The Giant Trance X 29 is a new addition to Giant’s mountain bike line-up for 2021. As a more aggressive sibling of the Trance 29 trail bike, the Trance X 29 features more suspension travel, revised geometry and beefier kit.
It's interesting to see what Giant is trying to achieve by offering such a model, particularly when you consider that it sits uncomfortably close to the 29in Reign.
The Trance X 29 frame is easily recognised as a member of the Trance family. The aluminium chassis sees a different version of Giant’s Maestro suspension linkage that now delivers 135mm of rear wheel travel – that’s up 20mm on the regular Trance 29 or 5mm shorter than that of the 27.5in-wheeled Trance.
The suspension increase is mirrored at the front with the Trance X 29 built around a 150mm fork rather than 130mm, as found on the regular Trance 29.
Unusually for Giant, the forged composite suspension rocker used on the new Trance X incorporates a flip chip to adjust the bike’s geometry.
Switching the hardware at the rocker arm allows for a low and high position. The ‘low’ position is designed for faster, more open terrain and sees head and seat angles slacken, the bottom bracket move lower to the ground and the bike’s wheelbase extend.
Conversely, the ‘high’ position steepens head and seat tube angles, raises the bottom bracket (BB) and shortens the wheelbase for a bike that should be more suitable for tighter, slower singletrack.
Diving into the numbers, it’s clear that the adjustable geometry makes quite a difference to the bike’s shape.
The low setting reduces the head angle to 65.5 degrees from 66.23, and also slackens the seat angle from 77.93 to 77.2 degrees. It also increases BB drop to 40mm from 30mm and extends the bike’s wheelbase by around 20mm.
Reach figures are up significantly on the regular Trance 29. For example, a size medium Trance 29 has a reach figure of 442mm while the Trance X 29 in the same size has a reach of either 456mm (low) or 464mm (high) depending on its geometry setting.
2021 Giant Trance X 29 specifications
The Trance X 29 is officially available in three builds for 2021, but some models will only make it to certain territories.
All bikes feature 1x drivetrains, 780mm handlebars and either 40 or 50mm stems depending on the bike's size. Giant also ships these bikes as truly tubeless-ready – all you need to do is fill the tyres with sealant and you’re good to go.
The most affordable bike is the $2,300 (international pricing TBC) Trance X 29 3 which features a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork and Fox Float DPS Performance shock, SRAM’s SX Eagle drivetrain and Shimano MT420 disc brakes.
Giant supplies its own-brand wheelset, paired to a 2.5in Maxxis Minion/Dissector tyre combo. Giant's own Contact Switch dropper seatpost is also fitted.
The next model up is the $3,000 Trance X 29 2 which upgrades to a Fox 36 Float Rhythm fork and a groupset that’s mostly Shimano SLX.
The Trance X 29 1 is the range topper, its price is still to be confirmed but it will use a Fox 36 Performance Elite fork and Float DPX2 shock along with a mix of Shimano XT and SLX components.
