UPDATE:To Reign or Trance? REIGN IT IS!!!!

[mtb1611]

Keen to hear from those of you who have ridden both the Giant Reign and Trance, in a cross country context. I'm looking at upgrading to one or the other but can't decide. I ride xc but don't mind the rough stuff, and the areas in which I ride are probably rougher than they are hilly, no long climbs. The only racing I do is the 24 hour and the occasional 12 or 4 hour event. Diferences regarding weight, pedalling efficiency, climbing ability etc would be most helpful. Cheers!

[itsajoke]

I own a Reign and have ridden a Trance a little. When racing in enduro style races I always think "I wish I had a Trance." Just the slightly steeper head angle and less travel could make the pain a little less, but then again so would more riding. The Reign is a good alrounder if that's your main focus.

[Some Guy]

Keen to hear from those of you who have ridden both the Giant Reign and Trance, in a cross country context. I'm looking at upgrading to one or the other but can't decide. I ride xc but don't mind the rough stuff, and the areas in which I ride are probably rougher than they are hilly, no long climbs. The only racing I do is the 24 hour and the occasional 12 or 4 hour event. Diferences regarding weight, pedalling efficiency, climbing ability etc would be most helpful. Cheers!

For XC, the trance is going to be a much better bet.

[nizai]

Having ridden both (and owning a Reign), my impression is that the Trance feels much nippier in the corners, turns in faster. Climbing ability is very similar between the two despite the weight difference. The Reign is better on technical descents with its slacker geo.

The Reign is a great all round bike but its no lightweight racer (i would have a guess and say theres probably 1.5-2kg between them). If you want to have a ball and not worry too much about bottoming out on stuff, the Reign is a great choice. If you want to do XC races, enduros or otherwise, id get the Trance.

My advice would be ride both. The Reign's head angle might well annoy you if you are used to a more typical XC geo rig.

N

[jacko69]

I've got an 06 Reign 2 which I think is a great all-mountain bike. If I was racing however, I'd certainly get something lighter like the Trance or more likely the Anthem. I've ridden a friends 06 Trance 2 and it handles the tight twisty stuff better, but not the rough or DH. It's always a comprise if you can have only 1 bike.
What Giant really need is a 5" version I reckon - then the line up should be the Anthem, the 5" maestro, the Reign X, and Glory DH.

[Rik]

Reign built with light-ish parts and adjustable travel fork. Drop the front end down for racing and you've the best of both worlds.

[eternalgorias]

I ride a Trance and my mate rides a Reign. My mate is a big lad though so the reign suits his style of cross country riding. For enduro events I vote the Trance. It's lighter and those sort of tracks never get rough enough to need the extra travel of the Reign. But I'm biased. ;)

[BIG RUSTY]

I have a trance with a set of fox talas up front.
so I can have 5 inches then drop down to 4inches for racing

having a heavier bike also makes it harder on the flats not just up hills
the trance accelerates alot better than the reign

but I would say choose the bike which suits the riding you are doing the most, not the riding you are doing a few times a year

[<tim>]

Defiantly the Reign!

Been riding it for a year now and I know i made the right choice.

So fun going on cross-country rides and everyones going really slowly down a technical downhill and just fly past them, then on the uphill I'm keeping up with them.

Seriously if you want to ride the rough stuff and still ride up the hills on par with the rest, get the reign.

[chips_with_everything]

If you want to go fast and enjoy precision feel, as in race XC, ride a hardtail. Preferably chromo or titanium.

If you want to go over lumpy stuff, pick the Reign or better yet Reign X series (if you like Giant). Anything that you can push up tolerably well that goes down and over stuff good.



The Trance is a fine trail bike, but if you ride properly there is little you can't ride on a hardtail that you can ride on a Trance.



Right on Tim!

[Some Guy]

The Trance is a fine trail bike, but if you ride properly there is little you can't ride on a hardtail that you can ride on a Trance.

You missed the fullstop after 'there is little you can't ride on a hardtail.' :).

