The Bottom Line
With as much as 6.75 in. of travel in the rear, the Giant Reign X0 sits very much towards the freeride side of the all mountain category. The burley, high end components of the Reign X0 leave no questions about quality, performance, and durability.
This was one of our favorite bikes of 2007.
- Great components.
- Lightweight bike with plenty of travel.
- Natural feeling cockpit.
- Good performing suspension.
- We had to give it back.
- Plenty of chain slap.
Description
- Weight: 33.6 lbs.
- Suspension: Fox 36 Float RC2 (160mm travel) Fork, Fox DHX 4.0 air rear shock (170mm wheel travel).
- Drivetrain: SRAM X-0 rear derailleur - X-9 shifters, Shimano XT front derailleur.
- Brakes: Avid Juicy 7, 7" rotors.
- Cranks: Race Face Altas with Bashring.
- Seatpost: Race Face Evolve seatpost.
- Wheels: WTB Dual Duty FR rims, WTB LaserDisc Lite 20mm front hub.
Guide Review - Giant Reign X0 - Review of the Reign X0 From Giant Bicycles
Our first ride on the Reign X0 started with a long technical climb. It was amazing how well this thing climbed. It was very efficient once you settled into the sag and we always felt right at home in the short-stemmed, low rise bar cockpit (a very freeride-esque setup).
On the descent, it felt like a much larger downhill bike as it ate up every bump in sight. It also pedaled super smooth and jumped equally as well as it cornered.
It came along with us to Fruita and Moab, and really shined. In Fruita, it ripped the tight bermed corners, pumped through the washes, and showed us endless speed. The Reign always felt natural and handled well.
The Reign X0 proved to be the perfect bike for the epic Porcupine Rim trail in Moab. It drenched us in confidence through the burliest rock sections, and it handled every drop with seemingly bottomless suspension. It never felt squirrelly, and it tracked wherever it was pointed.
The Giant Reign X0 comes off the shelf with a top-notch parts kit (Fox 36 Float up front, Fox DHX 4.0 in the rear, Juicy 7's, SRAM X-0 rear derailleur, X-9 shifters, Race Face Atlas Cranks w/ bashring, Race Face Evolve XC seatpost with amazing adjustability, WTB dual duty wheels, WTB saddle). We felt that for some, they might like the addition of a lightweight chainguide, like a Heim, just to keep things tightened up and quiet, but it never lost a chain once.