Bike recommendation & Giant Trance X

"Three years on and giant have been victorious in the pursuit of making a great suspension design that someone else thought of appear to be of their own making"

In other words they learned the lesson with the whole NRS/horst link thing so they changed the DW link just enough that Dave wouldn't be bothered to pursue them through the courts )

they laft at dr frankenstein as well!!!

I have an 06 giant trance and the only downside is the weight however the 08 bikes are so much lighter this is no longer a problem.

One of the big differences between the trance X1 and X0 is the wheels. You can look on the site for the tube vs tubeless debates.

I went for the cheaper option and was glad I did because you tent to break or damage parts like rims and derailleurs when starting out. Once I had more of a clue I replaced them with better parts.

Those that ask the very common question 'is $3000 to $4000 worth it for a bike' need to realise that pricing is a curious thing,There are two perspectives here.
1.The retail price is relevent to the Australian market and is set to attract maximum interest.
2.The retail price is arrived at by the importer/distributor to recoup their overheads and make a profit.
In the case of perspective 1 then the answer is yes because the manufacturer is confident that thier product is the best specced in it's price point and therefore,a real bargain.
Perspective 2 is answered with a loud no however value is certainly a personal thing.In most cases the bikes most common in Australia have the parent company in the USA regardless of asian manufacture.Some frames really are made in the USA or Canada.Yet when the bike that matey wants to have costs $US(X) and here in Australia it costs the equivalent to $US(X)+25%,35% or even 50% then I can't help but feel that we,as Australians,are getting bullshitted to.Yes I've heard all the excuses.Shipping,currency,blah blah.But I bet when costs improve,such as currency exchange,are those benefits passed on to the punter?Just try strolling into Brookvale Bike Factory to purchase a Santa Cruz,of any model,point out that this morning the Australian dollar was fetching 92c US and you deserve a discount,and see what happens.I bet those guys don't rush to phone Neezy and plead your logic.
So back to value.As many are aware,Giant represent top value.This is largely due to Giant being in cahoots with the various component manufacturers in Taiwan.Not to mention clout.Fancy going to a part maker and asking for a gazillion units and closing the deal with 'please give me a great deal,because next season I'll be wanting another gazillion.'
There has been much talk here about he value diffences between certain models and all of you have a firm grasp of how the numbers are crunched.Spending up big early on is a great idea,but the logic gets lost on those who have no appreciation for such things.Believe me when I say that to fork out $4300 full retail on a Trance X Zero represents outstanding value.Those wheels alone retail in Australia for $1500 and there is no such thing as an oem version.Those are fair dinkum crossmax wheels.
Having said all that,for a newbie,a real complete novice who relies on the advice of those around them ,then one cannot go past the cheapest of the Trance line the X Two.
My lovely girlfriend bought one just before Christmas.A happy hardtail rider who was a bit nervous on the really rough stuff is now flogging along like a mad woman.Her favourite riding type is hard pack singletrack so we often go to Sparrow Hill.Her bike is great and cost just $2300.Everything works really well and she's added some bike jewellery to it.
That amount of money is plenty for a new rider and that bike represents value.Present day parts in the Shimano LX group are excellent,especially for riders who simply trail ride.One could only criticize those parts if they broke a little prematurely but then maybe the rider is just that bit extra hardcore.My girlfriend doesn't do drops or jumps.She just likes to get out there and ride.While I ride my Reign or Glory and show off to her...

Yes interesting post

Do all the cycology stores usually have the same prices ? The one up at Tuggerah (only one with a website) has the X1 for $2600 which is cheaper than elsewhere in Sydney. Just further to get there lol

Seems pretty obvious now with the Trance X1 + 10% off and Spec FSR XC at the same price, the Trance X1 beats the FSR easy on the specs

In case I fall into the Manly Dam ?

G'day,
I went to Wooley Wheels over the weekend; unfortunately they wont have the Trance X1 till another 2 weeks so I had a look at the X0 and asked quite a few questions about this amazing bikes.
The guy agreed with me that the X1 is better value for money with the X0 costing an extra $1400.
He showed me the 2 adjustments things on the shocks that aren't on the X1 and said that they can easily be adjusted with a shock pump.
After that I had a look at the Specialized FSR XC and it seemed much heavier and a bit less advanced than the Maestro on the Trances.
So if I can find a store that has the Trance X1 a bit closer than Tuggerah I'd probably get it
Does anyone know stores that sell the X1 in Sydney ?
I asked CycleWorld in Burwood; they don't do Giant.

Oh and I also have a question; why do the shocks have a lock ? When and why would you lock it ? For road cycling or when you're not using the bike ?

well check it out, thanks.

The shops in Sydney that stock Giant I know of and have used are Bike Addiction and Brookvale Bike Factory. Go to the Giant website and do a search via your postcode. http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/dealers/

The shock lockout is for if you want to firm up the rear end (or front if the fork has this option). It's not a total lock out and I have only used mine when I find I am doing a road section.

Just come back from Cranks at North Sydney. They are going to set up an X1 for me for wednesday

I will also need some shoes, which Shimano SPD compatible shoes do you guys recommend ?

If I can't get 10% off the bike I could ask if I could get the shoes for free, good idea ?

I don't know which Giant is right for you, but I do know that you will get value with Giant.

Here is a link that might inspire you:

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=112287

and here is a picture:

PS: Is "Yoplait" really French for Yogurt? Is used to be in a TV add here.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Giant-Trance-2-Mountain-B...

