Wow. This was so helpful! I have an older Rocky Mountain XC bike that I currently commute on with slicks that I want to change up for knobbies so I can start riding some trails. That last bit at the end on how to adapt an XC bike for trails was some great advice I didn't know I needed! Thanks so much!
Clint, thank you for such an in-depth comparison and complete explanation of trail vs xc bikes. It is selfless individuals like yourself who contribute to our sport and make it safer and more enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise. My respect and gratitude to you sir.
Clint. Thanks you so much for the info. I was deliberating (strangely) between the Anthem and the Trance. My wife just bought the Lust (female version of Anthem) and we always ride together. Your advice on "If I had one bike, I would have the Anthem" pushed me towards the Anthem but your advice on riding similar bikes to who you ride with really swayed it for me. I have an Anthem 2 on order to be delivered next week. Super excited! Thanks again. Ant
Thank you Clint! I am transitioning from motorcycles to 'pedalcycles' due to injury and your videos have explained the very fine details which explain the important differences amongst the various bikes. It's been hard for me to see past the tiny tires, brakes and travel; but your vids are getting me on track. Thanks!
Eh. I really wanted to learn. Mr. Gibbs could have transferred knowledge A LOT more efficiently using some other visual aids (like a white board with drawings, videos of XC vs trail-riding, and pics of terrain types vs skill level for each discipline, for example). 20 minutes of moving the camera between the two bikes, often not even in relation to the topic (i.e. talking about the "wider handlebar" at 2:23 but still focused on the XC bike), doesn't convey ideas better.
Hey, great video, thanks. One addition for the undecided out there: Some companies offer trail bikes with the option to stiffen or lock the suspensions (e.g., Scott calls it Twin Loc), and it really helps to reduce the sluggishness. My Scott Genius has 150 mm travel front and back, but in the middle mode it feels more agile and responsive (and faster), and locked out, it is as much fun to ride on a road as my older XC hardtail bike. The other differences remain, of course, but if you want to get into downhill, you might want to consider this. Cheers!
Thanks so much for all your videos Clint! I'm from Las Vegas and have been riding weekly since last fall and have learned a tremendous amount of information from all your work. This last wrap up video was like icing on a cake :-) Great job!
That Hutch in the background is awesome, it reminds me of my first "real" bike. I mowed lawns and shoveled snow for the better part of 2 years to get an '82 Hutch "Expert". The bike shop threw in some "Chrome" colored California Light Hutch pads - early '80s BMX was a time of serious chrome, and neon colors :)
Thanks for posting this video, I just purchased my first bike a Trek Xcaliber4 29er and never realized how many different kind of mountian bikes there were and how much there was to learn.
Шкода, я не розумію по англійські, але це ПЕРШЕ і ЄДИНЕ відео, де, врешті-решт, розповідається про різницю між трейл- та кк- байками! Лайк однозначно!!!
It's amazing how the industry has now addressed all the XC issues that you mentioned in this 4 year old video. Nowadays XC bikes have a slacker head angle, usually come with 180/160 rotors, grippy & fast tires and... 95% of XC riders in last week's XC world cup in Albstadt had a dropper post on their race bike.
This is an excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to present this well thought out analysis. I've always been of the opinion that it's more so the rider not the bike, and hair splitting in specs only hypes and confuses as much as anything, but you focused on the details that are pertinent, more than any video on TH-cam, or article on the web really.
Thanks for the in depth video(s) & full explanation of the differences between the two types of bikes. As somewhat of a noob to modern mountain bikes, this video was extremely helpful - especially compared with the short 2 minute reviews & vids most youtubers are posting on bikes.. Much respect.
Hi Clint - just wanted to say thanks for your detailed and informative videos. I spent a couple months trying to decide what new MTB I was going to get and when I narrowed it down to choosing between the Trance and Anthem your reviews were a great help in sourcing some first-hand experienced insight. Nice work. Keep it up.
I got the Trance 27.5 1. I was tempted to get the Advanced but I got a good deal on the one I got. I'm loving the Trance, it just chews up the obstacles!!
Great review and walkthroughs of the bike. You can also mention that if someone is getting only one bike and could sometimes be on the road/commuting, the XC is the better option. But overall awesome video!
