Giant Roam Review
- Versatile
- Super wide gearing
- Capable both on and off road
- No option with racks and mudguards
- No carbon options
- No 1x drivetrains
Discipline:
Multi-terrain Hybrid CyclingUsage:
Urban roads and forest tracksWeight:
Coming SoonThe Giant Roam is suited to a wide array of riding. It’s just at home cruising forest tracks as it is flitting between traffic on your daily commute.
2020 Update
The Giant Roam review has a new model for 2020 and specification upgrades for the rest of the range. The Roam 4 is the new entry level model. This has a 3x7 speed drivetrain and a Suntour NEX fork. The Roam is now disc only and it is great to see hydraulic stoppers on every model. The two top models now get 2x Shimano drivetrains. The double front chainring is combined with a wide range 11-42t cassette which gives you a very wide range of gears while offering easier gear shifting. The Roam 0 has XT/SLX 2x11 speed and the Roam 1 has Deore 2x10 speed.
Updated: 9th December 2019
Overview
A bike that is fun to ride around the city as well as forest trails, the Giant Roam is built for versatility. We review the whole Roam range, looking at what makes it a capable urban and countryside performer and great for everyday riding. This hybrid sports bike puts you in that great upright riding position, perfect for efficient riding, yet comfortable in your general clothing.
There are four models that make up the Giant Roam range: one V-brake and three disc brake models. There are two different frames used, depending on the brakes, though they all share the same alloy material and comfortable geometry. The Roam is based around road sized 700c wheels to give fast rolling, as well as Shimano drivetrains for reliable and accurate shifting.
Every model in the Roam range is based around an ALUXX-Grade alloy frame. This lightweight heart of the bike has a geometry that puts you in both an upright and efficient riding position, balancing the benefits of road and mountain biking. The frame is made using butted tubes, which removes material where it isn’t needed to keep the weight down, while adding material in areas to maintain frame strength. The frame features an integrated downtube mudguard, which neatly houses the cables to keep them clean out the way.
Up front, all the Roam models benefit from a Suntour suspension fork with 63mm travel. This helps to reduce vibrations on rough roads and absorb bumps on gravel tracks and forest trails. The 63mm travel is just enough to help on rougher terrain, yet doesn’t take away from the bike’s efficiency. The Roam 3 and 2 Disc have a Suntour NEX fork up front. Both the Roam 1 Disc and 0 Disc have NCX forks, with the flagship model getting a lighter air spring fork. All the forks get hydraulic lockout for optimum efficiency.
The Suntour suspension fork helps keep you composed on rougher tracks, while the integrated mudguard keeps the spray from your face and body.
To ensure absolute reliability and accurate shifting, Shimano drivetrains are found on the entire Roam range of hybrid bikes.
To get you up any hills you may encounter, every Giant Roam comes with a 3x drivetrain, meaning you get three chainrings up front that gives a huge range of gearing. This provides you with both easy gearing for cruising along and higher gearing for greater speeds. Giant specced Shimano groupsets across the range, ensuring precision shifting no matter the model, and reliability that’s second-to-none.
The base model Roam 3 gets a 3x8 speed Shimano Acera/Tourney drivetrain with a total of 24 possible gear combinations. Moving up, the 2 Disc gets an Acera/Altus drivetrain and 3x9 setup. The top two models both receive 3x10 speed drivetrains, maximising the gear range. The Shimano SLX drivetrain on the range-topping Roam 0 Disc comes from mountain biking, giving all-out performance.
The base level Roam 3 gets powerful V-brakes, which provide substantial braking power. The other three Disc models, however, received even stronger hydraulic disc brakes. These have a lighter lever action, delivering even more powerful braking with less effort. They also have better modulation and are just as effective in the wet or dry, giving added control.
Giant manage to keep their bikes priced reasonably, thanks in part to using their great inhouse components. Giant GX rims are paired to Formula hubs on all but the flagship Roam model. The Roam 0 Disc gets a Giant WheelSystem SX-X2 wheelset. This is lighter and a bit stronger, giving more secure and faster rolling. All the wheels are a road-sized 700c, providing a great platform for choosing a wide range of tyres to suit your riding needs.
The mid-size 38c Giant Crosscut tyres are balanced between quick on road rolling and comfort on rougher surfaces. The tread gives grip for off road riding and has closely spaced knobs for low rolling resistance on hardpack paths or paved roads. The Roam has enough clearance for wider tyres too, giving room for further upgrades down the line.
The Giant Crosscut tyres are great for both on and off road riding, balancing rolling resistance and comfort.
The Giant Roam is suited to a wide array of riding. It’s just at home cruising forest tracks as it is flitting between traffic on your daily commute. The lightweight ALUXX-Grade alloy frame is nimble and easy to handle and can take all of your daily exertions without worry.
The Shimano drivetrains have a huge range of gears, so you’ll never be stuck wanting when climbing those steep hills, nor when going back down. The disc brake models get powerful hydraulic disc brakes, giving you peace of mind when the weather turns. The Giant Roam range gives you the best of both the road and mountain biking world, and the opportunity to ride in both.
