[Closed] Buying Advice - Five Pro, Genius 20, Remedy 9.7 or Anthem X SL 0?

What are you actually going to use it for?

I know they're only arbitrary labels, but at a quick glance isn't the Anthem X really the only 'XC' one from that bunch? The others will, no doubt, go 'across country' but are completely different styles of bike... 100mm vs 150mm of travel..

Used for XC trails with a bit of AM goodness when I go up to the Lakes.

The Anthem I'm looking at comes with SID XX World Cups (120mm). Would these suffice for some mild DH/AM action?

Cheers

Ryan

I'd rather not get an orange, they're far too common and sound like a filing cabinet falling down a set of stairs when ridden.

Scott Genius - Pull shock, really?

Trek remedy 9.7 - Great bike, well specced

Giant Anthem X SL0 - Exceptionally light, stiff, carbonium.

Out of the lot, i'd have a go on the remedy and the anthem. But i'm surprised that you're comparing a remedy to an anthem. Surely comparing a trance and a remedy is a more fair comparison? But yeh, for XC, there is only one choice, that's the anthem. Fantastic bike.

The Scott is good, if a little quirky. I really enjoyed the one i tried, pedalled well and was really stable on descents.

anto164 hts the nail on the head - quite a range of bikes you're looking at there. But if those are the ones you're looking at, I'd get the Trek, followed by the Giant, followed by the Scott, followed by the Orange. Probably ordered in terms of tech expertise and engineering. If second-hand, all offer great bargains, esp Orange which might move it up a bit on the list. (Have a rigid Trek, great bike even ancient as it is. Current bike is a Mojo)

Thanks for your replies!

Are the rear shocks that bad on the Scotts?

Is it worth spending the extra money and going for the Trek Remedy 9.8 or 9.9? I'm liking the 9.7 since it's a fair bit cheaper than the others in its class.

The Anthem X is definitely the bike out the bunch I'd love, but it needs to be able to handle some AM trials.

I'm not saying I'll be doing 6ft drop-offs on it, but the odd ledge and small jumps can't be helped!

Intense Tracer i have a frame only for sale

The Anthem is a really good race and trail bike, but if you're thinking AM you'd be better off with a Trance or Reign, and to be honest the Reign is equivalent to the rest of the bikes you've listed.

I'd also suggest going with the alu frame for longevity and value.

How have you come up with the list of bikes? Is it on looks and price?

I'd be looking at what the intended use is for, and work from the travel to give you a short list, then start looking at geometry, reviews then pick the frame you like the most, then start looking at what spec you can buy with your budget.

An Orange 5, Lapierre Zesty, Trek Remedy, Cube Stereo would all make good trail bikes, and handle some lakes descending very well.

Personally, I'd avoid carbon for loose rocky descents - I'd hate to get a rock strike destroy the down-tube on a spanky carbon frame.

If it helps, I've had quite a few bikes... including an Anthem, Reign, Trek EX8, Scott Spark, Whyte E120, Lapierre Zesty.

I'd go for the Remedy or Five personally

5

I'd also recommend the Trek Remedy 9, over the 9.7 - you're spending the same money but getting:

- Fox FiT Kashima RLC, over the Float RL (slicker, more durable, better dampening)
- XT and XTR groupset over the full SLX (superior shifting performance)

I know where my money'd be.

I'd go for the Remedy or Five 😀

You'd really go for the 9 over the 9.7?! The 9.7 is a fair bit lighter.

I've found all the above bikes at very good prices, hence why they're in the shortlist. I know they're all very capable bikes, but I'm just wondering which will best suit my riding style... I've got around £2.5k give or take...

For a trail bike, weight isn't the factor I'd be considering most. The Fox FiT and the Xt and XTR Groupset would sell it for me.

Carbon is nice, but for the same performance you'd have to spend another £1100. I'd prefer the decent fork over a slightly lighter frame. Would be good to hear from Remedy owners, and their opinions.

Also looking at a Trek Top Fuel 9.9 and the EX9. How would you compare these to the Remedy? A lot more XC I believe but still able to do AM?...

A mate of mine uses an Anthem X as his allrounder bike- he can't usually be bothered to push his DH bike up the hill so rides up instead. He's still quicker than most people back down.

go s/h or ex-demo or last year's model - almost whatever you go for, you'll get a much better spec, lighter, nicer bike, and with a ful servide it's no different to a new one. s/h ma not have warranties, though, so if that's critical for you go ex-demo or last ear's model - or buy decent insurance.....