I work at a bike store ( Giant is our main brand ) and this video help me a lot to understand differences between cross country and trail mountain bikes. Thanks a lot.
Great, great, great review !!!!! Thank you from the depth of my heart. It was great pleasure to listen to you. There is another great review - Hard tail vs full suspension. Thank you again. :)))))
Great video, Clint! Thanks a lot for your clear explanations. Here in Argentina it would be quite difficult to have both these beautiful bikes, so we must carefully choose :-) Best regards, Claudio
hi clint, excellent video , I have an Xtrance 29er and recently did my best downhill rides on dirt roads in Colombia, this thing is fast and secure going down, I live in miami and do the local trails, but where I enjoyed my bike the most was down in S america. I love my Giant 29er,
Terrific video! This helped me decide on a 2015 Trance 3 that I upgraded with wider bars, better grips and an X Fusion Sweep fork. I am mowing over roots and rocks I used to go around on my 04' Norco Fluid 3.
Love your bikes. I just bought a showing 700c commuter and take it for street rides. These bikes not in my budget but love watching your video to see your bikes. Awesome.
Awesome video mate. Wish I watched this before I bought my back and got back into heavy mountain biking. Things have changed so much since the mid nineties when I was last into it heavy. I will say though, the things I used to do on my rocky fusion with solid fork would make people on full scale enduro bikes today cringe lol! Wow have times a changed or what
I went ahead and bought a Trance trail bike to add to the Anthem I already have. It arrived last week and I rode it the first time. The first thing I noticed is that when I ride the Anthem I am handling the bike. The first time I rode the Trance it handled me! It'll take a little while to get used to. Also noticed more grip from the tires. I am enjoying the new purchase and have no buyers remorse.
Thank you so much! That was very helpful for me. I'm trying to pick up a city bike but I don't want to go hybrid, and i want to be kind of a hooligan like when I was in high school on my bike then, AND I want to be able to go relatively fast enough around the city on some Tarmac. Haha. Your video has helped me. Thank you :) I live in India now, my parents r still in Orlando, FL, I've ridden there, beautiful trails yawl have :)
I believe this is a very honest video as you seem to sing higher praise for the trail bike but in the end you said if you had to choose only one- it would be the XC bike- very fair and informative opinion!
glad i watched this video because i wouldn't have known that both those bike was entirely different.. because to me at first glance, both bikes look exactly the same aside from the color
Great explanation and answered many questions. Cross Country for me in Florida and Trail staged at my home in Colorado. Got half of that equation solved, now just the other to solve. $$$$$$
Okay I just stopped the video because I just subbed and I am very happy that I did! While listening to others trying to cover the similar topics, you are able to explain the technical how's and why's which is very important for a noob like me!
thank u very much Man, i just got a xc hardtail bike, took me 2 months to decide if full suspension, or hardtail, xc or trail, 27.5 or 29, at the end found an offer for a marin nail trail 29, for 1400usd .. been riding it for a week only and i was getting to the same conclusions u explain.. u made things a lot more clear to me, i race & like to have lots of fun, but my priority was race :) next one will be the fun one.. (i live in playa del carmen, mexico, no hills around just lots of rocky, root, and dusty trails, some sand, so, there is lots of pedaling here...
Hi Clint, Your videos have been extremely helpful to me. I'm in the sport for a little over 2 months and it has become a serious obsession. With so much information out there, supporting and contradicting each other, your style and your attention to details are unmatched. When I started, I decided to go with a hardtail to test the water before I dive deep into the sport. I purchased 2015 Trek X- Caliber 7. I live in Long Island, NY most of the trails here are good for XC with some advanced climbs and very few steep descents. I love my bike, but the 29 XC is not great on tight corners and I feel my weight is too far over the bike on descents. which make it a bit scary for a lack of better words. I'm ready to purchase a second bike, you've made me a fan of the Giant brand. I'm torn between 3 bikes and I was hoping you can help me with selection or making a video review on the 3 bike side by side. My budget is in $3500 range I was looking at Giant Trance, Giant Anthem and the new Trek fuel 8 27.5 plus Thanks again, Mohamed
I rode flatland and one of my pals still has his SE Quadangle...Hutch Trick Star and PK Ripper. I love when MTBers have BMX/Flatland/Freestyle/Streetstyle roots
Thanks for your reply below. I just pulled the trigger on a Trance Advanced 27.5 2. It still comes with a dropper seatpost and was only $200 dearer than the Alloy 27.5 1. How could I say no. Gotta love sales!