[Trance_Kidd]

I OWn both a 06 reign and an 07 Trance,Most of the time i ride the trance because i mostly do xc,but when my trance was getting serivced i rode the reign again,it realy lanky on the single track and wasnt as sharp when turing.prob due to the slacker head angle and longer forks,but when i was going the hill..it felt a lot more stable and comfortable.well on the 06 gravity 12 hour i rode my reign and got a 47min lap but last year in the same race with mostly the same conditions i got a 41 on the trance.:) for xc riding the the trance shits over the reign.:D

[v1llage1d1ot]

Ahhh,.. the Trance is an XC bike and the Reign is an "All Mountain" Bike. So if you wanna ride down and hammer up then I'd guess the Trance is your bike, but you said there are more bumps than hills where you ride, I think a reign is what you're after. You'll be able to hammer down the hills, and still get back up them at the end. Also, a heavier bike will make you stronger at the end of the day, and its not like the reign is so heavy you'll have to dump the bike and call in a helicopter at those enduro events you do from time to time.

Just my 2c

[splunk]

I have a 06 Reign. Bought it because I do a bit of everything. I believe that I would be a similar type of rider as yourself, as I have taken the Reign on 24/12/8/6 hr enduros and had no problem. I guess that a lighter bike would have saved some energy and time, however I am not exactly a pro so does it really matter?

On the down hills and technical stuff, the Reign really does so much more than the Trance. It really inspires confidence which I did not have on my previously. But the Trance is tighter and rewards with quicker times.

Bottom line is:
- if your focus is on racing and enduros....Trance it
- If you do not have a focus and just wanna have fun....Reign it.

[mtb1611]

Thanks for all the advice, opinions and info guys, very helpful indeedy and greatly appreciated:D . At this point I think I'll go Reign, as racing is certainly not my focus. The (very) occasional enduros are far outnumbered by weekly spins with mates. Cheers again! Ben

[aaronzor]

Man i was in your position months ago! and i got myself a trance
i loveee it. especially with the shock adjustments!! i would
go the trance over the reign =)
goes hard for acceleration / racing style

TRANCE ALL THE WAY!

[GrubNut]

Thanks for all the advice, opinions and info guys, very helpful indeedy and greatly appreciated:D . At this point I think I'll go Reign, as racing is certainly not my focus. The (very) occasional enduros are far outnumbered by weekly spins with mates. Cheers again! Ben

I reckon it sounds like the right decision to me. If you're set on getting a dually might as well get a decent amount of travel.

I've got a yeti asr (mostly for racing) and sometimes i think it might me better to have a 575 for when the going gets rough in enduro racing and recreational rides, and a hard tail for general racing.

[Pebble]

Yep I have gone through that dilemma but decided in the end that the reign was probably going to be too much bike for me. (60kg female & relatively chicken when it comes to jumps, drops an the like - but I am trying).

In reality there isn't that much difference between the two bikes (aside from travel) except slightly lower spec on the reign in some areas and the fact that it's marginally heavier (frame wise).

Either way if you want the option of travel go the reign. If you don't need so much travel but still want a snappy versatile trail bike then go the trance.

In my case I do think about what a reign would ride like in comparison to the trance with the extra travel, but I'm certainly not left wanting any extra travel up the rear. On the front it was an easy fix by removing the spacer to give it 130mm, more so out of experimentation and curiosity than anything.

If I was to do it all again, honestly I don't know if I would go for a reign or not, it would be a real toss up again and a 5" trance would probably be more suitable I reckon.

[mtb1611]

I've been riding a NRS2 for 4 years so the concept of a duallie certainly isn't a foreign one. While I'm not a jumper I do love clearing rocky sections, and at 83kg I'm not exactly an XC whippet. I'm actually only buying a frame (yes I am able to get either as simply a frameset) and will be transferring my current components (including 130mm travel Fox Vanilla fork) onto the new frame. Although I'm still leaning towards the Reign, I'd probably also enjoy a Trance. Oh the dilemma!

[TonyG]

Thanks for all the advice, opinions and info guys, very helpful indeedy and greatly appreciated:D . At this point I think I'll go Reign, as racing is certainly not my focus. The (very) occasional enduros are far outnumbered by weekly spins with mates. Cheers again! Ben

Ben,

i think this is the right choice. I bought a very expensive carbon short travel bike when I first started riding. I made this choice because I thought I would get into XC racing, however I found I only really had time to do quick weekend rides around Manly Dam and the like. In the end I sold the Trek and bought a Reign and I'm so glad I did. You feel so much more comfortable pinning it down the technical sections there. It is lot more fun going faster down hill than faster up hill. It also a lot more forgiving for the less talented rider, I hit corners on the wrong angles and always ride straight into rocks because I'm looking at them. One thing you will notice, no matter what anyone says the Reign will not climb like a good XC bike. I'm a slow rider and I used to fly past people in Enduro events going up hill on my Trek, but I'd just be happy to get up those hills on the Reign.

