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First Look: The 2022 Giant Anthem Pro 29 Joins the Flex-Stay Club

Nov 17, 2021 at 17:30
by Matt Beer  
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Paralleling the influx of high pivot designs on enduro bikes, flex-stays have been all the rage for cross-country bikes and the 2022 Giant Anthem Pro 29 follows suit. Since 2005, Giant has used the Maestro dual link system across all of their full suspension bikes, but their race bred XC machine now bypasses the lower link in favor of simplicity. To keep up with the demands of modern cross-country race courses, Giant's own composite factory has engineered the Anthem to produce 100 mm of suspension travel from a single-pivot, linkage driven flex-stay design, revamped the geometry, and shaved weight off the frame while increasing the stiffness of the chassis.

Spread across four price points the frames are fully carbon including the link, spanning from $5,499 CAD ($4,600 USD) up to an astronomical $13,999 CAD for the top dog with electronically controlled suspension and shifting. This premium model will not be available in the USA, but a frame kit will be exclusive to the region for those looking to custom build their own race weapon.
Anthem Pro 29 Details

• Carbon front/rear triangles and rocker link
• Flexpoint Pro suspension design
• Travel: 100 mm / 110 mm fork
• 29" wheels
• 67.5-degree head tube angle
• 75.5-degree seat tube angle
• 435 mm chainstays
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• USA pricing: Pro 3 - $4,600, Pro 1 - $7,500 USD
• Canadian pricing: Pro 2 - $6,699, Pro 1 - $9,199, Pro 0 - $13,999 CAD
• Frame: $3,000 USD (USA only)
• giant-bicycles.com


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Giant has also brought a 35mm clamp Contact SL stem and handlebar to their 2022 specifications. Select models will have the SLR composite handlebar.
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XCR 1 30 Wheel System


Frame Details

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This isn't the first brand we've seen move away from their strong ties to a particular suspension design in exchange to save weight with a flex-stay design; Santa Cruz cut out the VPP linkage on the new Blur TR and Specialized worked around the extra pivots on their FSR-style Stumpjumper, which boasts 130 mm of rear wheel travel. The Giant Anthem Pro 29 sheds 250-grams by losing the lower link from the Maestro design.

Contrasting the engineered flex-stay, Giant says the frame's stiffness levels have also been boosted by 7% overall torsionally and 20% through the 92mm bottom bracket area. Chain security is dealt with by a integrated MRP chain guide and the integrated ports lock in the internal routed housings.

Giant's 24-year-old French team rider, Antoine Philipp, weighed in on how World Cup XC called for updates to the Anthem and how it performs. “The speeds, technical challenges and level of competition keeps getting higher. For the most challenging tracks, the new Anthem Advanced Pro 29 gives me everything I need. It’s super responsive, feels light and lively on the climbs, and gives me more confidence and control on descents, drops and rock gardens that are so decisive in a race.”



Geometry

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A new school XC race geometry table touts numbers that are more forgiving than in the past, but still separate the Anthem from more downcountry / trail focused models. The head tube angle decreases by one and half degrees, now sitting at a reasonable 67.5º and the seat tube angle resides at 75.5º.

Across the four sizes with reaches of 420, 450, 470, and 495-millimeters, the 435mm rear center remains unchanged. Some specifications are size specific, like the stem and cranks which drop to 60 mm and 170 mm on the size small, compared to the 70 mm and 175 mm lengths found on the rest of the sizes, respectively. The size small and medium use a 125mm drop post and the large and extra-large get the 150mm option.



Models and Pricing

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Anthem Advanced Pro 29 0
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Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1
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Anthem Advanced Pro 29 2
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Anthem Advanced Pro 29 3
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Anthem Advanced Pro 29 Frame kit

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Depending on what part of the world you live in, certain build kits may not be available. For example, the $3,000 USD frame kit is only available in the USA, but not the flagship Pro 0 build. That build will be available in Canada, at a price of $13,999 CAD. It's equipped with a Fox Live Valve Float Factory DPS rear shock and 34 Step Cast with a FIT4 damper. Plus, there are more batteries with the SRAM XX1 AXS Eagle wireless shifting. The raw carbon is finished with chrome decals and finished with DT Swiss XRC 1200 carbon wheels and Maxxis Recon tires.

The next model in the line is the Pro 1 build, which loses the Kashima coated stanchions, but retains the Live Valve controllers. The wheels are Giant's own carbon XCRs with a 30 mm internal width. Rounding out the build is a full Shimano XT groupset, including the two piston brakes with 180 and 160 mm rotors, frot and rear.

