[Closed] Nu skool xc shoot-out: Epic:Anthem:Hei Hei

Anthem on climbs, Kona downhill and Epic average of the two would be my guesstimate of the shootout results.

I have never not enjoyed a ride in either an epic or an anthem. And have been surprised at how much fun both were on steeper stuff.

Epic always just shades of to me as seems like cheating when you climb hills on an epic.

This review may help

[url= http://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/review-giant-anthem-1/ ]anthem review[/url]

It helped me buy an Anthem 1 😀

Thanks but that's the 27.5. I'm leaning towards the Hei Hei, but my local dealer does Giant or Specialized.

I have a 2018 epic, only a few rides on it so far but apart from the famous 'knock' it's an impressive beast. I liked the normal BB and fitted my dropper from my longer travel bike and then sold that...make of that what you will 😀

For XC I'd rule out anything that wasn't a 29er, unless you are very short.

fitted my dropper from my longer travel bike and then sold that...make of that what you will

That's what I'm thinking.

You're going to pay full rrp on an Anthem 29 until this time next year, personally I'd wait until the marketing has been replaced with other people's reviews.

I'm especially interested in the high spec Alu Vs low spec Carbon mid range bike and how those two compare for use and weight.

If I had to buy now it'd be an Orbea Oiz M30 XT.

angeldust - Member
For XC I'd rule out anything that wasn't a 29er, unless you are very short.

Yep, indeed, a 29 er unicycle FTW...... 🙂

If I had to buy now it'd be an Orbea Oiz M30

I am in a similar research phase and while my buying options are limited due to currently being outside the UK my thinking is:

Anthem - discounted due to having an ugly down tube shape and rubbish colours.

Epic - discounted due irrational dislike of 'brain' concept. Does have external BB which is good. glitzy gold is awesome.

Turner/KTM - discounted due to the fact I started MTB in the 80's and am a roady and haven't heard of them. Czar non boost, not future proof.

Hei Hei - discounted as Kona is for hipsters and coil sprung lunatics

Scott Spark - website and variety does my head in, as does rats nest of cabling up front. I'm not Nino.

Current leaders of thinking:

Trek Top Fuel (but loosing ground due to exceedingly boring paint job)

Orbea Oiz - Looks good, reviewed good, boost, good spec, can get overseas, like the name 'oiz' (whizz/OOZE depending on number of KOMs per ride).

Some interesting logic ^ 😀

My only experience to add to these is my Niner jet vs a speak Epic. The niner deffo out climbs the spesh by a country mile but it’s rather livelier in the steep stuff. Not unmanageable but definitely takes a bit more riding.

Hei Hei - discounted as Kona is for hipsters and coil sprung lunatics

I've a 2016 Hei Hei DL Trail and find it just works really well for my type of 'old school' fast cross country riding. It is not xc race bike, but it rides really well and is both comfortable and good fun. It survived a week with BasqueMTB alright last month too.

Are you really going to notice 1’ on head angle? Let alone 0.5’? Wouldn’t discount the Orbea on that.

Don’t forget the ability to choose your own colours on the Oiz.

Don’t forget the ability to choose your own colours on the Oiz.

Oh hold on, wait... You mean the Orange and Pastel green, or do you mean personalised colours of another variety...?

What about bearing longevity and ease of servicing?

Kryton - under the MyO program, you can choose from a wide variety of colours

https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/myo/step-1/

Just noticed that the Oiz isn’t on the list currently. It’s been available previously so it may come back again...

Spent some time on a 9.9 Top Fuel built with a 50mm stem, wide bar and 2.35 Minions. It was absolutely belting. Fast, and direct and all that good stuff but you could still spank it on the downhills. I want one.

I considered an epic when looking for my latest xc bike as the anthems were all 650b at the time. It just seemed a bit too race orientated where as my old anthem was awesome for general pootling aboutas well as the odd race.

I ended up with a yeti asrc. Granted it's a bit pricey but I'd recommend looking at something similar as it really is a super versatile bike. There were a few options on frame only deals when I was looking of similar type bikes..

That said, if it was purely for racing I'd struggle to look past the epic

Pastel green

Now hold on its Mint Green.... Pastel indeed no, just no. 🙂

This also looks nice [url= http://www.cannondale.com/Great%20Britain/bike/Productdetail?Id=48db4a75-b3f4-4701-85f0-c2ddaa50476e ]Scalpel SE2[/url]

I had one of the new Anthem Adv 29ers on loan from work. It went like a rocket. Nit a bike I'd want to ride all day as a general trail bike but I can imagine it being spot on between the tapes on race day.

Easily the Hei Hei for me.

Silverfish have some ex show ASRc's XT spec on sale for £3k

watching this thread with interest. Anyone considered the Canyon Lux?

I'm slightly biased but you've got to include the KTM Scarp in that mix, I've had an Anthem X1 29er and the Scarp is honestly miles better both up & down hill.

One of my team mates (exceptionally fast national level XC racer) had been on an Epic for a few years and is now on a Scarp, says it's the best XC bike he's ridden and he's pretty honest about these things.

@ steve_b77 - both new bikes though now.

This is true, but I doubt the changes are "that" dramatic especially in the case of the Epic

One of my team mates (exceptionally fast national level XC racer) had been on an Epic for a few years and is now on a Scarp, says it's the best XC bike he's ridden and he's pretty honest about these things.

Yeah but the new Epic is a fair bit different from the old one, so I'm not sure you can compare.