Kurt

Apparently Giant Australia is getting short of Trance X bikes are they are quite popular.
So for instance Cranks has one X1 left which they set up for me to look at today.
Lovely bike but I was a bit surprised with the frame finish; it looks like it's been sanded with the marks all over. They reassured me that this is normal. Strange because it looks a bit 'unfinished' at first.
I also inquired about whether they would give me a discount on the bike and they didn't seem so keen on it because of the fact that it's the last one etc...
I'll be taking it for a ride around the block tomorrow so we'll see

there was a post on Farkin if i recall about a guy having a drama with a giant

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=118320

take a read
and also i have one of the boys who has now had hi yukon sx back to the shop twice because of niggling things
chain snap and a multiple amount of brake probs with the shimanos

cheers
Kurt

As has been pointed out to you,that's what anodizing looks like.
Don't ask for discounts on new models,especially one that has quite possibly become the bike to have worldwide for this year.Ask for free goodies to get thrown in on the deal.Furthermore,and I don't wish to be offensive here,get a grip on reality about the product and the price tag.At full price that bike represents excellent value and you'll get millions of happy kilometres out of it.The time to ask for and receive discounts on bikes is after about september on the current model year or anytime on the previous model years.Clarence street still has 2005 bikes on the floor.
Now,about bike shops and new bikes with problems...
Whenever I buy a new bike I take it home and strip it to a frame.Forks out,bottom bracket out,tyres of rims you name it.You'd be amazed what I've found.Various things not done,bolts too tight or not tight enough,no grease where it ought to be etc...
Then I build it up and set the bar and stem where I wish and levers where I like them and go on my first spin about the place confident in my own handywork.Everyone should learn about their machine.I make no excuses for bike shops and I'm not prepared to spew rudeness about a certain shop's inadequacies however I strongly feel that for any item that a person owns that features moving parts and especially has wheels attached,then it's the owners responsibility to familiarize themselves with the gremlins that sometimes move in and be able to find the solution to eradicate them.
The most common gripe I hear is about bad brakes.Fact; Disc brakes are an expensive commodity to install on a bike.Fact; Cheap hydraulic discs are terrible.However it's hard for any shop mechanic to identify problems on a new set of brakes as it takes about twenty kms for the pads to be bedded in properly.Contaminated pads?Clean them with isopropyl alchohol.Brakes not strong enough?Bleed them.Perhaps switch to a preferable brand of pad.Better yet,buy a set of high quality brakes.
I also hear a lot of moaning about the transmission set up on new bikes.What a load of old guff.Firstly,the chain on new bikes is almost always to long.This is to prevent the derailleur being ripped off when certain bonehead folk insist on big ring/big rear sprocket combo whilst on a full suspension bike as the swingarm moves through its arc.Then the cables stretch a bit and the indexing goes out a bit and ones lovely new bike features gear changes akin to Beijing commuter.All one has to do is invest about ten minutes and turn the adjusters on the shifters and it's fixed.I don't bother to stop any more,finding it easier to ride and adjust at the same time.
Many problems are the fault of the manufacturer not the retailer.

i should clarify that the problem with the brakes on the yukon sx was that they were leaking oil between the calipers
apparently the LBS has said that giant and shimano have recognised an amount of calipers have been released with seals that are too small
so they will repair them for free as they have problems occour
???

and the chain snapped at the joining link on its second ride but i agree that it was too long and i cut two links out on the trail

cheers
Kurt

They seem like a good bike shop although I have only bought from their and haven't used their workshop so I cannot comment here. As for the discounts, I would assume they have lower overheads being on the Central Coast opposed to being in Sydney. Another thing in my opinion, it is better to sell two bikes at a lower profit then one with more profit. More heads through the door mean more accessory sales and more work in the workshop.

Cyclesport at Thornleigh (my LBS)
Hornsby Cycles
SIC @ St Ives (recons he has stuff he can pull form warehouse)
Blackmans at Parramatta (does big volumes)

imo Blackmans are very expensive, when i was looking for my last Giant which was $2999 they would not sell it for any lower, claiming that they charge more than other shops because of expert setup and ONE free service. I left quickly (not my local anyway), i went to my local shop (which i know but not a first name basis or anything) and got it for $500 cheaper with 1yr free servicing. All you have to do is ask, it helps also to have cash in hand ready to buy on the spot for the right deal, prove that yoy are a proper buyer and not a tyre kicker and you will get a good deal. Hunt around, there are plenty of shops that wnat your business.

Well even if Blackman was cheap I would not buy off him. He is an aeronautical engineer LOL. The comedy of walking in there and listening to his long winded intro was enough to turn me off completely. However, I know he sells a few bikes around that way through his two shops.

there is still gst to be paid even if you pay cash, it is better for the store as they dont have to pay credit card fees (usually 1.5-3% of the sale price), it is just more appealing i feel, but the main thing is to show that you are ready to buy and not just hunting around still.

There are indeed a couple of Cycology stores but I'm not sure if it's a real chain of stores as they all seem to be independent.
For instance the website only covers the Tuggerah store.

I sent an email to ABC Bikes in Liverpool/Fairfield and they said they could match the Tuggerah price okay. That's interesting and certainly closer. Does anyone know anything about that store ?

Sorry Kurt I must have missed that post. Well that definitely sounds good ABC.
Tonight I am scheduled to give the bike a go at Cranks so I will have to find an excuse if they don't offer a discount.
But generally I thought everything was expensive in that store, even shoes were $10/20 more than elsewhere...

Well Northern Beaches is quite a wealthy area isn't it !
And I suppose Cranks North Sydney is expensive because people who work in North Sydney are on a good pay I suppose...