The Anthem Advanced Pro 29 2 and 3 use Shimano components for shifting and braking duties - SLX on the Pro 2 and Deore on the Pro 3 and both rely on Giant XCR 2 aluminum wheels with a 25 mm internal width. The cockpit is rounded out by in-house parts like the handlebar, stem, grips, and dropper post.


photo


Author Info:
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Member since Mar 16, 2001
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204 Comments
  • 220 7
 If the rear end of my reign was anything to go by, they have had flexi stays for years
  • 9 59
flag Compositepro (Nov 18, 2021 at 10:37) (Below Threshold)
 BUT WHaaaaaaAIT ...if this is true you will have had downcountry literally ages before it existed

as usual i didnt read the review and came straight to the comments for accurate insight

did they mention downcountry (is the fad over allready) or shall we call it D-Country from now on to be hip with the Kool kidz
  • 6 69
flag hitchhikerbikes (Nov 18, 2021 at 10:56) (Below Threshold)
 There is one more pivot above the bottom bracket on the Reign so the rear triangle can move independently without flexing keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2015/03/Giant-Reign-2016-maestro.jpg
  • 5 4
 This is so true
  • 52 2
 @hitchhikerbikes: Woosh
  • 17 3
 @hitchhikerbikes: you are bright my dude
  • 11 1
 @hitchhikerbikes: ..............
  • 9 2
 @Beyond-The-Tape: especially after you crack them, then they really flex
  • 3 1
 @hitchhikerbikes: yes
  • 11 1
 Giant needs to stop fiddling about and start posting the weights of their builds. I respect the hell out of the leverage they bring to the market and strategy they can implement... but ffs let me get a ballpark for the heft.
  • 4 0
 From what I understand, steel and titanium hardtails have built in flex. Flex in a single suspension link is for amateurs. Flex everywhere is what it is all about. It is a selling point, I tell you. More flex, more better. And stiffness yes, selling point too. Bikes need lots of built-in stiffness.

@gnamaimo: Us commenters need lot of woosh. Woosh is good. More woosh, more better. I tell you.
  • 2 0
 Maybe for the old aluminium model or if you weigh 120kg...
  • 1 0
 brutal
  • 4 0
 @henrybsick: 2022 Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 (Deore XT build) weighs 26-pounds (without pedals).
  • 1 3
 @SimonJaeger: My friend is 100kg and breaks 1 Giant frame per year, he rides Giant for five years now. What exactly do you mean by old frame, like from 2020?
  • 5 0
 @lkubica: So what? The frame of my 2020 Specialized Enduro broke twice in the last 12 months. In my opinion it's fragile, unreliable and has poor production quality but to anybody else it's just heresay and anecdotes anyways.
  • 2 0
 @lkubica:
Sounds like your friend needs a DH bike, or a Longer travel Enduro bike like a Nomad/Firebird. Horses for courses, you know.
  • 1 3
 @Glory831Guy: Yeah, it's obvious. My point is that Giants are flexy under-built bikes, great up to 80kg and that's it.
  • 4 0
 @SimonJaeger: you mean the one where the frame suspiciously became heavier for 2021?
  • 4 0
 @Beyond-The-Tape: Exactly that one. Except that said reinforced frame also cracked on me five days ago after misjudging a drop and landing a bit heavy.
  • 1 0
 @henrybsick: Advanded 1 = 11.45kg
  • 96 1
 "from $4,600 USD up to an astronomical $13,999 CAD"

