Good vid, I remember meeting you in swinley a few years ago, I was the guy on a reign by the jumps where we watched some fella without a helmet land on his head, anyhow, don't discount the 29er reign, I'm on one now and its an all round better bike than the 2018, its a lot more managable on normal trails, climbs a lot better, has a lot more 'pop' and it goes downhill just as well, also feels better (to me anyway) on the jumps, I wouldn't hesitate to take it to the alps.
Hey Adam, yeah i remember chatting and admiring you bike! Yeah that was a savage crash! Good to hear the new bike is even better, Sounds like they now have created the perfect enduro bike!!
I love my reign 3 2005 model. Old school classic still relevant today. Got good geometry too and handles everything that's thrown at it. Still got the 3 way swinger on the back and marzochi bombers on the front. Fantastic bike.
Good insight.. I've a giant trance 4 of the same year..it was the entry model with a 2x9 group set which I had issue with so I upgraded to a 1x12 ..and again had issues with till I found a decent bike tech..all now is to upgrade the forks..and maybe a saddle like you say there cheap and light and hard.🤪
If you are after a comfy saddle then I can highly recommend the fabric offerings. My brothers mtb came with a kore seat, felt like sitting on a brick wrapped in plastic. He fitted a ergon saddle which swore by but Bent the rails within a couple months. It’s a shame you can’t really try them before committing to the purchase.
Yeah it's tricky isn't it, but i suppose once you find the right one then you're set for life! The Fabric ones look descent and comfy. Who knows, christmas might come early this year!
Hi, thanks for this review! I have same bike (2018 reign 2 with upgreades) and I love it so far, but this is my first real bike. How do you compare playfulness of it to other bikes? Is it good for learning jumps, manual, bunnyhop etc. as enduro bike or sth else would be better for beginning?
Glad it was helpful! Nice. It's a great bike but not as playful as others i've ridden to be honest, very stable and planted but harder to throw around. Hope that helps.
@@MtbTrailHub many thanks for reply. that is what I expected. To improve pedaling of ths bike I have repleaced saddle for one with longer rails and shifted it forward, also changed wheelset for lighter ones and that improved pedaling a lot. Is there any trick to improve playfulness, how do you think? I wouldnt like to change this bike and I think that its geo is great and still very up to date !
@@MtbTrailHub well you are doing a good job with places I like so far dont really have any spots that you haven’t already covered, but my friend goes to school in Cumbria and we would like to know if the trails around there are good because it is hard to tell on trail forks, thanks
@@MtbTrailHub if you ever go to Whistler I would love to watch that vid because the majority of videos there are pretty much from the Pros, so it would be nice to have a bit of scale put in when watching the videos
Iv got a second hand giant reign that has been fully upgraded. It’s never let me down and I much prefer maintaining the bike rather than looking for a replacement. Only fault I’ve found is the rider holds the bike back
Yeah i'd assume so, having a little less travel will help with the climbing. The new 29er looks like an absolute beauty although if you're more into riding XC then i'd be looking for a smaller bike for sure.
@@MtbTrailHub Thanks for the insight. I only have another option here which is trance 29 with just 115 mm rear sus. Do you think that little travel is ok for light enduro and XC?
@@NilabhUmredkar I'm a lucky owner of a 2021 Giant Reign 29 2 (Europe based, should be pretty much the same with slight deviations like the hubs -> shimano microspline/giant hubs. Choice was between that and the Trance X, weight being quite similar, I went with the Reign. It's on the heavy side, the XL being 16 kg - it pedals surprisingly well. Deff slower than my hardtail, it's still climable, and quite comparable to the Trance X. But the 29er deff has more of a "riding on top of it" feel, but that does seem to help with the climbs. All in all, maybe check out the Trance X for your needs. It's got slightly less travel and its almost like a Reign - lite. Not that lite tho :D
@@hbdpv Thanks :) I wish the X was available but the dealer here says, its not come in the country anytime soon. Maybe never. Even the trance 29 is not here yet neither the reign. But at least they say it will come. Fingers crossed! Thanks for your insight :)
@@NilabhUmredkar Yeah I’d have thought so. I rarely get the most out of the reighn whilst riding in the U.K. and am often over biked. A short travel 29er will be very capable of what you mentioned. 👍
Such an amazing bike I must say! Rockshock it is indeed. Great video. Stay safe! LIKE.
It really is! Capable of pretty much anything any rider can throw at it! Thanks for tuning in
Good vid, I remember meeting you in swinley a few years ago, I was the guy on a reign by the jumps where we watched some fella without a helmet land on his head, anyhow, don't discount the 29er reign, I'm on one now and its an all round better bike than the 2018, its a lot more managable on normal trails, climbs a lot better, has a lot more 'pop' and it goes downhill just as well, also feels better (to me anyway) on the jumps, I wouldn't hesitate to take it to the alps.
Hey Adam, yeah i remember chatting and admiring you bike!
Yeah that was a savage crash!
