5 things we love on the 2023 Giant Reign

Words: Hayden Wright

The Reign platform is one which is well known many trail riders and enduro racers alike. First introduced by Giant Bicycles some 17 years ago, this mid-travel trail and enduro bike has seen a host of development over its long history, across different wheel sizes, frame materials, design ideologies and even genre names. Now firmly founded in the enduro category, the new MY 23 Reign has a list of changes and improvements to keep it in line with current trends and in the fight with its main competition such as the Pivot Firebird and GT Force.

We’ve seen plenty of sneak peeks regarding this new bike across the 2022 EWS race season, with Mckay Vezina and Youn Deniaud piloting all-black prototypes to impressive stage results, and now the curtain has been raised on the all-new model. While much of the same DNA we know so well has remained, there are some exciting new changes which are worth discussing. Having piloted a Reign 29 for a couple of seasons, these are what I feel the standout updates are.

Adjustable Geometry

Undoubtedly, the most notable change to the new Reign platform is their provision of a flip-chip in the rear of the upper Maestro link. By adjusting the setting on the eccentric linkage hardware, riders can tweak the geometry of their bike between high, medium, and low settings. Moving from high through to low, you can adjust the BB height by -10mm and head tube angle by -0.7°. The only negative to this is that it will also slacken your seat tube angle from 79° to 78.3° although these numbers are still within the ballpark of what you we have come to expect from a new-release bike in this category.

As a whole, the MY23 Reign geometry is similar to that which we see on the current model first released in 2020, with focus being put on allowing riders to fine-tune the bike to suit their liking. While I was hoping to see rear centre lengths vary across each size, Giant have not included this in their geometry changes for the new model.

Mullet Compatible

The flip chips mentioned above now also open the possibility of running a mullet setup while still maintaining the desired angles and bottom bracket height. While all the Reign Advanced and Reign models come in 29” configuration only, you now have the option to run a 27.5” rear wheel if you so desire.

Frame Storage

The days of only finding frame storage on Specialized bikes seems to have ended in 2022. The new Reign, like many bikes released this year, now has provisions for down tube storage across all models in both carbon fibee and aluminium. While needing to carry your snacks and spares in a hydration pack or in your pockets is still the norm for many of us, it sure is nice being able to stash stuff away in your frame for when you need it most.

Will this new feature enable you to ride faster and go bigger than ever before? No. Will this new feature improve your day-to-day riding experience? Absolutely.

Travel

Shock stroke on all Reign and Reign Advanced models has increased 2.5mm to 62.5mm. This in turn increases rear travel by 15mm, taking it up to 160mm. Given this was a fairly common (although not necessarily warranty friendly) modification that many owners of the current generation Reign undertook themselves, it is nice to see Giant give the people what they want. This also balances the ratio of front to rear travel quite nicely, with a 170mm fork being shipped on all non-SX models.

The Reign SX Model

It’s fantastic to see the SX variant of the Reign continue to be available through 2023. This gravity specific model has increased travel compared to it’s enduro specific siblings, with a 190mm Fox 40 on the front and 165mm rear travel being controlled by a Fox coil shock.

Available in aluminium and mullet specifications only, this bike looks ready to party and should be a hit for riders who frequent places like Maydena or Thredbo, where descending performance and reliability are of the upmost importance.

There does seem to be a little bit of mistaken identity looking closer at the parts list, with a wide range drivetrain being chosen but no dropper post to accompany it. In my opinion, it would have been good to see Giant really commit to the SX moniker and include a short cage derailleur and smaller cassette.

Wrap up

With prices ranging from $4,399 through to $8,999 there is bound to be a Reign out there to suit most riders who are in the market for a new enduro bike. Giant’s changes are heavily focused on increasing options to those who choose to spend their hard-earned cash on one of these Maestro-link based machines. Want to know more? Head to Giant's website.