Mixing currencies makes my brain cry.
  • 123 2
 Frame weight: 6 lbs and 230 grams. Rear travel: 4", front: 110mm.
  • 13 4
 How many milliliters of tears from your brain, and how many inches down your face do they flow?
  • 101 1
 “In metric, one milliliter of water occupies one cubic centimeter, weighs one gram, and requires one calorie of energy to heat up by one degree centigrade—which is 1 percent of the difference between its freezing point and its boiling point. An amount of hydrogen weighing the same amount has exactly one mole of atoms in it. Whereas in the American system, the answer to ‘How much energy does it take to boil a room-temperature gallon of water?’ is ‘Go f*ck yourself,’ because you can’t directly relate any of those quantities.” Josh Bazell - Wild Thing
  • 8 36
flag Bro-LanDog (Nov 18, 2021 at 10:39) (Below Threshold)
 @friendlyfoe: the system breaks down quickly when nobody uses newtons and uses bastardized units like kg-force. Metric is far, far from perfect still.
  • 12 0
 you want to avoid sleep for a couple days: look at the threads on your pedal spindles vs the tool used to install them
  • 13 0
 how much is that in dogeCoin a week from now?
  • 33 1
 I prefer my measurements in inches and 4ths of July.
  • 4 0
 @seraph: How many inches for the cranks though?
  • 22 0
 @Bro-LanDog: What the hell is a newton? lol. Canada is the funniest because we switch back and forth between metric/standard all the time. For example I could only tell you the temperature outside in Celcius but I could only tell you cooking temperatures in Fahrenheit. I can only tell you my weight in Pounds and can only relate to volumes of liquid in Liters. The list goes on.
  • 7 21
flag Bro-LanDog (Nov 18, 2021 at 11:25) (Below Threshold)
 @friendlyfoe: exactly. A newton is the relationship between 1 kilogram per meter/second squared... I.e. force equals mass times acceleration. Newtons aren't intuitive however kilograms are, so they make up kilogram force to differentiate between that and kilogram mass... if that makes your head hurt it means you're human. No matter how basic you try to make units, relationships in the real world are generally never pretty. The metric system fanatics don't seem to realize the simplicity of the system falls apart nearly immediately.
  • 21 0
 @friendlyfoe: Newton's that guy that likes figs. I think he was from France.
  • 2 0
 Check the current exchange rate though. Its a good deal in Canada. Buy the bikes in Canada, take them to the States and sell them for profit.
  • 1 0
 @bikerbarrett: Question: will I still get the (US) tax credit if I buy an ebike in Canada and bring it south across the border? (Only half joking)
  • 2 0
 @sngltrkmnd: One side is 170mm, the other is 6.69 inches.
  • 4 0
 @noapathy: as much as I'd like Newton to be a fellow French, he was British .... Nobody is perfect it seems.
  • 2 0
 @seraph: 6.69

Nice
  • 8 0
 @Balgaroth: *Stares in British while crushing scone in hand*
  • 7 0
 @blackjack88: Are you pronouncing that 'scone', or 'scone'? I for one would always say 'scone'. I hope you agree.
  • 3 0
 @brit-100: It's pronounced fronkensteen.
  • 1 0
 @brit-100: Paul Hollywood has entered the chat.
  • 1 0
 That's only above $1K difference isn't it.?
  • 21 0
 Looks great, but ouch on the price. If this is what Giant is charging for 2022 models, expect the same (or higher) prices for comparable build kits from other bike brands too. Good thing Deore stuff works well……
  • 21 1
 Yeah these prices are ridiculous. The performance gains between base and max are so small nowadays, and, even the base is much too expensive. Stop making mountain biking unobtainable!
  • 11 0
 11sp Deore FTW in 2022. Mark my words.
  • 12 15
 Thank you Joe. Smile
  • 7 1
 Been riding Giant for years, but it looks like it's time to go Vitus or Polygon.
  • 3 0
 @sngltrkmnd: I love the new deore groupset, but it's hard to find on so called budget builds.
  • 5 0
 @sngltrkmnd: Anything people can afford will be the FTW in 2022

followed by

Anything you can actually get your hands on
  • 3 0
 @sngltrkmnd: it's a fantastic drivetrain, bang for buck
  • 3 0
 Inflation.. wait another 6 months, if the Fed does not tighten.. it will be another 5-10pct more...
  • 4 0
 This is the real elefant in the room. Giant has always been one of the brands to offer better value than others. If this is a sign of things to come for all brands, shopping for a new bike is not going to be nice.
  • 2 0
 @noapathy: felt this. giant is known to many as sort of the peoples bike brand, or at least thats the vibe i get working in a local shop. older people come in looking for an affordable bike from their tried and true brand, and they cant afford it. and the worst part is, giant can afford to lower prices just a tad, giant is so huge they could crash the entire bike industry if they wanted. idk im not an expert but i know enough to know that it sucks and it seems like they have the power to make it suck less. but im sure im wrong.
  • 1 0
 @Rexuis-Twin: they always use sram
  • 1 0
 Giant’s always been good value, the other brands are gonna see this and go wild. Selfishly glad I was able to snag a 2021 Trek, because if this is any indication I won’t be able to justify a new bike for a while.
  • 18 0
 So Samsung makes more money off every iphone sold than selling their own phones because they supply lots of parts to Apple, and the margins are so good when someone else does assembly, QC, etc.

Does Giant make more money off manufacturing everyone elses bikes, to the point where they don't want to push their own brand too hard?
  • 6 0
 Would love to see the accounting that resulted in this conclusion about Samsung. For management accounting purposes they would (or at least should) run their parts manufacturing as a profit center, meaning they would sell the parts to their phone division at the same price that they sell them to Apple for. Samsung's cell phone division may in turn have lower profits, but that would be a separate business unit.

