Mick reflects on his time with the Giant Trance X E+ Advanced

As a fresh arrival for 2022, the Giant Trance X E+ Advanced broke ground as the brand’s first ever carbon fibre e-MTB. Designed as a versatile and powerful all-terrain hauler, the Trance X E+ Advanced draws on a similar platform to the alloy version we tested back in 2020. This sees it equipped with 29in wheels, a 150mm travel fork and 140mm of rear travel via the Maestro dual-link suspension design. It also incorporates a whole suite of other updates and new features that make this Giant’s most premium e-MTB yet. There are no doubts it has lifted the bar, though after spending some solid time aboard our Trance X E+ Advanced test bike this year, we still think there’s room for improvement.

It’s far sleeker than its predecessors

Previous Giant e-MTBs have suffered from an ungainly aesthetic, mostly due to their use of bulky and low-hanging motors. Taking a significant leap in the right direction, the Trance X E+ Advanced is built around an elegantly engineered full-carbon chassis that offers plenty of smooth curves and flowing lines. The 625Wh battery is nicely integrated into the downtube, though it can be removed from the frame for charging off the bike.

Delivering power is the latest SyncDrive Pro motor, which punches out a peak torque of 85Nm. Manufactured by Yamaha in partnership with Giant, the SyncDrive Pro motor is quite a bit slimmer compared to its predecessor. The result is a more refined silhouette, and greatly improved ground clearance. There’s still a huge plastic armour plate around the motor casing, but it suffers from fewer impacts in the first place.

We also dig the new RideControl Go interface, which is neatly integrated into the frame’s top tube. Unfortunately, like Shimano’s EM800 display, the five LEDs only illustrate the battery status in 20% increments. This makes it harder to estimate your remaining range. However, you can always open up the RideControl app to see the battery status as a percentage.

Like the display, the new RideControl Ergo 3 controller is discreet and simple to use. It can be mounted on the left or right side of the bars, and its proximity to your hand makes it easy to toggle assist modes. We’re less convinced by the long grips though, which push the brake and dropper lever further inboard. This will be more of an issue for riders with smaller hands.

For those looking to tidy things up further, it is possible to remove the RideControl Ergo 3 controller entirely. This is an option since you can still toggle between assist modes via the top tube interface, with the main power button used to change settings.

Comfort is king

Thanks to the Fox suspension and Maestro linkage, the Giant Trance X E+ is super plush, leading to a comfortable, bump-erasing ride quality. Just like the latest Anthem and Trance 29, the one-piece rocker link drives the trunnion shock via sealed cartridge bearings, offering slick off-the-top sensitivity that keeps the rear tyre driving for traction.

There’s tonnes of grip from the 2.6in Maxxis tyres too. With their massive volume and relatively supple casings, these can be run at quite low pressures, further improving overall traction and compliance. We really dig the Assegai and Dissector combo, though heavier riders may find the casings to be too floppy through hardpack berms. Those riders would do well to downsize to narrower 2.4in tyres with stiffer casings for a more precise feel.

I’ve otherwise found the Trance X E+ to offer a centralised riding position thanks to its long wheelbase and steep seat tube angle. The latter does push a little more weight onto your hands when riding along flatter terrain, and some riders could benefit from fitting a set of higher rise bars to balance things out. I’ve not had any such issues with the stem at the top of the steerer tube though, and indeed it’s a comfortable cruiser along undulating trails.

So much power

The SyncDrive Pro is no doubt a defining feature of the Giant Trance X E+. Based on the Yamaha PW-X3 motor, the SyncDrive Pro unit is more compact and 300g lighter than its predecessor, despite increasing peak torque from 80Nm to 85Nm.

It certainly feels mighty powerful on the trail. It’s highly responsive, even to the lightest touch – something you have to watch for when you’re standing on the bike and resting a foot on the pedal.

As well as measuring rider torque and cadence, the drive unit also senses gradient. This input is only factored in when you’re riding in the Smart Assist mode, where the motor adapts its support accordingly to the conditions. Pretty clever!

