Giant Announces Redesigned TRX Carbon & TRA Alloy Wheels

Dec 12, 2023
by Matt Beer  
Giant TRX

Giant’s new TRX (carbon) and TRA (alloy) WheelSystems have bold performance claims for trail and enduro bikes, available as both stock and aftermarket wheelsets. After being put through testing by their Factory Off-Road team, Youn Deniaud went on to take an Enduro World Series win in Loudenvielle, France this season.

The TRX and TRA wheels come in dual 29” or mixed (29 front, 27.5" rear) setups, plus there’s an eMTB version with steel hub components for increased durability.

Two stand-out features on the new wheels are the 5mm wide rim sidewall, which Giant calls Wide Guard technology, and their high engagement 72-tooth, pawl driver in the rear hub.
TRX and E-TRX Details

• Carbon rims
• 5mm Wide Guard rim sidewall
• 28-hole, straight-pull hubs
• eMTB version uses steel axle and freehub
• Weight: 1,846g (29" w/XD driver), 1,989g (29" E-TRX)
• Price: €699-749 EUR / $899-1099 CAN, (USD: TBD)
• giant-bicycles.com

Moving material around at the rim sidewall isn't a new idea, but in the lab, Giant claim the wider rim sidewall proved to dissipate energy more than competitor's rims. Wide Guard Technology is on both 30mm wide carbon and alloy rims to stave off pinch flats and rim damage.

bigquotesBoth WheelSystems were shown to withstand the highest impact force without flatting, outperforming previous generation Giant WheelSystems and other wheels in the category by up to 44%.— Giant Bicycles

photo
photo
Rim impact test results on the left, hub durability on the right.

Giant is claiming these new hubs with their 72-tooth pawl driver have "instant engagement," although I'd say that's actually marketing lingo for "quick engagement." Depending on how the pawls are engaging, there's likely either 2.5 or 5-degrees between points of engagement, although we're still waiting for more details from Giant. Those are available for HG, Micro Spline, and SRAM XD drivers. The Boost Trail spacing hubs are only available in 28-hole and use Sapim Laser straight-pull spokes with Double Square nipples.

Test results conducted by Giant claim that the TRX HE hubs are five times “more durable” than the competitors. The eMTB hubs use a steel axle and driver body, however, it’s unclear which hub was used to gather those stats. Also, “more durable” is defined as “showing signs of significant wear”, which doesn’t mean failure.

In terms of claimed weight, the 29er versions of TRX and E-TRX Wheel Systems measure up at 1846g and 1,989g (steel internals) with the mixed wheeled versions saving 35 and 18g, respectively. On the alloy side, the TRA and E-TRA wheels roll in at 1,947g and 2,070g (29).

The TRX pricing varies depending on the wheel size between €699-749 EUR / $899-1099 CAN, while the TRA ranges from €299-429 EUR / $399-599 CAN. USD Pricing, as well as the E-versions of each wheelset, will be finalized in the New Year.

Giant TRX
Youn on his way to victory with the TRX Wheel System at the 2023 Loudenvielle EDR.


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53 Comments
  • 46 1
 Very selective comparison..... Trail series DT rim (not ex???) and left out the DT hub for the durability test. hmmmmmm
  • 36 2
 We Are One Convergence wheels are around the same price. The SC Reserves aren't that much more. Both have a lifetime warranty. That's the benchmark wheel manufacturers have to meet at this point. I feel like these are going to be mostly OEM spec'd, with this MSRP used to show comparative value.
  • 16 1
 Yeah and what seems silly is that giant presumably has crazy buying power and economy of scale. So when these are basically the same price as "boutique" brands, what's the point?

I feel like the generic brands should have an edge when it comes to pricing just by way of their scale.
  • 6 0
 Wait that price mentioned above isn’t for the set?!
  • 2 0
 @minix: I thought it was for a set too, ha
  • 25 1
 Imagine "forgetting" to test DT Swiss, Hope, Chris King etc. hubs
  • 1 0
 pretty insane for sure
  • 3 0
 Pretty sure they didn't forget to test these - they just chose which results to publish.
  • 17 0
 What’s this you say?
They’ve gone and reinvented the wheel?
Crazy man. Just crazy
  • 16 2
 Did the marketing department at Giant do the durability testing? They certainly were in charge of presenting the results. Wankerteering at its finest
  • 6 0
 Creative liberties were taken with that hub durability bar graph
  • 9 0
 There are two, maybe three, types of people that will buying these wheels; 1) They are already on the bike 2) The sort of person that walks into their LBS and says "I'd like some wheels please" 3) 80% off at the end of next season
  • 9 1
 Spoke with Giant (admittedly in 2022) at the EWS looking to see if they had any spare Giant carbon rims as mine was damaged. They openly admitted they don't use the rims and instead de-stickered DT Swiss.

