Publication-Mountain Bicycling

Date-November 2000

Title-GIANT RAINIER $750

Findings:

  • We could say "It's a Giant value," or "Don't pass up this Giant deal," or hundreds of other stupid things magazines are famous for, but the Rainier speaks for itself just fine. Butted 6061 aluminum frame with integrated headset, Marzocchi Z.5 air, Avid Mechanical disc brakes, Shimano Deore 9-speed drivetrain with SR crank, Koski saddle and WTB tires.

Publication-Bicycling

Date-April 2001

Title-GIANT RAINIER SE

Findings:

  • "Disc brakes and race-worthy frame"
  • "RIGID: Baseball-bat size downtube is ovalized vertically at the head tube and horizontally at the bottom bracket to boost rigidity"
  • "RACE WORTHY: Longer top tube and lower stem keep front wheel stuck to the ground on climbs, and short, stiff chainstays improve acceleration and tuck the rear wheel beneath you for optimum climbing traction"
  • "SOLID PARTS PICK: Avid mechanical disc brakes, Deore components and Marzocchi fork suffice for 90% of anyone's mountain bike needs"
  • "LIGHT AND AFFORDABLE: This is one of the most affordable bikes with weight-saving integrated headset/headtube design"

Publication-Mountain Bike

Date-June 2001

Title-GREAT BIKES UNDER $1000: GIANT RAINIER SE

Findings:

  • "Traditionally, value has been what Giant does best. Year in and year out, you can count on Giant to offer a bit better parts spec than its competitors at the same price point on most of its models-in no small part because Giant owns its Taiwanese factory, while everyone else has to sub-contract manufacturing there. With the Rainier SE, Giant may have upped the ante slightly, adding a Marzocchi Air Fork, avid cable-actuated disc brakes and a concealed headset into the mix at only $700. Giant product manager Dennis Lane said, "We've positioned the Rainier SE as our premium recreational bike-it was our goal to bring the technology to as low a price point as we could." "
  • The Rainier SE's frame, made from butted aluminum tubing, doesn't get silly recreation-bike geometry (which typically includes a really short top tube and very upright position). Rather, it relies on the same frame geometry as Giant's higher-end hardtails."

VERDICT: A great bike for the money...It's tough to beat a butted aluminum frame and Marzochhi fork for this price. Add into the mix that Giant did a great job of spec'ing the parts for this bike and you can see why it's such a great deal. The Rainier SE's frame quality and components compare favorably to many bikes that sell for hundreds of dollars more, making it a particularly impressive value-a real-live, off-road-worthy mountain bike for only $700.

Publication-Bicycling

Date-March 2002

Title-DISC-EQUIPPED HARDTAIL SETS NEW STANDARD FOR VALUE

Findings:

  • "BEST THING ABOUT THIS BIKE: The Avid-disc brakes which give you power, control and confidence without the complexity of hydraulic units
  • "SOLID RIDE: The bike is stable when you are cranking out of the saddle, and cornering is neither too slow nor too fast."
  • "Tell your friends...this bike is a killer value. You get a lot for $700, starting with a tuned aluminum frame, with ride-improving butted (thicker in the ends than in the middle) and shaped (not perfectly round tubes.
  • "THE FORK: The EXR air fork performed well for a fork in this price range, meeting every expectation for stiction and stiffness, and response to both big and little hits. It's a good match for the sturdy frame."
  • "The Rainier only comes up short in the jump from riding for fun to racing...It's great for all-around riding with pleasant neutral handling. For race day you will want a more aggressive machine"

Publication-Bicycling

Date-April 2002 Buyer's Guide

Title-GIANT RAINIER-Traditional hardtail breaks a few rules

Findings:

  • DISC-O-TECH: "The disc brakes alone are worth $200, and they're not piddlin' cheap knockoffs; the Avid CPS got our nod (Dec. 2001) for best mechanical disc brake and best value in discs-this brake has the power and modulation of a good hydraulic without the fuss."
  • RACE, RIDE, WHATEVER: "This bike is equipped to do almost anything you want it to. It's light enough to race, fun on the trail and comes with rack and fender eyelets for urban or touring duty."

Publication-Mountain Bike Action

Date-February 2003

Title-"Pay Less For More Bike-The Giant Rainier"

Findings:

  • "The Rainier is Giant's most affordable bike with a team look...It's a carbon copy of Giant's XTC race hardtail but with the heavier tubing...Standout feautures on the Rainier include the Manitou Axle Super fork, Shimano M505 clipless pedals, 44/32/22 rings and 11-34 SRAM 7.0 cogset. The beefy bi-oval downtube and tough-looking Giant crank arms just beg for some hard riding."
  • "It weighs 28 1/2 pounds. Yes, the Rainier ain't no lightweight, but on this bike the weight means that it's built tough. For newbie Tom, the Rainier can take all the punishment that a neophyte rider (extreme chain crossover, poor shifting technique, poor maintenance, short landings, overuse, etc.) can dish out"
  • "Great handling. With the same geometry as Giant's race bike, worthy tires, NORBA gearing and a comfortable cockpit, the Rainier is a fun ride. The $800 Giant isn't overly quick or lazy; it handles appropriately in or out of the saddle while sprinting, railing sweepers, slicing singletrack or grinding up walls."
  • "One size fits many styles. The 1.25-inch low-rise handlebar can be rotated fore and aft, and the 120mm + 10 stem can be easily reversed for infinite low, high, forward and rearward bar positions. Complementing the bar adjustment is the median 72 degree seat angle. This gives the rider great freedom to slide the saddle way forward or rearward on the rail clamp."
  • "The Manitou Axel Super is a great workhorse fork. It has real shim damping residing inside a leg filled with oil, a no-headache coil spring, externally adjustable preload and rebound, and is convertible from 80mm to 100mm of travel.
  • "Avid discs. There isn't another set of mechanical or hydraulic discs on the market that offers the same full range of adjustment as the Ball Bearing Disc. It is the easiest caliper to set up for drag-free operation. Modulation and force are both the mechanical disc standard. (Some credit here does go to Giant for careful cable spec and routing.)

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