Such a great video. As I applied the information from your video I realized that perhaps a XC bike would be a better option for me since I'm not an expert in mtb riding, but I also wanted to have some versatility for occasional or unexpected trail handling. Prior to the end of your video I was preparing questions to ask in regards to what type of mods can be made to a XC bike to allow more versatility, which you also covered at the end. Thank you taking the time and providing such detailed and visual explanation.
amazingly helpfull with great insight! . couldn't decide between the anthem or the trance!. I ride in the new england area and we have short steep climbs that get technical with some pretty rough rocky terrain, I'm not into jumps or drops and it seems the anthem is the right choice thanks for the insightful review and considerations on explaining both bikes!.
If you want a fun all-mtn rig check out the Canfield Brothers Yelli Screamy. They were the first to make a sub 17" chain stay on a 29er. Not for racing, but for all of us who don't race it's one of the funnest bikes to ride!
Nice videos and I went with a Anthem 29er wanted a really stable xc bike for long 40 50km rides and the long chainstay on the anthem gives that feeling. Because I already have a Bronson and a giant glory to abuse the trails, Im not using the anthem for trail riding just pure xc and long rides.....so your vids help me decide on getting a used 29er, thanks and keep it up bro.
I'm an absolute beginner to mountain biking and I've only recently learnt few fundamentals like footwork and jumping (pumping and manuals) over obstacles, etc. I use a 2013 diamondback recoil 29. A very basic entry level MTB that I bought used for $300 and got tuned up from a bike shop. I want to invest proper money and buy a better bike now and I was really confused. The last 3 and a half minutes of your video made it all clear to me. I'm going for trail bikes with a slacker head angle and longer travel. I do wanna climb uphill faster but downhill and aggressive cornering is what I love doing most I've found. I simply love that rush. I do take my bike out on roads both paved and unpaved but I really do not mind if a trail bike is going to make me feel slower on those surfaces.
Lisa van der Merwe yeah, and I have noticed bikes on the Aussie and South African sites that don't appear on the european sites... REAL annoying... I dunno why that is... ??
my wife and i have giant anthem 2 27.5 and love them for trail riding. We changed tires to nobbie nic front and hans damff rear. we can ride trails that we would never try our before. We are older and don't ride as fast as young kids. The bike choice was made after watching your videos.
Great vid ... Was the answers I was looking for ... I brought a Anthem without looking into it and was not sure if I should have got the Trance ... Anthem right choice for me YAY!! ... CHEERS!!!
I have a nice inexpensive Cannondale trail 6 29er. I ride here in NYC just casually.. I should of gone with a cross country bike since I'm not on any trails & input my emphasis on speed during my commute then on maneuverability. I did have my bars cut down a bit & I'm thinking of getting slick wtb tires for less dag on my ride. Great informative video..
Hi Clint. Firstly I felt that I must drop you a line to tell you how much I enjoy your vlogs/ videos. They are fantastically detailed and no stone left uncovered . I am not sure many if any put as much detail and effort in to the content.I have watched both your Trail/ X country, which one ? Vids as I am in the market for an Anthem/Trance.I currently have a Canyon Nerve 120mm Fox travel bike that I have just updated with 1x10 gears and thought about the Trance carbon that you have but I think I will go for the 27.5 1 carbon Anthem (yellow and black in colour)as the Trance maybe similar to my Nerve although it is 4 years old now. I want to start to take my son and he can use it and I will use the Anthem. My only concern was my local trail,Dalby Forest, has some rocky areas but majority is smoother single/ double track, twisty and steep in places. I suppose I can take it a little steadier on the rocky sections. Anyway, sorry to go on a bit. Please keep up the great content and thank you.
Thanks for such a detailed/comprehensive review as you always do Clint! Made it that much more easy for me to choose a Enduro Trail Bike since I do have access to DH mountainous terrain here in the Northeast! I do have to work more in various sections of my local XC trails in my Trail bike, but I don't mind, more exercise for me. I still have a vintage 1995 OCLV Trek 9900 XC hardtail that couldn't withstand a lot of technicals the trails here threw at me! 26 inch wheels compared to my new trail bike feels like i'm riding a kids bike now, yet so agile. I don't know if I should trade that vintage 95 Trek 9900 that I had for such a long time so I can buy my 10 year old son a good Mountainbike (Giant XRC jr 26+) I love my Trail bike and I feel it's versatile enough, yet I feel if I trade in my Trek (offered $250) at my LBS for my son's Giant XRC jr 26+ for $550 is it worth it? Love to get some insight! Thanks again Clint..
