The 2022 GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 on test – does an eMTB need electronic suspension?

For the 2022 season, the GIANT Trance X Advanced eMTB features a new carbon frame, FOX Live Valve suspension and an upgraded motor. We put it to the test to find out whether it dances lightly over the trails thanks to the electronic FOX suspension or whether it prefers more of a slow waltz.

GIANT have given the Trance X Advanced E+ an extensive facelift and equipped it with a new motor and electronic suspension. We found out whether the little helpers have fixed the issue we had with the low front end of last year’s model.

GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 2022 in Detail

The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ features a beautiful clear-coated carbon fibre shell with flowing lines and the proven Maestro suspension linkage that GIANT are known for. The lower rocker arm sits flush against the new GIANT SyncDrive 2 motor. Nestled permanently inside the down tube is a 625 Wh battery and the universal remote can be mounted on the left or right side of the handlebar, sitting flush with the grip on either side. However, the cables around the cockpit don’t look very tidy, which is mainly due to the additional cables of the electronic FOX Live Valve suspension. However, all the cables disappear inside the frame once you move beyond the head tube where they’re clamped down securely and don’t rattle. The 23.04 kg bike allows you to expand the battery capacity with an optional 250 Wh range extender, which is claimed to weigh an additional 1.8 kg.

The components of the 2022 GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 – A tech dream at an affordable price

For the components, GIANT rely heavily on their own products. The handlebar, stem, seat post and wheels are all supplied in-house. The Taiwanese bike manufacturer only resorts to Shimano’s XT range for the drivetrain and brakes. The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 on test comes with an in-house carbon wheelset, which turned out to be unreliable when paired with the puncture prone EXO+ tires. We managed to crack the rear rim by dinging it against a rock lightly, making it unrideable. With an active riding style, the thin tire casing would probably have led to the same result even if we didn’t hit a rock. The low-end Shimano rotors are equally inconsistent with the otherwise high-quality spec, resulting in reduced braking performance due to an uneven surface.

Live Valve – Intelligent suspension > intelligent rider?

The suspension of the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 is supplied by FOX and gets controlled electronically. In our first ride review of the FOX E-Live Valve system, the intelligent suspension proved to be capable of lending eMTBs previously undreamt-of climbing prowess and making them a lot more agile through the corners when coming back down. It can make a bike so versatile that you can commute efficiently, race enduro and cross the alps on the same bike. As the likes of PIVOT, SIMPLON and Scott, GIANT rely on the FOX Live Valve System on selected models, using sensors on the fork and rear triangle to assess the riding situation and adjust the compression settings in real-time. The system is powered by the bike’s integrated battery and thus requires no further maintenance or charging. Except for the cables that are required for real-time data transmission, the system is neatly integrated into the top tube. To find out how the Live Valve system performs on the GIANT, keep on reading.

GIANT SyncDrive Pro 2 – A powerhouse of a motor with a lot of torque

The latest generation of the GIANT SyncDrive Pro motor is based on the Yamaha PW-X3, which is more compact and around 300 g lighter than its predecessor. With a torque output of 85 Nm, it’s rated as powerful as Shimano and Bosch motors, but don’t let yourself be blinded by these figures. In practice, the way it feels on the trail can differ enormously and any differences get amplified by the FOX E-Live Valve system. The motor in the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 feels incredibly powerful and efficient. In addition to measuring the cadence and torque on the cranks, the adaptive Smart Assist support mode also factors in the gradient on which you’re riding, offering the optimal amount of support. The motor reacts to the slightest touch of the pedals, flexing its muscles even when you’re stationary, which can occasionally give you a bit of freight when pulling away in a high support mode and a low gear. While you’re still getting used to the bike, we recommend taking your feet off the pedals when coming to a stop, especially at things like traffic lights. Compared to the competition, the SyncDrive Pro 2 is very quiet, particularly at low cadences, only making a slight noise when exceeding the optimal speed.

The models of the GIANT Trance X E+

The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ range consists of 3 models, whereby the lowest number indicates the best spec – 0 in our case. In addition to this, you also get models 1 and 2, which rely on in-house products for the same components as the flagship model, though not made of carbon, which is a good thing for the wheels. Just like the € 8,499 flagship model, the two more affordable € 7,399 and € 6,399 models rely on FOX Performance suspension, so you don’t have to make any compromises on the trail. The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 and 1 models feature electronic suspension, whereas you’ll have to adjust the compression manually on the 2 series.

