Giant Anthem X2 OR Trek Fuel EX8 ???

dp1

I am thinking of having a change and both these bikes seem very similar. I dont race but just ride for pleasure / fitness. General dirt tracks, cycle routes, towpaths or up the sides of connecting fields and a little bit of the Ridgeway so it wouldnt really get hard use, mainly flat stuff. Would one be better than the other for that kind of riding ? I expect a lot would say go down the hardtail route but a couple of guys told me that the latest higher end full sus bikes are best to go for because they are good all rounders and fun. So i would like some more opinions before i buy
Thanks !

idiotdogbrain

If you don't race, look at the Giant Trance X instead of the Anthem - it's the equivalent of the Fuel EX. Anthem's Trek equivalent is the Top Fuel, they're the 4" XC race bikes.

Both the Trance and Fuel EX are good, can't really go wrong with either. Look at the Specialized Camber too.

warpcow

Or see the front-page story about the Canyon Nerve XC. A few of my friends have them and love them. They offer much better spec. for the money (or are cheaper for the same spec.).

dp1

But i wont be doing downhill. XC mainly anyway which one between those two ?

warpcow

Purely from those 2: the Anthem. It should technically pedal a bit better.

Get a test ride if you can.

Briggo

The anthem is lighter and aimed more at the XC/race market, the Trek is heavier but burlier and aimed at the trail market.

bartimaeus

... and they are very different to ride.

I tried both of these bikes and got myself an Anthem (sadly I could not afford the X2 I demo'd). To me the Trek felt like it needed a shopping basket on the front. Lovely bike, mind, but at the time it just felt all wrong to me. Maybe now I've done some more 'trail' rather than XC riding I'd have a different view

dp1

Bartimaeus can you tell me in what way they are different ? I would have to really stretch to buy either of these two because i was originally thinking of the x4 but i wondered if it was heavy and it didnt have the pro pedal which seemed like a good thing to have

Shaggy_Dog

If you consider yourself a technically gifted rider, go for the Giant, it's very fast! If you're a newbie, the Trek will look after you that bit more and flatter what skills you do have. Both are excellent bikes.

bartimaeus

The Anthem is a longer more stretched out bike than the Trek, and coming from a road riding background the position felt much more natural to me. The Trek felt just plain wrong. I might gain a different impression if I trialled them both against each other now, but I definitely made the right choice for me and for the riding I do. If you can, try a test ride on the two platforms to see which one you prefer... I tried both at PedalOn which is north of Basingstoke.

My X4 is about 29lbs, so not light, but not too heavy either... and from what I have seen you can upgrade your way to sub 24lbs if you have the funds.

Personally I don't think you really need the pro-pedal... the only time I've ever been able to induce any noticeable rear-end bob is by pushing a big gear uphill on the road. I'm more of a sit-and-spin climber, so for me the lack of pro-pedal is a non-issue and I suspect I would never bother to use it even were I to have it.

I talked myself up to the X4 after looking at 'cheaper' options, and have never regretted it. I've covered more than 1,000 miles on the bike since last Easter, and it's far more capable than I ever imagined - I would not count myself much of a gifted rider as I'm still learning many of the basics, but the Anthem's been a really fun bike from day one. Most of my riding is XC, with lots of climbing in the South Downs, but I've taken it down round Brechfa and Afan, as well as down our local twisty singletrack and the Kingley Vale downhill course. Yes, it is an XC bike, but it is very capable.

rockmonkeysc

The Giant Trance is much more similar to the Trak than the Anthem is. Anthem is an XC race bike, Trek Fuel & Giant Trance are XC/Trail bikes, both light, climb well, comfortable & fun to ride but I don't think Treks rear suspension is anywhere near as good as Giants Meastro system on the Trance & Anthem. Have a test ride on the Trance, it's great for XC riding, yes it does go down hills very well but it gets up them extremely well as well. I would say that the Trance X is a better allrounder than the Anthem, it's more comfortable, with more stable geometry & less focused on being fast.
Trance is better looking than the Trek as well 8)

Shaggy_Dog

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I don't think Treks rear suspension is anywhere near as good as Giants Meastro system

I have to disagree. The DRCV-equipped Treks have the best suspension I've ever ridden.

rockmonkeysc

I went to a Trek demo recently & tried the Fuel & Remedy over a long xc circuit, neither felt as controlled as meastro suspension & meastro is much better at isolating pedal forces for climbing.
I thought the Giant Reign climbed better than the Trek Fuel.

cloudynights

try to swing your leg over them before you decide, not been on a trek but the anthem is fine for cross country which is what most people ride but like to call it trail lol

Eranu

Knowing where Bartimaeus rides and looking at what you say you're going to ride the Anthem will probably be fine. However you need to try them both and as many others as you can.