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PRODUCTS
Giant
Reign X1
A guest review
by Adrian Nash
Bike
Wars – Episode
1 – Arise the
Dark Lord
After
my trusty steed
gave in after
a couple of
years freeriding
in Northern
Italy it was
straight on
the phone for
the new Reign
X1.
Unfortunately
due to demand
the bike wasn’t
available (huge
demand) whilst
I was in Italy
and had to wait
a few more weeks,
and the magic
phone call came
on Friday that
the dark sith
lord had arrived…yay!
Saturday
afternoon I
was in the shop
and there was
menace in the
air as I was
greeted by “Darth
Reign”, an all
black mean mother
that will make
all Luke Skywalker
wannabies piss
in their cloaks.
A
change of underpants
later it was
time for the
inspection.
Giant now have
two models of
reign’s, the
standard all
mountain 6inch
travel version
and the new
beefier X range…
6.7 inches of
travel from
fox dhx and
36van coil sprung
squidgyness,.
race face cranks,
Easton bits,
SRAM X9 gearing
and avid juicy
brakes. The
frame is a work
of art , there
isn’t a single
round tube in
sight, its all
hydroformed
loveliness and
with a black
anodized finish
and very subtle
graphics. Extra
features include
an ISCG mount
, a shock guard
and integrated
headset. There
are no bottle
cage mounts,
however with
this bike intended
purpose the
bottle wont
stay in long
anyway.
The
angles are just
right too, not
too slack as
to make it unwieldy
for the climbs
but not too
steep as to
deter it from
its true nature….freeriding
with a bit of
XC! This frame
is a medium
and the fitting
is true freeride
(short) however
it fitted me
just right (I
am 5foot 11)
however taller
riders may want
to consider
the large size.
The
reign is not
the lightest
machine at 34lb
but for its
intended purpose
its just right
and comes with
a satisfying
“thud” when
you drop it
onto the floor…the
chain didn’t
even rattle
as the suspension
took the shock….so
what’s it like
to ride?
The
First Ride
After
setting up the
sag and rebound
characteristics
of the dhx3
coil shock I
was ready to
go. The reign
is no tie fighter
up the hills
but it certainly
doesn’t feel
like you are
lugging a 34lb
bike. The maestro
suspension does
an excellent
job at minimizing
trail bob to
virtually zero.
Riding hard
out of the pedal
the frame stays
firm and its
very direct,
the same couldn’t
be said for
the Fox Van
36R upfront
though as it
undulates through
its travel,
the RC2 model
would probably
eliminate some
of this with
its compression
control but
to be fair this
is a bike designed
to go along
with gravity
not against
it.
The
first test was
the jumps at
Captain Underpants,
a selection
of jumps and
some little
bits of north
shore. I
started off
with the easy
ones, my approach
speed was good
(the reign accelerates
surprisingly
quickly) and
I launched.
The reign felt
right in the
air, it wasn’t
front or rear
heavy and was
easy to maneuver.
On landing ,
it was silky
smooth, I must
confess that
I am no big
jumper but this
bike definitely
gives me the
confidence to
grab bigger
air as it will
forgive your
mistakes. The
other jumps
were no exception
and I even did
the skinny north
shore one for
the first time,
again stable,
direct and off
the edge….no
problemo amico!
Planted
is a term often
overused by
bike mags when
describing the
ride of a bike…
a bit like the
tabloids calling
Beckham et al
“heroes”. I
have ridden
many 6 inch
travel bikes
whilst they
were good in
their own right,
they definitely
weren’t as “planted”
as the reign.
This bike
is very easy
to maneuver
around, it is
very fast on
the tight berms
of golden birdies
and summer lightning
as the low centre
of gravity gives
it excellent
handling.
The
steep, rooty
and techy widow
maker was where
it really became
apparent of
the capabilities
of this bike.
The reign plowed
through, the
36’s here also
showed their
true purpose…no
bouncing around,
no wheel deflection
and pin point
accuracy.
The
low centre of
gravity also
made steep roll
ins a breeze,
at no point
do you feel
elevated, the
low CoG didn’t
give any problems
of chain ring
strikes (it
has a 24/36
and bash guard
set up) or any
pedal strikes
that is common
with some bikes
(i.e specialized).
This also
had the added
benefit that
I could leave
the saddle in
a single position.
The
Lowdown
There
is very little
I can criticize
but like all
off the shelf
bikes there
is room for
upgrading. The
Hutchinson tyres,
although with
a good 2.3 size
and grip have
a singly ply
sidewall and
therefore pinch
flat easily,
this bike goes
fast over big
rocks therefore
I would recommend
some heavier
duty tubes.
The wheels are
also a minor
niggle, they
are unbranded
cone and loose
bearing types,
so longetivity
in Uk conditions
may be an issue.
Other
than that the
spec is great
all quality
branded stuff,
the avid juicy
5 brakes took
a while to bed
in but now offer
masses of power
and modulation
even in 180/160mm
disk set up,
although I am
surprised Giant
didn’t spec
200/180mm disk
set up given
its intended
use/capability.
This
you have gathered
this is not
a bike
sloely for XC
and you may
feel over biked
in a lot of
scenarios ……for
this go for
the X0, the
same bike but
with lighter
kit and the
new dhx and
float 36 air
shock….the perfect
compromise.
The
reign looks
expensive and
turns heads
(pose value
is important!!!)
and you wouldn’t
be the first
to mistake the
reign X1 for
a £3k+ machine
when in fact
it costs 50
beer tokens
under £2k, bargain
for this much
evilness.
This
reign however
will spend it’s
life in its
true habitat,
long technical
and unforgiving
alpine trails…..watch
out for a follow
up review….
Nasher
www.rivierabike.co.uk
Tech
details
6.7"
travel
Fox
36 Van R front
fork
Fox
DHX 3.0 coil
rear shock
RRP
£1950
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