Anthem x4, 5 months on

Matt88

Hi, i got my 2011 Anthem x4 back in august and i thought i'd share a few pics of my pride and joy.
It's replaced my old boardman ht sport which got me into mountain biking, having decent suspension was a revalation! It's extremly fast uphill but is also suprising capable downhill

I've had no problems with it really, had to replace the stem but that was because i managed to strip a thread in it and the original crossmarks had to go as they do not cope with mud at all. It also didnt come with a qr seatclamp but that was just a good excuse to get a hope one I'm also considering upgrading the brakes to m666 slx brakes as i find myself wanting more power out the current ones when going downhill.

Currently though the rear wheel is slightly out of true and im not sure if im being paranoid but one of the stanchions on the fork looks slightly 'rougher' than the other which im worried if its the start of stanchion wear but i doubt it after 5 months Will be taking it down the lbs soon to get the wheel sorted anyway so i'll have them take a look.

I'll also take some better pictures later on, these were done with my phone so they arn't the best quality.

Specs
Frame: AluxX SL aluminum,4.0"/100mm Maestro Suspension
Fork: Fox F100 RL-11, tapered steerer, 100mm travel
Shock: Fox Float R
Handlebar: Giant Connect low riser (670mm)
Grips ODI ruffian's
Stem: Easton ea30 105mm (managed to strip a thread on the original giant stem)
Seatpost Giant Connect
Seatclamp Hope quick release
Saddle Fi'zi:k Tundra 2 Manganese rails
Pedals Shimano m785 trail pedals (used to be m520, shown in some pictures)
Shifters Shimano Deore 27 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur Shimano SLX Shadow
Brakes Shimano M445 hydraulic discs, 160mm rotors
Brake Levers Shimano M445
Cassette Shimano HG50 11-34
Chain Shimano HG-73
Crankset Shimano M542 22/32/42
Bottom Bracket Shimano Integrated Press Fit
Rims Giant S-XC2 DW aluminium
Hubs Shimano M475 rear, Giant Tracker front
Spokes Stainless Steel
Tires Bonty Mud x
Bottle cage: BBB flex cage


20120108_145246 by enigmas2012, on Flickr
After a recent muddy outing at cann woods!

165 by enigmas2012, on Flickr
After my first race, the soggy bottom enduro at newnham

315422_2164587607648_1635375585_2088671_6997239_n by enigmas2012, on Flickr
When i first got it, note the reflectors still on it! (still need to get the cassette guard off though, but i havnt got the tools to take the cassette off)

Matt88

Another from my first ride back in august near princetown

2011-09-25 14.29.17 by enigmas2012, on Flickr

ste0649

Love the Anthems, seem like good value for money too. Do you know the weight as the Giant site has no info, seem to remember the last model was around the 27lbs mark.

JBA

Nice bike.

Why do you want to take the spoke guard off though? It weighs next to nothing and removing it entails pointless effort.

Matt88

Hi, I havn't weighed it using a bicycle scale so im not sure the exact weight but using the old stand on scale without bike and then with bike method it weighed 12.7kg (12.6 when i first got it, extra weight from new tyres).

Next time i'm down the lbs i'll ask them to weight it so i can give you an exact answer

And imo i just dont like the look of spoke guards and mines been stained a weird yellowish colour from all the mud its been splatered in that makes it stand out, but i'm not too fussed and its stayed on this long

camerauk

A pair of side cutters will get the guard off easily just cut down on the top and then the bottom and they break off easily

Briggo

Indeed the spoke guard is another place for mud to get caught in, takes no effort to remove (both mine just unclipped).

Job done.

Nice bike btw

peter_booker2003

nice looking bike.

I've got a 2010 Anthem X4 and love it. Although it's a short travel bike, it still seems to do fantastically on the downs

Matt88

Thanks for all the comments everyone
Spent the day at haldon forest yesterday, not the most technical place but some theres some great flowy singletrack up there. Bike handled well, easily kept up with my mates 120-130mm trail bikes on the downs and on the ups just took off!

cloudynights

i think the anthem x is a great all rounder bike dont believe the hype about needing bigger trail bikes 100mm on the anthem is fine