GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 V2 – In our huge 2024 e-mountainbike test

With the Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 V2, GIANT want to combine the best of both worlds, pairing a powerful in-house SyncDrive Pro2 MG motor with a small 400 Wh battery. Tipping the scales at 19.5 kg, GIANT’s full power eMTB should deliver a tremendous performance on the trail. How did it fare against the competition in our 2024 eMTB group test?

Finally the biggest bicycle manufacturer in the world has joined the light eMTB party. However, GIANT have decided to do things differently – rather than the usual low-torque motor and small battery, they’ve opted for their usual full-fat 85 Nm SyncDrive Pro2 MG motor, combined with a small 400 Wh battery to keep the weight down. Despite the bigger motor, GIANT’s engineers managed to reduce the weight to19.5 kg in size L, which makes it the lightest competitor with a full-fat motor in this test, but not quite light enough to keep up with the light eMTB test field in terms of weight. The Trance X generates 150/140 mm of travel and rolls on a mullet wheel setup, with a 29″ front wheel and smaller 27.5″ wheel at the rear. At € 11,999, it’s one of the pricier bikes in this test. But is it worth the price, and how does it fare against the competition on the trail?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 – 27 of the most exciting models in our comparison test

What sets the 2024 GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 apart from the competition?

With its unmistakable, organic design language and proven Maestro suspension, the Trance X is distinctly recognizable as a GIANT. But to which eMTB category does it belong? Light or full-fat eMTB? Well, there isn’t a straightforward answer to this question, because the GIANT lies somewhere in between. In a nutshell, the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite is a full-power eMTB with a small 400 Wh battery.

The frame relies on full carbon fibre construction, with a flip chip in the shock mount which allows you to tweak the geometry to suit your riing style. For the drive system, the Taiwanese bike colossus relies on their powerful, in-house SyncDrive Pro2 MG motor, which delivers 85 Nm of torque and looks rather bulky compared to the light drives in this test – but remember, it’s much more powerful too! The motor draws its power from a small 400 Wh battery, which is permanently integrated into the down tube, meaning that it can’t be charged externally. In return, you can retrofit an optional 200 Wh range extender for an additional € 499.90, which weighs 1.2 kg and fits into the bottle cage. This bumps up the total battery capacity to 600Wh and the bike’s total weight to 20.7 kg, making the GIANT the lightest full-power competitor in the entire test field. For comparison’s sake, Pivot’s light eMTB with a big 750 Wh battery tips the scales at 21.6 kg. So if you’re considering the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 as an option, you should definitely get the range extender for a little extra flexibility. 400 Wh are a rather tight squeeze on long tours, especially if you ride in the higher support modes. The range extender plugs directly into the charging port above the motor and can get in your way when pedalling, as it’s easy to catch with your shoes and pants. When using the range extender, you won’t be able to carry a water bottle on the frame.

Alongside Specialized, GIANT are one of the few bike manufacturers to develop their own remotes and displays, which allows them to tailor the peripheral motor components to their needs and requirements. The GIANT RideControl GO LED display in the top tube is very discreet but rather rudimentary, showing just basic riding data like the current support mode and battery charge status. Other data like the speed can only be accessed via the GIANT Ride Control app. The in-house RideControl Ergo 3 remote impresses with good haptics and ergonomics, and is seamlessly integrated into the grip of the in-house, one-piece Contact SLR TRAIL carbon cockpit with integrated GPS mount. However, the really interesting thing about it is that you can set it to your desired stem length and rotate the handlebars to achieve the angle you want – an excellent detail!

Amongst the biggest spec highlights is the FOX Factory suspension consisting of a 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and matching FOX FLOAT X Factory shock, both of which offer countless adjustment options and deliver a top performance on the trail. The suspension’s fancy Kashima coating perfectly matches the FOX Transfer Factory dropper post, which can be inserted all the way into the frame. Although at 175 mm it has more travel than the average in this test, it still restricts freedom of movement on the trail. However, the seat tube’s generous 270 mm insertion depth allows you to upgrade to a dropper with more travel. GIANT also rely on top-tier components for the rest of the spec, providing the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 with a SRAM XX Eagle Transmission drivetrain, which is incredibly robust and bolts directly to the frame. SRAM also supply the powerful SRAM CODE RSC four-piston brakes, which are paired with a 200 mm rotor at the front and a small 180 mm disc at the rear – unfortunately this overheats, reaching its limit on long descents and with heavy riders.

For the tires, GIANT rely on fellow Taiwanese brand MAXXIS, combining a Dissector in the flimsy EXO casing at the front and shallow-profiled Rekon at the rear, both in the grippy MaxxGrip rubber compound. While this setup might ensure excellent rolling resistance, it doesn’t do justice to the bike’s character and intended use. We recommend upgrading to more aggressive tires, like a Minion DHF/DHRII combo. While you’re at it, you should get a more robust casing, like MAXXIS EXO+ or even Doubledown if you’re a heavy, aggressive rider. Not only will the tougher casing improve handling, but also protect the expensive Zipp 3ZERO MOTO carbon wheelset, which, on our test bike, came with a TyreWiz pressure gauge that allows you to check your pressure through the SRAM AXS app or an external bike computer.

Tuning-Tipp:
– Upgrade to more aggressive tires, like MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHRII and, while you’re at it, change to the tougher EXO+ casing (or even Doubledown!)
– Upgrade to a bigger 200 mm brake rotor at the rear

What is the 2024 GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 capable of on the trail?

