Submitted by
zackashari
a Weekend Warrior
from JB,Malaysia
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2010
Strengths: Smooth climbing,best rear suspension reflex,agressive look,tough(i've throwned by wacky dwnhill on first time riding this bike)fast and light.
Weaknesses: need to be careful when washing and some river crossing job.
Bike Setup: xt shadow RD,Fulcrum Red Metal 5 wheelset,kenda blue groove 2.1 tire,venzo saddle,thomson elete 410mm seatpost,ybn chainset,raceface atlas xc chainrings,exilir 185mm rotors,xpedo hurtle paddle,sr suntour epicon rld 100mm travel fork.
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Submitted by
fuzzy_math
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunny So Cal
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2009
Strengths: XT group, climbs better than my hardtail, acceleration, all around handling
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
This bike is fast and handles great. I'm 50 and can't believe how much confidence it has given me in all manner of trail situations. I don't bomb DH's, but this bike eats downhills with no problems. The bike climbs like nothing I've ever ridden. Better than I expected. The XT group is reliable and performs flawlessly. I did a 20 mile xt race and the bike was perfect. It's been 3 months and the shifting is still spot on. If you're considering this bike - Just buy it. You wont be disappointed!
Submitted by
Todd H.
a Cross Country Rider
from Silver Spring, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2009
Strengths: Geometry is efficient for climbing, descending, tight-twisty. Quick reactions, very responsive. Suspension is great in the rear.
Weaknesses: found the stock Hayes 9 brakes to be inadequate so upgraded to avid elixirs. 80mm fork wasn't enough so went to 100mm, tires were huchison parana's, 26 x 2.1 so upgraded to wtb weirwolf 2.35 in front and kenda nevegal 2.1 in back. replaced stem 50mm to 70mm and replaced the stock grips w/ODI ruffians.
Bottom Line:
very versatile bike. good xc, technical, but if you are looking to ride it hard replace the 80 mm fork asap. I ride mostely xc, but will throw in some rocky technical rides now and then and the anthem is very adaptable...versatility is a quality that I value. The stumpy fsr was not the most efficient when climbing...anthem is a big upgrade!
Favorite Trail: Schaeffer Farms, National Trail AZ
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At: HTO Outlet
Similar Products Used: specialized stumpy fsr expert
Bike Setup: see above
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Submitted by
Greg Calhoun
a Racer
from Deltona, FL
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2009
Strengths: Light weight, responsive, excellent suspension, good stock specs compared to all other brands. Good racer
Weaknesses: 80 mm fox up front is not quite enough, WTB wheels crapped out on the very first ride, bad shimano chain on day one, just snapped rear drop out this weekend. Dealer I purchased bike from sucks. Not for downhill agressive, but thats not what its designed for.
Bottom Line:
Test rode lots of bikes. Was very patient in the buying process. Several friends had Anthem 2 then a friend bought the Anthem frame and did a custom build. These bikes just rode better than any other bike I had ever ridden at any price. I love the bike. My friends custom build weighed in at 24 pds. I didnt know that was possible with full suspension. My rear wheel almost folded on day one. It will not stay true. Its trash. I did nothing other than ride it on single track and the wheel just ended up like that. Dealer said I wrecked it and refused to do anything for me other than true it. I'm going to ask WTB for help but I dont expect it. Nontheless, if you are in the market, you need to look at this bike. I would probably by it again, just not with these wheels and not from this crappy dealer in FWB, FL. Buy an extra derailleur hanger.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Epic, Gary Fisher Pro Caliber, Trek EX9, GT Zaskar, Bridgestone MB1, Univega
Bike Setup: Metalic blue with white color scheme (a little too pretty), WTB wheels, race face seat post and stem and bar, upgraded XT with XTR shifters and derailleurs (bad move) I already busted carbon cage on XTR, XT brakes
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Submitted by
rd1034
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2009
Strengths: speed, weight, solid frame, climbs like a mountain goat
Weaknesses: stock Fox F80 was a little short for me, upgraded to Rock Shox Revelations
Bottom Line:
After much research I finally pulled the trigger, and there was no buyers remorse. It's a solid bike, easy to make race-ready and for a fraction of the price as the other two "big companies". I can't wait to take it out to my first race.
Bike Setup: mavic 717 rims, bontrager carbon bars, thomson stem and seatpost, Rock Shox Revelation 130mmm fork.
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Submitted by
Pointbreak
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2008
Strengths: This bike is light, durable, versatile, and an excellent value for the money. As so many have mentioned, it climbs very well.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of.