Given how much power is on tap, the SyncDrive Pro motor is impressively quiet in its delivery. Unfortunately it still rattles on the descents like a Shimano or Bosch motor though.

Because it is so sensitive and powerful, it does take a bit of getting used to compared to a Shimano or Bosch-equipped bike. The SyncDrive Pro will give you a lot of power easily and quickly should you want it, and that means you need to mellow out your pedal stroke, or make liberal use of the lower assist modes to tame the surge. On the flip side, since it’s possible to get maximum motor output with minimal pedal input in the highest assist mode, the SyncDrive Pro motor will be appealing for riders who are self-shuttling, and for less fit riders who want to save their energy on the climbs for racking up maximum smiles on the descents.

And it’s an amazing climber

Thanks to the powerful motor, supple suspension, steep seat angle and long chainstays, the Giant Trance X E+ is an incredible climber. In fact, it’s probably the best climbing e-MTB we’ve ever tested!

There’s gobs of rear wheel traction, and the 473mm rear centre length ensures the front wheel stays planted no matter how steep the trail gets. The SyncDrive Pro also delivers plenty of grunt even at low cadences, so it’ll continue driving you forward even when you’re grinding it out in the 51T cog.

Furthermore, the Fox E-Live Valve system reduces pedal bob and keeps the suspension riding high in its travel. This gives you plenty of free space for spinning the cranks, and it resists diving whenever you need to get out of the saddle. Because E-Live Valve is so effective, I found I could leave the geometry flip chip in the Low position, without fear of constant pedal strikes.

Live Valve on an e-MTB?

The Fox E-Live Valve system is a fascinating part of our Giant Trance X E+ Advanced test bike, and we expect the adaptive suspension will appeal to many bike geeks out there.

Now I won’t go into detail about how the system works here. Instead, check out our deep-dive into Fox Live Valve and RockShox Flight Attendant for all you need to know.

The main difference with the E-Live Valve system on the Trance X E+ Advanced is the fact that it doesn’t require a separate battery. Instead it’s powered off the main battery in the downtube. Unfortunately there’s still a bit of a bulge under the top tube for the main processor, though this is necessary as it houses the central accelerometer and pitch sensor. This allows the system to recognise whether you’re climbing, descending, on the flat, or in free-fall.

That’s all well and good, but why would you need Live Valve on an e-MTB? Well in the case of the Trance X E+, it does indeed improve general efficiency. It’s a surprisingly nice feature to have on smoother trails and on the road, particularly given that many e-MTBs don’t come with a lockout.

The supportive suspension also makes it easier to build speed when you’re pumping the bike along flow trails. This can be difficult on a regular e-MTB due to the excess weight, sticky tyres and active suspension, which tends to suck up a lot of your inputs. In comparison, the firm E-Live Valve platform improves the Trance X E+ responsiveness and agility.

The downside of the E-Live Valve system is that it can be unpredictable on fast and rough terrain. While the system is able to open almost instantaneously when you encounter a bump that’s big enough to trip the sensors, the shift from Firm to Open is more dramatic on a heavier e-MTB. This is particularly the case with the fork, which tends to dive heavily, altering your weight distribution in a way that can be unsettling on a steep descent.

To counter this, I found increasing the fork’s low-speed compression damping helped to provide more support in the Open position, while also reducing the damping differential compared to the Firm and Open setting. For more aggressive riders, we’d suggest also adding volume spacers to hold the suspension higher up in its travel.

We kind of wish it was a mullet

Really though, the issue with weight distribution on the Trance X E+ boils down to its enormously long chainstays. That 473mm rear centre length is indeed a whopper, coming in a good 20-30mm longer than competitors like the Trek Rail and Specialized Levo. It also means that on the Small and Medium frames, the rear centre length is actually longer than the reach.

