Anthem Price: $4,095.

Design: Full-suspension cross nation.

Drivetrain: Shimano SLX.

Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc.

Frame product: Carbon.

Fork: 100mm Fox 32 Float SC Efficiency.

Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance.

Tires: Maxxis Spy Race 29×2.25-inch.

The appropriate bike for: Cross country racers that want to ride rapid uphill and also down.

In 2018, Giant excited us with its Ginat Aluminum Anthem 29 1, gathering a 2018 Editors’ Option award, and also the very same high qualities that we took pleasure in on that bike– modern path handling, a smooth downhill feel, a suspension style that climbs incredibly well, and even more– return on the 2019 Giant Anthem Advanced 29 1.

The Anthem Advanced is an unabashedly race-focused bike, specifically when contrasted to the rowdier Kona Hei and also the craftsmen Underground Resurgence, 2 other bikes I examined on the same tracks in Bentonvile, Arkansas. Which layout emphasis is quickly obvious when riding. With a carbon frame and light weight aluminum rear triangle, a 100mm Fox 32 fork, a Fox Float shock and also Maestro suspension with 90mm of back wheel travel, carbon wheels, a rigid carbon seatpost (no dropper), and also a 69-degree headtube angle, this cross country bike is set up to assist you power over high areas of route as well as efficiently pedal away from your competition on rolling surface.

That all makes this a terrific alternative for XC racers who value rate as well as performance above all else. While that will not be appreciated by motorcyclists that want a Trail Bike that can do a little bit of whatever, this Giant was developed to assist get you across singletrack as promptly as feasible.

Giant’s Master Suspension

The Giant Master suspension System on the Giant Anthem Advanced 29 1 is hard to not take pleasure in, especially if you like pressing the rate on climbs up and rolling sections of route. Despite having 2 links and 90mm of traveling, the light weight aluminum rear end feels tight, and also retains the pedaling efficiency that the Anthem line is known for.

New for 2019, Giant’s Anthem, Variety, as well as Trance bikes include a trunnion shock mount, which, according to Giant, lowers the shock proportion and allows engineers to reduce the back keeps. Giant claims that doing so efficiently enhances effectiveness and results in a lower center of gravity, which leads an extra secure trip feel.

Components & Geometry

The Giant Anthem Advanced 29 1 comes with a carbon framework, light weight aluminum back triangular, as well as the kind of good however well-priced parts you would certainly expect at this degree. That consists of a 100mm Fox 32 Drift SC Performance fork as well as Float DPS Performance shock; a 780mm Giant Contact SL XC handlebar and carbon Searpost; Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur, SLX crankset (32-tooth), cassette (11-speed, 11×46), shifters, as well as Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm (front) and 160mm (back) rotors; a Gigantic XCR 1 29 carbon wheelset; as well as Maxxis Spy Race 29X2.25-inch tires.

Available in four sizes (S, M, L, XL), the Anthem Advanced 29 1 has a high, let’s- get-to-the-finish-line-fastest geometry. The dimension big I tested had a 69-degree head tube angle, a 73.5-degree seat tube angle, a 23.4-inch stack, as well as a 17.9-inch reach, which appeared to put me in an aggressive placement that wasn’t uneasy for a 2-plus hour ride.

Giant Anthem Bike Family

The Giant Anthem Family contains 4 bikes: Anthem Advanced Pro 29 0 ($ 12,075), Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 ($ 5,250), Anthem Advanced 29 1 ($ 4,095), and also Anthem 29 2 NX Eagle ($ 2,940).

The premium Anthem Advanced Pro 29 0 features a carbon structure and rear triangular; a 100mm Fox 32 Float SC Manufacturing facility Live Valve fork and also Float Factory Real-time Valve shock; a 12-speed Shimano XTR group; as well as a Giant Get in touch with SLR carbon stem, seatpost, handlebar, and also a carbon XCR 0 29 wheelset.

The Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 additionally supplies a full carbon set up with a 100mm Fox Float SC Performance Elite fork as well as Float Efficiency Elite DPS shock; Giant Call SL handlebar, stem, seat post (carbon), and also saddle; Giant XCR 1 29 carbon wheels; as well as a SRAM 12-speed GX-Eagle group set.

The bottom of the range Anthem 29 2 NX Eagle supplies bikers with a light weight aluminum frame and rear triangle, a 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle group, a 100mm Fox 32 Drift SC Performance fork as well as Float DPS Performance shock, as well as Giant Get in touch with handlebar, saddle, stem and also seatpost.

All designs include the freshly updated Giant Anthem Genius suspension system with a trunnion install.

Riding the Giant Anthem

I evaluated the Anthem on tracks it was designed to feed on: Fast-paced uphills as well as flowy singletrack. This bike climbed magnificently, really feeling almost as rigid as well as efficient as a hardtail, and also it was quick to respond to effective efforts when I was attempting to reach other bikers.

The stiff carbon seatpost did simply sufficient to maintain me on the pedals throughout difficult seated climbs and cranking on the watts on level surface. I would have favored a dropper on even more techy sections, and while it would certainly add weight, droppers aren’t absolutely taboo any longer on XC courses.

To make sure that’s something to take into consideration, especially if you like going quick downhill or if you’re seeking to use this bike for even more basic riding. But also for whatever else, this bike slits.