Giant Stance Series Review: All-Rounder Trail Bikes

Giant Stance series is here! Can these economical 130 mm trail bikes be your gateway to good times on dirt trails and roads? We think you’ll be impressed by these all-rounders, and we know you’ll like the price!

Giant’s Stance mountain bike line is a fantastic way to save money while you get tooled up for singletrack and other dirt ridings.

Proprietary ALUXX aluminum frameset and rear swingarm, FlexPoint rear suspension design, and solid component specs are part of what makes Giant Stance worth investigating.

 

Giant Stance Models

Giant is offering wheel sizes for the Stance – Giant Stance with 27.5″ wheels, and the Stance 29 with 29″ wheels. Each sports 120 mm of plush, single-pivot frame suspension, the best of all worlds for diverse dirt experiences.

Apart from their respective wheel sizes and paint jobs, the Giant Stance and Giant Stance 29 have all the same components. The prices are the same as well.

Two electric models are available as well, called Giant Stance E+ 1 and Giant Stance E+ 2.

Let’s learn more about them!

 

Giant Stance Review

Each Stance version – 27.5″ or 29er – is specifically equipped with your budget and intended uses in mind:

“Giant Stance – don’t think there is anything slouchy about the Stance; it’s ready to rip any dirt trails and roads you can envision, and do it with confidence. This is not your premium build, as the Stance includes a 1×11 (previously 12-speed) drivetrain as well as a lighter component group. If you’re serious about hitting dirt and mountain tracks and want the right tool for the job – with a healthy budget in mind – this model is the one you need.”

 

Related: Full review of Giant Bikes

The Stance models in this review employ Giant’s proprietary OverDrive head tube spec: 1 1/8-inch to 1 ¼-inch tapered for lightweight rigidity and industry-standard compatibility.

See the Giant Stance on Mike's Bikes

 

Components

Giant Stance is an affordable full-suspension mountain bike, with a component group that reflects exactly that.

Moving away from the previous year’s Giant Stance 1 are the more premium model, the 2022 Stance offers 1×10 gearing, Giant Crest and Suntour suspension components and sealed-bearing hubs.

Giant equips the Stance with well-known and reliable component brands, including Suntour, Shimano, KMC, Praxis,  and Maxxis – along with its own Giant-branded components.

Compared to the more premium Giant Stance 1 from 2021, the current Stance weighs a bit more than its predecessor.

The Stance rides on a Giant Crest 34 RCL fork and Raidon R shock. Both SR Suntour and Giant forks have air springs and offer 130 mm of travel.

Thankfully, the Stance has a dropped post in the Giant Contact Switch. The cockpits are rounded out with a well-designed Giant handlebar, stem and saddle.

 

Brakes and Tires

Generous stopping power is supplied by Shimano MT200 hydraulic disk brakes on the Stance. Rotor sizes are 160 mm rear and 180 mm front, a nice, lightweight combo for confidently checking your speed with a single finger on each lever.

Wheels include Giant’s brand disc-specific, tubeless rims and hubs, Sapim spokes, and Maxxis Forekaster tubeless-ready knobby tires. They’re 2.35″ wide.

Giant is well-known for innovative and highly functional suspension design, and the Stance line incorporates that expertise. The single-pivot design of the Stance framesets provides a super solid and reliable squish and will require less maintenance going forward than more intricate suspension designs.

FlexPoint technology, exclusive to Giant bikes, eliminates extraneous linkage and swingarm pivots, resulting in a lighter design with fewer moving and connecting parts.

All suspension shock and fork options for the Stance include adjustable damping thresholds, rebound, and low-speed compression – just like premium bikes costing thousands more.

All Giant Stance models provide riders with more than enough grip and stability on rough trails and dirt roads.

Front and rear Maxxis knobbies combined with 130 mm of front and rear suspension equal a very versatile off-road bike that can handle any all-rounder MTB fare, whether that’s eating up gravel roads all day or climbing and descending steep singletrack.

More expensive Stance models include many upgraded components, but all models come with hydraulic disc brakes that stop on a dime.

