Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er 1 (2014)

The 2014 Anthem needs little introduction

Pros

- Outstanding all-round performance
- Stiff/light carbon frame
- Great component package

Cons

- Could be a little tall for shorter riders, but then there's the 27.5 - buy that instead!

Review

Giant's new 2014 Anthem needs little introduction. This platform has been a favourite among the cross country/trail crowd for many years now. The X Advanced 29er 1 adds an affordable race ready version to the range with all the bells and whistles attached.

The composite frame offers a noticeable increase in stiffness over the alloy versions which, combined with the Overdrive headtube setup and Maestro suspension, creates a very stable, confident ride. In fact the Anthem is more than just an XC race bike, this machine is capable in most trail riding situations and is certainly a good performer when descending.

The stability of the long wheelbase makes this bike great for high speed singletrack riding, and is an efficient climber as well. The drawbacks of every 29er are present of course, but that is the nature of the beast and not a criticism of this well sorted package.

Components are a healthy collection of Shimano XT (one of my favourites). I particularly like the 24/36 chainset and 11-36t cassette of the 2x10 drivetrain. This allows a massive range of gears for pretty much every situation. Without getting bogged down in specifics, there are not any weak points when looking over the spec sheet. Serious racers may replace some of the Giant brand stuff like wheels over the long term, but this bike is ready to go straight from the box.

A terrific bike for every XC/trail enthusiast or racer. Any bike over $4000 isn't a cheap option, but this Anthem has everything sorted and is an investment in many years of serious or fun mountain biking. Recommended.