It is control that matters. Your body angle etc. Trail bike is super fun even if you are descending at snails pace because it will keep telling you that you can do more
Although my 2018 Giant Anthem Advanced 2 has a 50mm stem. I am short so am happy with this. My big obstacle all my life with bikes has been sizing. I added the spacers and switched to a carbon riser bar just bc so have tuned this bike to fit just right, plus cut the bars to 700mm.
As a new rider I went with the XC hardtail root and got a Specialized Crave. It's a really nice bike, but since I am not an XC racer and don't care about weight I am trying to turn it into more of a trail bike. I got a shorter stem, riser bar, and a dropper seat post.
Excellent video. Thanks for the great breakdown. I have a Camber Comp and a 2019 Carbon Comp Stump Jumper ST. U would even compare the differences in my two bikes to your two examples here. Even though a S in the new Stumpjumper, the differences between the two bikes is almost identical to your descriptions. I want sure why you said you thought the drop post on the cross country would be useless? I put one on my Camber and feel they're always good to have.
Hi, I live in Tampa area and just got my first ever trail ride in at Alafia River State Park. Loved it. I used a crappy old bike and felt limited but still enjoyed some of the "technical" areas. So after watching this video I'm still a bit unsure if I should buy cross country or trail. I was leaning toward the trail to feel more stable on the downhills. As a beginer I'm not to worried about speed.
Wow. This was so helpful! I have an older Rocky Mountain XC bike that I currently commute on with slicks that I want to change up for knobbies so I can start riding some trails. That last bit at the end on how to adapt an XC bike for trails was some great advice I didn't know I needed! Thanks so much!
One of the best videos on the subject I’ve seen. Well done and Thank you.
Clint, thank you for such an in-depth comparison and complete explanation of trail vs xc bikes. It is selfless individuals like yourself who contribute to our sport and make it safer and more enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise. My respect and gratitude to you sir.
Thanks Grant. I appreciate it.
Clint. Thanks you so much for the info. I was deliberating (strangely) between the Anthem and the Trance. My wife just bought the Lust (female version of Anthem) and we always ride together. Your advice on "If I had one bike, I would have the Anthem" pushed me towards the Anthem but your advice on riding similar bikes to who you ride with really swayed it for me. I have an Anthem 2 on order to be delivered next week. Super excited! Thanks again. Ant
Thank you Clint! I am transitioning from motorcycles to 'pedalcycles' due to injury and your videos have explained the very fine details which explain the important differences amongst the various bikes. It's been hard for me to see past the tiny tires, brakes and travel; but your vids are getting me on track. Thanks!
You should do an informational video on how to do informational videos...very well done.
Eh. I really wanted to learn. Mr. Gibbs could have transferred knowledge A LOT more efficiently using some other visual aids (like a white board with drawings, videos of XC vs trail-riding, and pics of terrain types vs skill level for each discipline, for example). 20 minutes of moving the camera between the two bikes, often not even in relation to the topic (i.e. talking about the "wider handlebar" at 2:23 but still focused on the XC bike), doesn't convey ideas better.
Thank you for the video. All this years I wasn't sure if I was a Trail or XC rider. After watching this I am definitely a Trail rider.
Great video. Wish I saw this earlier. Making the jump from HT to FS. Took me weeks of research to find what you summerized in 20 minutes.
Hey, great video, thanks.
One addition for the undecided out there: Some companies offer trail bikes with the option to stiffen or lock the suspensions (e.g., Scott calls it Twin Loc), and it really helps to reduce the sluggishness. My Scott Genius has 150 mm travel front and back, but in the middle mode it feels more agile and responsive (and faster), and locked out, it is as much fun to ride on a road as my older XC hardtail bike.
The other differences remain, of course, but if you want to get into downhill, you might want to consider this. Cheers!
Thanks, mate!
