Above pics (May 2003), My Giant XtC 4 when it was brand new in May 2003 and before it was ridden, it was (and still is) my pride and joy

My Giant XTC4 is a high performance hard tail bike, Butted and low weight AluxX 6061 Aluminium tubing, Giant Integrated Headset design for lower maintenance and smooth outlook, originally fitted with Manitou Axel Comp front fork with 80mm travel, Shimano LX/ Deore shifting components and originally fitted with Giant MPH Hydro disc brakes, Alex rims and SR Suntour crank

                       Specifications:
                        Price:                    £600
                        Frame:                  AluxX 6061
                        weight:                  13.5 KG (with upgrades weight now 12KG
                        Colour:                  Dreamsilver
                        Fork:                     Manitou Axel Comp, (upgraded in Aug '08 to Rockshox Revelation 426 coil U Turn)
                        Speed:                  27 gears
                        Derailleur's:            Shimano Deore LX (upgraded in July '10 to Shimano Deore XT M772 Shadow)
                        Cassette:               9 speed Sram 7.0 11/34T (upgraded in July '10 to Sram Redwin PG990 11/34)
                        Crank set:              175mm 22/32/44T (upgraded in July '10 to Shimano XT M770 Hollowtech II)
                        Bottom Bracket:     Ofmega cartridge (upgraded in July '10 to Shimano Deore XT Hollowtech II)
                        Brakes:                  MPH-3 hydraulic disc brakes (upgraded  in Dec '08, Avid Juicy 7 Fitted 203 front / 185 rear)
                        Rims:                     Alex DM18 Alloy double wall (upgraded in July '10 to Shimano XT M775)
                        Hubs:                     Alloy Shimano M475 (upgraded in July '10 to Shimano Deore XT M775)
                        Tyres (F/R):            Hutchinson Scorpion
                        Handle bar:             580mm, alloy, flat
                        Saddle:                  WTB Rocket V
                        Chain:                    Shimano Hyperglide (upgraded in July '10 to Sram powerlink 991)
                        Extras:                  Water bottle and cage

 I purchased my Giant XtC 4, last week in May 2003, from a Giant Dealer, Roy Jarvis & co in Ripley, Derbyshire www.thebikeshop.co.uk . I wanted the XtC to replace my Tensor, though the Tensor was an ok recreational bike, I wanted more gear ranges for off roading which the XtC has, The XtC will virtually go up any steep hill you can keep your balance on without falling over backwards. It also can be a fast road bike, I have achieved an impressive 44.3 mph on the road on my XtC, it would probably go a few more miles an hour faster but it was fast enough for me I can assure you.
 I had a Cateye cordless 7 cycle computer fitted to the bike when I bought it, it was a freebee thrown in by the bike shop (Thanks Guys) as I wanted one fitting anyway. I also then registered my XtC 4 at bike register.com which means my bike has a log book and is on a database, and also had a Data Tag fitted for extra security. Not forgetting a decent bike lock!!!

                                                  

 After several trips out on my Giant and fine tuning and altering the angle of the handle bars, seat height and angle for my best riding position, I have now got it set up., and after 4 months of owning it, I can well recommend the bike, and is light years better than the other mtb's I've owned, not that I've ever paid this much for a bike before, but I can tell, it is defiantly worth paying out the extra for.

January 2004, It's now 8 months since buying my XtC, It has been extremely reliable so far, one thing that is a bit annoying is the brake pads rattle against the disc at over 15mph and sounds like a dull tuning fork

My XtC in 2009.
After just over 5 years of owning my XtC it was time for a major strip down service in 2008, the Manitou forks were bust on the internal damping rod, crank was creaking and wheels bearings notchy, front disc bolts loose, seat creaking, the list goes on, after a couple of evenings work and a pair of new Rockshox, the old gal was as good as new, I've also fitted Avid Juicy 7 Brakes with 203 rotor on the front and 185 rotor on the rear.

 

Rockshox Revelation 426 coil u-turn
85-130mm U-turn adjust coil fork

Revelation offers unrivalled stiffness to weight for standard QR 130mm forks.
Intended Application: All Mountain
Travel: 85-130mm, Travel Adjust: U-Turn 85-130mm
Weight: 1905g (4.2 lbs)
Spring: Coil, Spring Adjust: Change spring
Damping: Motion Control, Damping Adjust: External rebound, floodgate, compression and lockout
Lowers: Magnesium
Crown: Forged, hollow, 6061 T-6 aluminium
Steerer Tube: Butted Aluminium
Upper Tubes: 32mm 7000 series aluminium, low friction anodised with travel gradients
Colour: Diffusion Black
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My Giant XTC 4 in July 2009, with Rock Shox Revelation 426 coil U turn 85-130mm,
Also with Avid Juicy 7 Brakes graphite finish with Avid Gen 2 Clean sweep rotors 203 front 185 rear,
             

My Giant XtC 4 in 2010

• Shimano Deore XT, HOLLOWTECH ll Crankset
• Steel/carbon composite construction and middle gear doubles durability
• Thicker and stiffer 44T ring
• Amazing shifting performance

Specifications

Model Number	FC-M770
Series	DEORE XT
Crank Construction	HOLLOWTECH II
Cassette Compatibility	9-speed
Chain Compatibility	Super Narrow HG for 9-speed
4-Arm Chainrings	yes
Cahainring Sizes	44-32-22T
Bolt Circle Diameter	104/64mm
Crank Arm Length	165/170/175/180mm
Crank Arms	forged aluminum / hollow type
Outer Chainring	aluminum
Middle Chainring	steel + composite
Inner Chainring	aluminum
Chainring Bolts & Nuts	aluminum (bolt), steel (nut)
Chain Guard	no
Chaincase Compatible	no
Bottom Bracket	included
E-type FD Compatible	yes
Chain Line	50mm
BB Shell Width	68/73mm
Average Weight	853g including BB

          For my gallery page on the full Giant XTC range for 2003, 2004 & 2005  Click Here
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