2026 Giant

XTC SLR 29 2

Few bikes impress us as much as the Giant XTC SLR 29 1 has. It’s one of the best hardtail mountain bikes out there when it comes to XC racing or long-haul marathon munching. So good, in fact, it scored a rare 10/10 and is our pick for the best cross-country hard tail we’ve tested. Need to know: Giant Crest fork uses a stout 34mm chassis to deliver 100mm of controlled travel Wet weather performance of SLX/XT transmission could be improved with a Shimano chain Wider Giant in-house rims are ideal for higher volume tyres Available in four frame sizes, with very generous reach measurements With a noticeable move to the lightweight, short-travel full suspension Anthem platform for XC racing, Giant’s carbon XC hardtails have slipped quietly out of the range. So if you want a Giant XC race hardtail, you have only one option in the UK: the aluminium XTC SLR 29 1 at £1,599. Fully overhauled and relaunched in 2021, the Giant XTC sports the most up-to-date frame in this test. And according to Giant, it’s the lightest aluminium hardtail frame that it has produced to date, the 12.29kg (27.09lb) bike weight the lightest in test and reflecting the weight savings achieved by Giant’s sophisticated ‘microscopic grain manipulation’ and top drawer ALLUX SLR aluminium tubing. The aim was for a class-leading stiffness-to-weight ratio. And Giant has delivered. As such, the underlying quality of the latest evolution of the XTC is not just a relevant bike in its stock form, but the frame is of such high quality that it is a realistic platform for future upgrades, and one that could confidently go elbow-to-elbow with riders on carbon race-orientated hardtails. One model, one colour, four sizes, all running 29in wheels. It’s a simple formula but first impressions were very promising; the sleek frame design with every tube varying in shape and profile make it more than fit for purpose. And with none of the rack and kickstand mounts that are present on the Trek X-Caliber 8 and Cube Reaction Pro, the focus of the Giant XTC SLR is crystal clear. Only the shallow slope of the top tube raises an eyebrow and adds a more traditional aesthetic to the XTC. However, if you’re lining up for a 12 hour marathon or ultra-endurance event you will appreciate all that space in the front triangle to fit two large bottles and a frame bag. As expected, this latest evolution is designed to be single-ring-specific and you can run up to a 36t chainring on this frame if you have the horsepower to turn a big gear. The stock bike has a more sensible 32t chainring and married to the 10-51t Shimano 12 speed cassette, the gear ratios felt bang on and reflect the bike’s faster-paced intentions. Like all of the hardtails in this shootout, we tested the Giant in a size XL – the largest size available, whereas the three other bands in the test all offer a XXL. That’s not …Continue reading »

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