Nerve XC 7.0 or Anthem X3

KernowCB

After a few suggestions on other members topics, I have quite impressively narrowed down my shortlist for a new bike to the Nerve or Anthem.

I want a bike that will allow me to start competing in XC races and then maybe a few enduros as well as the obvious weekend rides with mates in the local woods and on the Cornish trails. My usual trails have minimal jumps and drops and are mainly singletrack and lots of climbing!

I would say the overall use would be 70-80% trails and 20-30% racing.

Links;
Anthem: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 865/45504/
Nerve: http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=2556

Thanks!

peter_booker2003

Ive had an Anthem and have to say they are superb bikes. Ive now got a trance and for the riding you describe id say have a look at the trance. If you had to choose between the Canyon or Anthem then i would got with the Anthem. Reasonable good components plus the added benefit of bolt throught on the front wheel.

rockmonkeysc

I would go with the Anthem. There is a good reason why so many racers use Anthems. The Meastro suspension system is very good, pedals better than any other system I have tried

The Spiderman

I love my Anthem.If i hadn`t got such a good deal on a second hand one though the Canyon Nerve was next on my list.

The Canyons do have an amazing spec for the money but the frames are great too.

I currently really like the look of the Grand Cayon 29er.

Stu Coops

I think the Trance would suit you better due to the amount of trail riding your doing but I have to agree for full on racing the Anthem is the way to go my mate loves his but for a mix of what you want i'd say go with the trance bit more of an all rounder, love mine it's an awesome bike

poppit

Hold the press, all those with Giants say buy a Giant even though they haven't ridden a Canyon and probably all those who have a Canyon will say buy a Canyon. Doesn't seem to help the guy a lot.

apreading

Why do so many say the Trance rather than the Anthem? I would have thought for his "minimal jumps and drops and are mainly singletrack and lots of climbing" the Anthem would be better suited?

rockmonkeysc

I had the Trance but have ridden the Anthem, the Anthem would be better for this type of riding. The Trance is better when you are riding singletrack fast, boosting jumps and generally getting your shred on, basically doing what people seem to buy AM bikes for when they could have a nice light trail bike.
I had a quick ride on the Canyon Nerve AM, it was nice enough but that's the best I can say about it, a little bit dull, just didn't do anything for me. Only negative thing I noticed about the frame was it flexes a bit, felt it quite a lot when landing hips.

KernowCB

Thanks for the comments. I'm pretty undecided as yet but will test ride both the Anthem and Trance if possible, obviously won't be able to do this with the Canyon but the spec and VFM keeps it in the running!!

The Spiderman

apreading wrote:

Why do so many say the Trance rather than the Anthem? I would have thought for his "minimal jumps and drops and are mainly singletrack and lots of climbing" the Anthem would be better suited?

And the Anthem is more than capable of handling trail centres,too, but really comes into its own on the climbs and singletrack.

rockmonkeysc

Just don't pay full price for the Giant. Every year they sell out of the Trance and Anthem but in September they find a load behind some boxes in the warehouse and sell them at massive discounts. By October you should find them with 30% off.
I bought a Giant Reign X last year reduced from £2500 to £2000 and then two weeks later you could get them for £1450. They do this every year and i won't ever pay full price for a Giant again.

andy_welch

Can't comment on Anthem vs Canyon XC as I haven't ridden either (another happy Trance owner I'm afraid ), but if you look at the geometry etc rather than the name, the Canyon Nerve XC is much more like the Trance than the Anthem (very similar head angle, travel etc). The Anthem seems to be a full on XC race bike where both the Trance and Canyon are trail bikes. So, I'd guess that the Anthem would be a bit faster on an XC course and the Trance/Canyon a bit easier to handle when the gradient points down and things get lumpy.

Just to muddy the waters a bit more, have you considered an Anthem X 29er ? That seemed to me to sit inbetween the regular Anthem and the Trance/Canyon (and the Boardman FS, which is also very similar on paper).

Cheers,

Andy

poppit

andy_welch wrote:

Can't comment on Anthem vs Canyon XC as I haven't ridden either (another happy Trance owner I'm afraid ), but if you look at the geometry etc rather than the name, the Canyon Nerve XC is much more like the Trance than the Anthem (very similar head angle, travel etc). The Anthem seems to be a full on XC race bike where both the Trance and Canyon are trail bikes. So, I'd guess that the Anthem would be a bit faster on an XC course and the Trance/Canyon a bit easier to handle when the gradient points down and things get lumpy.

Just to muddy the waters a bit more, have you considered an Anthem X 29er ? That seemed to me to sit inbetween the regular Anthem and the Trance/Canyon (and the Boardman FS, which is also very similar on paper).

Cheers,

Andy

This is an example of a well balanced comment.

KernowCB

andy_welch wrote:

Can't comment on Anthem vs Canyon XC as I haven't ridden either (another happy Trance owner I'm afraid ), but if you look at the geometry etc rather than the name, the Canyon Nerve XC is much more like the Trance than the Anthem (very similar head angle, travel etc). The Anthem seems to be a full on XC race bike where both the Trance and Canyon are trail bikes. So, I'd guess that the Anthem would be a bit faster on an XC course and the Trance/Canyon a bit easier to handle when the gradient points down and things get lumpy.

Just to muddy the waters a bit more, have you considered an Anthem X 29er ? That seemed to me to sit inbetween the regular Anthem and the Trance/Canyon (and the Boardman FS, which is also very similar on paper).

Cheers,

Andy

I hadn't considered the 29er actually but it has now been added to the list to try! Cheers for the comment.