mtbride Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 My Large Anthem 037.jpgLight for an alu bike. Very nice. My L Anthem X29er weighs 12,7kg with pedals and 2 bottle cages but I still have standard Giant seatpost and bars. Going in today for service and setting fork to 120mm travel. My Large Anthem, same as yours 2014, is 11.6kg now with S-Track pedals, Wide Lightning rims and 1 x 10 conversion. RoRo snakeskin front with RaRa snakeskin back. Its a machine and eats anything I throw at it from Magalies Monster to Hakahana to Groenkloof and everything inbetween. I cannot see myself riding any rougher trails than those, and for them the Anthem 29er handles them easy.
Steven Knoetze (sk27) Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 My Large Anthem My Large Anthem, same as yours 2014, is 11.6kg now with S-Track pedals, Wide Lightning rims and 1 x 10 conversion. RoRo snakeskin front with RaRa snakeskin back. Its a machine and eats anything I throw at it from Magalies Monster to Hakahana to Groenkloof and everything inbetween. I cannot see myself riding any rougher trails than those, and for them the Anthem 29er handles them easy. I feel the same way about my Anthem X. Running a 120mm fork and Giant contact dropper.Having not ridden a Trance 27.5" I will state the following, I don't believe a bike will allow me to go much quicker or bigger. Talent, or lack thereof, would be my limiting factor.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I feel the same way about my Anthem X. Running a 120mm fork and Giant contact dropper.Having not ridden a Trance 27.5" I will state the following, I don't believe a bike will allow me to go much quicker or bigger. Talent, or lack thereof, would be my limiting factor.Ooooh eh eh. There, you are wrong.
Darren van Deventer Posted January 20, 2015 Author Posted January 20, 2015 What about a silverback slider 1 seems to have really good components on it
camelman Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 If you don't wanna go the Trance route then the Anthem is already a very capable trail bike. It came 2nd or 3rd in the MBR trail bike shootout in 2013. If the bike comes with a RS Reba fork you can always have the travel extended to 120mm up front. Then you basically have an Anthem SX. Slightly more comfy ride with a more relaxed head angle and more suspension up front along with your 29" wheels.
mtbride Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 The thing is I see Nino Schurter killing it on rock gardens and downhill sections with a bloody 80mm hardtail or whatever ... and almost slick bloody tires ... I do however think more travel and slacker angle will give the average rider more confidence in the downs and rough sections, and is more suited for the most riders. I know the limits on my Anthem, I don't do huge drops and jumps.
arendoog Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I have the same body dimensions as you .I had 2 anthems and were very happy .The new model comes with more travel and a slacker head angle .Perfect changes to an already great bike .With my 100kg I couldn,t break an alu frame
mtbride Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I have the same body dimensions as you .I had 2 anthems and were very happy .The new model comes with more travel and a slacker head angle .Perfect changes to an already great bike .With my 100kg I couldn,t break an alu frame I think you're referring to the Anthem SX, the 2015 Anthem X1 29 is exactly the same as the 2013 and 2014 bikes, except for colours and other Giant stem etc. same travel and head angle.
GoLefty!! Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I love My Anthem. It's just such a capable bike and can handle everything you throw at it. I've ripped up single trails, done long distance centuries and grabbed some major Strava KOM's in my area. I don't have a Trance so unfortunately I cannot comment on that bike, what I can say is that you can't go wrong with any Giant. I test rode a Spez Epic and just couldn't get to grips with its brain shock. I took the Giant, slapped on some lighter wheels and couldn't be happier....climbs like a goat, descends like running salt and more comfortable than psychiatrists sofa. I have the aluminium frame and my bike weighs 11.2kg. Happy hunting. I too would opt for the Anthem X29 if an all round bike is required. I'm not hung up on wheelsize but the bs about how much faster 29er are is quickly dispelled when you have a 26er a 65b and 29 together on the trail. The faster bike is always going to be the one with the better rider on it. Get the X29 because it's a very god all round bike and is a very very forgiving machine. It does everything so well it feels like an appliance. GIANT should have named this bike "DEFY" rather than their very lively sportive road bike.Between the Anthem 27.5 and X29 I prefer the more lively and zippy ride of the 27.5 but if you only can afford one bike then the X29 is a very good if boring option. Its boring because it does everything wel with no stand out traits that says "you'll remember me"
Musketeer Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Some interesting points here. As iffy as ever, should I go for the more expensive Anthem X Advanced, purely because it is carbon and about 900 grams lighter off the shelf, or go for the Anthem X Alu which is WAY more affordable and just harden the f- up?? Decisions decisions.