Of course the long rear end is a big contributor to the Trance X E+’s climbing abilities, and it certainly makes it a very grounded and stable bike to ride on flowier trails. Front-end traction is excellent, allowing you to commit and push it pretty hard through the corners. With plenty of grip, the Trance X E+ actually corners a lot better than you’d expect given its long wheelbase.

Once the gradient tips downwards more dramatically however, your weight is pitched forward onto the front wheel, exacerbating fork dive. This reduces confidence on the descents, and it also reduces the bike’s playfulness. Indeed with your grips being quite far away from the rear axle, it’s difficult to lift up the front wheel.

Another downside of the long chainstays is a noticeable degree of lateral flex. It’s not hugely detrimental to the ride quality, and indeed it lends to the compliant nature of the Trance X E+. However, when upshifting under power, the rear of the frame shudders each time the chain bangs into place on the cassette, which sounds and feels unsettling.

Due to the motor and lower linkage on the Maestro suspension design, there is limited space for Giant to shorten the chainstay length on the Trance X E+. With that in mind, we think a dedicated mullet setup would be a great option for this bike. Not only would a smaller 27.5in rear wheel allow for a shorter rear end, it’d also help to improve general agility.

Harder riders should look toward the Reign e+

Then again, more aggressive riders will simply be better off at looking at the latest Giant Reign E+.

This bike is already purpose-built around a mullet setup, which allows for a significantly shorter 454mm rear centre length. The geometry isn’t too far different, though it does get a slacker head angle. Along with the 170mm travel fork and 160mm of rear wheel travel, the Reign E+ is a better choice for hard-hitting riders that are tackling steeper and more technical terrain.

In comparison, the Trance X E+ is more suited to trail riding and backcountry exploration. It’s a comfortable bike to ride, and it offers good stability on most trails that’ll suit less experienced riders.

It’s a solid package for the money

Our Giant Trance X Advanced E+ 0 test bike is not exactly a cheap bike, though compared to the competition it does offer surprisingly good value for money.

Along with the full carbon frame, you’re also getting carbon Praxis cranks, a carbon wheelset and Giant’s own carbon handlebar. Add in the slick Fox Factory suspension and bulletproof Shimano XT groupset, and you’ve got a seriously premium build.

It’s also been solid too. I’ve not encountered any durability issues throughout testing, and it’s worth noting that the Trance X E+ comes with a maximum payload of 133kg, making it a suitable option for heavier riders. We would recommend fitting a tyre insert on the rear or burlier casings if you frequent very rocky terrain though.

The alloy model is our pick of the range

But if we were spending our own cash, it would be the alloy Trance X E+ 1 model that we’d pick out of the range. This bike sells for $9,299 AUD, making it quite a bit more accessible than the carbon models.

Of course the alloy frame is heavier, but it features the same geometry, Maestro suspension design and SyncDrive Pro motor as the carbon models. However, it does upgrade to a larger 750Wh battery. It also skips the E-Live Valve suspension, instead electing for a conventional Fox Float X piggyback shock, and a 36 fork with the excellent GRIP damper.

It may not have the same curb appeal as the carbon model with its electronic adaptive suspension, but it no doubt provides a simpler and more practical package that suits the demands of modern e-MTB riding.

Flow’s Verdict

The latest Giant Trance X E+ has taken a step in the right direction with its sleek carbon chassis, lower-profile motor and discreet user interface. The geometry still feels a little dated with the enormously long chainstays and dual 29in wheels, especially when you compare it to the Specialized Levo, Merida eOne-Sixty and even Giant’s own Reign E+. And while we dig the Fox Live Valve system in the right application, the technology is overkill on an e-MTB, even if it does offer some noticeable advantages.

For that reason, we reckon the alloy Trance X E+ models offer a more practical package that comes in at a substantially lower price point.

We’d still recommend more aggro riders go straight to the Reign E+. But if you’re after a comfortable cruiser with a powerful motor, supple suspension and stable handling, the Trance X E+ is a solid option with an appealing spec for the money.