Thanks so much for all your videos Clint! I'm from Las Vegas and have been riding weekly since last fall and have learned a tremendous amount of information from all your work. This last wrap up video was like icing on a cake :-) Great job!
Rich,
From Vegas here too! Where do you ride at? I'm usually out at Cottonwood.
That Hutch in the background is awesome, it reminds me of my first "real" bike. I mowed lawns and shoveled snow for the better part of 2 years to get an '82 Hutch "Expert". The bike shop threw in some "Chrome" colored California Light Hutch pads - early '80s BMX was a time of serious chrome, and neon colors :)
Thanks for posting this video, I just purchased my first bike a Trek Xcaliber4 29er and never realized how many different kind of mountian bikes there were and how much there was to learn.
Шкода, я не розумію по англійські, але це ПЕРШЕ і ЄДИНЕ відео, де, врешті-решт, розповідається про різницю між трейл- та кк- байками! Лайк однозначно!!!
Most helpful review I found online. Thank you for posting
It's amazing how the industry has now addressed all the XC issues that you mentioned in this 4 year old video. Nowadays XC bikes have a slacker head angle, usually come with 180/160 rotors, grippy & fast tires and... 95% of XC riders in last week's XC world cup in Albstadt had a dropper post on their race bike.
Great vid. Things have changed a wee bit since I bought my '95 or so Stumpjumper. Good to have a reference starting point.
This is an excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to present this well thought out analysis. I've always been of the opinion that it's more so the rider not the bike, and hair splitting in specs only hypes and confuses as much as anything, but you focused on the details that are pertinent, more than any video on TH-cam, or article on the web really.
Thanks for the in depth video(s) & full explanation of the differences between the two types of bikes. As somewhat of a noob to modern mountain bikes, this video was extremely helpful - especially compared with the short 2 minute reviews & vids most youtubers are posting on bikes.. Much respect.
Very thorough explanation! I feel like I just completed a college course. Great work Clint!
Hi Clint - just wanted to say thanks for your detailed and informative videos. I spent a couple months trying to decide what new MTB I was going to get and when I narrowed it down to choosing between the Trance and Anthem your reviews were a great help in sourcing some first-hand experienced insight. Nice work. Keep it up.
Darian Cairns-Cowan , great! Did you decide which one you want to get?
I got the Trance 27.5 1. I was tempted to get the Advanced but I got a good deal on the one I got. I'm loving the Trance, it just chews up the obstacles!!
Very cool. Enjoy it!
Great review and walkthroughs of the bike. You can also mention that if someone is getting only one bike and could sometimes be on the road/commuting, the XC is the better option. But overall awesome video!
I work at a bike store ( Giant is our main brand ) and this video help me a lot to understand differences
between cross country and trail mountain bikes. Thanks a lot.
I'm all about that old school Hutch hanging from the ceiling, nice
Wow. The evolution of mountain biking and your videos over the past six years.
A really good explanation of the differences between both types of bikes.Thanks Clint
Mann..thanx for all your patience in science and mathematics of explaining the difference, Awesome dude
Great, great, great review !!!!! Thank you from the depth of my heart. It was great pleasure to listen to you. There is another great review - Hard tail vs full suspension. Thank you again. :)))))
Great video, Clint! Thanks a lot for your clear explanations. Here in Argentina it would be quite difficult to have both these beautiful bikes, so we must carefully choose :-) Best regards, Claudio
hi clint, excellent video , I have an Xtrance 29er and recently did my best downhill rides on dirt roads in Colombia, this thing is fast and secure going down, I live in miami and do the local trails, but where I enjoyed my bike the most was down in S america. I love my Giant 29er,
Terrific video! This helped me decide on a 2015 Trance 3 that I upgraded with wider bars, better grips and an X Fusion Sweep fork. I am mowing over roots and rocks I used to go around on my 04' Norco Fluid 3.
You do a great job...very informative and you’re not selling me anything. Great stuff.
Love your bikes. I just bought a showing 700c commuter and take it for street rides. These bikes not in my budget but love watching your video to see your bikes. Awesome.
Awesome video mate. Wish I watched this before I bought my back and got back into heavy mountain biking. Things have changed so much since the mid nineties when I was last into it heavy. I will say though, the things I used to do on my rocky fusion with solid fork would make people on full scale enduro bikes today cringe lol! Wow have times a changed or what
Great discussion on stem length and horizontal attitude (pitch). Looking forward to Santos opening up soon.
