Boardman FS Pro v Giant Anthem x4

xterra

Hi All
New to MTB'ing, and want to do an off road tri, so looking to get my first MTB and have had 2 recommendations - the Boardman FS Pro and Anthem x4. (£1500 budget)
Anyone rode either of these and help steer me in the right direction, please
B..

supersonic

Both great bikes, and multi award winners. The Boardman has the better spec, but the Anthem almost undoubtedly the better (and lighter) frame.

xterra

thnx Supersonic, so as a package - would you say the Anthem??

has anyone rode either of these who could help give some guidance...

supersonic

Have a read of the reviews on this site - but in the end it is up to you to test and see how they feel.

missmarple

Anthem!

llamafarmer

Both great bikes with lots of very happy owners but I've only ridden one of them, so I'm biased! See if you can get out and try them both to get a better comparison.

frogstomp

Haven't ridden the CB FS but my HT Pro was a great bike.. on the other hand though I now love my Anthem X3 more!

For maximum bang for you buck you can pick up a 2009 X3 for a ~£900 and then get £600 of upgrades.. the frame has not changed from the 2009 to 2010 model..

xterra

thanks all - will get out and get a test ride and let you know which way i go.....

Stevo_666

You may have a job getting a test ride of the Boardman (Halfords either say no or just let you pootle round the car park). Based on SS's point about the Anthem having the better frame, I'd go for the X4 as you can always upgrade the other bits as they wear out.

As the owner of an Anthem and a (hybrid) Boardman, you won't go wrong with either option 8)

Steve.

xterra

thanks Stevo..

i suppose this is the worst part of being a bike owner, getting down to the final two and always worrying that you made the wrong choice.. Love the look of the Giant but love the spec of the CB... arrgggg :roll:

although im sure once i haveplumbed for one those worries will soon be gone...

Tostaryman

Hi xterra - if you compare the claimed manufacturers weights then the Giant is actually slighter lighter despite the inferior finishing kit. Just goes to show how light the frame and fork combination is. And that for me was the clincher really. When you consider the quality of the Anthem X chassis versus the Boardman then personally its a no brainer. The ride and feel of the bike is determined so much more at this point than fancy shifters or brakes which can always be upgraded later anyway. Besides, the Anthem X4 spec is all solid Shimano gear that has been rock solid for me so far.

supersonic

WMB weighed the Boardman as slightly lighter of the two, 27.4lbs vs 28lbs for the Giant.

llamafarmer

Tostaryman wrote:

Besides, the Anthem X4 spec is all solid Shimano gear that has been rock solid for me so far.

That's a good point - the biggest advantage of the higher spec on the Boardman is going to be weight, but overall the two bikes come in very close in those stakes. And because the Anthem's kit is fairly basic, any upgrades you make thereafter are going to take away fairly big chunks of weight. Giant have spent the money where it matters - frame and fork, so the lesser bits on it aren't such a drawback imo.

Tostaryman

llamafarmer wrote:

Tostaryman wrote:

Besides, the Anthem X4 spec is all solid Shimano gear that has been rock solid for me so far.

. And because the Anthem's kit is fairly basic, any upgrades you make thereafter are going to take away fairly big chunks of weight. .

Definitely. A decent lightweight set of wheels and rubber will lop 2 lbs off just like that. Not that I'm tempted of course...

Also, interesting to note that the claimed manufacturers weight is nearly 1lb off - was that without pedals as per the giant specs? If so, kind of confims suspicions I had re 'official' manufacturers weights.

andyrm

Tough choice and there is more to factor in than just bike spec.

I've ridden both and both have their own particular hot points - as LF says, the Giant frame is probably the better for long term upgrading as it's a phenomenal chassis, but the Boardman gives you lots of bang for your buck right from the off.

BUT, and it is a big but - you need to factor in both bike setup and aftersales support. I know for a fact that my LBS has regular trips from Halfords staff with their FS bikes (Carrera and Boardman being the most common ones) in boxes and having to get them to build and set them up, plus a quick scan of the forums will tell you about bolts coming loose that haven't been locktited (is that even a word??!!), poor setup, staff that really aren't trained beyond basic assembly of a £99 bike etc etc etc. Do you really want to invest £1500 and then have the hassle and expense of either getting it worked on by someone else from the outset, or the niggling back-of-the-mind concern that there could be something up?

Off the back of that and the fact I know plenty of people with the Giant that they have then upgraded, I'd say the Anthem becomes the clear leader.........

supersonic

But some LBS are crap too. It is all about who works there.

warrerj

I'll 2nd that !!

I LBS near me told me once they didn't see the point in keeping a range of sizes in stock becase as long as you could stand over the crossbar the bike was the right size and they can tel that by the stand over height in the catalague. AND as long as that was right all bikes fitted the same :shock: :shock:

IT's the people who work where not the company they work for !!!

jmillen

Interesting reading...I'm considering selling my Boardman HT and "upgrading" to a Boardman FS. I hadn't seen the Giant Anthem x4 before, nice looking bike that.

Not sure if it'll make a huge difference to your riding, but I noticed that the Anthem has 100mm front & rear? Boardman is 120mm.

Decision Decisions :roll:

frogstomp

jmillen wrote:

Interesting reading...I'm considering selling my Boardman HT and "upgrading" to a Boardman FS. I hadn't seen the Giant Anthem x4 before, nice looking bike that.

That's what I did.. although I bought last year's X3 (same frame) and transferred all of the good bits and upgrades over from the CB.. the CB is/was a great bike but I wouldn't look back now.. do it!

xterra

thanks everyone for your guidance - i have a test ride on an Anthem this weekend - last years model but am led to believe its the same frame etc...

I shall let you know how it goes

(dare i say the chap in evans tried to turn me to a rocky mountain "altitude 50"!! they dont do Giant - ill leave that for another day lol)

xterra

jmillen wrote:

Interesting reading...I'm considering selling my Boardman HT and "upgrading" to a Boardman FS. I hadn't seen the Giant Anthem x4 before, nice looking bike that.

Not sure if it'll make a huge difference to your riding, but I noticed that the Anthem has 100mm front & rear? Boardman is 120mm.

Hi Jmillenn, as im new to the MTB scene - what benefits / drawbacks would 100 or 120mm give - i want a more racy type ride to use in off road trathlons

ta,,,,,

llamafarmer

XC race bikes are usually 100mm or less. The original Anthem was a proper race thoroughbred, the X is a little more all round trail friendly, but it's still super quick. It does sound spot on for what you're asking - at heart it's a racer, but you can trash it around trail centres all day and it won't even blink.

Can you tell I like my Anthem?

xterra

All
Apologies - but having asked for your advice and then you all giving me your thoughts i never actiually got back to say what i went with...

well it was neither the Boardman nor the Anthem X4 :? , it was


an Anthem X3 (2010) - its great, i am sure the Boardman would be a good bike too but having had a test ride there was no need to try the Boardman, i was sold.

Thanks All

llamafarmer

Pics or it didn't happen

xterra

here you go :-)

xterra

mmmm , that hasnt worked :-(

let me try again, any ideas??

xterra

Stevo_666

xterra wrote:

Good choice

baba123

have you upgraded a single bit of it

bartimaeus

and welcome to the Anthem Appreciation Society - where a big smile is guaranteed every ride

xterra

not upgraded any thing yet - the bike out classes me lol....


but im happy to be in the anthem appreciation society. every time on the bike brings me a smile - it is what mtb'ing is all about.....