Submitted by
Steve Crewdson
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterford Date Reviewed: September 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Highland, Poto, Pontiac Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
KLM
Strengths:
Maestro suspension, SID, light weight for XL frame...overall an extremely fast and confident bike.
Weaknesses:
Avid Elixer R brakes are sub-par for a bike of this quality. The rear caliper is horrible and sounds like a freight train when applied.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR
Bike Setup:
Stock other than PC-991 chain and TIme ATAC XS Carbon pedals
Bottom Line:
I've been riding for 15 years and this is by far the fastest bike I have been on over the years. The Maestro suspension is superior to any other FS XC bike I've seen. In the first mile on this bike I knew I was on something like nothing else I've ever ridden and I still have that feeling 250 miles later.
The geometry is great for my 6'5" frame but it isn't very forgiving if you are having an off day. This bike isn't a pure breed race bike but it is close enough that if you are not on your A-game the bike will let you know. However, if you ARE ready to ride then you will be faster on this bike than anything else in this price range.
Build quality is fantastic, components are respectable for the price point, and the orange paint scheme is wearing on me well. This bike is much better than my experiences with other brands.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
petergoldhawk
a Cross Country Rider
from Windsor, Ont. Canada Date Reviewed: July 20, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Highland (Michigan)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great component spec.,
Fork, light weight
Weaknesses:
Gearing a little short,
hard grips, little brake modulation
Similar Products Used:
KHS Alite team,
GT Zaskar Expert
Bike Setup:
Stock, w/ Ritchy Z-max tires, some Specialized grips
Bottom Line:
Its a great bike, the suspension soaks up bumps no problem, and you can roll over roots and rocks easily. The SID is particularly great. Originally I had the rear suspension @ 30% sag but found there to be some pedal bob when mashing the gears - setting it to 20% fixed that, and I could maybe even go to 25.
I do have some of the same gripes as previous reviews; the gearing is too short and the grips dont cushion too much. I also find that the Elixr brakes have a very on/off feeling - I have adapted to it, but if you are picky about brakes these arent as good as XTR. Perhaps I just need to break them in more.
I bought this bike because I was doing a few 24hr races a year and the hardtail I had w/ 80mm fork was just beating up on me too much - this is much better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
paulman
a Cross Country Rider
from Naperville, IL USA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Palos/Kettle Moraine
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
online thru Colorado
Strengths:
Most everything !! Maestro suspension, light weight, stiffness, fast bike!
Weaknesses:
None significant. Grips may not suit long technical rides.
Stock, 20" (large frame), 6'1", 170 lb. rider, part time XC racer, stock Michelins with tubes; 38-40 psi, sub 25 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Fast enough for most to race and compliant enough for trail riding. This bike is amazing! This bike fits my body (long arms and torso) perfect with its long top tube unlike Specialized which are too upright for my liking. The Maestro susp is so efficient, you don't even know it's there. This bike rolls incredibly fast and begs to be ridden hard. While handling is sensitive, in no way is it nervous. It is stiff and balanced. Bottom bracket is about an inch lower than my 2007 Kona. Despite some complaints about the Michelins, I found them to grip very well and roll fast. Mavic rims are stiff and light. The front is a little light and can wash out on turns (now I know when to weight it), but the SID Team fork handles rocky descent very well. Legs and body take far less beating on the X1 than on my 29.5 lb Kona, which is supposed to have great geometry. Can't wait to race this bike. The X1 has surpassed my expectations!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pedro
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington, Ontario Date Reviewed: April 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Long with a Steady Climb
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Nimble, lightweight and predictable ride. Sweet design that turns heads.
Weaknesses:
Nothing major found during break-in period. Wish it had one more top end gear. Bottle cage is mounted a little high and makes long bottle fits a no-go.
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS2
Bike Setup:
Stock CDN model - no mods yet but will option for another set of wheels.
