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I'm looking to buy a Giant Anthem having ridden a demo Anthem2 last w/end a really got on well with it. Just looking about for one it seems the bike shops I deal with cannot get them anymore. Looking online I'm gad to see they're starting to be reduced, if I can find the one I want in stock. What I have seen is that the Anthem1 could now be within my price range, with an extra push of a few quid.. So, I guess what I'm asking is how much of a better specced bike is the Anthem1 over the Anthem2 for the extra money, which is about £700. The biggest difference I can see straight away is the Anthem1 comes with carbon wheels which is obviously a bonus, but is RockShox fork and suspension any better than the Fox which comes on the Anthem2, and is the SRAM spec groupset much better than the Shimano? I've never had SRAM before, always used Shimano and I've never had Fox before, always used RockShox, but I'm talking Rebas from 10+yrs ago. Can anyone shine any light on to what the likely differences are going to be between the two bikes, or should I just save my dosh and get the 2. btw, I was impressed with the Fox fork and the float suspension on the demo bike I rode, but my experience of FS is very limited having only ever ridden a handful briefly in the last 10-12yrs or so.
Anthem1 spec
Frame: ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum, 110mm Maestro Suspension
Fork: RockShox Pike RC Solo Air, 130mm Travel, Boost 15x110, Maxle Stealth, Tapered Steerer
Shock: RockShox Deluxe RT, Trunnion Mount
Handlebar: Giant Contact SL Trail, 780mm
Stem: Giant Contact SL
Seatpost: Giant Contact S Switch, Dropper post with Remote, 30.9mm
Saddle: Giant Contact SL, (Neutral)
Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle 12 speed
Rear Mech: SRAM GX Eagle
Brakes: SRAM Guide R [F] 180mm [R] 180mm, Hydraulic Disc
Brake Levers: SRAM Guide R
Cassette: SRAM GX Eagle, 10x50
Chain: SRAM GX Eagle
Crankset: TruVativ Descendent 6k Eagle, 32t
BB: SRAM GXP PressFit
Rims: Giant TRX 1 27.5" Carbon WheelSystem
Hubs: Giant TRX [F] Boost 15x110 [R] Boost 12x148, XD Driver Body
Spokes: Sapim Laser & Race
Tyres: [F] Maxxis Forekaster 27.5x2.35, 60 TPI, EXO, TR, Tubeless Folding
[R] Maxxis Forekaster 27.5x2.20, 60 TPI, EXO, TR, Tubeless Folding
Anthem2 Spec
Frame: ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum, 110mm Maestro Suspension
Fork: Fox 34 Rhythm, 130mm Travel, Grip Damper, Boost QR15x110, Tapered Steerer
Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance, Trunnion Mount
Stem: Giant Contact
Bars: Giant Contact Trail, 780MM
Front Brake: Shimano M6000 180mm, Hydraulic Disc
Rear Brake: Shimano M6000 180mm, Hydraulic Disc
Brake Lever: Shimano M6000 I-Spec II
Rear Mech: Shimano SLX, Shadow +
Shifters: Shimano SLX 11 speed
Speed: 11
Rims: Giant XC-1 Wheelset, 23mm Inner Width
Front Hub: Giant Tracker Boost 15x110, Sealed Bearing
Rear Hub: Giant Tracker Boost 12x148, Sealed Bearing
Spokes: Sapim Race
Front Tyre: Maxxis Forekaster 27.5x2.35, 60 TPI, EXO, TR, Tubeless Folding,
Rear Tyre: Maxxis Forekaster 27.5x2.20, 60 TPI, EXO, TR, Tubeless Folding
Seat Post: NEW Giant Contact Switch, Dropper post with Remote, 30.9mm
Chainset: Shimano SLX, 32t
BB: Shimano MT500 PressFit
Chain: KMC X11-1
Cassette: Shimano SLX, 11x46
For me it would boil down to how good are those giant carbon wheels? Probably OK, but I'd likely prefer to buy the cheaper 2 and spend the difference on some really good ones.
Arguing it the other way, I'd not be massively arsed about the performance difference between the fox fork and the RS one on a 130 mm bike (assuming the rhythm is at least good) but I would be v interested in the reliability angle. RS stuff is simple, works, and is easy to service whereas the fox forks I've owned haven't fitted that description. I've not ridden that rhythm fork, though - maybe it's great.
My giant came with sram.
My preference is for shimano.
The brakes are easier to bleed and I miss the 2 way release.
Which do you prefer?
I've never owned SRAM anything, always had Shimano chainsets and Shimano & Hope brakes on my bikes. I rode a hire bike with SRAM shifting once at Afan and I remember it feeling quite different, that was about 10yrs ago though. I've no idea how it's changed over that time.
Garry, yes that was my first thought. Biggest difference is the wheels but are they worth the extra money? I could in time actually put that towards a set of my own choice 🙂
If you demo'd the cheaper bike and got on well with it (I think it was that way round!) then I'd be inclined to buy that and put the difference aside for upgrades (once you've ridden it for a while, if you decide it needs anything) or a few cycling day trips/short holiday. You could easily pay for a week riding in Scotland/Wales/Lake District for example for less than the price difference, assuming you're UK-based.
If you demo'd the expensive one, and then buy the cheaper one you may feel like you're missing out on certain aspects you liked. If not then ignorance is bliss, buy the one you tested and liked and don't look back!
There's nothing in the spec of the cheaper bike that I'd change, with the exception of maybe brakes (a personal preference to SRAM) but even some blingy SRAM/Hope brakes are only half the price difference to upgrade.
The frame is the same but the Anthem 1 is noticeably lighter when I tried them, close to 2lbs lighter iirc due to finishing kit. The 2 is still one of the lightest of the non carbon trail xc bikes on the market and the 1 improves further on that.
The kit on the 1 is much better plus you get eagle, pikes and the carbon wheelset. The 1 climbs and decends so fast it's nuts.
You can push more money off the 1 to get it down a bit further than currently offered btw.
I'm glad you've mentioned that because tbh I was wondering how much lighter the A1 would be. The A2 is a lovely bike having ridden it but I am used to lighter bikes. I weighed it on the bathroom scales several times and got varying results obvs but it was somewhere between 29-30lbs. If that could be closer to 27lbs with a much better spec I'd be happy to buy the A1. Where's best place to get one from with additional discount? JE James have one in small size for £2.75k.