2014 Giant Trance Advanced SX 27.5

Black on black labeling and internally routed cables contribute to the bike’s sleek aesthetic. The OverDrive2 headtube is proprietary and beefed up compared to other brands, Giant claims a 15% increase in torsional steering stiffness, although I’m not sure I really notice a difference.

The Trance SX sports the new SRAM X01 drivetrain for those looking to stay with the hot trends. But Giant also pays attention to the details: the direct mount front derailleur tab provides the option of multiple front rings for those who so choose,and the cover on the direct mount keeps things looking clean. The integrated chainstay wrap is also a nice touch, even though clutch derailleurs have significantly reduced chain slap. Look closely and you’ll also notice ISCG-05 chainguide tabs. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to customizing the bike to suit whatever your drivetrain needs dictate. Unfortunately the crank finish already shows signs of wear after only a handful of rides.

The Maestro suspension benefis greatly with the addition of the 142x12mm through axle wheel on the rear and the Fox Float X rear shock. The bump up to the wider wheel spacing and through axle drastically improves rear end stiffness compared to my previous generation Reign. The new Float X shock offers more compression damping throughout the range of its adjustments, providing more support early in the travel, helping improve climbing and pedalling performance, while also seeming to help resist the harsh bottom out that was oh so common on the Reign on big hits.

It’s no secret that Fox’s 2013 34 CTD forks were not their best effort. The revamped internals do the trick, however, and the fork exceeded expectations. Adjustments provide a noticeable difference in performance, and the fork dive that was so common in the 2013 line is absent. Giant has taken advantage of the TALAS-5 platform to give us a 160mm fork that lowers just 20mm to 140 in the low setting, matching the 140mm rear travel.

At only 100mm of travel, Giant’s Contact remote adjustable seatpost performs fairly reliably, even if it feels a bit lacking in total height adjustment when the trail turns down and steep. The offset post also puts you back on the bike. Personally I prefer something with less offset to help keep the front of the bike down on steep climbs when running shorter stems. The Fi’zi:k Gobi XM saddle isn’t the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever been on, but it’s better than many OEM offerings and quietly goes about its duties.

The dual bolt clamp on the seatpost binder is a head scratcher – it makes simple quick adjustments a thing of the past, and instead you get to fiddle around with two bolts. Totally unnecessary, and actually kind of annoying.

Slowing down is handled by Avid’s 4-piston Elixir 9 Trail brakes. With both pad contact and reach adjustment, getting the brakes dialed to suit your tastes is easy. I’ve had no problems with stopping power on the steepest of trails so far.

Giant has implemented a direct post mount for the rear brake, which has potential to become an industry norm.

Black with a splash of Kashima, the Trance SX is low on flash and high on stealth. Coming in at $5699 CDN, with a carbon mainframe, Fox CTD suspension featuring a 140-160mm 34 fork and Float X rear damper, the highly coveted SRAM X01 drivetrain, and a stealth remote adjustable seatpost, Giant takes the value game to another level.