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I had a look in the London Giant shop the other day and was really impressed with the Giant Anthem 2 29er, looks a bloody nice bike. Anyone own or ridden one ? When do Giant launch their 2020 range (so I can get a reduced 2019 bike 🙂 )
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/anthem-29er-2
I've only seen the spec' but did wonder if it would be a good south of England trail bike. But not great for a dropper. But maybe it's the wrong bike if you want a dropper
I have ridden the 2018 one. (slx v nx I think) Yes it's impressive and a good xc bike for the money. Rear end is great, really supple and planted. The seat tube is an issue though, but given that the carbon womens prototype has a bigger seat tube, I am sure the anthem will follow at some point.
The other issue is that whilst it has a relatively big front triangle, it only has bosses for one bottle. There is a neat work around by lyne components, but a second set of bosses under the top tube would have sorted it, just.
Really think all mountain bikes should come with dropper posts.
No 27.5 Anthem.
Bit of an about face ,about face.
27.2 😐
...if it wasn't for that but, end of day, other bikes are available
I posted on here a few weeks ago about mine. Bought a 2018 from Paul’s cycles at 27% off and I’m really pleased with it. Fast comfortable nimble and fun. I’m a bit old school so not too worried about the dropper although ks do one in 27.2 and I think giant may have one too. Although the discount pushed me towards the 2018 model, i also wanted shimano as opposed to sram. If you want to know anymore, ask away
Here's the 30.9 seat tube one, a liv version, but hopefully it's in the future for the anthem:
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/livs-prototype-xc-bike-sea-otter-2019.html
The problem with the anthem I have isn't so much the unusual seat tube diameter as the ****ing stupid Allen key position for the seat hight adjustment. On a normal bike I can adjust the seat height in seconds, but the fiddly stupid anthem one takes bloody ages.
the **** stupid Allen key position for the seat hight adjustment. On a normal bike I can adjust the seat height in seconds, but the fiddly stupid anthem one takes bloody ages.
If you need to adjust it that often, you need a dropper, plenty about in 30.9 or 31.6...oh, wait, shame 😞
Don't gravity dropper still make posts I had one years ago in 27.2 it worked perfectly
I use a KS dropper occasionally. Reliable so far.
I have that very bike
It’s quick, very efficient and comfy. Lack of dropper options due to seat tube size and needing a super long post due to low stand over limits it a little but then it’s not designed for smashing trail centres. It’s also quite flexy but then that’s the pay off for being light weight.
Good spec, carbon wheels seem decent and for stuff like the sdw and xc races it’s ideal
I've just got a Trance 29er to replace my old Anthem 26. New Anthem 29er looks really nice, but a little too racy, not quite the all-rounder compromise I was after.
If I had bought in a previous year, I would have got an Anthem 27.5, maybe the SX.
Trance 29er is nice, but it's no lightweight. On the plus side, the dropper & bigger suspension/skills compensation will improve my riding on trickier stuff, or at least remove the excuses!
I've got the similar SLX 2018 model - they were 20% off from all Giant dealers by mid-late July last year so not long to wait.
Great all round bike - no problem with "enduro xc" stuff in Verbier. Already had a Thomson dropper so that wasn't a problem (apart from lack of cable guides for it). Could do with 2nd bottle mounts (I found a 1litre bottle and carry one in my pack for big days out). Giant freehubs are a bit poor / crunchy but hasn't gone completely bang yet.
Flange - Any more feedback you can gve me ? Im looking at the same bike as yours (6:2ft and going for a large). I will mainly be using it for 60 to 100 mile general XC riding and occasional mountian runs.
When do Giant launch their 2020 range (so I can get a reduced 2019 bike
New Giant models usually start arriving around late September/early October, in my experience.
I thought this was quite different to the 2018 bike? Like 90mm rear travel.
Yes mate
It’s fast and comfy. It’s not built for jumps and skids, at all. I ride fairly tame trails at Bedgebury and round there it felt like it was on its limit, where as on my stumpy I can batter through most things. I certainly wouldn’t take mine to the Alps - it’s just not built for that.
Kit wise it’s all pretty light stuff - brakes aren’t mega and I’ll probably replace mine with a set of hopes I’ve got. I’m also struggling to set up the eagle gears on it, think the hanger may need tweaking. Decent width bars too which is a bonus
I’ve bought mind for stuff like sdw and racing for which I think it’ll be perfect. I’m 6ft 2 and based in Tunbridge wells if you want to try it.
Ampthill - the 2018 was the same 90 rear / 100 front. Bet you can't believe a) I bought a bike and b) it was full suspension 🙂 and aluminum, and with gears.....
I basically ran out of time making a new steel frame (small downtube crack on old one) before last summer's Verbier blowout (gcse reward for Tom).
I'm comfortably riding a large at 5'10". Sizing info and dropper photo / dimensions in this earlier thread.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/giant-anthem-29-sizing/
I actually find the 90mm rear travel very capable - it was the 100mm Fox fork that felt out of it's depth.