Anthem X or Stumpy FSR Comp?

Bob Pertlewee

I ride almost exclusively UK trail centres and am looking to buy a new full suss bike for around and about £1500 (ish...). Reading the reviews in the various magazines the Anthem X sounds amazing value but is more set up for XC and could do with more travel for bigger hits and can be slightly flighty when going downhill. That said the light weight appeals for the uphills and I'm not going to throwing it off anything huge. The stumpy sounds like a good all rounder which amplifys a riders ability and gets the job done and has that extra travel to make the ride more forgiving. However, can suffer from pedal bob on the uphills. I will try before I buy but would be grateful for any advice/opinions. Cheers - Bob

ian220476

Hi, Can't comment too much on the Anthem. reviews are good and a friend of mine loves his. However I do have the stumpy and have never for a moment regretted it. If you use teh search function in the forum you will find a good thread on this bike.

I use the bike for all manner fo stuff, trail centres, xc races/enduros, general exploring etc. is there some pedal bob? maybe, yes a litlle but not enough to really warrant too much concern in my opinion and only really becomes noticeable on long fire track climbs - even then just flick teh rear shock to 'off' or pro pedal and you won't feel it. It is well put together, well specced, very comfy and very reliable. I have had a few issues but you will with anything that you throw around like we all do with mountain bikes. i would say i was the main cause of the issues I have had rather than the bike!

Try them both out and go with what fits you and you like the feel of. being comfy on teh bike is everything. From my perspective that was the deciding factor why stumpy worked and would happily have had slightly lsser spec opn it because of the feel.

Stevo_666

Both good bikes for what you want IMO. I say Anthem but you can see from my sig that I'm biased It should hold up fine for the down hill that you are likely to come across in trail parks and should be faster on climbs/fast xc type stuff.

The press seem to like the Anthem more on the whole - for what its worth. All should become clear if you try both....

Briggo

Bob Pertlewee wrote:

However, can suffer from pedal bob on the uphills.

Just flick the can to pro pedal or lockout and you dont get anymore bobbing, and even then the bobbing is minimal in my experience when its fully open.

I love my stumpy comp, but cant comment on what to go for as never ridden the Anthem X, I suspect the Anthem is just as good for UK trail centres.

ariteofpassage

I have just returned from 4 days at glentress with my anthem x2. No problem whatsoever on blue, red and black trails, climbs amazingly too!