The Stance has long been a feature in Giant's catalog, featuring the brand's Flex Point technology long before flex stays became popular on high-end cross-country bikes. By eliminating a pivot point, Giant was able to keep costs down making the Stance a popular option for riders looking for a budget full-suspension mountain bike for light trail riding.
On the face of it, the new Stance doesn't appear to be all that different. The frame is still made from Giant's Aluxx alloy, uses the same single-pivot FlexPoint Suspension system, and has a very similar low-slung top tube frame shape.
Delve into the numbers though and it's evident that Giant has bolstered the Stance's trail riding performance which should make it far more capable in technical terrain.
The new Stance still comes in two wheel size options, 29in or 27.5-plus (if you consider 2.6in tires to be plus size). The number of frame sizes has been increased, the 27.5in wheeled bike is aimed at smaller riders and now comes on XS to medium frame sizes, while the 29er sizes range from small to XL.
Giant has given the Stance's geometry a pretty radical overhaul to bring it in line with the modern crop of trail bikes. The head tube angle has been dropped by a whole two degrees to 65.5 degrees for added control on rough terrain, while the seat tube has been steepened by 1.5 degrees for a better climbing position on steep inclines. The reach has actually been shortened on some of the 27.5in bikes to cater for the new XS size, but has been extended between 16mm and 29mm on the 29-inch models depending on the frame size.
Both bikes get a bump in suspension travel to back up the more capable geometry. The rear suspension is upped to 125mm and the front gets an extra 10mm bringing it to 140mm.
Giant has also removed the now redundant front derailleur mounts from the seat tube making the bike 1x only and added an accessory mount boss under the top tube for added storage.
Giant manufactures many of the components that are specced on their bikes which is one of the reasons they can offer their bikes at such competitive prices. While this is common with other brands, Giant are one of the few that go as far as to produce their own suspension forks as well.
The updated Stance features a new Giant STL 34 RCL suspension fork. The fork is based on their Crest SL fork and features 34mm stations, a redesigned hollow arch bridge, and a custom negative coil spring and adjustable positive air spring.
It has a ton of adjustment too which isn't something you see on many of the best budget mountain bike forks. The air-spring can be tuned using volume tokens to tune how progressive the fork is and there is a five-position compression control with open, x3 trail modes, and lock-out modes.
Giant says that the STL’s stiff hollow-arch bridge has been designed to offer the right amount of dynamic flex. The arch also features a dedicated mudguard mount too.
The Contact Switch AT dropper post is also made by Giant and comes in sizes between 140mm to 200mm. AT stands for adjustable travel and features 30mm of tool-free adjustable travel in 5mm increments.
Availability, pricing and specification
There are three models available, there's a SRAM equipped Stance 29 1 that's priced at £2,399, or the Stance 29 2 and 27.5 which is outfitted with Shimano Cues for £1,999. Currently, we only have UK pricing but we will be updated as soon as we have international pricing. Bikes are available to buy now and full specs are below.
Giant Stance 29 1
- Frame: ALUXX-grade aluminum, 125mm FlexPoint suspension
- Fork: Giant Crest 34 SL RCL, 140mm, Boost 15x110 thru-axle
- Shock: Suntour Raidon R, 190x45mm
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano CUES RD-U6000
- Shifters: Shimano CUES SL-6000
- Bar: Giant Contact TR35, 780x35mm
- Stem: Giant Contact SL 35
- Crankset: SRAM SX Eagle, 30t
- Seatpost: Giant Contact Switch AT dropper
- Saddle: Giant Romero
- Brakes: Shimano BR-MT420, hydraulic, Shimano RT-26 rotors [F]180mm, [R]180mm
- Wheels: Giant AM 29 alloy, tubeless-ready rims on Giant Tracker Performance Boost 15x110, sealed bearing and Giant Tracker Giant Sport 148x12 thru axle hubs
- Tires: [F] Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT, EXO, TR [R] Maxxis Dissector 29x2.4 WT, Dual, EXO, TR, tubeless
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L
- Price: $TBC / £2,399 / €TBC
Giant Stance 29 2
- Frame: ALUXX-grade aluminum, 125mm FlexPoint suspension
- Fork: Giant STL 34 RCL, 140mm, Boost 15x110 thru-axle
- Shock: Suntour Raidon R, 190x45mm
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano CUES RD-U6000
- Shifters: Shimano CUES SL-6000
- Bar: Giant Contact TR35, 780x35mm
- Stem: Giant Contact SL 35
- Crankset: Shimano CUES FC-U6000-1, 30t
- Seatpost: Giant Contact Switch AT dropper
- Saddle: Giant Romero
- Brakes: Shimano BR-MT200, hydraulic, Shimano RT-26 rotors [F]180mm, [R]180mm
- Wheels: Giant AM 29 alloy, tubeless-ready rims on Giant Tracker Performance Boost 15x110, sealed bearing and Giant Tracker Giant Sport 148x12 thru axle hubs
- Tires: [F] Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT, EXO, TR [R] Maxxis Dissector 29x2.4 WT, Dual, EXO, TR, tubeless
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L
- Price: $TBC / £1,999 / €TBC
Giant Stance 27.5
- Frame: ALUXX-grade aluminum, 125mm FlexPoint suspension
- Fork: Giant STL 34 RCL, 140mm, Boost 15x110 thru-axle
- Shock: Suntour Raidon R, 190x45mm
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano CUES RD-U6000
- Shifters: Shimano CUES SL-6000
- Bar: Giant Contact TR35, 780x35mm
- Stem: Giant Contact SL 35
- Crankset: Shimano CUES FC-U6000-1, 30t
- Seatpost: Giant Contact Switch AT dropper
- Saddle: Giant Romero
- Brakes: Shimano BR-MT200, hydraulic, Shimano RT-26 rotors [F]180mm, [R]180mm
- Wheels: Giant AM 27.5 alloy, tubeless-ready rims on Giant Tracker Performance Boost 15x110, sealed bearing and Giant Tracker Giant Sport 148x12 thru axle hubs
- Tires: [F] Maxxis Minion DHF 27.5x2.6, EXO, TR [R] Maxxis Dissector 27.5x2.6, Dual, EXO, TR, tubeless
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L
- Price: $TBC / £1,999 / €TBC