The GIANT Trance X Advance E+ Elite 0 places you in a comfortable pedalling position, which is partly due to the high front end. With its fast-rolling tires and 200 Wh range extender, it’s also suitable for longer backcountry tours, and almost comparable to a full-power eMTB with a large battery thanks to the additional 200 Wh capacity. The dynamic Smart Assist mode suits the bike’s touring character too, allowing you to call up the motor support over a wide range without it feeling too abrupt when you accelerate, which makes it ideal for beginners too.

A 19.5kg full-power eMTB isn’t a bike, it’s a statement!

However, the Smart Assist changes its character as soon as you start climbing, with the internal sensors ensuring that the motor develops its power more willingly. Alternatively, you can bypass dynamic mode and tackle the climb in Power mode – after all, you’re sitting on a big motor and want to use it! However, Power mode requires an experienced rider, as the bike jolts forward abruptly at the slightest pedal contact. As a result, the GIANT out-climbs any of the light eMTBs in this test, due to the sheer power of the motor. However, in technical climbing sections it struggles behind the real climbing experts in this test, the ORBEA Wild and Canyon Strive:ON, despite weighing 2 kg less than the heaviest competitor. This is mainly due to the shallow-profiled rear tire and uneven weight distribution, which, together with the powerful motor, cause the front wheel tends to lift off the ground on steeper sections. And if you actively weight the front end to keep it tracking the rear wheel spins out of control. This turns key technical sections into an authentic challenge, forcing you to constantly shift your weight between the front and rear. And while the SyncDrive Pro2 MG motor impresses with powerful acceleration, the GIANT lacks traction compared to the climbing experts with a Bosch drive in this test. The motor develops its power extremely abruptly, meaning that you won’t get more power by pressing the pedals harder. As a result, the SyncDrive Pro2 MG feels weaker at higher cadences.

The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 feels at home on groomed flow trails with plenty of kickers and berms – just like all other light eMTBs! Here it allows you to build up speed either by pumping through rollers or by calling up the full motor power by pedalling hard. The GIANT implements steering input precisely and predictably, with the intuitive handling making it a great option even for beginners – provided the trail offers good grip. However, it doesn’t quite match the outstanding fun factor of the even lighter, nimbler trail acrobats in this test, like the Mondraker Neat, Specialized Levo SL and Santa Cruz Heckler SL – even full-fat eMTBs like the SCOR 4060 Z ST are slightly more fun on flowing trails.

On demanding, technical descents, the GIANT falls slightly behind the competition but still lines up amongst the more capable bikes in this test. This is mainly due to the Maestro rear suspension, which takes even bigger hits with great composure, and remains active with nasty braking bumps. However, if you plough through long root carpets or land a big drop, the reserves are rather limited. On long, steep descents, the small rear brake rotor overheats easily, requiring strong fingers together with the shallow-profiled tires. This is accentuated by the unbalanced weight distribution, which requires you to actively weight the front wheel for traction, especially in wet, slippery conditions – not an easy task for inexperienced riders!

Don’t even think about putting your foot on the pedal when stationary! If you do so, the GIANT jolts forward abruptly, which could spell disaster if you’re standing on a precipice

Who should take a closer look at the 2024 GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 and who should look elsewhere?

The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 is a great choice if you’re looking for a full-power eMTB with a decent weight and small battery with optional range extender. It appeals to sporty riders who spend most of their time on flowing trails and might want to go on a longer tour from time to time. If you love to go on fast-paced post work rides with plenty of assistance, but don’t need a huge battery, the GIANT is an excellent companion. However, beginners should steer clear from this bike, because it’s not very forgiving of riding mistakes.

Our conclusions about the Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0

GIANT are breaking new ground with their lightweight, full-power eMTB, which impresses above all with its powerful, slightly abrupt motor and low weight. The GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 is a fast, direct trail ripper that feels at home on flowing trails. On technical terrain, however, the GIANT requires an experienced rider and excellent line choice.

Tops

• Top spec
• Low system weight despite powerful motor
• Suspension with excellent all round capabilities

Flops

• Tires don’t do justice to the bike’s character and intended use
• Challenging in technical terrain

For more information, visit giant-bicycles.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 – 27 of the most exciting models in our comparison test

All bikes in test: BULLS VUCA EVO AM 2 (Click for review) | BULLS SONIC EVO AM SX-I (Click for review) | Canyon Strive:ON CFR LTD (Click for review) | Canyon Torque:ON CF Roczen (Click for review) | CENTURION No Pogo SL R8000i (Click for review) | CUBE AMS Hybrid ONE44 (Click for review) | FLYER Uproc X 8.70 (Click for review) | FOCUS SAM² 6.9 (Click for review) | GASGAS ECC 6 (Click for review) | GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 | KTM Macina Scarp SX Prime (Click for review) | Lapierre Overvolt GLP3 (Click for review) | Merida eOne-Sixty 10K (Click for review) | Mondraker Neat RR SL (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 FOX (Click for review) | Orbea WILD M-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Shuttle AM Team (Click for review) | Propain Ekano 2 CF (Click for review) | RADON RENDER 10.0 HD (Click for review) | ROTWILD R.X 1000 Ultra (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV (Click for review) | SCOR 4060 ST (Click for review) | SCOTT Voltage eRide 900 Tuned (Click for review) | SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax Pinion (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Levo Pro (Click for review) | Spherik E-SMT XX AXS (Click for review)

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Words: Antonia Feder Photos: Mike Hunger