REVIEW: 2010 Giant Reign X

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Dino Brown, Oct 14, 2009.

  1. 92se-r

    92se-r Active Member

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    Giant really does that suspension a big disservice by speccing an air shock. With a rising rate rear suspension design, it would completely blow through its travel, unless using a small volume air shock. It uses the suspension travel much more efficiently with a coil IMO.
     
  2. mfoga

    mfoga Intense Whore

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    Dino
    How did the wheels feel? I have been looking at those but I am kinda scared about aero spokes.


    All but the X0 come with coil.:wave:
     
  3. Pain Freak

    Pain Freak Dead or Alive

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    I'm going to jump on the coil bandwagon. I think with a coil you might possibly have been on one of the best designed bikes out there today. Reading the mayors review I couldn't help but think, Dino reads to many mtb magazines :lol:.

    Giant has always been an innovator in their designs and their pricing has always been the best and what most folks don't realize is they make most of the mountain bikes made at their plant. Including Specialized and Trek to name a few.
     
  4. Nagaredama

    Nagaredama New Member

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    What about an air shock would make it blow through the travel if the suspension is rising rate?
     
  5. Dino Brown

    Dino Brown Sir Smack-Alot

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    The wheels? 8-[
    It may be best to ask someone who owns them!
    The rear end tracked perfectly straight... The wheels felt solid... They also accelerated quite well!

    *I learned three things from this review:
    1. Avid Elixir CRs are way better than my Juicy 7's
    2. I am a big fan of the Maxle Lite
    3. I'm fairly certain the EX1750s will be on my next bike! :clap:

    The Air shock...
    1. The DHX AIR is a superb shock! For a HUGE percentage of riders, it WILL work quite well. What I am saying is: (I) prefer a coil- on that bike!

    2. The DHX Air felt a bit "boardy" at speed...
    It also felt slightly "out of sync" with the rest of the bike! (My riding style and set-up played a role).

    3. While the DHX Air has been known to blow-through travel... I did NOT have any issues (I did use all of the travel though).

    STR EGOs...
    Many of us have been guilty of allowing our "egos" to decide which bike is best for us (i.e. bigger is better). I can see many people running into the same problem with the Reign.

    My overly-simplified opinion...

    *If you lean towards XC, keep both wheels on the ground, enjoy long climbs, seek more confidence than your 4 or 5" bike gives you... if you consider "The Luge" a DH run.... The 6" Reign is plenty of bike for you!
    *If weight is a concern, if you "ride everything"... if you want a bike that can be ridden almost anywhere... if you don't blow-through travel on all of your bikes, if you like the ADJUSTABILITY of air shocks... the REIGN X (with an air shock) is probably for you! (Most people)
    *If you ride fast, aim the bike at every rock you see, jump off stuff, AND want to utilize 100% of the rear suspension... a coil IS for you!

    Bottom line:
    Purchase the bike that best suits YOUR needs... Not that of your ego!
     
  6. 92se-r

    92se-r Active Member

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    Let me rephrase that. An air shock with a HV canister, such as the one pictured.

     
  7. Draheim18

    Draheim18 Tow Master

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    Dino, you actually ride bikes? And all this time I thought you just liked to sit around and talk about them. :lol:



    Very nice review of the bike.
     
  8. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    I'll throw in my opinion here: I'm with Dino, the coil is definitely the best way to go on this bike. I've got a DHX3 on mine (by no means the best shock in the world), and I've never had one complaint about how my rear suspension is working. it just works.

    I've also got an air shock, and it lacks the smoothness of the coil. it does drop a lot of weight if I'm going to big bear though...
     
  9. Lambda_drive

    Lambda_drive Member

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    I like the one on the left better. I hear the guy who rides that bike can knock a bull out in one punch and His testicles are made from Titanium and his under-pants are carbon fiber. ;)


    The 2010 Reign X was pretty awesome. As soon as you get on the bike you can tell it's stiff. The bike was as stiff as my washboard abs. I was also surprised on how light it was. The suspension felt very nice too. When your climbing a hill seated you can't even feel the suspension moving, but as your going down the bike soaks up all the bumps. The suspension on the 2010 reign x felt a lot like the suspension on my 07 reign, but my bike actually felt a bit more plush to me, but it might have been because the suspension on the 2010 reign wasn't set up right. If it was set up right it would be awesome. One thing for sure is that the suspension on the new Reign felt a lot stiffer than my older reign, and the newer reign feels like it uses it's suspension travel better. On my older reign the suspension likes to bottom out a lot.

    Like Dino said the brakes that were on it were AMAZING. :bang: My Hayes brakes don't even come close. The Fox Talas Was really nice too. The through axle makes it feel really stiff. And the Nevegals made it corner like it was on rails. With the nevegals on front and back it felt like you were dragging an ancher, but man do those tires have good traction.

    There really isn't much I didn't like about that bike. It would have felt a bit better with a coil shock, but I think the air shock felt pretty good on it. The Fizik saddle was just plain horrible though. Dino said it felt like he was being castrated while he was riding it. I don't know how anybody in their right mind would ever think that seat is comfortable.
     
  10. Waldo

    Waldo Lebowski Urban Achiever

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    This guy would probably like it... :eek:
     
  11. eruizela

    eruizela mountain bike addict

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    good review
     
  12. Dino Brown

    Dino Brown Sir Smack-Alot

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    Comments/Opinions...
    1. Do you think the RASE seatpost would be a better option than a Joplin (i.e. it can fully drop)...
    2. Has anyone ever used a RASE seatpost
    3. Can the (bottom of the) post be shortened/trimmed

    [​IMG]

    :-k http://rasebike.com/index.html
     
  13. CalEpic

    CalEpic member

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    I checked out a RASE post at Interbike. I think they're about the best design going right now but I can't give any feedback on durability. Not sure whether or not they can be shortened but I believe they offer more than just the 9" length.
     
  14. Chewyeti

    Chewyeti Circus Bear

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    i think the rase has stops that you can set for any drop length.

    I was in the market, and read the only complaints about the rase were weight, rattling, and the dopey lever and price LOL.

    Serious drop tho
     
  15. Dino Brown

    Dino Brown Sir Smack-Alot

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    Minor issues do not concern me... :lol:
     
  16. evdog

    evdog Member

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    I put one on a month ago. So far so good, easy to install & operate. The lever seems fine. The only thing I notice is side to side play / rattling while riding, but its not a big deal and doesn't affect operation. Can't comment on durability yet either, but I'll post up later on in a seatpost thread with more feedback.

    There is a Rase thread on mtbr where their guy has recently commented that you cannot cut the post short, but that they will be coming out soon with a 6" model as well as a Thomson style 2-bolt clamp. (I've had no problems with the 1-bolt).

    I've been looking at the Reign X as well, a friend has one and it seems to be a capable bike at reasonable price. I don't think the current Rase post will work on it, though.
     
  17. Chewyeti

    Chewyeti Circus Bear

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    dino,

    if the rase wont work, look into the specialized command post. its a 4" drop vs 3" of the joplin.

    I have both, and hands down prefer the command post.
     
  18. jakethecake

    jakethecake New Member

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    Good write up bro :bang:
     
  19. carlh

    carlh New Member

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    Yeah but the price. :-s
     
  20. Chewyeti

    Chewyeti Circus Bear

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    have you seen the price of a RASE?
     

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