Fuji Outland 29 1.1 vs Giant Stance 292

J

JimR

New Member
Hey All - I wanted to get some opinions about these bikes. I am a novice older rider looking to upgrade to a 29er after riding a friend's bike. I have the opportuntiy to purchase this or the Giant. There are not a lot of bikes out there right now. Anything will be a big step up from my Hoo Koo 26. I appreciate everyone's feedback

www.giant-bicycles.com

Stance 29 2 (2021) | bike | Giant Bicycles US

Modern mountain bike trails are fun, flowy and challenging. Stance 29 gets you in sync with the terrain, so you can ride with more confidence and have more fun. The lightweight and durable ALUXX aluminum frame features ...
www.giant-bicycles.com www.giant-bicycles.com

www.fujibikes.com

Trail

For varied trail and terrain, including 27.5" and 29" wheels, full-suspension and hardtail.
www.fujibikes.com www.fujibikes.com
 
For the price of the Outland you can get the Giant Stance 1 which I recently got and am enjoying. The upgrades you would get looks like a dropper post and the tires are set up tubeless (not just tubeless ready).

I can't speak to the components as I am too novice.
 
We purchased a Stance 1 29 for my son in early March. He loves the bike. The only real drawback I can find is the rear wheel is quick release as opposed to thru axle. Everything else can be upgraded/changed out.

If I had to do it over again, I would make the same choice for him. With a bigger budget, I would have purchased one of the Trance offerings.

I can't chime in on the Fuji. Our 2 main considerations were budget and choice of LBS.
 
Thanks for the input Josh. I was actually offered the Fuji for $1,499 so it would come out to the same as the Stance 2. The Stance 2 2021 looks to have a fork made for Giant?
Giant Crest 34 RCL, 130mm, custom tuned for Giant. Not sure if they make it or if someone makes it for them.

If I could afford the 1 I would do it. Thanks again for the input.
 
Thank you Shaggz. I cannot find a lot of feedback on the Fuji. Only 1 detailed review that gave it good marks. The Stance on the other hand has glowing reviews and a lot of bang for the buck. If my budget was bigger i would go for the Stance 1 but I can always add the post. The Stance also has tubeless tires and the Fuji does not. Thanks again.
 
Have you ridden a recent 29er? Just wanted to make sure you even like it if you're coming from 26er.
 
Hey Tony - Yes, I borrowed a 2017 Trek Stache from one of my friends for the day. It is night and day compared to my old 26 espcially go over the rocky and rooted sections of 6 mile. I am an older novice rider and the bike gave me a lot more confidence and obvioulsy it is a newer bike with much better componenets then mine so shifting was smooth and the front suspension was fatastic. It took getting used to but I belive it will benefit me on the trails more having the larger tires. Any input you have would be appreciated.
 
JimR said:
Hey Tony - Yes, I borrowed a 2017 Trek Stache from one of my friends for the day. It is night and day compared to my old 26 espcially go over the rocky and rooted sections of 6 mile. I am an older novice rider and the bike gave me a lot more confidence and obvioulsy it is a newer bike with much better componenets then mine so shifting was smooth and the front suspension was fatastic. It took getting used to but I belive it will benefit me on the trails more having the larger tires. Any input you have would be appreciated.
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Fantastic. Even 29ers from 2017 are different compared to the more modern geometry of bikes today but as for your two choices you really can't go wrong with either. Personally I've had plenty of experiences with Giant bike and I think they are fantastic and I've owned 4 of them and my wife had one of their road bikes. I've had two Trances which are the bigger brother to the Stance you're looking at. Giants may not be the flashiest brand or have the boutique brand appeal but they are a full line bike company with more bike building experience and buying power of the parts and components than anyone else so they are very reliable and the best bang for the buck. They're so good that they even make bikes for another big bike company. So for me I would recommend the Giant Stance but if you can get a better deal on the Fuji then go for that because I don't think you can go wrong with either. Good luck.
 
There are rocks at 6MR? :oops:
Do you ride anywhere else? Just wondering why you are looking into a FS bike. If you are on a budget, you get more with a hardtail.

Recently, rode my FS Trail bike at 6MR and it was an experience. Altho the jumps were more fun, overall, I much prefer my lighter XC hardtail bike at 6MR. It changes direction much quicker and its easier to get it back up to speed.
 
tonyride said:
Fantastic. Even 29ers from 2017 are different compared to the more modern geometry of bikes today but as for your two choices you really can't go wrong with either. Personally I've had plenty of experiences with Giant bike and I think they are fantastic and I've owned 4 of them and my wife had one of their road bikes. I've had two Trances which are the bigger brother to the Stance you're looking at. Giants may not be the flashiest brand or have the boutique brand appeal but they are a full line bike company with more bike building experience and buying power of the parts and components than anyone else so they are very reliable and the best bang for the buck. They're so good that they even make bikes for another big bike company. So for me I would recommend the Giant Stance but if you can get a better deal on the Fuji then go for that because I don't think you can go wrong with either. Good luck.
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Thank you for the advice Tony! I spoke to one of the shop owners that carries both brands and he echoed your thoughts compleltey. He said Fuji is a good bike company but not like giant and in the long run he thought it was the better option. The price for both would be the same. Thanks again for the feedback!
 