Bottom Line:
Rode my Anthem 1 on a 700 mile trip overseas; 300 miles of this were on rough 4wd roads at altitudes between 4000 and 5200m. Climbed 12000m during the trip. The bike worked very well- had no problems other than slow pressure loss in the rear shock probably caused by the cold weather. To prepare, I put in 1200 miles of training on 30% single track, 30% fire roads, 40% asphalt, with countless hammering downhills. In total, put the Anthem through 2000 miles in 6 months. This bike has proven itself extremely durable and versatile, an excellent XC ride. Can average >15mph on 30 miles of asphalt with rolling hills, while also handling steep single track and fire roads with equal ease.
Similar Products Used: Rode a rigid frame MTB retrofitted with front shocks for 10 years. Not going back.
Bike Setup: 2007 model with Shimano XT cranks, ESI Chunky grips, and SRAM PG990 cassette.
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Submitted by
Kevinchsky
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey. UK
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Strengths: Frame design, it's light, High spec stock shocks and drivechain.
Weaknesses: WTB silverado saddle did not suit me. Changed for a specialized phenom. Flat bars heavy on the hands for any trail work so consider an XC low riser bar.
Bottom Line:
For over 6 months i test road bikes, the Anthem felt right for me as soon as i sat on it. After i tested some others and it confirmed it was just what i wanted.
My spec was a hardtail but full sus! BINGO!! Before i bought it scanned the internet forums and could not find any bad words about it. Love the bike, getting used to the sharp head angle, now i am really starting to enjoy the bike. I mainly done XC but now trail ride as well with confidence. Closest i found to this for the money was a specialized epic. This is a great bike and dont worry about the travel. I ride with peeps who tell me how when we go for a ride they have used 110mm of there 120mm front sus, when mine dose not bottom out. So this bike is tight and light. Cant think of what i would want to upgrade next so i am real happy. Would have dropped a chilli on value if i bought it at full retail. This is a great bike!!!
Will re-list view in another 6 months to let you know of ant pitfalls, hints or tips.
Would i buy again YES!! but would not pay full retail.
Similar Products Used: Came from a heavly upgraded GT aggressor 3 hard tail (2001), but have tried most bikes in this field.
Bike Setup: Stock; Fox 32 RL 80, Fox rp2, xtr derailleur all other drive is xt. WTB laserlight wheels + specialized phenom saddle and race face XC risers 1.5".
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Submitted by
willywillred
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Atkinson, WI USA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2008
Strengths: Exceptional Climbing, Very Agile, Very Light
Weaknesses: Stock tires, XT rear isn't rapid rise
Bottom Line:
Giant might get looked at poorly because of how big they are, but they got it right with the Anthem. This bike is VERY fast and is excellent at climbing. The stock set-up is race-ready and for long rides the maestro really takes the edge off.
Strengths: THis is one fast ride. I have had hardtails all my riding/racing days and had allot of hesitation about changing. Glad I waited. This is the one to buy.
Weaknesses: Seat is relly bad, but I tend to get $150 seat not $20.
Submitted by
Fakepunk
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2008
Strengths: Climbs like a dream! Suspension nice and stiff, yet plush enough over the rough bits. Very responsive. Very light bike.
Weaknesses: Raceface riser bar feels like you're supposed to deliver the paper on the bike, it's too wide to my liking. Realistically only space for one bottle cage. Other than that, no weakness.
Bottom Line:
This is an EXCELLENT bike! I wasn't convinced about the Anthem 1 until I rode it in a race. I love this bike. Its a quick bike. The tight steering takes some getting used to, but once dialed in, you won't look back. It
s an excellent racer!
Bike Setup: Swopped the RaceFace bar and stem for Ritchie WCS flat bar and WCS stem. Maxxis Crossmark Tubeless tyres. Crank Bros. Smarty pedals.
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Submitted by
Stanford MTB
a Weekend Warrior
from Palo Alto, CA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2008
Strengths: Quick handling, FAST, efficient.
Weaknesses: None other than I'm scared to leave it on the top of my car!
Bottom Line:
This is the best handling mountain bike I've ridden. It climbs well, downhills well, does everything GREAT. Giant may not have the cache that a lot of the boutique brands have around Silicon Valley, but I would pit this bike against any cross country bike being made today, and indeed I have blown by many, many Santa Cruz, Ellsworth, etc on this thing. This bike at $2500 retail (I got it for $2000) has to be the best deal on the planet for a full on XC racing bike.
Similar Products Used: Bridgestone, Specialized, Santa Cruz, etc
Bike Setup: Full XT Group. FENDERS!