Good to hear the new bike is even better, Sounds like they now have created the perfect enduro bike!!
Does look a good bike, nice overview and thoughts 👍🏼
Thanks! 👍 she's a beast!
I love my reign 3 2005 model. Old school classic still relevant today. Got good geometry too and handles everything that's thrown at it. Still got the 3 way swinger on the back and marzochi bombers on the front. Fantastic bike.
That speaks for itself, everything you mentioned could be said about my 2018 model too
Yep it's stood the test of time and not many people can say that about their bike. Still going strong.
Good insight..
I've a giant trance 4 of the same year..it was the entry model with a 2x9 group set which I had issue with so I upgraded to a 1x12 ..and again had issues with till I found a decent bike tech..all now is to upgrade the forks..and maybe a saddle like you say there cheap and light and hard.🤪
Hard to floor the Giants, good bikes! A nice pair of forks will serve you well in the Alps!
If you are after a comfy saddle then I can highly recommend the fabric offerings. My brothers mtb came with a kore seat, felt like sitting on a brick wrapped in plastic. He fitted a ergon saddle which swore by but Bent the rails within a couple months. It’s a shame you can’t really try them before committing to the purchase.
Yeah it's tricky isn't it, but i suppose once you find the right one then you're set for life! The Fabric ones look descent and comfy. Who knows, christmas might come early this year!
Great video 👍 would love a bike like that 😍
Thanks, Yeah it's lovely. wasn't sure on the colour when it first arrived (only bought it because it was on a deal) but now i love it!
Love my reign, solid bike
Yeah, they can take a lot of hard riding! a proper race machine!
Hi, thanks for this review! I have same bike (2018 reign 2 with upgreades) and I love it so far, but this is my first real bike. How do you compare playfulness of it to other bikes? Is it good for learning jumps, manual, bunnyhop etc. as enduro bike or sth else would be better for beginning?
Glad it was helpful! Nice.
It's a great bike but not as playful as others i've ridden to be honest, very stable and planted but harder to throw around.
Hope that helps.
@@MtbTrailHub many thanks for reply. that is what I expected. To improve pedaling of ths bike I have repleaced saddle for one with longer rails and shifted it forward, also changed wheelset for lighter ones and that improved pedaling a lot.
Is there any trick to improve playfulness, how do you think? I wouldnt like to change this bike and I think that its geo is great and still very up to date !
Mate you have come in so handy when looking for spots to ride,
That's music to my ears, so happy to help!
anywhere in particular you'd like to see reviewed in the future?
@@MtbTrailHub well you are doing a good job with places I like so far dont really have any spots that you haven’t already covered, but my friend goes to school in Cumbria and we would like to know if the trails around there are good because it is hard to tell on trail forks, thanks
@@MtbTrailHub if you ever go to Whistler I would love to watch that vid because the majority of videos there are pretty much from the Pros, so it would be nice to have a bit of scale put in when watching the videos
@@digbyvincent2396 That is top of my list🤞
Iv got a second hand giant reign that has been fully upgraded. It’s never let me down and I much prefer maintaining the bike rather than looking for a replacement. Only fault I’ve found is the rider holds the bike back
Haha very true, you'd be doing well to find the limits of this beast!
That was something different 👍🏻I like it
Thanx for honest review my opinion if rider have legs 160/160 it’s not a problem to ride 😉
Totally agree, just a shame this rider doesn't 1 hahaa
More intervals and will be good 😉
What are your thoughts on the 2021 29er version? Would that be a better climber and more suited to XC than this one? THanks.
Yeah i'd assume so, having a little less travel will help with the climbing. The new 29er looks like an absolute beauty although if you're more into riding XC then i'd be looking for a smaller bike for sure.
@@MtbTrailHub Thanks for the insight. I only have another option here which is trance 29 with just 115 mm rear sus. Do you think that little travel is ok for light enduro and XC?
@@NilabhUmredkar I'm a lucky owner of a 2021 Giant Reign 29 2 (Europe based, should be pretty much the same with slight deviations like the hubs -> shimano microspline/giant hubs. Choice was between that and the Trance X, weight being quite similar, I went with the Reign. It's on the heavy side, the XL being 16 kg - it pedals surprisingly well. Deff slower than my hardtail, it's still climable, and quite comparable to the Trance X. But the 29er deff has more of a "riding on top of it" feel, but that does seem to help with the climbs. All in all, maybe check out the Trance X for your needs. It's got slightly less travel and its almost like a Reign - lite. Not that lite tho :D
@@hbdpv Thanks :) I wish the X was available but the dealer here says, its not come in the country anytime soon. Maybe never. Even the trance 29 is not here yet neither the reign. But at least they say it will come. Fingers crossed! Thanks for your insight :)
@@NilabhUmredkar Yeah I’d have thought so. I rarely get the most out of the reighn whilst riding in the U.K. and am often over biked.
A short travel 29er will be very capable of what you mentioned. 👍
what one is it