I will say though, the old carbon rims and hubs have been pretty bombproof and ride quality was great and would probably be pretty happy to run these rims if they came on a bike I bought.

The damaged rim is still in use today (I put a stick into the wall of the rim and it now has a 1cm hole in it) and whilst I wouldn't race an EWS on it, it holds air, goes round and perfectly fine for local rides.
  • 3 0
 Can validate this. (Giant is by far not the only one)
  • 1 0
 can you please elaborate on a stick in the wall? I have small damage on fancy carbon rim after a rock strike but rode it for 3 weeks with a tube in it while waiting for replacement. It is build with i9 hydra and I am contemplating on keeping it as a spare one but it kinda freaks me out a little Big Grin The crack did not change in size from the moment of damage until I got new one
  • 7 0
 Rim profile here: images2.giant-bicycles.com/t_Giant_1200/qfxu9f71swiv7ddesq3z/TRX@350000357;350000360;3500003615.jpg
  • 4 0
 Thanks for adding the most important info. That is pretty radical looking.
  • 5 0
 Meh. WAO on Black Friday were $1200 with DT 350. Nearly $800 less than a set of Giants, and a better warranty. I've had the 28-hole TRX and gone through a lot of spokes. Giant may offer decent value bikes, but their component picks are marginal.
  • 4 0
 Could be good. Their current stock alu wheels weigh 2300g for a mullet setup and are far from durable, so hopefully a good upgrade for the next range of bikes
  • 1 1
 Whats the new alu ones weight?
  • 1 0
 @JohSch: "On the alloy side, the TRA and E-TRA wheels roll in at 1,947g and 2,070g (29)."
  • 4 0
 wait, just to confirm... youre saying that giant managed to make a 2.3kg wheelset and its still weak??
  • 1 0
 @GumptionZA:

Not all that impressive.

I had a Novatek/WTB ST wheel from a Kona Process that was apparently made of old boat anchors (over 2.3kg, almost 2.4kg), and cheese (it dented constantly even with DD tires and ~30psi).
  • 2 0
 @ocnlogan: it just surprises me that wheels that heavy still aren't necessarily strong... especially considering you can pick up aluminium wheelsets half a kg lighter that even heavier riders are going to be pretty safe with
  • 4 0
 What's the warranty like, can I put my own tyres on or do I have to take them to an authorised Giant dealer.
( UK residents joke )
  • 3 1
 Pretty good prices for both carbon and alloy sets of wheels. Just noting that the cost above is missing the TRA price.
  • 7 2
 $2000 cad is good pricing for a giant-branded wheelset? Compared to what?
  • 9 1
 Pretty good until you notice it's per wheel.
  • 5 0
 @warmerdamj: I thought you were joking but OMG it really is price per wheel!
They are pretty heavy as well, if you want an anti-pinch sidewall for your carbon wheels, get a set of Roval Controls, they are quite a bit lighter, cheaper and come with a (2 year) free crash replacement warranty.
  • 2 0
 @KennyWatson: a dodge viper it would seem
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: That was exactly what i thought. Even bothered to go look at the website thinking they were pricing a set. It only looks worse on them when you realize they are trying to game their customers.
  • 1 1
 @warmerdamj: but its not
  • 4 5
 Definitely need more info about this durability test. Giving high-level superficial test results with no explanation of what the test methodology was, and minimal quantification and zero qualifications of the result, while naming a competitor must qualify as slander/liable, no? At the very least, it really shows a lack of class.
  • 3 1
 What's a pinch flat? Asking for a friend.
  • 5 1
 when you pinch the tire so hard with your fingers that you flatten the tire out
  • 3 0
 @Kimura:
As a moderately famous Canadian once said... "I'm crushing your head!"
  • 2 0
 @thomasjkenney1024: I was waiting for. Kids In The Hall reference!
  • 1 1
 What happened to smart specs and value from Giant? After five talon/fathom/trance rigs the past few years and putting my sons on talons I have moved on
  • 2 1
 A hub being more durable than an i9 Hydra doesn't mean much... those things are finicky af.
  • 1 0
 Giant was finally able to source a scale???
This is great news - maybe they can start weighing the bikes now...
  • 1 0
 Do they carry a lifetime crash replacement warranty?
  • 2 0
 Warranty??????
  • 4 1
 Website says two years for giant branded parts. Not competitive with WAO or Noble. Pass
  • 1 0
 giant has some lovely looking axes on those "graphs"
  • 2 0
 What’s the warranty?
  • 1 0
 And the nipples are aluminum or brass?
  • 1 0
 Excellent use of meaningless percentage stats
  • 2 1
 Wheel prices are crazy. Wheel marketing is crazy.
  • 2 2
 Durability comparo chart baseline is set pretty low.
  • 1 0
 No 157mm rear hub?
  • 1 2
 Trying to pass off native content as actual journalism here?
  • 1 3
 What a load of waffle. They where crap, and continue to be.
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