First Look: New Giant Anthem Advanced SL

[News bot]

Giant have launched their completely revised Anthem platform: the same bike piloted to victory by Alan Hatherly at the XCO World Championships just a few weeks ago. During a recent visit to Giant Group’s head office in Taiwan, I got an inside look at the new bike, toured the factory to learn more about the production process, and took it for a few laps around the Taichung cross-country track. I’ll do a deeper dive into the whole experience at a later date, but for now, here are my thoughts from the whirlwind trip. What’s New? In short, everything. The new […]

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[ct_rider]

Looks really good!

[thebob]

Doesn't look like the Anthem X is on the menu for SA. Based on how many Epic Evos I see on the trails, I think that is a bit of a miss by the local distributor (assuming it was available to them)

Edited November 13 by thebob

[ct_rider]

Giants value for the price will definitely persuade a lot of people to choose this over the equivalent spec Specialized.

[PappaWatTrap]

New bike looks really cool. Now the next question becomes, get the previous entry version with carbon wheels but with 100mm travel or get the new version with 120mm travel but with alloy wheels.

[BigDL]

😜- of course they launch a redesign just after I bought mine. 

[Dobri]

1 hour ago, ct_rider said:

Giants value for the price will definitely persuade a lot of people to choose this over the equivalent spec Specialized.

Love the look but now weight given? And max 34T chain ring? I ride my Epic 80% of the time on gravel roads, having a 38T chain ring makes a huge difference. 

I wish companies will start designing DS frames that can take up to 42T chain rings without any need for spacers.    

[michaelbiker]

3 hours ago, Dobri said:

Love the look but now weight given? And max 34T chain ring? I ride my Epic 80% of the time on gravel roads, having a 38T chain ring makes a huge difference. 

I wish companies will start designing DS frames that can take up to 42T chain rings without any need for spacers.    

Top of the range is 10.46kgs without pedals or cages. Doesn’t look like it’s going to be a cheap bike in Europe with the high end at €12499 and the low end version at €4500 for deore level spec and alu wheels. Nice looking frame though.

[Danger Dassie]

5 hours ago, thebob said:

Doesn't look like the Anthem X is on the menu for SA. Based on how many Epic Evos I see on the trails, I think that is a bit of a miss by the local distributor (assuming it was available to them)

Jan/Feb 2026, they've already received pre-orders.

[Headshot]

4 hours ago, Dobri said:

Love the look but now weight given? And max 34T chain ring? I ride my Epic 80% of the time on gravel roads, having a 38T chain ring makes a huge difference. 

I wish companies will start designing DS frames that can take up to 42T chain rings without any need for spacers.    

Its a mountain bike not a gravel bike after all. Sounds like you need the new Trek gravel steed with suspension.

[JoeMerida]

Good Looking Bike. The Current one looks outdated.

No Cheapies starts at 74K ZAR

[PappaWatTrap]

34 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Jan/Feb 2026, they've already received pre-orders.

As in pre orders for the Anthem X?

[jcza]

5 hours ago, Dobri said:

Love the look but now weight given? And max 34T chain ring? I ride my Epic 80% of the time on gravel roads, having a 38T chain ring makes a huge difference. 

I wish companies will start designing DS frames that can take up to 42T chain rings without any need for spacers.    

Get a gravel bike, Trek has new DS. 

[babse]

6 hours ago, Dobri said:

Love the look but now weight given? And max 34T chain ring? I ride my Epic 80% of the time on gravel roads, having a 38T chain ring makes a huge difference. 

I wish companies will start designing DS frames that can take up to 42T chain rings without any need for spacers.    

yep either you matt beers or you def need a gravel bike...

[thebob]

3 hours ago, PappaWatTrap said:

As in pre orders for the Anthem X?

Only SL shown on the local Giant site. Have a chat to your dealer, maybe they can get an X for you through Giant SA

[Dobri]

15 hours ago, jcza said:

Get a gravel bike, Trek has new DS. 

I have a gravel bike for racing, I am talking about riding / training. 

I do not have the skills to ride a gravel bike, rigid or DS on trails. And how do you make a switchback on a gravel frame without your shoes hitting the wheels, you have to pedal on uphill switchbacks, the wheelbase is much smaller than the mtb frame. So I can either train on gravel (gravel bike rigid or DS_ or on the trails using a mtb.  

So for training purposes one bike is the solution, mtb with a large chain ring for the gravel distance riding and then some single track. I am not Matt Beers so the 38T chain ring up front on trails is a challenge in many cases but speed is not of essence when training. I race using a 34T chain ring.

In the Cradle I can ride to Magalies and back and then practice on the mtb trails around the Cradle or Avianto or Cradle Moon. 

In the WC same can be done. 

I think the manufacturers are still thinking that gravel and mtb are two set of clients but not so, many cyclist ride both - like me. 

Epic WC or Trek Supercaliber conversion to drop bars is one great solution bar the limit to 38T chainring - but never tried drop bars on trails - could be interesting. 

 

Edited November 14 by Dobri