Submitted by
carbonlink
a Cross Country Rider
from Hacienda Heghts, CA Date Reviewed: July 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Turnbull Canyon, Whittier
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Buenapark Cyclery
Strengths:
Stiff no bob suspension, light AL frame, fast forward motion feel
Weaknesses:
only one color to choose (white)
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Epic
Bike Setup:
Fox 32 RLC 100mm 15 QR, Crossmax ST, Carbon Easton bar, XTR and XT combination, Raceface deux crank, Hayes stroker Carbon IRC mibro tubeless
Bottom Line:
considering this is aluminum and not carbon this is Light and fast bike, Maestro suspension really works. the 15 QR gives you confidence on bombing down the hill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tim naylor
a Cross Country Rider
from taos n.m. usa Date Reviewed: June 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
sbt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
taos cyclery
Strengths:
great suspension and stiff laterally
Weaknesses:
hard to setup shock
Similar Products Used:
titus moto lite
Bike Setup:
cheap mavics, xtr shifting and brakes, fsa carbon seatpost and matching cranks, fox 32 talas rlc only use first two settings. answer carbon riser bar. albert tires
Bottom Line:
great handling xc bike. The semi custom builders better lookout. close in stiffness as motolite and half as cheap. similar ride to motolite, but not as stiff in head tube area.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sutty86
a Cross Country Rider
from Tasmania, Australia Date Reviewed: May 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Stubbs Road
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Derrico Cycles
Strengths:
Spec, Weight, Looks, Quick but stable steering, Suspension action is very smooth and predictable, very good climber.
Weaknesses:
My bike is size XL, although the braking power is OK i think the 6" front and 5" rear rotor is a bit small for the average rider weight that fits on an L and XL frame. The bike should come with 7" front and 6" rear rotor. I.e Scott spark/scale,
The frame is very light for and aluminium frame so its dents very easily!
The only things i will be changing on the bike will be XTR cranks, Ceramic BB, and upgrade the brake rotors to 7" front and 6" rear and i will proberly cut 20mm from the bar width.
The bike is a dream to ride, the suspension is super easy to set up, i have played with the pressures on the fork but the factory recomended psi for my weight is pretty spot on (135psi) however i do run 5 psi less in the positive air chamber for better small bump complience.
I only ever have the RP23 pro-pedal set to 1 as the design of the suspension keeps pedal "bob" to a minimum.
Over all its nearly imposible to get a bike that rides this well with a spec this good for the price unless you go secondhand!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SoloSteve
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Canada Date Reviewed: April 15, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Cyclepath Calgary
Strengths:
Light, stiff, agile. Very responsive but tough enough to take some abuse when I want to get aggresive.
Weaknesses:
Stock grips
Similar Products Used:
Anthem Advanced
Bike Setup:
SID World Cup, stock Race Face cranks, bars, stem and seatpost, Crank Brother Cobalt wheelset, XTR shifters and derailleurs, Ergon GX-1 grips, Crank Brother Eggbeaters, Avid Juicy Ultimate brakes
Bottom Line:
Awesome ride. Very responsive, quick acceleration, and slightly more comfortable on agressive descents than my Advanced.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Gympie Date Reviewed: April 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Non specific
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Pedle Power
Strengths:
Light,stiff, responsive,comes with full XTR groupe set.The faster you go the better the handeling
Weaknesses:
A little vauge steering at low speed in tight stuff, i may need a shorter stem.
Similar Products Used:
Giant Hard tail,Kona Kula Delux, Cannondale Prophet
Bike Setup:
Stock Anthem X LTD, Full XTR groupe set, Race Face Next riser bar, Race Face Duce SL 100mm stem, Giant Carbon seat post, Sid world cup fork,Fox RP23 Shock, Fi zi K Tundra saddle
Bottom Line:
As i said this review is for the X LTD.This is an awsome bike,I cant believe how balanced it is, i have fliped the stem and droped the bar height as low as it will go and i still don't feel over the bars on steep decents. Had a little problem with pedle bob at first but found by running round 12/15% sag in the shock has solved this.Comeing from a 140mm travel bike i thought i would struggle a little but the anthem feels like it has more than 100mm travel and with a good height of the bottom bracket it gets over the top of just about everything i could on the prophet but easier.It took me a bit to sort the shock but the fork was so easy to set up with all the info right there on the fork and it is faultless and the remote lock is A1. The only gripe i have is the steering at low speed in tight single trail,but this could be the 100mm stem,perhaps i would be better suited to a 90mm stem to sharpen the steering a little.
If you are after one bike that ticks all the boxes,no coulors them in,then this is it.Hard tail acceleration with dual suspention comfort.
I am giving it 5 chillies for value cause i got a great deal,plus you pay the same price for a bike one to two kg's heavier with a Heins variety of spec.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Dee
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane Australia Date Reviewed: January 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
nivana or stupidly happy
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3800.00
Purchased At:
strathpine cycles
Strengths:
comfy,light, light whels for good acceleration, absorbs drops far better than my hard tail, good value for money,climbs well for a dually
Weaknesses:
stock seat totally uncomfortable,steering vague at times,(could just be the operator tho), have been over the bars a few times too (might just be the operator again)
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper fsr (I thought it wasn't nimble enough)
Bike Setup:
xtr wheels and crank for an extra $300 bucks,what a bargain,specialised seat( comfy) and head stem reversed(negative angle) and spacers taken out and put on top to try to get some weight over the front wheel
Bottom Line:
great value especialy before the aussie dollar fell through the floor,very comfy, wheels light but strong and straight,
Would recomend it to anyone who still wants a bike that will climb well but doesn't plan to win x country races or to any one who wants to have fun and the older guys over 40 who find the hard tails to harsh.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crafty Canuck
a Cross Country Rider
from BC, Canada Date Reviewed: October 14, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Incredibly light, suspension works very well. Did I mention it climbs like a goat? Agile, fast, a dream to hammer. I used to race, this bike really makes me want to race again.
Weaknesses:
Not a bike you want to buy if you want a ride that will cover your mistakes.
Awesome bike to buy if you want to go fast and have the skill to push this bike, it will reward you. The Aluminum frame is fast and dialed, but definitely high strung, if you soften up the suspension the XO gets a lot more compliant, which can be nice. Still if you want a bike that dishes out a bit of fogiveness on your average ride, this isn't the bike for you. If you are good and don't have to prove it, this bike is for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$ 5600.00
Overall Rating:
