The Reign SX gets a full Shimano Deore drivetrain with MT501 levers hosed up to MT520 callipers. The crankset changes too, this time there’s a Praxis Cadet with a 34t chainring with a Giant custom design MRP CS chain guide. The Reign Advanced Pro 2 is slightly cheaper and comes with a RockShox ZEB fork paired with a RockShox Deluxe Select+. Reflecting the price, this bike comes kitted with a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and brakes from Shimano in the form of the MT501 levers matched to MT520 callipers. It gets the same cranks and chain guide as its pricier brethren along with the very same tyres and finishing kit. However, it comes with Giant AM 29 wheels laced to Giant Tracker Performance Boost hubs.
“The Giant Contend SL 1 is an absolutely spot-on all-day ride,” we said. “It’s a comfortable and versatile sportive/endurance bike with a dependable feel that encourages you to keep going and just do those extra few miles.” Most obviously, the Advanced Pro has a seatpost that slots into the seat tube whereas the Advanced SL has an integrated seatpost, and the seatstay yoke is slightly lower on the Advanced Pro. Giant also has a women’s brand called Liv that offers an impressively large range. One of the highest-volume bike manufacturers in the world, Giant consistently outperforms competitors on value and performance.
The bike is graced with a SRAM SX Eagle 11×50 drivetrain and crank with Shimano MT201 brake levers and MT200 callipers. The wheels come from Giant in the form of the AM 29 wheels and they’re wrapped with Maxxis Forekaster 29×2.35″ EXO tyres both front and rear. The dropper, mongoose bmx bike handlebars and stem come from Giant, as does the Romero saddle. If you ride on the road, the best wet weather grip belongs to slick tires with no tread pattern that have carbon black tread. Oops, you cannot buy a tire without a tread pattern, because it’s so SCARY!!!
If you’re a fan of lightweight aluminium-framed bikes, then the Contend SL models are well worth a look. When we reviewed the Contend SL1 (above, £1,249) we called it a “balanced and assured aluminium endurance bike equally suited to long rides at pace and commuter pothole-bashing”. Step up a level to the Shimano 105-equipped TCR Advanced 2 and you get the choice of either rim brakes (above, £1,999) or disc brakes (£2,299). This model is built up with a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset, including a Quarq power meter, and excellent wheels from Giant’s Cadex brand. Two TCR Advanced SL bikes are available in the UK, each of them with disc brakes. The vast number of Giant road bike models might seem daunting at first but the range is structured logically so it’s easy to work out the best choice for you.
There are three aluminium models (starting at £1,199), four carbon-fibre Advanced models (starting at £2,199), and two higher level carbon-fibre Advanced Pro models (starting at £4,899, the Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 1 pictured above). The Defy Advanced Pro bikes are built around frames and forks made of Giant’s Advanced Grade carbon composite. The most affordable model is the Defy Advanced Pro 3 (£3,299). This one has Shimano’s highly rated 105 groupset and an aluminium Contact SL D-Fuse handlebar. The only rim brake model in the entire Propel range is the Propel Advanced 2 (above, £1,999) with linear pull brakes, the front one hidden behind the fork legs.
I firmly believe what today is called “road bike” should be called “racing bike”, and what today is called “gravel bike” should be called “road bike”. Take a a high performance road tyre and if you really huffy mountain bike need high performance, think about an aero road wheelset (or an ultralight one, if you mostly climb hills). Mike’s Bikes was founded in 1964 as one of Marin County’s very first Schwinn shops.
After President Trump started his trade war with China in 2018, Giant moved some of its manufacturing for the American market from China to the company’s home base in Taiwan to avoid the added tariffs. The next year, the European Union imposed antidumping duties on electric bikes from China, so Giant began making those in Taiwan, too. Yamaha’s passion will forever be driven by our racing heritage, and the YDX-MORO 07 is a true thoroughbred for the next generation of eMTB riders.