Giant has just announced their new and improved Reign for 2018. According to Giant, this is “the most shreddable Reign ever. This new enduro crusher delivers flat-out speed and control on raw, rowdy terrain.”
How does the Reign deliver? One of the main changes for 2018 seems to be a slightly tweaked geometry: the 2018 size-medium has an 18.1″ reach vs 17.5″ in 2017, thanks to a top tube length increase from 24.4″ to 25″. Wheelbase has also increased correspondingly from 46.9″ to 47.6″. Other than those small changes, all of the other geometry numbers are (almost) identical.
The top-tier Reign Advanced frame features a carbon main triangle and an “ALUXX SL aluminum rear swingarm.” The frame still delivers 160mm of travel but now, it’s served via a Trunnion-mounted shock. Giant claims that having a bigger shock to work with in the same amount of space provides a more supple yet supportive shock stroke. Along with the new shock mount, Giant created a new “Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm, which is lighter and stronger than the previous aluminum design.”
Component specs have been updated as well, with the carbon-framed 2018 Reign Advanced retailing for $2,500 frame-only, and completes for $5,400 and $8,200. The 2018 aluminum-framed Reign is available in two models, retailing for $2,700 and $4,000.
2018 Reign Advanced 0 – $8,200
The top-tier Reign Advanced 0 features that delightful mostly-carbon frame mentioned above. It’s outfitted with a RockShox Super Deluxe Coil RT Remote shock (a significant increase in burl factor over 2017), RockShox Lyric RCT3 Solo Air fork, a SRAM X01 Eagle 1×12 drivetrain, SRAM Guide RSC brakes, DT Swiss EX 1501 Spline One rims, a Maxxis Shorty 27.5×2.5″ tire up front and High Roller II 27.5×2.4″ tire in the rear, and a Giant Contact S Switch dropper post.
2018 Giant Reign 2 – $2,700
The most affordable 2018 Reign features an alloy frameset for $2,700. It comes outfitted with a RockShox Deluxe RT rear shock, RockShox Yari RC Solo Air fork, a Shimano Deore 1×10 drivetrain with a Shadow Plus rear derailleur, Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes, Giant P-AM2 Disc Tubeless rims, a Maxxis Shorty 27.5×2.5″ tire up front and High Roller II 27.5×2.4″ tire in the rear, and a Giant Contact Switch dropper post.