Fantastic video, really clear and concise. Great info.
I really appreciate a lot of you how to, what nots and quick fixes to mtb's. Please continue with your videos and interesting mtb articles. Thanks
Clear cut information! I do mostly love on cross country ride and sometime on trail ride. All my 3 hardtail bikes are cross country!
I remember watching this video 10 years ago. Brings back memories, but man, how things have changed!
Thanks for hanging around!
Very helpful. Clear explanation. Thank you.
Hey thanks for that great video Clint. It just putted together a lot of pieces of the puzzle i was looking at!
i'm thinking of buying a bike for makara, wellington NZ and this Vid was excellent, thank you! clearly explained everything for me. wicked.
Thanks for sharing, new to biking. I was wondering this week.
Fantastic. Very helpful. Thanks for posting this. I learned a lot (just starting to get into this kind of thing).
Well done video! Should you ever venture out west to Arizona, definitively leave your XC bike home and just bring your all-mountain/enduro rig!
Awesome detailed video! Great info for someone looking to purchase a MTB.
Clint, great source of information; I appreciate your videos... awesome!!
Very helpful even for someone (like me) who has been riding for years and didn't understand the difference.
I went ahead and bought a Trance trail bike to add to the Anthem I already have. It arrived last week and I rode it the first time. The first thing I noticed is that when I ride the Anthem I am handling the bike. The first time I rode the Trance it handled me! It'll take a little while to get used to. Also noticed more grip from the tires. I am enjoying the new purchase and have no buyers remorse.
Thank you so much! That was very helpful for me. I'm trying to pick up a city bike but I don't want to go hybrid, and i want to be kind of a hooligan like when I was in high school on my bike then, AND I want to be able to go relatively fast enough around the city on some Tarmac. Haha. Your video has helped me. Thank you :) I live in India now, my parents r still in Orlando, FL, I've ridden there, beautiful trails yawl have :)
I believe this is a very honest video as you seem to sing higher praise for the trail bike but in the end you said if you had to choose only one- it would be the XC bike- very fair and informative opinion!
Beautiful bikes brother! Great informational vid! Keep it coming.
Most of fulfill comparison of the two types of bikes. Make up my mind finally Brilliant.. Thank you very much.
glad i watched this video because i wouldn't have known that both those bike was entirely different.. because to me at first glance, both bikes look exactly the same aside from the color
hmmmm, i was thinking huh, when i travel cross country its typically via trails :/
Great explanation and answered many questions. Cross Country for me in Florida and Trail staged at my home in Colorado. Got half of that equation solved, now just the other to solve. $$$$$$
Okay I just stopped the video because I just subbed and I am very happy that I did! While listening to others trying to cover the similar topics, you are able to explain the technical how's and why's which is very important for a noob like me!
thank u very much Man, i just got a xc hardtail bike, took me 2 months to decide if full suspension, or hardtail, xc or trail, 27.5 or 29, at the end found an offer for a marin nail trail 29, for 1400usd .. been riding it for a week only and i was getting to the same conclusions u explain.. u made things a lot more clear to me, i race & like to have lots of fun, but my priority was race :) next one will be the fun one.. (i live in playa del carmen, mexico, no hills around just lots of rocky, root, and dusty trails, some sand, so, there is lots of pedaling here...
Excellent breakdown . I'm about to purchase a Carbon Fiber Cross Country bike. Thanks for helping me home my decision
Hi Clint, Your videos have been extremely helpful to me. I'm in the sport for a little over 2 months and it has become a serious obsession. With so much information out there, supporting and contradicting each other, your style and your attention to details are unmatched.
When I started, I decided to go with a hardtail to test the water before I dive deep into the sport. I purchased 2015 Trek X- Caliber 7. I live in Long Island, NY most of the trails here are good for XC with some advanced climbs and very few steep descents. I love my bike, but the 29 XC is not great on tight corners and I feel my weight is too far over the bike on descents. which make it a bit scary for a lack of better words.