And he's using the standard 120mm forks? I'm going to test a few Treks this weekend and see how they feel.
I've currently got an old Kona Stinky Primo and a 2011 Whyte B19C. The Whyte is pretty capable with a small jumps and mild DH, really surprised me actually.

Nah, he's on 100mm. But to be fair, he's not right in the head.

Go with what x centrix said. Go s/h and get a better spec 5. Im biased coz I like Orange. Ive seen an ex demo for 1800quid which is a steal. Good prices available on them all though. When folk say you see too many of them theres a reason for that and thats coz theyre good. No matter which you choose they are all good bikes. Sure someone on here got a 9 for half price recently as an ex demo. These were at glentress these bikes. No matter which ya pick - enjoy it !

My mate has an '08 five for sale, the Fox 140 has upgraded internals to the FiT damper thingy, SLX Double & bash, Hope hubbed wheels, hope headset & seat clamp, Thomson x4 stem & elite post etc.

It's a 16" which is apparently right for upto about 5'10" from what I've read on here

I'm 6ft mate. Unless a Five Pro comes up for a complete bargain, I'm guna go for the Treks, Scott of Giant. Hopefully riding the Treks this weekend will help me decided......

Remedy or a Five the Anthem is a xc race weapon, I have owned one and it is almost the opposite of the other bikes.

Hi, I recently bought a 2011 trek Fuel Ex9 and to be honest its surprised me how competent it actually is. Taken it down a few DH tracks and 4x tracks and it seems to jump well, the suspension action is pretty sweet. The only slight hitch as far as i can see is a slightly long stock stem and you can't drop the seatpost all the way uncut.

To put into perspective my previous/other full sus is a new shape Heckler with 36RC2 vanillas and a DHX5 coil at the rear. I'm actually finding myself as, if not more confident on the stupid stuff on the trek.

For xc/am whatever I think the fuel is plenty bike enough. Still want a proper dh bike though!

"to be honest the Reign is equivalent to the rest of the bikes you've listed"

which is not the same as a Reign X if it crops up btw

"I'd avoid carbon for loose rocky descents"
Treks have 'carbon armour'
Even without, my '07 Spesh SJer downtube has taken loads of loose rock strikes. The paint/lacquer may be suffering (has a bit of helitape, though that won't do much), but the carbon has yet to give (Specialized have inspected it for impact damage elsewhere and said it was fine (rockers snapped off, seat stays hit back of seattube 'shock hole' struts)

"Also looking at a Trek Top Fuel 9.9 and the EX9. How would you compare these to the Remedy?"
Very roughly:

Giant anthem ~= Trek Top Fuel (~= Spesh Epic)
Giant Trance X ~= Trek Fuel EX ~= Scott Spark '12 (~= Spesh Camber)
Giant Reign ~= Trek Remedy ~= Scott Genius ~= Orange5 (~=Spesh S'J'er FSR (evo or not?)

I've had a Genius for 4 years, ridden all over the UK, Im not light (13st) and it has been superb! Ive had to have my front shock serviced 3 times, but the rear shock has been faultless! More than I can say for all my riding buddies, that have all had to have their rear shocks looked fixed/serviced, in the same time period.

My local trail is Bringewood so fair to say it takes a hammering!

I'm looking to buy a new full suss next year, it could well be another Genius!

Great comments guys!

I'm stuck it a rut really. I willy be using the bike for simplistic red routes mainly since they're on my doorstep. I'll only venture over to Wales and the Lakes maybe 4 times a year. Do I buy a dedicated XC bike and 'take it easy' on it?

Or would the Genius, Remedy, 5 be agile enough for XC action? Saying that, I've been doing XC on my Stinky Primo for the past year!!!

Scott Genius - Pull shock, really?

shock horror, it has a piston that goes in and out and has an air chamber and damping circuit.

An Anthem X is 100mm fork as standard, so the bike your thinking of isnt standard, but I understand alot of people use 120 forks on them.

I have an Anthem X and it rides amazingly well. I wouldnt say its a race bike, just an very competent and quick trail bike. The only other bike I've ridden in that list is the Orange 5, and the Anthem would murder one up a hill, and IMO be more fun down one (I just dont get what people like about 5's though). My Anthem is just as competent on the bumps as my previous 5" travel bike. I ride the Pennines, Trail Centres, Lakes etc etc.

I was put off buying the Scott by bad reviews of the rear shock.

Dont get sucked in to the needing more travel to ride a bike.