See The Giant Stance on Mike's Bikes

 

Sizes

Giant covers nearly every rider – from under 5’2” to over 6’8” in height – with frame size designations as XS, S, M, L and XL:

• XS for rider height 5’2″ – 5’5″
• S for rider height 5’5″ – 5’8″
• M for rider height 5’8″ – 5’11”
• L for rider height 5’11” – 6’2″
• XL for rider height 6’2″ – 6’4″

 

However, the electric models are available in four distinct sizes:

• S for rider height 5’4″ – 5’8″
• M for rider height 5’7″ – 5’11”
• L for rider height 5’10” – 6’2″
• XL for rider height 6’2″ – 6’6″

 

Pros and Cons

While no bike will work fantastically for every riding application, the Stance covers a lot of ground. For the Giant Stance we noted:

Pros:

• Great value
• Proven Giant design and durable construction
• Solid component specs on both models
• Tubeless rims and tires
• 130 mm travel works well for a range of terrain
• Knobby tires perform well in a range of surface conditions. From loose dirt to hardpacked roads.

 

Cons:

• Press-fit bottom bracket requires specialized tools and supplies to service
• Economical mountain bikes tend to be on the heavy side
• Minimal selection of frame colors

 

See The Bikes on Mike's Bikes

 

User Reviews

Let’s talk about other Stance reviews.

The comments from Stance owners and reviewers have been overwhelmingly positive, and many cite similar aspects of the Stance as the reasons why they appreciate it.

Number one is value.

Giant has carved a well-deserved reputation for itself in this regard, and that is not lost on consumers and bike reviewers. Giant bikes at all price points share this trait, but reviewers found the Stance is a stand-out in this regard, as noted by the performance and capability of both Stance models.

But “value” also speaks to the bike, its components and how well the package works as a unit. There, again, reviewers were quick to notice the great performance and comfort of the bike – regardless of its low price.

Positive aspects of the Stance that were noted by owners and reviewers included its overall comfort, paddle-style dropper remote, stable combination of 780 mm bar with 50 mm stem, and on-the-fly adjustable frame shock and fork.

 

Giant Stance E+ 1 & E+ 2 Power Electric Bikes

The Giant Stance line has two electric models as well. We can see that they are quite modern and offer a lot in terms of specs and technology. The introduction of e-bikes to the cycling world has been one of the biggest revolutions in the cycling industry. It has allowed riders to explore wider and further and go beyond what they had previously thought were their limits.

Giant Stance E+ 1 and E+ 2 are mid-range full suspension e-bikes that have a lot of similarities with the original Stance models. However,  they come with a modern surprise in the form of Giant’s SyncDrive Sport Motor.

It develops 70 Nm of torque and provides up to 360% tuneable assistance on the trail. The 500 W battery is elegantly integrated inside the downtube and seamlessly continues towards the bottom bracket, where the motor is stashed.

A neat surprise when investigating the Giant Stance E+ 1 and E+ 2 is the high-grade ALUXX aluminum frame. The bike is built around this Giant’s high-end frame that can be seen on some of their more expensive models. Therefore, it’s a big plus that they have built these full-suspension e-bikes around it.

Related: Buying From Mike’s Bikes

See the Giant Stance E+ 2 on Mike's Bikes

 

Best For Whom?

These Stance electric models are perfect for those who are recovering from an injury or are entering old age. But, simply disliking grinding up a steep hill is a reason enough to buy an e-bike as well. It’ll let you go on longer rides once again and climb hills like you used to do before.

Giant Stance E+ 1 and E+ 2 are great choices if you want to ride longer with less effort.

That said, both Stance E+ models are suitable for recreational riders who do not plan to take their bike to extremes on every ride. If you’re a weekend warrior or a regular explorer, the Stance e-bike will prove to be your perfect partner in crime.

 

Components

We’ve already seen that the electric Stance models do not mess around when it comes to electric components. However, can the mechanical ones keep up with them?

From what we can see, they certainly can as the Stance E+2 comes with a full Shimano 1×10 drivetrain. However, the Stance E+1 comes with 12 speeds. Both models use top quality Shimano components.