Hei Hei - discounted as Kona is for hipsters and coil sprung lunatics

I had a 26" Scandium Heihei FS. It was bloody brilliant. Kona are also for XC racers.

PS the frame's for sale 😉

Interesting thread.

Something I was looking at too.

Initially I wanted the Pivot 429 SL as I'm a big fan of DW, unfortunately there's a 4-6 wk wait for one.
Then the 2018 Scott Spark RC Team - well price & specced but not available till 2018...
Then the Kona but I like to build my bike myself with the parts I want & I couldn't find one frame only.

In the end I've gone with a 2017 Trek Top Fuel frameset with £500 off the RRP.

In the end I've gone with a 2017 Trek Top Fuel frameset with £500 off the RRP.

Can we ask where? And alu or Carbon?

I know where theses a Scarp Di2 with £1k off....

Is Di2 for MTB any good?

Clink beat me to it - where from??

Can we ask where? And alu or Carbon?

Rutland Cycling - sorry chaps but I think it was the last one..
(Oh & it was Carbon..... )

I was recently going through this decision for an XC race bike for next year and about to click on a 2018 Spark 900 RC World Cup but then I googled what the bike looks like in XL and the huuuge 21.3' ST makes it look like fairly gate-like even with 29 wheels...

Am slightly gutted as for me the Spark 900 RC would be the best xc bike out there but I'm not sure I'm willing to spend £5k on a bike I can't bear to look at! 😳

Am slightly gutted as for me the Spark 900 RC would be the best xc bike out there but I'm not sure I'm willing to spend £5k on a bike I can't bear to look at!

You can't see the gate when you're sitting on it.

Tallboy Al frames for £850 somewhere the other day.

I had an XL gate cube, couldnt see it, still hated it, didnt enjoy riding it, sold it.

Any thoughts on the new Orange stage 4 short travel 29er?

Any thoughts on the new Orange stage 4 short travel 29er?

Won't take a bottle, I'm out.

^^^^^ it’s a bicycle, not a teething baby...... 😀

You could put the Top Fuel in to the mix. I have bought one to replace the Anthem (listed for sale on these pages) . The Anthem was great fun to ride, very responsive on the 27.5 wheels. But the 29r Top Fuel suits my riding and what I want to do over the next few years better.

Kryton57 - Member
I know where theses a Scarp Di2 with £1k off....

Is Di2 for MTB any good?

Me too 😉

Apparently it's ace, especially with Syncroshift

Might have to add the updated Felt Edict to the shootout - there's a rather glowing report over on bikeradar

I had another browse of some reviews last night, and got a bit despondent over the details.

Essentially, they seem to state that the new Anthem 29er & Oiz are really "For Race Only" with two reviews - specifically for the Oiz stating the rear ends start to get uncompliant and bounce around on the rough stuff.

That pretty much leaves me with an (expensive) Spark 120mm or 'Dale SI SE2 to look at for Marathons & Trail. The Spark has a 67.5 HA - slack for XC - and the 'dale 69.5 but no remote lockouts which would be very useful during Marathon racing.

I think I'm going to have to get saving for a 120mm Spark with the 3 stage remote lockout being ideal for what I need, but the Carbon ones are going to mean spending £4k or thereabouts. Ouch. I can't stretch to a Turner, and even at cheaper prices a Canyon Lux seems to be "long, steep and slightly unweidly" - perhaps the geo is getting long in the tooth.

Kryton

I looked at the Canyon numbers again last night and agree with your conclusion. I'm probably more towards the marathon racing spectrum that you are but still the geo looks to be dated somewhat. Compare that to what they seem to have done with the Exceed hardtail. I would have a guess that the Lux is due a update soon but as yet not even the Ergon pros have a new version so that's not coming next year? Not sure how this helps at all really but there you are.
I could stretch to £4k which is a lot of money to not actually be able to find something near the top end of the carbon, marathon racing tree. Pretty despondent this side too

So I began looking at the Orbea Occam Trail when the OIZ delivery delay was discovered. Looks like a good balance of 120mm travel on a good 29er frame with lifetime warranty. Got a good review on bikerumour. Has fox 34, so all in all a tiny bit heavier (in teh 12.5-13.5kg range rather than 11.5-12.5) but perhaps more durable and a better all rounder?

Disclosure - I have a carbon hardtail for XCO races.

I have actually been considering a Canyon Neuron. The top of the range one is a tad heavy at 27.5lbs and not carbon but comes with a dropper which I'd remove. The weight is in the frame and the DT 1501's would spin up pretty well for a Marathon bike. Its 120mm XTR & Fox Kashima and 69.5 HA, for £3.5k

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/neuron/2018/neuron-al-9-0-ltd.html

but the Carbon ones are going to mean spending £4k or thereabouts

&

I could stretch to £4k which is a lot of money to not actually be able to find something near the top end of the carbon, marathon racing tree. Pretty despondent this side too

Indeed - felt the same till I stumbled across my Fuel frame. The prices on some of these bikes/frames is now really quite staggering....

Still.....1st World problems hey!

I can't stretch to a Turner,

You could stretch to mine easily enough 😉 details in profile. it's still not boost, but it's a bloody good bike!

mrlebowski - where exactly did you stumble on a cheap Fuel??

BSadddles - what you selling? Czar in Large and we can talk

Re the Neuron

Actually the 9.0S SL is £400 cheaper, 100g lighter and already 1X with SRAM Eagle: https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/neuron/2018/neuron-al-9-0-sl.html

Tempted!

mrlebowski - where exactly did you stumble on a cheap Fuel??

Rutland Cycling..

Pure bloody luck!