The Giant Trance X Advanced E+ has arrived as a new carbon fibre variant of the alloy Trance X E+ that we tested last year. It follows a hot year of bike launches for Giant that includes the overhauled Reign E+ and the new Anthem race bike. As the freshest cab off the ranks, the Trance X Advanced E+ is actually Giant’s first ever carbon e-MTB. Along with the integration of the Fox Live Valve suspension system, it aims to take the performance level up a few notches. We’ve had the chance to ride the new Trance X Advanced E+ over the past week, and here we’ll be taking you through our first impressions of riding this new premium e-MTB.
Giant Trance X Advanced E+ overview
The Giant Trance X Advanced E+ carries over the same fundamentals as the alloy version. It’s built around the Maestro suspension design with 140mm of rear wheel travel, and that’s paired to a 150mm travel fork. It rolls on 29in wheels with high volume 2.6in tyres front and rear.
The obvious difference to the alloy version is the frame, which is made from carbon fibre to improve the stiffness-to-weight ratio. Giant says it uses a proprietary manufacturing process for the mainframe, which is moulded as one continuous piece in a process it calls a ‘Modified Monocoque Construction’.
More power & integrated display
Along with the new carbon frame, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ also updates to the new SyncDrive Pro motor that first debuted on the 2022 Reign E+. The motor is still manufactured by Yamaha, but it is significantly lighter and more compact, offering greater ground clearance and allowing for a sleeker silhouette compared to previous Giant e-MTBs. The new motor also dishes out more power, with up to 85Nm of torque on tap.
Also neat to see is an integrated display in the top tube called RideControl GO. It’s not unlike the TCU display used on the Specialized Levo SL, providing the rider with a live reading of the battery life and assistance level. Along with the updated RideControl Ergo 3 controller next to the left hand grip, the cockpit on the Trance X Advanced E+ is significantly cleaner and more ergonomic, with no ugly screens present.
There’s a 625Wh battery inside the downtube, which can be easily removed for charging separately. The frame is also compatible with Giant’s EnergyPak Plus range extender battery, which is a 250Wh piggyback battery that brings total capacity up to a whopping 875Wh.
Live Valve comes to e-MTB
Debuting on the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ is the first application of the Fox Live Valve system we’ve seen on a Giant e-MTB.
In case you’re not familiar with it, Live Valve is an automated electronic suspension system that sees the fork and shock adjusting between Firm and Open settings, with a suite of sensors reading inputs from the terrain. The idea is to improve efficiency and lift the bike’s ride height on the climbs, while offering comfort and traction on the descents, all with no need for the rider to flick any switches or remote levers.
The Live Valve system is wired directly into the bike’s main battery, though the main computer remains mounted to the underside of the top tube.
As we saw with the new Anthem, there are further options for the user to tune the Live Valve settings via an app. Also new, and exclusive to Giant, is the option of Live Valve at two price points; Factory Series and Performance Elite. This means Giant can now spec Live Valve on two models, and bring the technology down to a cheaper price point.
Geometry remains much the same
There are no radical changes to the geometry of the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ over the existing alloy model. The angles are identical, and the reach measurement on our Medium test bike is only 5mm longer.
You’ll find a flip chip in the pivot between the rocker and seatstay, with High and Low settings. The bike will come set in the Low position, and flipping it into High will lift the BB by 10mm and steepen the angles by 0.7°.
Also carried over from the alloy bike are the long chainstays. In fact, they’re slightly longer on the carbon frame, which has an enormous 473mm rear centre length. This simply boils down to packaging between the lower Maestro link, the motor and a 29×2.6in rear tyre.
Giant Trance X Advanced E+ price & specs
The Giant Trance X Advanced E+ will be offered in two models, both of which will be available at the time of launch.
The two bikes will share the same carbon frame, SyncDrive Pro motor and 625Wh battery. Fox Live Valve also features on each bike, though the top-end model gets the fancy Kashima coating for its Factory fork and shock. It also upgrades to a carbon wheelset, cranks and handlebars to reduce weight further.