Either way you wont be disspointed with either the Reign or the Trance they are both great bikes.

[Pebble]

TonyG: It is lot more fun going faster down hill than faster up hill.

How true:)

[PINT of Stella, mate!]

I'm with the countless others who're recommending the Reign. If most your riding is with your mates then the Reign's perfect for the job. Great fun downhill and easy enough on the uphills. As for racing, if you're only doing it occasionally, I'd see about borrowing somebody's elses bike. The Reigns a bit punishing when you're pushing yourself to the limit on the flats and up-bits. I've taken my one along to the Dirt Crits before and it damn near killed me (flat pedals didn't help much.)

Having said that if you do go for a Reign and get a brand new one, do the world a favour and get it re-sprayed, the new paint job's a shocker! :p

[GrubNut]

will be transferring my current components (including 130mm travel Fox Vanilla fork) onto the new frame...

Well I think that's your answer right there. A 130mm fork is not going to match the trance.

[andy]

I am another who has a Riegn but wishes they had of gotten a Tance for XC and enduro racing.

[Drizz]

I am another who has a Riegn but wishes they had of gotten a Tance for XC and enduro racing.

Ditto! Reign is just not nimble enough in tight switchbacks IMO. Best solution is to rock up into a bike shop and tell them you want both and see if you can get a deal. :)

My Combo would be a 07 Reign X and a 06 Trance 1/2. Two bikes and you cover riding for all ocassion. (Maybe not street.)

[Pebble]

Nothing wrong with a 130mm fork on a trance;)

[mtb1611]

Nothing wrong with a 130mm fork on a trance;)

Agreed. I currently have a 130mm fork on a NRS2.

[Bodin]

Nothing wrong with a 130mm fork on a trance;)

Agreed. I currently have a 130mm fork on a NRS2.

Mr Warranty may not agree with you when it comes to head-tube-snappage time, methinks... I'm not quoting actual knowledge here of the warranties on the specific frames mentioned, but I have clear memories of many xc specific frames that warn against using longer forks.

Aside from that, I can't understand how you guys deal with having such a raked-out front end on climbs - I guess I'm one of those freaks that gets more satisfaction from a gutsy climb than a blasting descent.

[k3n!f]

Don't mean to spam or anything but:

My dad was recently in the same boat, after tossing it up for ages we ended up getting him a Felt Virtue (one of the new equalink ones). It has 5 inches of travel and seems to fit bang in the middle between the Trance and the Reign. The parts list isn't a good as the equivalent Giant, but the carbon rear end is hot and I think it pedaled a bit better than the Trance.

Food for thought!

[mtb1611]

Mr Warranty may not agree with you when it comes to head-tube-snappage time, methinks... I'm not quoting actual knowledge here of the warranties on the specific frames mentioned, but I have clear memories of many xc specific frames that warn against using longer forks.

Aside from that, I can't understand how you guys deal with having such a raked-out front end on climbs - I guess I'm one of those freaks that gets more satisfaction from a gutsy climb than a blasting descent.

Mframe is 4 years old and has had the long-travel fork on it for 3 of those years. The slight front end elevation on climbs is more than compensated for by the extra travel and consequent confidence on descents and rocky sections. Keep the butt in the saddle and slide oh-so-slightly forwards and it's al good.

[Pebble]

Warranty depends on manufacturers. For starters giant specced the Tora on the trance which can be changed out to 130mm of travel by removing a internal spacer at time of service. If it was strictly a 100mm travel frame surely the wouldn't have done that.

[Foggy]

Hi mate,

I was in your position recently, tossing up between the Reign and the Trance. When i'm doing long distance rides to work, I sometimes wish I bought the lighter more XC orientated Trance. Contrarily, whenever i'm attacking the off-road tracks and doing downhill sections and generally just mucking about on weekends and having fun, i'm so glad that I bought the Reign X (note: Reign = 13.5kgs, Reign X = 15kgs).

Both bikes will handle distance riding and off road riding. The Trance will handle distance better, but the Reign will let you have more fun on the technical trails. I feel like i'm just repeating what others have said, so i'll stop here. I would base my decision on whether I am going to do more XC riding or more technical riding. Good luck with your decision! - Mike.

