First Look: 2024 Giant Glory Downhill Race Bike
The last time Giant updated their infamous Glory downhill bike was nearly a decade ago, back in 2015. After seasons of World Cup racing on alloy and carbon prototype frames, Giant is finally releasing a production version of the 2024 Glory. This time though, the entire frame is molded from carbon, including the rear triangle and rocker link, and sports 200mm of rear wheel travel.
Like their Reign enduro bike that debuted with a new 3-position flip chip at the seat stay pivot, the Glory can also run in a full 29er mode or mixed wheels. There are more adjustments to be made at the chainstay and head tube as well.
Like their Reign enduro bike that debuted with a new 3-position flip chip at the seat stay pivot, the Glory can also run in a full 29er mode or mixed wheels. There are more adjustments to be made at the chainstay and head tube as well.
Giant Glory Details
• Carbon frame
• Travel: 200mm
• Mixed or 29" wheel size
• 61.6 - 62.4-degree head tube angle
• +/-5mm reach adjustment
• +/- 10mm chainstay adjustment
• Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL
• Weight: 3200g (size S/M w/o shock)
• Price: $8,000 USD / $6,200 USD frame, fork, shock
• giantbicycles.com
• Carbon frame
• Travel: 200mm
• Mixed or 29" wheel size
• 61.6 - 62.4-degree head tube angle
• +/-5mm reach adjustment
• +/- 10mm chainstay adjustment
• Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL
• Weight: 3200g (size S/M w/o shock)
• Price: $8,000 USD / $6,200 USD frame, fork, shock
• giantbicycles.com
Only one complete Glory model will exist in the lineup and will cost $8,000 USD, but there’s a special edition frame and suspension kit with components from Fox for those that would like to custom-build their own race bike. The nostalgic red, yellow, and purple “Legend’s Edition” paint scheme pays homage to the Giant ATX bike that downhill legend, Rob Warner, won his first World Cup aboard.
The chainstays can be set to 447 or 457mm.
The 3-position seatstay flip-chip accommodates either a 27.5" or 29" rear wheel. Each setting will change the BB height by 5mm and the head angle by 0.4 degrees.
Offset headset cups offer +/5mm of reach adjustment on the 445, 465, 485mm size frames.
Frame Details
The Glory doesn’t fall short on adjustments but does only have three frame sizes in the lineup. However, the reach can be adjusted +/- 5mm from the 445, 465, or 485mm lengths via integrated headset chips.
The 3-position bottom bracket and head angle adjustment will put the head angle at 62-degrees in the middle setting when using mixed wheels. Moving that seatstay chip in either direction will alter the angles by 0.4-degrees and the BB height by 5mm. With a 29” rear wheel, the head angle will sit at 62.8-degrees in the middle setting.
There’s also a chainstay flip-chip that will toggle the dropout between 447 to 457mm. You’ll need to also do the same to the in-set brake mounts as well. All frame sizes use the same rear triangle.
Moving to a full carbon frame saves weight as the smallest of the three sizes clocks in at 3200g without the shock. In order to protect the paint and reduce noise, a full-length rubber downtube and chainstay have been added.
Giant has also kept the rear brake line external after exiting the downtube just above the threaded bottom bracket. There are even bolts under the top tube for accessory mounting which is something we don't often see on downhill bikes.
Suspension Design
Giant has opted for a 225 x 75mm trunnion-mounted Fox DHX2 shock that has been custom-tuned for the Glory’s leverage ratio using their steadfast Maestro dual-link system. That provides 200mm of travel in the shorter chainstay setting with either size wheel.
The progression has been increased slightly towards the end of the travel to prevent hard bottom-out events but is said to remain supple off the top. The S/M frame will come with a 425 lb/in spring rate and move up by 25 pounds for each frame size.
The axle moves to a maximum 4mm in the rearward direction around the sag point before moving forwards roughly 16mm throughout the rest of the 200mm.
The anti-rise starts around the 75% mark and slower decreases to 60% which should keep the rear wheel active without pitching the bike forward under braking. As for pedalling efficiency, the anti-squat hovers around 80% when sitting around at the general sag point, or one-third of the travel.
Geometry
The Glory Advanced complete bike is built with mixed wheels and the head tube angle tips back to 61.6-degrees in the slackest setting.
The 29er geometry sits slightly steeper with a head tube angle of 62.9-degrees in the middle position.
