Giant Anthem X5 or...

Teach

My question is for £900 would you buy the Giant Anthem X5 or is there something that is significantly better for the money?

Just to help I'll give some background info. I come from the other side of road cycling :shock: and know very little about mountain biking. I do have a mountain bike and have only really used it with the children for canal paths etc. Over the summer I went out with friends and did some 'proper mountain biking' I really enjoyed it. I am not going to be doing big downhill races or massive jumps, infact I don't intend to do medium jumps :shock:
I'm looking at using it off road,, centres like Dalby Forest etc.
I've done a fair bit of research, the frame seems to get good reviews and so does the front fork. I suspect the rear fork and gears will need changing over time, but it seems to be a lot of bike for the money. So as I said at the beginning, is it a good bike or would you get something else and if so what.
Sorry for the long post, but any advice is greatly appreciated.

Teach

From the stunned silence (lack of response), do I take it the Anthem is awful and you don't know how to break it to me, or that it's brilliant and you can't think of anything better for the money?

cooldad

Have you ridden it?

markt.safc

I just ordered the x4 after being very tempted by the x5. If it's any use, the thing made my mind up was the rear shock- the x5's got the Monarch and, from what i understand, it's not got much of a reputation whereas the x4's got Fox at both front and rear (established, quality kit). But, the frame and forks is the main thing (you can replace everything else relatively cheaply).
From what you say, your riding style is very similar to mine, so in conclusion the Anthem is a cracking bike, whatever the kit that's on it.

IRL_MBiker

As mentioned, go for the X4, better Fox shox would be the main reason...

bartimaeus

Yep... the Anthem is a great bike - but like any bike you should try a demo if you can to make sure it is the bike for you. I have a 2010 X4 which I love. It looks as though Giant created the X5 to hit the same price-point as the ol X4 after the recent price increases, so the 2011 X5 is a lower spec all round, but at £900 instead of £1,100+ it looks good value.

I've no experience with the Recon Gold and Monarch so I can't say how much of step down they are from the Fox kit on the X4. After having demoed a half dozen or so other bikes I feel safe in saying the X4 suspension is fantastic. So that's your dilemma: you can upgrade the rest of the X5 kit as it wears, so your choice of X5 or X4 is all about the suspension.

The Anthem platform is marvellous, but you should try one out to make sure it suits you. The more relaxed Trance is 'bike of the year' in this months MBR - but I'm not sure you can pick one up for £900.

Teach

Thank you for that. Road bikes are easier, mountain bikes have too many variables! However I think I am getting there.
The trance is more expensive, but has RockShox Tora TK coil, 120mm travel
whereas the Anthem has RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo Air, tapered steerer, 100mm travel. I know there is a difference in travel, but aren't air shocks meant to be better than coil? Or have coil shocks advanced over the years?

rockmonkeysc

The Trance will be more fun and a little more beginner friendly as it will be a little less twitchy. The Trance X4 does have a bit of a poor front fork, if you look around you might find a 2009/2010 Trance X3 for a little over a grand or a used one for your budget (I am selling a 18" 2010 Trance X3 for £900).
The Anthem is excellent, light, fast & solid with racey geometry that could suit a road rider better than the slacker geometry of the Trance.
All Giant full suspension bikes are very good. I have got a Trance X3 & Reign X2 and both make me grin like an idiot & are bombproof, light, stiff & climb extremely well.
You won't go wrong with either the Trance X or The Anthem.

jfry94

RockmonkeySC
i might take the trance off your hands some time around xmas if you still have it and selling it.

Matt88

+1 for an anthem, I have the x4 and i cant fault it! the fox suspension is amazing, riding it is so much smoother than my previous bike, which had a recon coil fork.

Imo if you cant get the the x4, the x5 is still a good buy at that price. I'd have an air fork over a coil any day and i prefer the more racey geometry.

Though the trance is also a great bike, you wont be disapointed with either

dp1

When i started looking i was originally going to buy the x4 and the guy in the shop who has had Anthems himself for the last three years told me that the x5 was a better buy. He felt the x4 wasnt worth the price difference because the x5 had really good forks and rear suspension and that by upgrading the wheels which would drop a decent amount of weight it would give a cracking bike and lighter than the x4 for slightly cheaper than the cost of an x4. Personally i would be just as happy with Rocks as Fox

Teach

Thank you for all your help and advice. I could be interested in the trance, but I was looking at buying new and spreading the pain over 6 or 12 months, but it might still be a possibility.

I think I will go for the ... Giant Anthem X4. However :? the other bike that has really caught my eye is the Orange Crush.

I know you are going to tell me test them both, but what am I gaining or losing between the two. I know there is a big debate between HT and FS but I just don't l know. What I can argue for one I can argue for the other. In my heart the Orange just seems to be a better quality bike,. Am I just looking at this with rose tinted glasses? Will the Orange be a better bike? Will the GIant be more forgiving to my lack of mountain bike experience?

Again, any advice greatly appreciated.

t0pc4t

it really depends on what you're riding pal. The crush is a reasonably hardcore hardtail and the anthem is more cross country focused albeit with all round ability.

So have a look at the riding spots local to you and what they're like and have a think about what you want from the bike.

For me my anthem is just the ticket as I ride pretty much exclusively in Swinley forest so no over massive technical descents, rtock gardens, drop offs etc, more flowing singletrack.

your local area and riding ambition may be quite different. Test both somewhere that is similar to where you're likely to be riding and see which one suits you best.

I disagree that the Orange will be better quality, the anthem is not likely to be 'more forgiving' either, it has more of a racy bias.

That being said my anthem was my first proper mtb and I don't find it overwhelming at all.