[Hobzai]

Get the Reign. :)

If it's your only bike and you want to hit up some gnarlier stuff from time to time, they are a fantastic All MTN machine. Enough travel to be setup fairly plush for descending and pedalling efficiency for when you wanna get your climb on. I have a Trance and having chased Nizai up many a hill I'd say there's not much to choose between the two on the ups anyway.

[mtb1611]

Hi mate,

I was in your position recently, tossing up between the Reign and the Trance. When i'm doing long distance rides to work, I sometimes wish I bought the lighter more XC orientated Trance. Contrarily, whenever i'm attacking the off-road tracks and doing downhill sections and generally just mucking about on weekends and having fun, i'm so glad that I bought the Reign X (note: Reign = 13.5kgs, Reign X = 15kgs).

Both bikes will handle distance riding and off road riding. The Trance will handle distance better, but the Reign will let you have more fun on the technical trails. I feel like i'm just repeating what others have said, so i'll stop here. I would base my decision on whether I am going to do more XC riding or more technical riding. Good luck with your decision! - Mike.

Gday Foggy.

Mate I use the road bike when I aint dirt-bound, so either way the Reign or Trance (hmmm, why did I write Reign first....) will be a dirtpig only. Cheers for the input, looks like I'll go the Reign.

[Foggy]

Gday Foggy.

Mate I use the road bike when I aint dirt-bound, so either way the Reign or Trance (hmmm, why did I write Reign first....) will be a dirtpig only. Cheers for the input, looks like I'll go the Reign.

That there is your answer. The Reign will let you have so much more fun offroad than the XC geometry of the Trance. I find my Reign X is light enough to pedal up and down the tracks all day, and back home again. I also regularly commute 15km's to work and back on the Reign, which should give you some idea of the versatility of this bike. Go the Reign. BTW, which one were you looking at 1, 0, or X series? - Mike.

[mtb1611]

That there is your answer. The Reign will let you have so much more fun offroad than the XC geometry of the Trance. I find my Reign X is light enough to pedal up and down the tracks all day, and back home again. I also regularly commute 15km's to work and back on the Reign, which should give you some idea of the versatility of this bike. Go the Reign. BTW, which one were you looking at 1, 0, or X series? - Mike.

Hi Mike.

Just looking at a frameset, an 06 Reign 2.

[mtb1611]

Greetings. Well I finally took the plunge and went with a Reign. Ended up getting a Reign 0 frame, with the Fox RP23 shock, and am absoltely stoked with it, just got back from a couple of hours at Lucas Heights. The higher riding position was something I thought would take a bit of adjusting to, but didn't. The higher BB clearance s definitely noticeable, but in a positive way, allowing greater clearance when hopping over obstacles. The ProPedal n the RP23 is great; I set it on 2 and experienced no more pedal-induced bob on flats or climbs than I did with my SID-equipped NRS2. I flicked the shock open on a couple of descents and WOW, now I know what a proper duallie feels like on a rough DH section, fantastic. The additional weight is noticeable on the climbs but only marginally and IMO is more than worth it due to the benefits to b had on the descents. The bike is very confidence-inspiring and I found myself leaping off drop-offs I woud usually gingerly pick my way down. The frame is of course a better match for the Vanilla R's I have up front than the NRS was (unsurprisingly), the suspension and overall balance of the bike feeling much better and in tune, and of course the geometry is better on the reign than it was having a long-travel fork on the NRS. I'm yet to experiment with the settings on the RP23 and to be honest am reluctant to do so, given that they seemed fine on today's ride. As stated I had the Propedal set on 2, with 200psi in the shock and rebound set right in the middle.I also noticed a distinct lack of brake chatter and lock when braking through ruts, and the thing just LOVES railing high-speed berms. Only suggestion I'd have is to allow a remote lever for the Propedal adjustment on the shock. All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. Thanks heaps to those of you who contributed to this thread and ultimately assisted in making the right decision, much appreciated fellow Farkiners! Ben :D

[eternalgorias]

Awww, shoulda got a Trance, nah sounds like your having tunza fun on the Reign. The RP23 sounds interesting, I havent seen it yet.

[mtb1611]

Awww, shoulda got a Trance, nah sounds like your having tunza fun on the Reign. The RP23 sounds interesting, I havent seen it yet.

Haha, you bloody stirrer!:D RP23 is a goer, seems very versatile, admittedly that's based on only one ride though. Oh, and here she be....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/mtb1611/Copy2ofP4170001.jpg

[<tim>]

Sweet, You made the right choice.

My Reign survived 28 runs at thredbo and its still going strong. :p