I'm ready to purchase a second bike, you've made me a fan of the Giant brand. I'm torn between 3 bikes and I was hoping you can help me with selection or making a video review on the 3 bike side by side. My budget is in $3500 range
I was looking at Giant Trance, Giant Anthem and the new Trek fuel 8 27.5 plus
Thanks again,
Mohamed
Thanks mate a great review! Made my mind up now and going for a Trance 2. You've answered all my questions and saved me a lot of time. Cheers
GREAT INFO. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and share your knowledge with us amatures.
I rode flatland and one of my pals still has his SE Quadangle...Hutch Trick Star and PK Ripper. I love when MTBers have BMX/Flatland/Freestyle/Streetstyle roots
Thanks for taking the time to post such an informative video!!!
Great tips at the end for additional components
Great video Clint it really gave me good insight into the bike I'm going to get. Thanx
Very helpful and informative. Thank you ... btw, those are my 2 favourite bikes but I can't afford them both... so that last option rocks!
Wow a very informative video on the difference between XC and Trail bikes.
Thanks
Good recording, very clear explanation and lots of information, great upload, thanks.
Thanks for your reply below. I just pulled the trigger on a Trance Advanced 27.5 2. It still comes with a dropper seatpost and was only $200 dearer than the Alloy 27.5 1. How could I say no. Gotta love sales!
This is why I like the lockouts on my suspension...it's rock solid for climbing and I put it back where it was for descending or trails
Such a great video. As I applied the information from your video I realized that perhaps a XC bike would be a better option for me since I'm not an expert in mtb riding, but I also wanted to have some versatility for occasional or unexpected trail handling. Prior to the end of your video I was preparing questions to ask in regards to what type of mods can be made to a XC bike to allow more versatility, which you also covered at the end. Thank you taking the time and providing such detailed and visual explanation.
Giant anthem good XC bike
amazingly helpfull with great insight! . couldn't decide between the anthem or the trance!. I ride in the new england area and we have short steep climbs that get technical with some pretty rough rocky terrain, I'm not into jumps or drops and it seems the anthem is the right choice thanks for the insightful review and considerations on explaining both bikes!.
If you want a fun all-mtn rig check out the Canfield Brothers Yelli Screamy. They were the first to make a sub 17" chain stay on a 29er. Not for racing, but for all of us who don't race it's one of the funnest bikes to ride!
Nice videos and I went with a Anthem 29er wanted a really stable xc bike for long 40 50km rides and the long chainstay on the anthem gives that feeling.
Because I already have a Bronson and a giant glory to abuse the trails, Im not using the anthem for trail riding just pure xc and long rides.....so your vids help me decide on getting a used 29er, thanks and keep it up bro.
Excellent report. "Who do you ride with?" I didn't anticipate that questions in the calculus.
I really like these long sit down videos.
I'm an absolute beginner to mountain biking and I've only recently learnt few fundamentals like footwork and jumping (pumping and manuals) over obstacles, etc. I use a 2013 diamondback recoil 29. A very basic entry level MTB that I bought used for $300 and got tuned up from a bike shop. I want to invest proper money and buy a better bike now and I was really confused. The last 3 and a half minutes of your video made it all clear to me. I'm going for trail bikes with a slacker head angle and longer travel. I do wanna climb uphill faster but downhill and aggressive cornering is what I love doing most I've found. I simply love that rush. I do take my bike out on roads both paved and unpaved but I really do not mind if a trail bike is going to make me feel slower on those surfaces.
***** Thanks dude!
***** www.giant-bicycles.com/en-in/bikes/model/trance.27.5.4/15149/66893/
Lisa van der Merwe yeah, and I have noticed bikes on the Aussie and South African sites that don't appear on the european sites... REAL annoying... I dunno why that is... ??
Super thorough video, very well done. Thank you.
nice bikes, you sound realy informed, thanks for sharing,,,, ive still got my cannondale super v which i bought in 1998 :)
very well put together ,I have now a greater idea of what I need to look for.thanks a again for your work on this video
Usefull explanation Thanx!Greetings From Holland.
Great video, explanations and bikes!
thanks for sharing
my wife and i have giant anthem 2 27.5 and love them for trail riding. We changed tires to nobbie nic front and hans damff rear. we can ride trails that we would never try our before. We are older and don't ride as fast as young kids. The bike choice was made after watching your videos.
That's awesome! The Anthem is a bike you'll enjoy for many years.
Thanks soooo much for the help! You answered all my questions.