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Submitted by
Atown117
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2008
Strengths: It's strengths would be it just gets up and goes! Every bit of effort put into pedaling seems to translate into forward momentum which it should. Also it climbs like a goat no pun intented.
Weaknesses: I would have to say for some people the weakness would be the steep head angle which makes it turn on a dime and some people might find this to aggresive for there liking. However I like it just find and don't find it twitchy on the downhill at all.
Bottom Line:
Get one if you are going to race or you just like beating all your buddies on your favorite trail for bragging rights. Not for people who want an all mountain do it all bike. It is an XC Race bike nothing more and nothing less. That being said go get one before it's to late!
Strengths: Fast. Relatively light. Even if it is heavier than other comparable FS bikes, it hides its weight very very well.
Weaknesses: To me, none.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is, all you need to do to enjoy the Giant Anthem is to slap on XT parts (bang for buck) and a Fox fork. It's pretty much like a Nissan GT-R. Not as exotic as say, a Lamborghini, but it sure gives more expensive and exotic vehicles a lot to think about. Definitely the same or a lot more value and performance for half the cost of an exotic bike.
The Anthem, compared to my NRS, has a much more mischievous character. It almost seems to grin and come back for more when you chuck it around corners, making last minute split second corrections halfway into the curve. The Anthem simply shrugs them off with ease, digs the excellent stock Michelin xCR Dry[2] tyres in and takes you along for the ride.
In other words, if you have US$2800 or SGD$3780 to spare, this is the full susp XC bike to get. It hasn't been getting rave reviews for nothing!
Bike Setup: Stock full XT, Fox F100RLC and Crank Bros Eggbeater SL (upgraded immed on shopfloor), Thomson 30.9*410mm laidback seatpost, stock Race Face Evolve XC stem and handlebar, stock Fox Float RP2 shock, stock Michelin xCR Dry [2] tyres.
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Submitted by
shaun
a Cross Country Rider
from macon, ga, us
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2008
Strengths: FAST! tight, efficient, smooth. Feels more like it has more travel than it does. Rails corners, ignores small bumps, climbs like whoa, descends right where you point it.
Weaknesses: tough to get clean. 2.3 tires are as wide as you can put on it. I'd prefer a shock I could switch the platform off ('07-'08 models do, I suppose)
Bottom Line:
Let's be honest: nobody builds a new bike and then tells you it sucks. I wanted a fast bike for xc races in the Southeastern US but that I could ride and train on year round and still enjoy myself. Picked the Giant for the suspension technology, price, weight, and durability. I know I'm faster on it, but the Anthem is 5 pounds lighter than my last bike. I expected it to climb and accelerate better than my old single pivot (does), but was surprised by how much faster it is in turns and downhill. This bike will hold any line you have the cajones to throw it into. Within reason. This is no all mountain bike, but seriously, how many of us huck 3' drops? 5 chilis for value: you save $500 just by buying Giant over Trek, C-dale, Spec, etc. 5 chilis overall: it's not as bling as an Intense, but I couldn't be happier.
Bike Setup: Reba race 100mm, bb7 brakes, thomson stem/ post, xt crank and cassette, x9 shifters and ders, dt swiss 240s hubs with mavic 717 rims. '06 frame with manitou s-type shock
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Submitted by
swisgar swiggle
a Cross Country Rider
from Mordhaus, netherlands
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008
Strengths: Suspension feels like it has extra travel, solid pivot bearings, good stock kit, low center of gravity
Weaknesses: stock fork is to short, 100 mm feels much more stable, less twitchy.
Bottom Line:
This bike is better than my old rocky mountain instinct in every aspect except paint. Its bushings are tight after a year, Ditch your 80 mm fox for something with at least 100mm, maybe the talas. It will make it handle much more stable and predictable. I recently added a speedball, Huge difference! Stock rims are a little flimsy, will upgrade if they break any more spokes or go out of true again. I keep up with tensioning them, but they loose tension too often. gonna upgrade to xt hubs with a mavic rim. someday.
So I am in the envious position of (for the first time ever) having two mountain bikes. I currently own the 2011 XTC 29er 1 hardtail. I totally dig it now that it's sporting Racing Read More »
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Need some advice. Can pick up the 2 for 2250 and the 1 for 2650. I assume the value is there to upgrade as it's only 400 dollars difference. Is it going to make a huge differenc Read More »
Just ordered it up today. Now the waiting game. I'll post some pictures up when I get her. Can't wait to tear some trails up. I forgot to mention, I just found out Thursday that I Read More »