Paul H said:
There are rocks at 6MR? :oops:
Do you ride anywhere else? Just wondering why you are looking into a FS bike. If you are on a budget, you get more with a hardtail.

Recently, rode my FS Trail bike at 6MR and it was an experience. Altho the jumps were more fun, overall, I much prefer my lighter XC hardtail bike at 6MR. It changes direction much quicker and its easier to get it back up to speed.
Click to expand...
Hey Paul - more roots then rocks for sure but there were some in certain sections I do recall. I was not initially looking for a FS but right now but that is what is out there right now. The reviews on the Giant say that it 29-30 lbs. I would prefer a hard tail but none to be found and for the price it looks like I would be getting a good entry level bike I could take on most trails and grow as a rider with. It is not touted as a super aggressive bike so my thought was that it is more about stabilty then speed which is ok for me. Can you check out the specs on the stance and give me your thoughts?
 
@JimR - I like the way you are thinking. Get in the game, and grow.
I don't think you can go wrong with a bike from a shop, and build a relationship.
Go new for the warranty - learn about the bike, ride.

The specs are fine - they will get the job done. As you feel more confident, you'll want to branch out a bit.
Nassau Trails would be your next step up. Then Chimney Rock.

Age is only a number!

PS - find out what the shop guys like and bring gifts!
 
JimR said:
Hey Paul - more roots then rocks for sure but there were some in certain sections I do recall. I was not initially looking for a FS but right now but that is what is out there right now. The reviews on the Giant say that it 29-30 lbs. I would prefer a hard tail but none to be found and for the price it looks like I would be getting a good entry level bike I could take on most trails and grow as a rider with. It is not touted as a super aggressive bike so my thought was that it is more about stabilty then speed which is ok for me. Can you check out the specs on the stance and give me your thoughts?
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Sorry to take the subject tangent
The Fuji, I know nothing about.
As far as the Giant Stance, personally, I would not buy a FS bike that's less than 2500 but that has more to do with me being a snob than anything else. With that said, @Mtbdog owns a couple of year old Stance and without putting words in his mouth, will simply say that he seems happy with it. Also, I have owned a couple of Giant bikes and they have been solid.
 
Paul H said:
Sorry to take the subject tangent
The Fuji, I know nothing about.
As far as the Giant Stance, personally, I would not buy a FS bike that's less than 2500 but that has more to do with me being a snob than anything else. With that said, @Mtbdog owns a couple of year old Stance and without putting words in his mouth, will simply say that he seems happy with it. Also, I have owned a couple of Giant bikes and they have been solid.
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This is my thought process for the most part as well. When I started biking a few years ago I didnt want to spend a ton of money on a bike. Was going to go the hardtail route and last minute asked my shop "just for shits and giggles" how much an entry level fs would be. I ended up saying f it and bought a stance, and while I did enjoy it, I definitely outgrew it fairly quickly and became aware of its short comings. I tend to lean more toward aggressive terrain though. If you're happy with just being a mellow rider, it should be fine. If you're the type of person who learns quick and likes to push their boundaries a bit then I would go for something mid level at least.
 
I just picked up a new Trance X. For the price, I don't think it can be beat. Plus, like others have said, Giants are solid...been around a long time...the experience I've had with Giants from all eras are nothing but great. I think you'd thoroughly enjoy the Stance.
 
EJphotos said:
I just picked up a new Trance X. For the price, I don't think it can be beat. Plus, like others have said, Giants are solid...been around a long time...the experience I've had with Giants from all eras are nothing but great. I think you'd thoroughly enjoy the Stance.
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Thanks EJ. I am going to check it out this week.
 
Paul H said:
There are rocks at 6MR? :oops:
Do you ride anywhere else? Just wondering why you are looking into a FS bike. If you are on a budget, you get more with a hardtail.

Recently, rode my FS Trail bike at 6MR and it was an experience. Altho the jumps were more fun, overall, I much prefer my lighter XC hardtail bike at 6MR. It changes direction much quicker and its easier to get it back up to speed.
Click to expand...
Same there, I only ride my hardtail at 6-Mile. I'll ride a FS there if I've just made some major changes or a new bike build and I wanted to shake the bugs out but other than that its hardtail there for me.
 
lots of great advice from the mountain bikers on this forum. See if you can test ride each one to help make a decision ( may not be possible due to Covid-19.)
Be sure to compare components/suspension on each bike. Shimano Deore/SLX and up or SRAM SX/NX for components. Fox or rockshox air fork/shock.
Disc brakes are a must have. One X drivetrains are popular these days single crankset ring/11-12 cassette on rear.
Great idea to purchase from a shop if possible. Check around a few shops near where you live doesn't cost anything to talk to the shop people, they may
be able to help you out.
When I purchased my full suspension 29er, I got a cheaper model but with good usable components and then after a year, I upgraded to a more expensive bike.
Also check the forums here, you may be able to pick a great bike all dialed in.
Don't get suckered in by the latest and greatest smart bike. Set a budget and stick to it. Hope these suggestions help.
 
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