First unveiled to the world earlier this summer, Giant is now rolling out the big tires to shops around the county. The Plus size explosion continues to spread, with all of the big three now offering mid fat bikes of their own. In Giant’s own style, and thanks to the influence of pro riders like Carl Decker and Adam Craig, the line not only includes race inspired carbon in the form of the XTC Advanced 27.5+, but a complete single speed build.
If chunky tires and one gear is your speed, the XTC+ SS might be the answer, though there’s a lot to choose from in their 2017 line up…
Want to have your cake and eat it too? The new Giant XTC+ carbon frame is both a true single speed compatible frame, and a geared frame. This is the same frame that is built into the XTC+ 1 and 2 below, as well as the XTC+ SS above. The full carbon frame includes a sliding rear Boost 148 dropout with a derailleur hanger so you can run 1 or up to 12 gears out back. Built with spacing for 27.5+ tires, it can also be built to run 29″ wheels and tires (not plus) for a versatile bike. Official tire clearance for the frame isn’t provide, though the complete bikes all run 3.0″ tires in the front, and 2.8″ tires in the back. Regardless of build, each bike runs a 120mm travel suspension fork. Additional frame features include a BB92 bottom bracket, ISCG 05 tabs, post mount disc tabs that move with the dropouts, internal cable routing, and a 27.2 seatpost. Dropper equipped bikes are running a TranzX YSP-11 27.2mm.
One of the few plus bikes available as a single speed, the XTC Advanced 27.5+ SS will sell for $2,450 complete with a RockShox Reba SL 120mm Boost fork, Giant’s 35mm rims with Schwalbe Nobby Nic 3.0/Rocket Ron 2.8″ tires, and a single speed drivetrain with SRAM Level TL hydraulic brakes. Adding gears to the equation bumps the pricing up to $2,800 for the SRAM NX equipped 2, or $3,750 for the Shimano XT 1×11 and Fox equipped XTC+ 1.
The same frame will also be offered in a number of 29″ builds though fork travel has been reduced to 100mm to drop the front end and the bottom bracket to compensate for the slightly larger effective diameter of the wheels. In total the XTC Advanced will be offered in three different wheel and tire combinations, though the 27.5+ and 29″ bikes share a frame, while the 27.5″ uses a dedicated frame. After going exclusively to 27.5″ wheels, it looks like the 27.5+/29″ combo could be the path for Giant back into offering a full range of 29″ builds.
Complete bikes and framesets are shipping to bike shops now.
