[Closed] Giant Anthem X3 - 2012 or 2011

I went for the 2012 X3 at £999 back in November. I didn't want to go with Fox front shocks as know so many people who have had Stanchion wear issues, I've had a set of Rebas for the last 5 years or so that have been faultless, so the fact that the 2012 X3 comes with Rebas was perfect.

Another useful thing to know - these Rebas (last year of dual air) can be set to 120mm if required, just do the standard 'remove the internal spacer' trick. That is how I have mine setup.

I did some digging on the Giant wheels and found that while the PCX2 wheels were lighter than the SXC2 wheels, both were relatively heavy so I thought I could do better...

So I sold on the wheels / brakes / mechs / shifters / bars / stem / seatpost / saddle and upgraded with some new items (careful bargain shopping!) to save some weight and move to a Shimano based build (was just under 28lb at original spec, now just under 26lb).

I ended up with a bike which is mostly better spec (IMHO) than the 2011 model for less money.

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Full picture diary: http://s785.photobucket.com/user/neileverett/library/Anthem%20Build

Rides lovely BTW!

I pretty much did what nre did. I fitted my existing Crests, shimano drivetrain and xt brakes. Sold the original components. Now have my dream bike weighing in at 25lbs and few ounces. I went for the X3 2012 purely for the paint job.

The bike absolutlely flies, its so fast over the rooty stuff round my way.

I like the colour scheme too.... 😀

Good to see someone else who has a fairly 'custom' Anthem X3. I thoroughly enjoyed hunting out bargains to spec it up, was in no hurry so just waited for the deals to come to me... on balance I hardly spent anything over the original £999 for my custom spec.

By the time I parted out my old 2008 Trance, the Anthem owes me less than £350 (including the cash back on the credit card that I took out especially for the purchase of bike & bits...), and my wife's bike also inherited a wheel & fork upgrade within that too...

I am a Yorkshireman after all... 😉

Brilliant - just what I needed/wanted to hear. I was getting into a spec induced paralysis, coupled to the - it's just £100 (or in this case £250) mission creep.

Thanks!

All I can say is go for decent rockshox forks first and foremost, gearing and contact bits doesn't matter but strong wheels do.

My Anthem started life as a 2011 X4 bought from Pauls Cycles early 2012 at £1100 or so. The only thing left of that bike is frame, forks and shock, rest has been upgraded with lots of carbon, Hope brakes and light wheels etc. Now weighs 24.5lb. Great bike, feels like its got launch control, really responsive and reactive.

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As for forks, I like Fox rather than RS. The stanchion wear thingy seems a bit hyped up to me. Bit of occasional care (Fork Juice) works wonders.

I am a Yorkshireman after all...

Very happy with my 2011 X3. And, let's face it, my [b]red[/b] gear 'n' brake cables are wayyyyyyy faster than those dull 2012 ones, and they match my socks.