Bottom Line:
A very nice package that is very well-priced. I was looking for a new XCountry setup as I'm not into breaking bonez on extreme trails and this bike delivers. The bike is quick to accelerate though the gearing maxes out a little too quickly for me. The Giant sizing schemes require a little more setup time to get the fit right but overall fit it good for me on a S frame @ 5'6" with a long torso. The rear suspension is alien - it just soaks up trail noise and you don't even realize its working - VERY NICE.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neilos
a Racer
from White River, South Africa Date Reviewed: April 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tims Rim / Mankele
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Local Giant dealer
Strengths:
She has certainly been worth waiting for. We get the Aussie spec over here quite different to its US brother. Best bang for the buck dual susser on the market!!. The engineering work on the frame is awesome, must be one of the lightest high integrity ali frames Giants produced to date. Propedal on and Fox fork locked out you can settle into long climbs with ease and can this baby climb ...But now for the defining moment DOWNhill..Here is the marked improvement over last years anthem. Sweet handling and refined damping that swallows rock gardens in a blurr. The XT/DT Swiss spec sure is good value. Pleasantly surprised by the Race Face EvolveXC kit not to mention the Elixir brakes.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Trance 2007, Anthem 2008.
Bike Setup:
Standard at the mo but plan a transmission change to SRAM X0 Grip shift and derailler(personal preference).
Bottom Line:
Dont hesitate, get one, the stock bike is a winner.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
crash8
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great bike, climbs & descends well. Lock out works really well, only locking-out on long hard climbs. All the componentry is well matched. Can't believe how well this baby rolls.
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any yet
Similar Products Used:
Epic
Bike Setup:
Just change bars to 35mm rise & 685 wide made it a bit more comfy for the 'old boy'
Bottom Line:
Just get one you will not be disappointed I've come off a 6" travel bike onto this puppy & was a bit worried about it soaking up some of the bumps but no worries at all. I certainly am enjoying the light nimble feel of the bike.
Great value for money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brussel
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town South Africa Date Reviewed: October 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Jonkershoek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Strengths:
Lightweight stiff and very plush. This is a superb cross country bike that really comes alive on singletrack trails.
Weaknesses:
none that I have found
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh RDS
Bike Setup:
standard, everything OEM
Bottom Line:
All in all a great bike. The XT groupset is flawless and has performed without a glitch. The elixir brakes are very powerful and modulation is good. Suspension is incredible the 4" travel is very plush with good small bump compliance, bobbing is minimal except when spinning uphill, I have not really had need to use the pro-pedal. The Fox shock is great and the lockout is a treat (last for did not have)
On a rutted, rocky and rooty singletrack this weekend, this thing came alive, climbs like no-ones business and descending is simply brilliant - I can't fault it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
simple31
a Cross Country Rider
from uk Date Reviewed: October 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
weacombe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
pedalon (uk)
Strengths:
climbs like a mountain goat.
Weaknesses:
the wheels
Similar Products Used:
giant NRS composite
Bike Setup:
as stock except XTR cranks and some hope pro3sp wheels
Bottom Line:
the pro pedal works wanders, it will not bob!! there is also no feedback through the pedals even when climbing hard, (it never does that horrible squatting thing the nrs used to do on the down side of a large bump)you just point it at the line you want and it keeps traction. downhill the faster you ride the better the suspension works, dont brake just clatter into stuff and let the bike work its magic. the sids take a bit of fettling to get setup and maybe not as plush as a set of rebas but not far off. wheels were a little "standard" for a bike of this caliber so I put something on to give it a bit more zip. other than that its perfect including the price!! (£2200)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
victor gouzvaris
a Cross Country Rider
from queanbeyan,nsw Date Reviewed: October 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
sparow hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Strengths:
forks are plush, the RP2 did its job in descending and climbing. The bike is light and very comfortable to ride.
Weaknesses:
none rode it in the scott 24 hour race dident miss a beat.
Similar Products Used:
trance2
Bike Setup:
stock standard, except the carbon handle bars and seat post
Bottom Line:
Coming from a Trance2 05 model to this is like chalk and cheese. so far in my experience the bike has been bomb proof - definite value for money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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