DoubleJ Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 First off...no way the carbon is almost a kg lighter than the Alu. I looked at both bikes and if I was blindfolded I wouldn't be able to tell the difference by picking them up. The original OP said he's about 100kg....I'm not sure if I would risk that on a carbon frame if you're going to push it. The alu frame is something special...the Anthem is just...something special
linnega Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 If you want to play at Giba just a little (jump the table tops, ride down Fern Hill etc) then the Trance is a better option. The wheelsize I think is irrelevant to your height. My Anthem 29er handled most of what Giba can throw at you (did last year's Enduro on my Anthem), but there is no doubt that my Niner RIP9 is better suited to those same trails and my much improved Strava times are testimony to that. I have a Trance too (warranty claim - perhaps from jumping on the Anthem) that I have recently built up, which is better than the Anthem. I don't quite understand why you are concerned about carbon v alu from a durability perspective. Having broken two alu Anthem's I'm definitely not convinced that one is more duable than the other.
JLK Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I bought a 2015 Anthem X29 Alu just before Christmas. I have only dont about 300 kms on it and really enjoying it. my only complaint so far is that i have a creak that started on the second ride. I think its coming from the crank as i can hear it on the down stroke on my right leg. its starting to drive me insane. sometimes its worse and sometimes its completely gone. Thought it was only my bike, but over the weekend I rode behind someone on exactly the same bike and he has the exact same creak coming from his bike. Its going for its first service next week. Hopefully they will be able to sort it out. I cant recreate the sound any other time than when im riding. (any suggestions??)The first thing ill change on the stanard bike is ill look from some lighter wheels! the P-xc2 wheels feel like they are made from lead. other than that, its a great bike with great components! nothing compares in that Price range.
Musketeer Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 First off...no way the carbon is almost a kg lighter than the Alu. I looked at both bikes and if I was blindfolded I wouldn't be able to tell the difference by picking them up. The original OP said he's about 100kg....I'm not sure if I would risk that on a carbon frame if you're going to push it. The alu frame is something special...the Anthem is just...something specialWell if this is the truth than somebody is in for some issues around false advertising: This was taken of two off the shelf bikes at the concept store with standard spec as per the website. If what you are saying is true I'm buying the Alu one today. http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r508/Peet_Kruger/20150117_132252.jpg http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r508/Peet_Kruger/20150117_132241.jpg
mtbride Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I bought a 2015 Anthem X29 Alu just before Christmas. I have only dont about 300 kms on it and really enjoying it. my only complaint so far is that i have a creak that started on the second ride. I think its coming from the crank as i can hear it on the down stroke on my right leg. its starting to drive me insane. sometimes its worse and sometimes its completely gone. Thought it was only my bike, but over the weekend I rode behind someone on exactly the same bike and he has the exact same creak coming from his bike. Its going for its first service next week. Hopefully they will be able to sort it out. I cant recreate the sound any other time than when im riding. (any suggestions??)The first thing ill change on the stanard bike is ill look from some lighter wheels! the P-xc2 wheels feel like they are made from lead. other than that, its a great bike with great components! nothing compares in that Price range. I have a creak too and it comes from the seatpost, remove seatpost, little bit of grease and back in, and it sorts it out for a couple of weeks ...
Charsky Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 I havent been on a Trance so cant comment there. I know in 2013 the Anthem was a finalist in Bike Radar trail bike of the year, which says allot about its trail capability. ( ) I received an brand new 2014 Anthem X1 as a prezzie from me to me at the beginning of last year. I havent looked back or doubted my decision to get one for one sec. The bike is phenomenal! Goes like a beast down tricky single track, climbs like goat when going up and runs like a train on the long stuff. Thats my 2 cents for you. Love my anthem!!
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