Full suspension bikes continue to get better and better each year, but there’s still a place for a lightweight XC hardtail – no matter how much that market has shrunk over the years. With a keen eye on this pointier end of the pool, Giant Bicycles is adding a new carbon hardtail for the riders who dream of power meters and protein powder. Joining the Anthem full suspension race bike for this season is this svelte number here; the 2020 Giant XTC Advanced.
What’s This 2020 Giant XTC Hardtail All About Then?
At first glance, the new XTC looks a lot like the old one. It’s a hardtail with two diamonds after all – what could possibly be that different? Turns out quite a bit, since the 2020 XTC frame has been reworked entirely from head tube to dropout to boost stiffness where it’s needed, enhance compliance where it’s wanted, and eliminate excess grammage.
Look closer and you’ll see the seatstays are much, much slimmer, and now meet the seat tube lower down – a trend we’ve seen plenty of in the road bike world. The idea is to increase the back end’s ability to absorb more of the vibrations from the rear wheel, before they make it up to the rider’s contact points. The top tube has also been pared back, again to improve compliance through the upper part of the frame, while also reducing weight.
1KG Frame? Pah – As If!
With all that tube-slimming going on, Giant has managed to sculpt a hefty amount of weight off the XTC frame. We should point out here that there are actually two XTC frames for 2020: the XTC Advanced SL, and the cheaper XTC Advanced. Both share the same moulds, which produces the same overall shape with the same geometry. The SL frame is just a bit lighter thanks to the use of higher quality carbon fibre.
Whereas the previous generation XTC frame came in at 1259g, the new 2020 XTC Advanced SL weighs in at 920g – a significant decrease of 27%. Even the cheaper XTC Advanced frame manages to scrape in under the 1kg barrier, with a claimed frame weight of 995g.
Impressive as the weight reduction has been, that figure isn’t as light as the 2020 Specialized S-Works Epic that we checked out recently. To put the XTC’s frame weight into perspective, here’s what the current competition looks like:
- UNNO Aora: 790g (one size only)
- Specialized S-Works Epic: 820g
- Open ONE+: 869g
- Canyon Exceed CF SLX: 870g
- Scott Scale RC: 879g
- Focus Raven: 889g
- Cannondale F-Si: 900g
- Giant XTC Advanced SL: 920g
Of course for most normal people, riding a mountain bike isn’t all about the gram(s). Things like geometry and frame construction typically have a much more drastic impact on ride quality. To that note, Giant states that the new XTC boasts the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of any hardtail it’s ever made. It also says that each frame size gets a custom layup schedule to ensure those stiffness values, and therefore handling, are the same whether you’re on a Small or an Extra-Large.
Modern, But Not Too Radical
While compliance and low weight have been a clear goal with the new XTC, Giant has kept the demands of the modern XC racer in mind by spec’ing a 30.9mm seatpost diameter. That gives you a load more options for adding a dropper post compared to the old frame’s 27.2mm seatpost diameter.
Of course there are all the usual modern accruements like Boost hub spacing, internal cable routing, a tapered head tube, along with a gargantuan bottom bracket junction that utilises the popular 92mm-wide PF92 standard.
But while other XC hardtails (such as the UNNO and Specialized) have been nudging the geometry envelope out a little further, Giant has kept things pretty conservative with the XTC. The head angle is a steep 69.5-70°, though the use of a shorter fork offset has increased the Trail measurement from 82mm to 95mm, which should improve the bike’s high-speed stability. The new XTC frame is also quite a bit longer than the old one – Reach measurements basically jump up a full size, and that’s paired to a shorter length stem and curiously wide 780mm handlebars. We suspect a lot of XTC customers will be cutting down those ape-hangers!
Triple Trouble
Giant Australia will have three XTC models available for 2020. Pricing kicks off at $3,699 for the entry-level XTC Advanced 29 2, and goes up to a staggering $10,699 for the XTC Advanced SL 29 0. That model does come with wireless SRAM AXS shifting, carbon wheels and a RockShox SID Ultimate fork, though it’s still in unusual territory given it doesn’t have a rear shock or a dropper post. To our count, that sees it as the sixth 2020 Giant/LIV model to blast through the $10K barrier.
Pricing aside, all Giant XTC models will come with 2.25in Maxxis Rekon Race tyres, 1×12 drivetrains, and a 100mm travel suspension fork. You’ll also see loads of Giant’s own in-house components, including wheels, bars, stems, saddles and seatposts.
2020 Giant XTC Advanced 29 SL 0
- Frame | Advanced SL Grade Carbon Fibre
- Fork | RockShox SID Ultimate, DebonAir Spring, Carbon Steerer & Crown, 100mm Travel
- Wheels | Giant XCR 0, Hookless Carbon Rims, 25mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Rekon Race 120tpi EXO 2.25in
- Drivetrain | SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 1×12 w/XX1 Eagle Carbon 34T Cranks & 10-50T Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Level Ultimate, 180mm Front & 160mm Rear Rotors
- Handlebar | Giant Contact SLR Flat, Carbon, 31.8mm Diameter, 780mm Wide
- Stem | Giant Contact SLR, 8-Degree, Length: 60mm (S), 70mm (M), 80mm (L), 90mm (XL)
- Seatpost | Giant Contact SLR, Carbon, 30.9mm Diameter
- RRP | $10,699
2020 Giant XTC Advanced 29 SL 1
- Frame | Advanced SL Grade Carbon Fibre
- Fork | RockShox SID Select+, DebonAir Spring, 100mm Travel
- Wheels | Giant XCR 1, Hookless Carbon Rims, 25mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Rekon Race 60tpi EXO 2.25in
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore XT 1×12 w/Deore XT 34T Cranks & 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano Deore XT, 180mm Front & 160mm Rear Rotors
- Handlebar | Giant Contact SL XC Flat, Alloy, 31.8mm Diameter, 780mm Wide
- Stem | Giant Contact SL, 8-Degree, Length: 60mm (S), 70mm (M), 80mm (L), 90mm (XL)
- Seatpost | Giant Contact Composite, 30.9mm Diameter
- RRP | $6,299
2020 Giant XTC Advanced 29 2
- Frame | Advanced Grade Carbon Fibre
- Fork | RockShox Recon RL, Solo Air Spring, 100mm Travel
- Wheels | Giant XCT, Alloy Rims, 25mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Rekon Race 60tpi EXO 2.25in
- Drivetrain | Shimano SLX 1×12 w/SLX 34T Cranks & 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano MT500, 180mm Front & 160mm Rear Rotors
- Handlebar | Giant Contact SL XC Flat, Alloy, 31.8mm Diameter, 780mm Wide
- Stem | Giant Contact, 8-Degree, Length: 60mm (S), 70mm (M), 80mm (L), 90mm (XL)
- Seatpost | Giant Alloy, 30.9mm Diameter
- RRP | $3,699
If you’re after more info on the 2020 XTC, then head to the Giant Bicycles website, or alternatively, drop us a question into the comments below and we’ll see if we can’t answer it for you. And if you’re all hot and bothered by all that talk of weight and efficiency, then make sure you check out our story on the 2020 Specialized S-Works Epic HT, or perhaps take a gander at our head-to-head review of the Giant Anthem 29er and Specialized Epic FSR.
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