[Closed] Anthem; one bike to rule them all?

A friend uses hers for racing and general peak district trail riding - it doesn't seem to hold her up at all. Bloody light too.

I have an 08 Advanced setup very light and say it is a great all day bike that pedals and handles a dream, I also use it for racing. I could not recommend it more for everything XC. IMHO it is definately not an out and out racer.

But, it's not a bike I'd take with me when things get more freeride/downhill orientated and I think my bike would struggle with a heavy rider. I guess one could be built up a bit tougher for a rider like that mind.

Hard to pootle anywhere on an Anthem, mine used to make me want to ride everywhere as fast as possible.

By no means a race bike only though. I never raced mine. Anthem X is a bit slacker too, so would probably be less scary on the rocky descents in the Peaks.

Only swapped mine for a Trance because the low BB and "over the front" riding position kept making me fall off on the sort of riding I usually do.

Still probably the most impressive bike I've ever ridden though.

MBUK/bikeradar love it but they did mention (in two hardcopy articles- 08 and 09) that its head angle is steep - so if your used to more and more relaxed you might be caught out?!

Awesome machine, had an '08 Aluminium one, loved it, sold it, bought a '09 Advanced & love that even more! Perfect race bike, but just at home on most trail centers etc. Head angle might be a touch steep-depending on what you're used to.

Superlight? 100mm on the rear then anywhere up to 125mm on the front. Pop on a pair of 100-130mm adjustable forks and its good for most things from race to all day XC.

Actually Nukeproof you hit the nail on the head, my mate is leaning towards a superlight, but I was suggesting the anthem, as you can get the base model for £100 less than the painted superlight. He is moving from a Kula,so likes a light slippy bike.

'07 advanced with 100mm forks here. Slackens the head angle just enough to be perfect with 20% sag.

Reccomended

i ride an anthem x and it takes me everywhere (mostly all-dayers in the surrey hills, peaks and south downs). It's probably more racey than most, but still really comfortable.

It's a faster climber than my mate's scott scale on rough stuff in the peaks and there's no bob on smoother climbs, even without pro-pedal.

As for the descents: it flies.

Highly recommended

My Anthem X review is in the current issue of Singletrack - Go have a look 😉

08 anthem here 100mm forks and low rise bar not raced it yet but it get a good trail bashing light nimble well happy...

Have an 07 Anthem with 80mm forks and it scares the bejesus out of me on steep downhills but other than that it's a good bike. Tempted to get an Anthem X frame and 120mm forks though

Fuzzy, try your bike with 100mm forks if you can. Makes a difference.

Anyone tried an Anthem X with 130mm forks?

I've got an X1 and I'd say it was an excellent all-rounder - with pro-pedal on and a bit of pressure in the tyres it even makes a decent road bike. It's light, stiff, fast, goes up hills really well and down them equally well. If your riding is all in the UK, I can't see why you'd want anything with any more travel.

The only problem with them is you can't get them in turquoise 🙂

and they've run out of frames

I also recently built up an '08 Anthem with 100mm forks and some low risers. Very chuffed with the feel of the bike on general trail riding..

demo'd one,

very very very very very fast

HA is steep so I found myslef hanging further back over the saddle rather than nutts to the stem in corners which is my usual style. In berms I was pumping a lot more to keep the HA slack (by squashing the rear).

One bike to rule them all if all you ride is not too technical XC and road riding. They dont jump well at all, and wouldn't be fun on propper rock gardens. I'd get one if i already had another heavier bike like a trance-x or my steel hardtail for more technical stuff and didnt have a road bike. Its a very specific bike, but probably fits the bill for a lot of people if they'r being honest. I'm planning on geting an anthem-x once my knee's upto it, and probably selling the road bike.

I have had an 2008 Anthem 2 and 2009 Anthem X3
My advice is have a GOOD try of one before you buy !
I found the 08 handling very hard to get used to with the steep head angle too easy to go over the bars.So much so i sold it
The X3 is far better still has a steepish head angle but much tamer very good on techy stuff and the rear suspension is amazing they are also very light bikes.
They are nice bikes if you like them, but a nightmare if you don't

If I could just add a little downer, if you are going to buy an anthem x have a try first as I have found the sizing awkward. They are quite stretched and the standover was zero (5'8" on a medium)

the older giants (pre 09) were underforked.
my XtC was MUCH better on 100s rather than the 80s specced on it, my trance is perfect on 120s rather than 100s.

i BELIEVE they have rectified this in the 09 models, i would be wary of putting 130s on an anthem x without having a bit of a research to check.
i may be wrong though.
nice thing about the giants is the continuity of the range, from 3" up to 9", in inch increments, each step up gets you another inch, and a slightly slacker ride.
if the anthem is a bit on the lively side, get an anthem x....
i think the trance is slacker than the anthem x, so although they are both about 4" in travel, the anthem X is a more "xc" feel, the old trance (discontinued this year) is a more "trail" feel.
now people dont consiser 4" enough for trails, so they arnt bothering with it