design that deliberately flexes it. Aluminum does not respond well to being deformed and bent, have ever played around with a soda can?

[@leanderd1]

@@BoxCarBoy12 sure but a couple of things to consider, this is not the same type of aluminum they use to make soda cans from this is aerospace grade aluminum alloy that has higher tolerance for flex and the degree the tubes are bent are not that great that a beginner (the target market for these bikes) would with regular use fatigue the material.

[@senditwithsquatch6777]

Just so many bikes that offer more at similar to slightly less price point.

[@src248]

All the missing clicks from the Z2 forks must have gone to this bike

[@notpablo8369]

Wish they offer Anthem allux

[@reneh.6551]

Sorry but still don't get what could be "quick release related issues"??? I have bikes with thru axle and a past generation bikes with qr skewers, where the back triangle sits on the hubs (not on the skewer)... I throw them at the same gnarly black diamond o double black diamond trails, jumps, etc. In 9 years of riding, I see no significant difference or had issues 🤷‍♂️

[@wb3213]

I want to know also, QR was used for decades by professionals maybe they were having accidents or losing competitions due to them failing?

[@jf8534]

One can assume that Liv have updated their version as well....?

[@TeddyParker]

Ironically, the Liv was updated FIRST. They may even be available in the US already, with the updated thru axle design.

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

I saw that frame on aliexpress for about 700 in carbon version

[@ChampionGaming]

Thats crazy expensive for that bike

[@80hd6]

Y’all think this is a good starter bike ?

[@johndef5075]

My 29 lb. 29er fs feels like a pig. Cant imagine what a 35 lb. bike would feel like.

[@chris4536]

Ride more, whine less.

[@user-fw2gt4fk2x]

First

[@michiganstate149]

No maestro. Pass.

[@andrewsiasparks]

Oh giant. I bet it still wants to toss you OTB. Their bikes have always been too steep and short IMO. Even in the Ride B-role it looks like you were getting bucked a lot 😅

[@mountaincruiser817]

Maybe just maybe it wasn't the bike…

[@Prodiod]

Trance x I demoed last year around sea otter rode great. Felt pretty at home on it. Felt stiffer than my sentinel.

[@jeffrogers2180]

So the brand determines whether or not you go over the bars? I have thousands of miles on a giant and noticed no difference between that and my Trek fuel.

[@AGMTB.]

My Reign has a 63.5-degree HTA; not sure I would want any slacker than that... lol

[@andrewsiasparks]

Just stirring the pot guys. 😂

[@davegravitt210]

It looks like a Mongoose Salvo frame. 🤔

[@davegravitt210]

My new 2024 GT Zaskar FS is a better price point than the Stance! 🤪

[@DB-sd3cw]

Ew. Big box brand 🤮

[@davegravitt210]

@@DB-sd3cw . They aren't anymore. You have to order off the gt site here in Canada.

[@appelflapdrol]

What does big box brand mean if I may ask

[@davegravitt210]

@@appelflapdrol . Sold by places like SportsChek in Canada and Dick's sporting goods in the states. They are just the dealer . I picked up my bike in a box. I got lucky. I broke my 2020 GT Verb's frame and GT has a 5 year warranty on moving parts . They sent me the whole bike even though the frame is a 2017 Mongoose Salvo frame which is still made.. I was told the bike was was only branded GT Canada they are 1499.00+ tqx for a sport.

[@jamescornelison2023]

@@appelflapdrol Department store do doo