Specs and Pricing
Giant Glory Advanced - $8,000 USD / $11,499 AUS / $9,300 CAD / £7,500 GBR.
A single carbon frame puts the Glory Advanced at $8,000 USD with premium Fox suspension, Shimano Saint brakes, a SRAM GX DH drivetrain, and Giant Contact SL composite handlebar. Finishing touches include the popular Maxxis Assegai/DHR II combo, with a DH casing, MRP SXg chain guide and color-matched Giant Romero saddle.
The Legend’s Edition frameset is a throwback to the iconic colorway of the Giant ATX DH - $6,200 USD / $8,999 AUS / $7,300 CAD / £6,000 GBR.
The $6,200 USD Legend’s Edition frameset comes with a black Fox 40 fork and DHX2 coil shock, both of which are the Factory level spec.
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The question now is... How does it ride?
Nice, making the joke that no one had made it yet. Of course it has suspension, cant you see the springy thing?
There's not going to be a next time.
www.giant-bicycles.com/_upload_us/bikes/models/geometry/2010/10Glory.jpg
Giant is definitely not trying to sell these with those prices.
-Proper Downtube protection
-half external routing, good for bearing replacement
-Good job on not falling for the "long reach" on a dh bike
- lots of adjustable things.
Its not often i want a new DH bike but think im sold.
I wonder if they’ve given it so much adjustability so that they don’t have to make another one until 2031
Yes of course compared to the original ATX it is an infintly better bike, but to the untrained eye put them side by side and ask a non-rider what is the difference? Not much!
This new bike is a highly developed version the same basic concept. This development phase has lasted 23 years it goes to show there really isn't as much to it as some bike companies will have us believe.
It's not about continually bringing in new more complicated suspension systems it is about development and refinement of something quite simple.
It seems this layout has been now confirmed as the best for a mountain bike and I am just fine with that.
put a house built in 1950 beside a house built yesaterday, and to lots of people they seem pretty similar, in reality they are worlds apart in terms of construction, materials, efficiency, etc.
I'm not sure this is, or any layout is "the best" for a mountain bike layout. Its just the set of comromises that Giant feels works best for them in terms of manufacturing, what they think will sell, etc. It might not even be what they feel is the best layout.....
This isnt even the same suspension platform as the original ATX, in fact, that suspension layout changed and evolved through different iterations of the bike.
it takes years of development, research, design and testing to make something look and appear simple
I actually prefer the old layout, don't like these little links. So my comment was utter nonsense ha ha
redirect.viglink.com/?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_168607517920310&key=fee32ca1e2a6e08d479a50d423d20829&libId=liklmkx80102nrm0000UL9j5euxqs&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vitalmtb.com%2Fphotos%2Fmember%2FG-Out-Project-Snowshoe-World-Cup-Downhill%2C12615%2FG-Out-Project-Snowshoe-World-Cup-Downhill-David-Trummer%2C133106%2FJackRice%2C44569&v=1&out=https%3A%2F%2Fp.vitalmtb.com%2Fphotos%2Fusers%2F44569%2Fphotos%2F133106%2Fs1600_IMG_3544.jpg%3FVersionId%3DlfhgR45MfmS2sdqErjDcZBp9A_p6w9MQ&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vitalmtb.com%2Ftags%2Fg-out_project_vital_feature%3Fpage%3D0&title=G-Out%20Project%20-%20Snowshoe%20World%20Cup%20Downhill%20-%20David%20Trummer%20-%20G-Out%20Project%20-%20Snowshoe%20World%20Cup%20Downhill%20-%20Mountain%20Biking%20Pictures%20-%20Vital%20MTB&txt=%0A%0A
...how does that work?
Have a feeling we will only see this on the world cup circuit and if a local racer that has a small deal worked out with Giant.
If anyone wants to print it off for there son/daughter to put up on there dream bike wall...
Why make the image Private?
It’s not clear how the reach adjustment works. Does it come with 2 sets of cups? A nominal reach and the +/- 5mm? Or do you always have to choose either +5mm or -5mm by flipping the orientation of the cups?
(I've seen the old Propain Rage having something like 612mm, whereas some hardtails have 655mm static)
Danny Hart
Marcelo Gutierrez
Marine Cabirou
Valentina Roa
Is 15 mm actually lot? Doesn’t seem like it.
Nitpicks:
I'd like a straighter seattube
Rear triangle looks kinda weird
Carbon front triangles are stupid, especially on a DH bike (and pretty much all MTBs)
Massively overriced, $6,200 for a frameset is ridiculous
Carbon is fine for mtb, and anyone who wants to race, and take care of their bike.