On flats, these electric Stance models can develop up to 20 MPH, so they need a mighty set of brakes to stop quickly. Luckily, the hydraulic Tektro disc brakes with massive 203 mm rotors front and rear are the perfect candidates for the job.

 

Suspension and Wheels

The FlexPoint suspension system is pretty much the same that can be found on the regular Stance models. Why change something that has proven to be excellent on the trails? This single pivot suspension on both electric models offers 130 mm of travel packed into the RockShox Monarch RT shock that can be custom-tuned.

Moving to the front of both Stance E+ models, we can see the SR Suntour XCR 34 Air fork with 120 mm of travel.

The SR Suntour 130 mm fork adds incredible value to Giant Stance electric models, extends their off-road capabilities, and makes them suitable for different types of riders.

When it comes to the tires, both Stance electric models roll on Maxxis Rekon 29×2.4″ tubeless-ready tires.

 

Sizes

Giant Stance E+ models come in four sizes marked Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. They fit a wide range of different riders, so you’re guaranteed to find one that suits you.

• Small – 5’5″ – 5’8″ (165 – 173 cm)
• Medium – 5’8″ – 5’11” (173 – 180 cm)
• Large – 5’11 – 6’2″ (180 – 188 cm)
• Extra Large – 6’2″ – 6’4″ (188 – 194 cm)

 

Of course, like any other bike out there, these electric models come with both strong and weak sides. We can say that the strong ones definitely outweigh the weaknesses, but let’s check out both, so you can decide for yourself.

Pros: 

• High volume Maxxis tires.
• Enough room for a water bottle on the frame.
• Fully-integrated motor and battery.
• Quality Shimano components.
• Hydraulic disc brakes with massive 203 mm rotors.
• High-end ALUXX SL Aluminum frame.

 

Cons:

• No dropper post on E+ 2.
• On the heavier side due to the electrics.

 

User Reviews

One of the best ways to determine whether a bike is any good is to see the user reviews. Sometimes, you should take them with a grain of salt, but most of the time they are a good sign of what the bike is really like on the trails.

The Giant Stance E+ 1 and E+ 2 bikes have some fierce competition since the electric bike market is pretty saturated at the moment. However, the reviews are quite positive overall, and people seem to really like and appreciate what it has to offer.

What most riders seem to point out in their reviews are the extra-wide tires which give them lots of confidence on the trail. They’re able to take the power from the Yamaha motor and transform it into speed without losing grip. Another positive thing that we’ve noticed from the reviews is that the 500 W battery pack has a decent lifespan, even though it is smaller than on other Giant E models.

The bottom line for the Giant Stance E+ 1 and E+ 2 can be summed in one sentence – Incredible value for money.

Electric Stance models excel when it comes to the components. They are an excellent combination of Giant’s in-house parts, coupled with Shimano, RockShox, Suntour, and other high-profile brands that guarantee awesome performance on the trails. The Stance lacks a bit more juice in the batteries, but it certainly has enough to get you through a long day’s training session.

Finally, some riders report that they really miss the dropper post on the more economical model, but this can be easily upgraded. After all, it is an entry-level e-bike with an affordable price. You can’t get everything at this price point, but you certainly get more than you bargained for.

 

Bottom Line

Giant’s Stance line represents tremendous mountain bike value, well beyond expectation. Stance’s frame and suspension design, plus a mix of proprietary and brand-name components deliver performance normally associated with bikes at a considerably higher price point.

Your budget doesn’t allow for the crazy, exotic bikes that cost $5,000 or more, but you don’t want to suffer through your novice MTB learning and riding with an entry-level bike. The Giant Stance is your bike. Performance, comfort, optional build levels, economy – you get it all with Giant Stance.

You can spend quite a bit more of your hard-earned cash for a novice-level MTB than you would on the Giant Stance, but the question must be asked: Why?

The bottom line for the Giant Stance E+ 1 and E+ 2 can be summed in one sentence. Incredible value for money. Giant is one of the biggest bike companies for a good reason. They are known for always giving its customers more than they would expect for the price they are paying.

Giant’s reputation for value and performance is unequaled within the industry. These great Stance offerings are good illustrations of that…

See The Stance Models on Mike's Bikes