Introducing the 5th Generation Giant Glory Downhill Bike 9

Giant, the world’s leading brand of high-quality bicycles and cycling gear, has unveiled the new Glory Advanced, the fifth generation of its pro-level downhill race bike. Totally reengineered from the ground up to give DH racers a competitive edge, it’s built on a full-composite frameset with multiple ways to adjust and dial in frame geometry, handling and rear wheel size.

Giant engineers and product developers spent several years on the new Glory project, working with Giant Factory Off-Road Team racers and technicians to create multiple iterations to test on the most challenging racetracks in the world. Over the past two seasons, Frenchman Rémi Thirion rode prototype frames to multiple top-10 World Cup finishes. Earlier this year, Luke Meier-Smith won the 2023 Australian elite men’s national DH title on a pre-production model.

The heart of the new Glory Advanced is a lightweight, ultra-strong chassis that’s handcrafted with Advanced-grade composite. This is the first time a full-composite Glory is available to consumers, and at just 3200g (size S/M frameset), it’s lighter, stiffer and quicker than previous generations.

The updated frame features a new Maestro rear suspension system and three flip chips to dial in geometry, rear wheel size, fit and positioning. The stock setup is a mixed wheel configuration with a 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear, striking a balance between roll-over speed and maneuverability. Riders also have the option to switch to a 29-inch rear wheel using a simple two-position adjustment on the rear dropout.

“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 a lot of time updating the Maestro suspension system. We’ve improved the leverage ratio so that it has a super-smooth feel on smaller bumps, while also having better mid- and end-stroke support.”

RACE-READY SUSPENSION

A new Maestro rear suspension system features 200mm of smooth, active travel. It uses four strategically positioned pivot points and two linkages that all work together to create a single floating pivot point.

The rear suspension has a new upper rocker arm made with Advanced Forged Composite that increases strength and stiffness and lowers overall frame weight. The result is better handling while navigating rough, technical trails, cornering at speed, and accelerating out of corners.

A trunnion mount shock produces a longer stroke that makes the rear suspension feel smoother and more active. And the leverage ratio has been adjusted to provide a smoother end stroke without bottom-outs.

The rear suspension is paired with a 203mm travel fork that absorbs trail impacts ranging from high-speed stutter bumps to big drops, heavy hits and hard landings on the most extreme DH terrain.

ULTRA ADJUSTABLE

One of the defining traits of this new Glory is its ability to adjust angles, dimensions and wheel size options. This adjustability is made possible with three different flip chips. The first is located on the upper rocker arm of the Maestro suspension system with three positions (High, Medium and Low) to dial in the handling. The different settings change the bottom bracket drop in 5mm increments (13, 8 or 3mm) as well as the head tube angle (61.6, 62 or 62.3 degrees) and seat tube angle (78.4, 78.8 or 79.1 degrees).

The High position raises ground clearance and steepens the head tube and seat tube angles, which results in quick and responsive handling. This is a good choice for riding smoother, faster singletrack in the mixed wheel “mullet” setup. The Mid position is the most versatile and most often used by Giant Factory Off-Road Team DH riders. The Low position is a good choice for the steepest, most technical descents and well suited for stable handling when riding 29-inch wheels front and rear.

The second adjustment point is a two-position flip chip on the rear dropout that changes the wheelbase and rear-center measurement. The Short position results in a quicker, more agile ride quality and is a great option for tight, twisty terrain. The tighter wheelbase and rear-center makes for responsive steering and flickable handling. The Long position, on the other hand, extends the wheelbase and rear-center for better control at high speeds. This setting boosts chassis stability on more open and fast DH tracks with longer straightaways and fast cornering.

The third adjustment is a new modular three-position flip chip at the headset area that lets riders adjust the reach in 5mm increments to Short (-5mm), Mid (0mm) or Long (+5mm). The Short position puts the headset closest to the rider for a more upright position that’s good for tight, technical downhill terrain. The Mid position offers a neutral reach for well-balanced handling on changing terrain. The Long position creates a more stretched out rider position for a planted feel.

REAR WHEEL OPTIONS

Riders can choose either a 29-inch or 27.5-inch rear wheel. All models come from the factory with a mixed wheel “mullet” setup that many racers, including the pros from the Giant Factory Off-Road Team, often choose. Riding with the smaller diameter rear wheel creates a snappy, agile feel as well as increased saddle-to-tire clearance in the rear. For those who favor the rollover speed and stability of 29-inch wheels front and rear, the swap can easily be made with the purchase and installation of a larger-diameter rear wheel and rear tire.

Build Kits

For more information, please visit giant-bicycles.com 

View key specs, compare bikes, and rate the new Giant Glory in the Vital MTB Product Guide.