Giant Bicycles (Taiwan) - Giant is introducing an all-new 29er to its 2019 lineup of full-suspension trail bikes. With over two years of testing and development, the new Trance 29 range applies the latest engineering and technologies from Giant.

Designed for all-around trail riding, ranging from daily singletrack shredding to all-day epics or enduro competition, the 2019 Trance 29 range is engineered with all-new 29er-specific geometry and some key updates to its Maestro Suspension system. The range includes two different series: the superlight full Advanced Composite Trance Advanced Pro 29 and the ALUXX SL aluminum frame Trance 29. Both are engineered with 115mm of rear suspension and 130mm up front, giving trail riders a new level of confidence, control and capability.

“We started working on a new 29er trail bike more than two years ago with a team of engineers, designers and riders including Giant ambassador Adam Craig,” said Kevin Dana, Giant senior off-road global category manager. “We really just set out to build a bike that was fun to ride in a variety of conditions and terrain. Changes in fork offsets allowed us to create something we couldn’t have built even a year prior. This is a bike that loves to be pushed and opened up at speed.”

The new frame’s shorter chainstays (435mm) keep the 29-inch rear wheel tucked tightly beneath the rider, which makes the bike feel quicker, especially on climbs and tight singletrack. After several phases of testing and development, engineers settled on a 66.5-degree headtube angle and 74.5-degree seattube angle for a perfect balance of responsiveness and stability on the trail. The 44mm fork offset adds to the bike’s front-end stability.

“This new frame geometry, combined with the larger diameter wheels, makes it an agile climber in technical terrain that also feels super stable descending rowdy singletrack,” Dana said.

The updated Maestro Suspension system includes a new trunnion mount shock, which produces a lower shock leverage ratio for improved pedaling and braking efficiency. The rear suspension is further bolstered by its new Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm, which is lighter, stiffer and stronger than the aluminum version.

All the new Trance 29 models feature Boost hub spacing for stiffer wheel performance, added tire clearance, and improved handling on the trail. And they all feature Giant Tubeless System technology, which means every bike is delivered with Giant WheelSystems and tubeless ready tires, making it easier than ever to enjoy the benefits of added traction, smoother trail control, and a reduced risk of flat tires.

Craig worked with the development team, testing various iterations of the Trance 29 on a variety of terrain. The retired racer has as much experience as anyone with Giant XC and trail bikes, having competed at the top level on Maestro suspension bikes for more than a decade.

“This is a bike that wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago,” said Craig. “It’s amazing what the engineers have been able to accomplish, creating a 29er that’s totally versatile and super fun to ride on all types of terrain. It’s ready for steep climbs and technical descents, just a great option for enduro events, big days in the backcountry, or daily rips on your local trails.” 

Here’s a look at the two series in the new Trance 29 range:

Trance Advanced Pro 29:

The flagship series of the new Trance 29 range is engineered with a full Advanced Composite technology frameset including the mainframe and rear swingarm. Aimed at serious trail riders and racers who want one bike to do it all, it’s the lightest mid-travel 29er frame ever from Giant. It features the most up-to-date Maestro suspension with an Advanced Forged composite rocker arm and trunnion-mount shock for 115mm of rear travel that’s active and sensitive to small bumps. The frame geometry is all new, with progressive headtube and seattube angles, shorter chainstays and a longer toptube. The flagship Trance Advanced Pro 29 0 model features custom-tuned DVO front and rear suspension.

Trance 29:

This series features all the same suspension updates and new, 29er-specific trail geometry as the Trance Advanced Pro 29 series. The key difference is this one is built with an ALUXX SL aluminum front triangle and rear swingarm.