Giant is revitalizing and upgrading its stalwart Glory downhill rig for a new era. The Glory name first graced a DH rig way back in 2006. The new version, with the Giant’s first consumer-ready Advanced composite downhill frame, mixed 27.5/29″ wheels, and a rat of frame adjustments, looks a whole lot different than the original alloy frame on 26″ wheels.
Luke Meier-Smith seen here earning the Australian national champ’s sleeve back in February, carries that tradition forward. Photo: Victor Lucas
A young Rob Warner in 1996 would likely be stoked to see Giant’s investing in DH again
Giant tapped Remi Thirion to help design the new bike. It will carry Giant Factory Off-Road Team’s next generation of racers through the upcoming World Cup season, starting this weekend in Lenzerheide. In fact, Luke Meier-Smith already rode the Glory to glory at Australian downhill nationals earlier this year.
2023 Giant Glory Advanced: what’s new
The fifth generation Glory brings more than just Giant’s first consumer-ready Advanced composite frame to the table. It uses an updated Maestro suspension design for its 200-mm rear wheel travel, offers the choice of 27.5″ or 29″ rear wheels and has a full gamut of geometry adjustment options built into the frame.
A composite frame and new, 225mm-long shock
A composite rocker arm keeps weight down while keeping the frame stiff
The Fox 40 Factory is no stranger to World Cup start lines
Advanced-grade composite frame
The core of the Glory Advanced is its lightweight Advanced-grade composite frame. The S/M frameset has a claimed weight of just 3,200 grams. Giant also says the composite frame helps them build a stiffer and more responsive frame than the previous four generations of Glory.
The 200mm of Maestro rear suspension continues Giant’s commitment to that floating pivot point design. But a long, 75-mm stroke trunnion mount shock and an updated leverage curve work together to provide smooth small-bump sensitivity and more middle and end-stroke support.
“This is the first full-composite Glory we’ve ever produced for consumers, and it’s a significant advancement over the previous generation,” said Jan Cees Schellenbach, Giant Category Manager – Mountain. “We’ve developed new ways to adjust and dial in performance and handling for different riders and terrain. We also spent…
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