You want a straighter seat tub on a dh bike, what, are you loking to insert a long dropper post?
The bike looks great, especially in the ATX colourway
-Carbon makes it possible to design a super strong frame without a huge weight penalty.
-A carbon frame is much easier to tune to a consistent amount of compliance and flex to maximize grip.
-Carbon frames come out of the mold perfectly aligned every time where as welded alloy or steel frames are never perfect. You'll always have at the very least a slight amount of warp, inconsistency and deviation from the geometry that the frame is supposed to be. Just look at Dan Roberts reviews of the Commencal Supreme and Specialized Demo from the last DH-bike field test (- he had the frames 3d-scanned).
Call me crazy, but withstanding the impact of a small rock should be a design parameter. And.....that kind of impact strength adds a lot of weight to a carbon structure.
As for alignment of carbon frames-I take it you never worked at a bike shop......
the "M/L" is nearly 1300mm wheelbase.
ive ridden some long reach DH bikes and while they are OK for the plowing medium steepness stuff, need to downsize to get any movement when a corner comes.
It's a pretty big brand, I am sure they will release some XS and XL later, on Al version or something
do the tracks get bigger when you go up frame sizes? lol
long reach on a dh bike riding steep asf trails... just dont mix - DH bikes ride so good because of the Long WB and shorter reach, you can move yourself around alot to manipulate the bike.
Believe what you like but We've hit the reach limit with many brands back pedaling, especially on enduro bikes.
i dont think you understand how to ride a DH bike then. They would make the reach longer if it was better... any advantage they can get they would.
They wont change it to please some bloke Riding the comment section on pinkbike.
great, you do you boo.
Ill continue to ride correctly sized DH bikes for the current tracks.
Look i was like you and thought DH bikes needed long reach untill i tried them.
Commencal bikes have always ridden like busses and you can see the body language required to get them around corners... go watch the DH WC's from last year of the Commencal riders.
You continue to ride the hype train while even commencal are going shorter reach on all their bikes, New META platform and even the frank SX went with less.
Many brands have realised they jumped the gun and thats why sizing charts are all up to F now with 6ft riders on M-M/L frames.
Give up dude i hope no brand makes a big reach dh bike to cater for the maybe 10 people who are silly enough to buy them. although they clearly have people like you who think they need it lmao.
Reply if you want but i wont read it, On your own silly lonesome now.
- 8k$ with proprietary alu wheels and GX drivetrain (which I think works just as much as the x01, but at this price tag I would enjoy some premium drivetrain)?
- tool mount under the top tube?
- sizing is pretty much S-M-L, luckily I'm only 1.85 but the biggest size is absolutely short to call it an XL
- massive rear center (I know it's because of the Maestro lower link, yet is no where short even in the so called 'short' setting), on each size
- no UDH derailleur hanger (just for easy availability, obviously not to mount an AXS derailleur)
- rear brake line is outside the rear triangle? That's not race ready, otherwise they should have done the same with the FT, that's just cheaper than guiding a tube inside such small carbon corridors.
Yes, the paint scheme is massive, the std version is cool too, top suspensions and brakes, finally a new model over the 2015 bike, but that's it. Nothing special to balance the negative stuff, in my opinion.
Reach is an odd measurement as you need to consider what your doing with the bike because its tied into stack/bar height. to much reach in tight or super steep trails just doesnt tickle the riding gods, theres no reason to be stretched out on those trails.
Im 182/3 and id be on the medium in the long setting, I normally ride large size bikes but most are to long, ie the slash in L is cumbersome for me. one of the best fits ive found is on the mega/giga. those bikes are excellent and can run full 29 without it feeling like a bus.
I realise we dont all Race EWS(yes ews, not edr) but we are seeing more and more riders downsize to cope with the tighter/faster/steeper tracks, i understand we dont all ride those tracks but the whole level of riders has gone up in average so the harder tracks are now ridden more.
With a reach of 485, just don’t call it an XL.
Look for other comments, people taller than us feel short on a 485, and are looking for something around 500mm.
475-480 feels perfect for me, not for someone taller.
In all honesty, on the other hand I feel the HTA around 61° is a bit too extreme for anyone who’s not a pro, and I still think that a chainstay length of 457 on a S size is long.
Super slack, short frame, with long chainstay. Sounds unrideable just as much.