Spannend sind außerdem die Alu-Modelle, die ohne den Advanced-Namenszusatz und ohne elektronisches Fahrwerk auskommen, dafür aber auf 750 Wh Akkukapazität setzen. Wer also eher ausgiebige Touren räubern und nicht ganz so tief ins Portemonnaie greifen will, ist mit den Alu-Modellen zwischen 4.899 € und 6.199 € gut versorgt.

The geometry of the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ – A nuance of adjustability

The geometry remains virtually unchanged compared to the predecessor – only the chainstay length has grown by one millimetre to a whopping 473 mm. It would hardly have been possible to make them any shorter due to the positioning of the motor and the lower Maestro rocker. The bike uses a flip chip that allows you to steepen the seat and head tube angle by 0.8°. However, you can save yourself the effort and leave it in the low position – the riding position is front-heavy as is. The maximum permissible weight is an impressive 156 kg, the same as on the predecessor, which was the highest in the test field of our big group test. Considering the weight of our test bike, you’re left with a theoretical payload capacity of 133 kg. However, due to the light tires and carbon rims, the score already stood at 1:0 for our 80 kg test rider. To avoid this and protect the carbon rims, we recommend swapping out the tires with something at least as thick as a Doubledown casing before hitting the trails. All models are available in frame sizes S–XL, accommodating riders between 165 and 195 cm tall. When choosing the size, GIANT will help you by recommending a size based on your leg and arm length and how tall you are.

Größe	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	400 mm	425 mm	450 mm	475 mm
Top tube	575 mm	605 mm	635 mm	665 mm
Head tube	95 mm	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm
Head angle	65.7°	65.7°	65.7°	65.7°
Seat angle	77.2°	77.2°	77.2°	77.2°
Chainstays	473 mm	473 mm	473 mm	473 mm
BB Drop	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm
Wheelbase	1,220 mm	1,239 mm	1,268 mm	1,300 mm
Reach	439 mm	457 mm	482 mm	510 mm
Stack	606 mm	611 mm	621 mm	630 mm

The handling of the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ 0 – It sticks and climbs!

The GIANT Trance X Advanced offers a slightly front-heavy riding position due to the relatively steep seat tube angle. While this turns out to be uncomfortable when riding on flat terrain since it puts a lot of pressure on your hands, it makes the bike an effortless climber on steep, alpine trails. In conjunction with FOX’s adaptive suspension and the Yamaha motor, which is very powerful at low cadences, the GIANT is an absolute climbing machine, even compensating for the lack of grip offered by the MAXXIS DISSECTOR tire on the rear wheel. The E-Live Valve system irons out all irregularities even on the climbs, and it also ensures you’ll never again forget to open the compression lever before starting a descent. Moreover, It allows you to build up speed on flow trials by pumping the bike without causing a nasty surprise the moment you hit an obstacle.

The fat 2.6″ tires tend to buckle through berms and feel spongy. Unfortunately, the Live Valve suspension is limited in terms of adjustability and the fork relies on the simpler FIT 4 rebound and compression damper, which hardens during fast successive impacts such as you’ll experience through rock gardens and over roots. If you want a more finely tuneable fork for the descents, you’ll be much better off with analogue alternatives like the GRIP2 damper. On the descents, you’ll generally notice the bike’s front-heavy character. The front wheel prefers sticking firmly to the ground, making hard work of jumps and slow drops. On the other hand, the bike generates a lot of traction through open corners, allowing beginners to stay in control and even master tight corners surprisingly well despite the long chainstays.

Conclusion on the new GIANT Trance X Advanced E+0 2022

If you’re looking for a technology-packed climbing machine at a reasonable price, the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ is it. It’s well suited for alpine climbs and natural descents, always generating tons of traction. However, the bike feels overwhelmed on steep, rocky chutes and shaped tracks, reluctant to leave the ground. Although the Live Valve suspension offers clear benefits, it can’t entirely compensate for the issues we already had with the previous Trance X – the solution isn’t always electronic.

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For more information, visit giant-bicycles.com

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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Thomas Weiss