GIANT TRANCE X ADVANCED E+ ELITE
FULL-POWER ASSISTANCE, WITHOUT THE WEIGHT
Words by Drew Rohde
Photos & Video by Brian Niles/Treeline Cinematics
SPONSORED CONTENT
Could the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite line be the best of both worlds? Giant Bicycles’ line of EneryPak-equipped eBikes look to be the future of where high power, lightweight eMTBs could be going. In what they’re calling a world first, Giant have partnered with Panasonic to use the new, larger 22700 cell type, which claims to have a higher discharge capacity. Their unique chemistry and size mean a smaller, lighter battery can still power an 85Nm SyncDrive Pro motor to some impressive heights. Let’s Dissect and review the new line of Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite eMTBs, a full-power eBike that’s ready to battle the SL and lightweight electric mountain bikes.
As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Giant Bicycles for the opportunity to create this feature and getting you some valuable beta on this new eMTB.
DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS
Co-developed with Yamaha, the 85Nm SyncDrive Pro drive unit provides plenty of torque throughout the cadence range and is on-par with full power eMTBs, yet the smaller battery lets the overall bike weight come in closer to most SL or Lightweight eBikes. The drive unit features a narrow Q-factor for a more natural pedal stroke and tips the scales at 5.9lbs, or 2.7kg.
Utilizing six sensors on the bike, Giant’s Smart Assist technology instantly determines how much or little power is needed. This ensures that unexpected pitches will be tackled in its stride, but also gives riders a boost in range by reducing assist when it’s not required on flatter or mellower sections of trail. If you’d like to dive into the system further, support ratios can be tuned to whatever you consider to be optimum. Whether it’s maximizing range, or speed and power, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite will deliver thanks to tuning capabilities in the RideControl app.
Moving into the displays and controls, Giant gives the Trance X Advanced E+ Elite the updated RideControl Ergo 3 controller. It’s a three-button unit that sits stealthily on your bars and allows for quick navigation of power modes. Keeping things stealthy in the cockpit is the lack of display. Instead, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite features their RideControl Go LED hub mounted in the top tube. The hub has two rows of LED lights that represent battery life and assist modes. The colors also change with each power mode, making it easier to see which setting you’re in with a quick glance.
Giant’s EnergyPak 400 battery system seems to be the standout player in making this full-power eBike hang with lower power, lighter weight offerings on the market. Weighing in at 5lbs, this energy dense battery packs 400Wh of power that claim to perform better than other cells in use in competitor systems. The 22700 cell type has apparently not been used in eBike applications until now, but we foresee more brands jumping on and battery tech only continuing to improve. The larger size and chemistry of these cells ensures they stay cooler longer, which Giant claims means less stress on the system and a longer total lifecycle.
Speaking of lifecycle, Giant is aware of the impact humans and our hobbies have on this planet, and have taken the step to offset this by having these batteries manufactured in a CO2 neutral plant. This impact-resistant battery has been tested to the highest standards and is the first product launched as part of Giant’s new CO2 neutral production goals.
FRAME AND GEO
Built using Giant’s Advanced Composite, the Trance X Advanced E+ Elite is designed to be a competitive and well-rounded eMTB that will hold up to the rigors of electric mountain bike riding. Inside the rear suspension linkage, you will find a geometry flip chip that offers two positions for fine tuning the bike’s handling characteristics for your style and terrain.
Giant continues on with their Maestro suspension platform, which is a pretty neutral and well-rounded system. A dual linkage system that relies on four pivot points to create a single floating pivot point, Maestro suspension has been on a number of race and competition winning bikes throughout the years and is certainly a capable platform.
MODELS AND SPEC
Available in four spec levels, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite comes in with prices from $6,000 for the Trance X Advanced Elite E + 3, to our top-of-the-line Trance X Advanced E+ EL 0 model at $14,000.
GIANT
TRANCE X. ADV. E+ EL 0
MSRP: $14,000
GIANT
TRANCE X. ADV. E+ EL 1
MSRP: $10,000
GIANT
TRANCE X. ADV. E+ EL 2
MSRP: $7,200
GIANT
TRANCE X. ADV. E+ EL 3
MSRP: $6,000
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
We had three riders put some solid time on the Trance X Advanced E+ Elite before we set out to film this video. All three of us have been quite impressed so far. It’s not a bike for everyone as the steeper head tube angle and 140/150mm travel along with the 400Wh battery take it out of some rider’s desired application. Then again if you’re looking for a huge-battery packing full power enduro eBike, you probably haven’t made it this far.
For those who are in the market for a fun, well-rounded do-it-all eMTB that strikes a really nice balance between full-assist eBike and lightweight/SL handling, the Trance X Adv E+ Elite could be a really solid option. As we’ve been stacking up miles in preparation for a long-term review and our upcoming eBike Light (SL) Group Review, the Trance X Adv E+ Elite has stood out among many of the competitors. While we’ve not yet put it through enough varied terrain or miles for our official review and endorsement, one thing is undeniable. Giant’s Trance X Adv. E+ Elite has more power than any other bike we’ve ridden in the SL/lightweight eMTB genre, and even with that extra power it manages to offer some competitive range capabilities. The speed isn’t just there on the climbs either: when it comes to traversing or attacking downhills, this bike is a blast to ride. Typically we’re not huge fans of Live Valve suspension dampers, but they work well on this bike and make it a real treat to haul ass on! Once opened up, the suspension is active, smooth and allows the bike to hold lines well. It’s a great all around trail shredder so far and we look forward to putting lots more miles aboard this category blurring bike.
Price: $6,000 – $14,000;
Weight: 44.3lbs (Large);
Website: Giant-bicycles.com