2022 Giant Trance X Advanced E+ 0
- Frame | Advanced Grade Carbon Fibre, Maestro Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Live Valve, Factory Series, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X Live Valve, Factory Series, 185×52.5mm
- Motor | Giant SyncDrive Pro, 85nM
- Battery | Giant EnergyPak Smart 625Wh
- Wheels | Giant eTRX, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Assegai EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Front & Dissector EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore XT 1×12 w/Praxis Carbon 36T Crankset & SLX 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano Deore XT 4-Piston w/203mm Rotors
- Handlebar | Giant Contact SLR 35, Carbon, 780mm Width
- Stem | Giant Contact SL 35, Length: 40mm (S-M), 50mm (L-XL)
- Seatpost | Giant Contact Switch Dropper, Travel: 125mm (S), 150mm (M), 170mm (L-XL)
- Saddle | Giant Romero SL
- Confirmed Weight | 23.06kg
- RRP | $12,799 AUD
2022 Giant Trance X Advanced E+ 1
- Frame | Advanced Grade Carbon Fibre, Maestro Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Live Valve, Performance Elite, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X Live Valve, Performance Elite, 185×52.5mm
- Motor | Giant SyncDrive Pro, 85nM
- Battery | Giant EnergyPak Smart 625Wh
- Wheels | Giant AM, Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Maxxis Assegai EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Front & Dissector EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.6in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/Praxis Alloy 36T Crankset & Deore 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano Deore XT 4-Piston w/203mm Rotors
- Handlebar | Giant Contact 35 Trail, Alloy, 780mm Width
- Stem | Giant Contact SL 35, Length: 40mm (S-M), 50mm (L-XL)
- Seatpost | Giant Contact Switch Dropper, Travel: 125mm (S), 150mm (M), 170mm (L-XL)
- Saddle | Giant Romero
- RRP | $10,799 AUD
Testing the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ 0
We’ve only had our Giant Trance X Advanced E+ test bike for a week, but we’ve already had it high up in the mountains around Falls Creek for the Ignition MTB Festival for three days of backcountry exploration, and self-shuttling black grade singletrack.
Immediately noticeable is the lower weight. Coming in at 23.06kg, the Trance X Advanced E+ is nearly 1.5kg lighter than the alloy model we tested last year. It’s easier to lift on and off the bike rack, and it’s also less resistant to directional changes on twisty alpine singletrack.
The sure-footed stability of the alloy bike is still present however, with the Trance X Advanced E+ offering a very comfortable riding position with a soft pillow of suspension beneath you and the trail. We’re still dialling in the suspension and Live Valve settings, the latter of which offers a special climb mode that leaves the fork unlocked while stiffening up the rear shock damping. That’s a potentially useful setup for cleaning stupidly steep and technical e-MTB climbing challenges.
And climbing is no doubt a strength of the Trance X Advanced E+ thanks to its supple Maestro suspension and huge chainstays. It keeps the rear tyre driving into the terrain and reduces front wheel wander. The downside is that it restricts agility, especially on our Medium sized test bike where the rear centre is actually longer than the reach measurement. However, tall riders on the Large and X-Large frame size may actually feel better balanced on the Trance X Advanced E+ compared to other e-MTBs out there with shorter rear ends.
Otherwise the new SyncDrive Pro motor offers intuitive power delivery via its 6-sensor system, and it’s also quieter than its predecessor. The extra clearance is much appreciated, and it offers a drastic improvement in aesthetics too.
Flow’s early verdict
With its new carbon fibre frame, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ offers a premium option that signals Giant’s growing presence in the e-MTB market. Early impressions are positive, with it being both lighter and no doubt better looking than the alloy model.
There’s a lot to unpack with the Live Valve system, both with tuning the fork and shock, and the settings within the Live Valve app itself. We’re not sure how many riders were asking for Live Valve to be added to an e-MTB, since pedal efficiency is less critical when you have a motor supporting you. Giant clearly believes in the system though, as we’re seeing Live Valve adopted across a broader range of models and price points for 2022.
Mick will be taking the Trance X Advanced E+ back home to Newcastle for further testing on his home trails to dive deeper into the performance benefits of the Live Valve system, as well as that new SyncDrive Pro motor. Stay tuned for our long-term review of this new premium carbon e-MTB from Giant.