Great vid ... Was the answers I was looking for ... I brought a Anthem without looking into it and was not sure if I should have got the Trance ... Anthem right choice for me YAY!! ... CHEERS!!!
Excellent review . thank you Clint .
I have a nice inexpensive Cannondale trail 6 29er. I ride here in NYC just casually.. I should of gone with a cross country bike since I'm not on any trails & input my emphasis on speed during my commute then on maneuverability. I did have my bars cut down a bit & I'm thinking of getting slick wtb tires for less dag on my ride. Great informative video..
Top review and advice - cheers!
Hi Clint. Firstly I felt that I must drop you a line to tell you how much I enjoy your vlogs/ videos. They are fantastically detailed and no stone left uncovered . I am not sure many if any put as much detail and effort in to the content.I have watched both your Trail/ X country, which one ? Vids as I am in the market for an Anthem/Trance.I currently have a Canyon Nerve 120mm Fox travel bike that I have just updated with 1x10 gears and thought about the Trance carbon that you have but I think I will go for the 27.5 1 carbon Anthem (yellow and black in colour)as the Trance maybe similar to my Nerve although it is 4 years old now. I want to start to take my son and he can use it and I will use the Anthem. My only concern was my local trail,Dalby Forest, has some rocky areas but majority is smoother single/ double track, twisty and steep in places. I suppose I can take it a little steadier on the rocky sections. Anyway, sorry to go on a bit. Please keep up the great content and thank you.
+Darren Morley thanks. It sounds like you are on the right track with the anthem. It's a very capable bike.
Thank you very much!
Thanks for such a detailed/comprehensive review as you always do Clint! Made it that much more easy for me to choose a Enduro Trail Bike since I do have access to DH mountainous terrain here in the Northeast! I do have to work more in various sections of my local XC trails in my Trail bike, but I don't mind, more exercise for me. I still have a vintage 1995 OCLV Trek 9900 XC hardtail that couldn't withstand a lot of technicals the trails here threw at me! 26 inch wheels compared to my new trail bike feels like i'm riding a kids bike now, yet so agile. I don't know if I should trade that vintage 95 Trek 9900 that I had for such a long time so I can buy my 10 year old son a good Mountainbike (Giant XRC jr 26+)
I love my Trail bike and I feel it's versatile enough, yet I feel if I trade in my Trek (offered $250) at my LBS for my son's Giant XRC jr 26+ for $550 is it worth it? Love to get some insight! Thanks again Clint..
I have a Trance 2011 and it seems to be a combination of these two models, great! 😁🤙
thanks for the info. answered a lot of questionns
Awesome video . Thank you for sharing the knowledge.
I used to bomb downhills (the few of them there were here in Florida) on a XC bike. It all depends on your fear dismissive ability.
It is control that matters. Your body angle etc. Trail bike is super fun even if you are descending at snails pace because it will keep telling you that you can do more
Nice bikes and great video man ! Almost makes me thinck to ride less on road lol
Although my 2018 Giant Anthem Advanced 2 has a 50mm stem. I am short so am happy with this. My big obstacle all my life with bikes has been sizing. I added the spacers and switched to a carbon riser bar just bc so have tuned this bike to fit just right, plus cut the bars to 700mm.
As a new rider I went with the XC hardtail root and got a Specialized Crave. It's a really nice bike, but since I am not an XC racer and don't care about weight I am trying to turn it into more of a trail bike. I got a shorter stem, riser bar, and a dropper seat post.
Excellent video. Thanks for the great breakdown. I have a Camber Comp and a 2019 Carbon Comp Stump Jumper ST. U would even compare the differences in my two bikes to your two examples here. Even though a S in the new Stumpjumper, the differences between the two bikes is almost identical to your descriptions. I want sure why you said you thought the drop post on the cross country would be useless? I put one on my Camber and feel they're always good to have.
Hi, I live in Tampa area and just got my first ever trail ride in at Alafia River State Park. Loved it. I used a crappy old bike and felt limited but still enjoyed some of the "technical" areas. So after watching this video I'm still a bit unsure if I should buy cross country or trail. I was leaning toward the trail to feel more stable on the downhills. As a beginer I'm not to worried about speed.
Alafia can be technical with steep drops. I think a trail bike would be more fun and would be more versatile if you are not racing.