First 29er Anthem X.29 2011?

equinefunk

Hi,

Thinking about getting a 29er & was looking at hardtails, mainly the Cube Ltd or the Cube Reaction or even looking at the Canyon Grand Canyon Al29. However whilst chat to a guy at my LBS, he told me had a hardly used second hand Giant Anthem X.29, 2011. He is selling it on behalf of one his best mates, who has only ridden it a couple of times. The bike looks immaculate & looking at the cassette, chain, cranks everything that wears there is only the marks that you would get from having ridden a couple of times.

It looks a good spec, I've ridden around the car park & the shop owner said I can take it home for a ride (I'm working away so won't have time this weekend). I like the bike, he's also offering to continue the original Giant Warranty on the Bike. He wants £1500 for it, I think the geometry is the same.

Question is,.....is a 2011 Bike better value than a 2013 hard tail?

I'm using for longer XC style rides on the North Yorkshire Moors & Dales. I have a Norco Sight 2 for most other stuff.

Any owner feedback would be great, do I need to do anything to the bike to improve it immediately?

Thanks in advance.

supersonic

Older bikes do tend to be better value - and as the Giant was £3000 you make a considerable saving.

However I would get the warranty terms in writing. Is it through the shop? Private?

Would he let you test ride it?

equinefunk

He's the shop & is a Giant dealer. Yes he said I can take it home as long as I leave a "swipe" of my credit card. The shop has a good reputation, so nothing dodgy.

I know that it is a good saving, but don't know if that still represents "good value"

supersonic

I think it does represent good value, especially if the warranty terms start afresh.

Plus you'll get all the SOGA rights.

equinefunk

I've told the shop that I want to take the bike. First for a ride on Friday & Saturday then decide. They've agreed, so I've been reading about the later Giant's & it looks like the frame remains the same but they've swapped the Flat Bars to Risers & shortened the stem. Has anyone got any ideas on width of riser & how much rise?

For the £1500 am I better looking that the Canyon 29ers?

equinefunk

I've got the bike on trial for the weekend, just got back from an easy ride. I like it, I'll ride it again tomorrow on one of my regular rides. 29ers are certainly different to ride, especially riding straight after a 26er. Just looking at the spec. how does 2011 XT compare in terms of shifting quality with 2013 SLX? I was told that XT from one year would be the following years SLX. I don't know if that's actually true:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... ifications
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... ifications

Apart from the 2011 is a triple & the 2013 is a double, is it better to spend the extra £500 for the latest bike?
I'm going to get the price knocked down as the RP23 needs sorting.

cooldad

I would take the older one, even at the same price. Better fork, arguably better shock, comparable everything else.

equinefunk

I've decided to look at some other bikes before deciding on the Anthem 29er...I want to try a couple of Hardtail 29ers. What does anyone think of these or can they recommend another:

http://www.cube.eu/en/hard/cross-countr ... tc-slt-29/
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3020