Giant Reign 1 to Giant Anthem X4 - Opinions please!!

jesper98
jesper98 Posts: 46
edited August 2011 in MTB buying advice
Hi, I currently have a Giant Reign 1 which is a lovely bike but I'm thinking of selling it and getting a Giant Anthem X4 instead. I ride the following trails - Afan Forest (Whites, Wall and Penhydd) ,Cwmcarn, Brechfa and Cwm Rhaeder (wrong spelling??).

I tend to ride quite hard but also try and pick the best lines. I don't do many jumps etc as I had a back op about 14yrs ago and I don't want to temp fate.

I saw the Giant Anthem X4 in the flesh this afternoon and it looks really nice but my only concern would be if it will be strong enough for the way I ride and my Height & weight (6ft and nearly 14st).

Any opinions will be greatly appreciated. Has anybody done the same swap (Reign to Anthem?).

Cheers,
Mike.

Comments

  • tom_howard
    tom_howard Posts: 789
    Not done the swap but it is a fairly big swing in bike style. Have you seen/sat on a Trance? Its a nice halfway house between the two.
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  • Bishbosh10
    Bishbosh10 Posts: 268
    The Anthem will be really twitchy in comparison to the Reign.


    I would also suggest trying out an Trance as a half way house.

    Either way, 14st is nothing! ;) (says he having just got off the scales :( )
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  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    As Tom says Reign to a Anthem is a big swing in bike style,

    I went from a Trance to a Reign and I would also suggest you look at the trance range less trail than the Reign but less racey than the Anthem, that make any sense?
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  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Have a look at the Trance X, it's pretty much spot on for trail centre stuff. Mine takes a lot of abuse & is holding up extremely well, handles hard riding well, never too twitchy & takes reasonable size jumps & drops well enough
  • bamba
    bamba Posts: 856
    Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance , Trance
  • jesper98
    jesper98 Posts: 46
    Thanks for all the repiles - much appreciated!! I thought it looked a bit nimble/twitchy myself but thought with a shorter stem and wider bars it would be ok?

    I also had a look at the Trance but its not too far away from what I've already got.

    I think there's demo day coming up in the next month or so - I'll try and get one then and make my decision.

    Cheers!!
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    Shorter stem and wider bars wont effect the overall wheelbase and HA which effects that aspect as well.

    Of course the trance isnt too far away from the Reign, same as it isnt too far away from the Anthem, its in the middle of the two.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Trance is a bit lighter, climbs a bit better & descends nearly as well as the Reign. Anthem is an XC race bike & will be twitchy whatever you do to it.
    Trance is pretty much designed for tearing up trail centres, Giant got it spot on for this & it's also a great xc bike as well, really good for long rides in the hills
  • Broonster
    Broonster Posts: 440
    Have to say it too, but the Trance is probably your best bet.

    I have a Reign and an Anthem and both are completely different. Having said that, you'd be surprised how much the Anthem can handle. I can fly around the red & black routes at Glentress & Innerleithen on the Reign, but the Anthem can take it just as well, although it's much, much quicker going up!
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  • jesper98
    jesper98 Posts: 46
    but the Anthem can take it just as well, although it's much, much quicker going up!

    Sounds very appealing to me :D It looks like the only way to know for sure is to give one a try. I will let you all know how I get on. Thanks again for your replies!!