Also why go for the plastic Anthem X. The Ali one is at least half the price and just as good/light.

"Do I buy a dedicated XC bike and 'take it easy' on it?"

What?? FFS if its sold as a mountain bike it should be able to take abuse. Your not being sucked in to the marketing rubbish that you cant possibly have less than 10 bikes?

XC RACE, MARATHON, ANOTHER WEEKEND EPIC. FOR THOSE WHO DO IT ALL AND WANT TO DO IT A LITTLE FASTER, THE ALL-NEW ANTHEM X IS THE ANSWER.

Awaiting an email about the Giant.... 😉

Still going to ride the Treks this weekend to see how the feel.

Really informative replies in this thread, much appreciated....

Cheers,

Ryan

You have to try a Five, you will kick yourself if you don't.

We had our 2005 Orange 5 (black) stolen about a month ago from Champneys near Burton. Gutted since it was a very good bike, but a bit small for me.

Are the new Pro's that different/much better than the standard '05 bike?

Cheers,

Ryan

They are very different now to what they were back then. Bendy top tube, different angles, tapered steerer etc.

The only way to find out is ride one.

"You have to try a Five, you will kick yourself if you don't"

Really? The review in singletrack not that long ago told me it wouldn't suit what I wanted it for?
That and the various negative bits and bobs I've read on here over time

Wasn't saying it to you though was he? Mong.

With regard to the Top Fuel, I'd not consider that for the riding you want, it is really a race bike rather than a trail / do-it-all bike.

I've test ridden one, and they are lovely - but not as a trail bike.

Again the Anthem is a great bike, but I far prefer the Reign for trail centre and big mountain rides - comfort and confidence inspiring. Whereas the Anthem is more battering, and steeper so I feel less confident on steep and technical descents.

Do consider a Five though, they get a good / bad rap on here because they're a bit like iPhones / iPods / iPads. Everyone that has one thinks and says it's the best thing since sliced bread, everyone that doesn't have one says it's a bag of spanners. Popularity comes at a price.

Really? The review in singletrack not that long ago told me it wouldn't suit what I wanted it for?
That and the various negative bits and bobs I've read on here over time

Having ridden a Remedy, an Anthem, an EX, and a Five, I think I'm in a pretty decent position to give a valid opinion.

Like rickon said, Fives get negative comments because people are sick of hearing how good they are. Its not the bikes fault.

Also, just because you think it wouldn't suit you (how you get that from reading about it and not riding it I don't know) doesn't mean its no good for the OP, or anyone else.

"Wasn't saying it to you though was he? Mong"

Nope, but I assumed this would be a fairly blanket reccomendation for anyone else looking into very similar bikes too
Are you ricky gervais?

I'm not questioning your opinion, I'm just trying to weigh it up against that that I'd read previously which had lead to the impression I had gained as to whether I should be considering one for myslef, which I still don't really know ..

I realise the OP won't want the same thing (though it seems he/she hasn't quite nailed down what type of bike they are after? Just questioning the 'the 5 is amazing' thing, yes to my benefit, but perhaps to others/the OPs also
No I've not ridden a 5 beyond a car park, only got (mostly trusted?)singletrack mag reviews to go by. Despite the singletrack reccomended seal, they did pick up on a number of negatives too

I kicked myself for buying a 5.Yes,it was a bag of spanners.Giant all the way !(mines a Reign ).

I've just sold my 2011 9.7 Remedy and am replacing with the Remedy 9. Kit on it as Rickon says is a big factor. I'll probably stick some coil Lyriks on it as well, so weight is not really a factor, it will still come in under 30lbs. My 9 is en route to my LBS as i type!!!!

Are you getting a 2012 Remedy or 2011?

How did you rate your 9.7?

2012 Remedy 9, collecting it Monday afternoon. I had a 2010 Remedy 9 and upgraded it to the 9.7 carbon earlier this year. It was nice, light and stiff, but not noticeably better than the alu version. I toyed with another carbon one, but the kit on the 9 was the swinger!

I'd say the most versatile bike will be Trek Fuel EX/Giant Trance X. I've had both and though Giant pedals slightly better Fuel EX handles better and is overall more fun bike. Bear in mind it were '09 models though, maybe newer DRCV shock on Fuel EX changed smth.

BTW, here:

http://paulscycles.co.uk/offers.php?cat=1

You can find some previous years' models at a good price. I'd recommend GT Force Carbon as well - should be a very competent all around bike but you can't find it at a good discount price and Paulscycles don't have you size. Always wondered how this bike feels 🙂