This is why it's so important that businesses understand which of their departments should be run as profit centers vs cost centers, so as to avoid setting prices in a way that doesn't reflect the true costs involved.
  • 2 0
 @friendlyfoe: www.wsj.com/articles/why-apple-rival-samsung-also-wins-if-iphone-x-is-a-hit-1506936602

From what I understand, Samsung Electronics is the company that sells the Galaxy S phones, tablets, and laptops, while another Samsung company (which is a legally separate entity) sells the components used in most high end phones across all major brands, Samsung Electronics included. So "meaning they would sell the parts to their phone division at the same price that they sell them to Apple for" is probably close to the truth.
  • 3 12
flag sngltrkmnd (Nov 18, 2021 at 10:57) (Below Threshold)
 Interesting take. I find all Giants so painfully boring I almost fall asleep even trying to type this out. It seems they used to be innovative and unique - waaaay back in the ATX-1 and NRS days. But since then, to me, Maestro bikes are a total snore. And it's so weird because they seem to be such a powerhouse, why don't they offer more visually desirable bikes like (to me) Davinci, Yeti, Rocky, Revel/Canfield, or Mondraker?
  • 6 0
 @sngltrkmnd:
You can't really compare Giant to Mondraker, Yeti, or Rocky though. Those brands have very few bikes under $4,000-5,000, while Giant has lots of bikes in the $3,000-$5000 range.
  • 8 0
 @sngltrkmnd: do you care to offer any constructive and quantifiable reason you find them boring? Because otherwise I could say anything. Ferraris are so boring, Space X is so boring, gold bars boring, spaghetti meatballs so boring. Bla bla bla
  • 1 0
 Interesting theory. It's going to depend on which would be the more lucrative choice.
  • 4 0
 In short: Yes, that is pretty much exactly how that works.

Take the other manufacturing giant of the bike industry, Merida, as an example. By manufacturing volume alone, they are the second larget company, only surpassed by Giant. But their own brand has a very small market share.

If they wanted, they could just end the existence of brands like Specialized or Trek by blacklisting them from their factories and using their leverage on the industry to blacklist them from other manufacturers and OEMs and then simply price them out of the market.

But they don't, because they make more money manufacturing other brands bikes then they make manufacturing their own. Their margins are higher just manufacturing the bikes and leaving all other costs, associated with designing and selling a bike, to the brands which they manufacture for.
  • 19 2
 There is nothing more distressing than a man descending with his post extended.
  • 7 1
 That man needs a longer dropper, because good lord that's a lot of post sticking out that could otherwise be retracted.
  • 9 3
 hey, I like a man descending on me with his post extended
  • 2 2
 If you're talking about the photo in this article, it looks to be dropped to me (barely any kashima showing). Just not a lot of travel on the dropper.
  • 1 1
 @BespokeTrailMix: Never let the facts get in the way of tenuous inuendo.
  • 9 0
 might want to give this one a re-try pinkbike. Pricing is all over the place, CAD, USD, pictures show the Pro 2 in CAD pricing, but its apparently not even available in Canada. "Details" box shows the Pro 1 being $9,199, then further down, in another box its $8,299. Aluminum wheels on the bottom two models? Giant shows all models coming with carbon wheels....
  • 1 0
 Agreed, I can't make anything of this hot mess.
  • 8 0
 I learned to love multi-link suspensions, DW Link in particular, from my early 26'ers. When I moved up to 27.5 and 29, I couldn't afford Pivot or Ibis. So I've been on various Giants with Maestro, the poor man's DW Link, since then. My 2019 Anthem's suspension works perfectly for me. Dumbing down the suspension to save a few grams isn't a tradeoff that works for me.
  • 2 1
 Well, the Ibis AF series is now the poor man’s DW link.

But, the Giant design is still pretty good for the money.
  • 1 0
 @whambat: Is it? You can get a Carbonda FM936 with a similar design for $1200. The "Giant" sticker would be about ten bucks.
  • 1 0
 @JohanG: ha
  • 7 0
 Dear Giant Canada - between paint jobs and MSRP's - who in their right mind passed up on the Adv Pro 2? On the plus side, I can buy the bike and trip to Oz to collect it for less than an Epic Evo.

PS - Online spec charts say that all models have Carbon hoops, not just the live valve ones.
  • 7 0
 Wow, it's to FREAKING LIGHT! Frame is only 70g heavier than a Specialized S-Works Epic, but the frameset costs literally half as much as the S-Works Epic. All this investment into Carbon manufacturing tech is really paying off for Giant.
  • 1 2
 $3000 vs $3750, public school?
  • 2 0
 @JohanG: What is that comment even supposed to mean?
  • 14 5
 imagine paying all that money and still having 10 cables running all over your bike
  • 21 2
 imagine getting rid of all those cables than have to charge/replace about 15 different batteries across the bike.
  • 2 0
 At least it's not a Scott.. Then it would have about 15, lol!
  • 6 0
 Wireless lockouts please! Flight attendant and live valve can’t anticipate the future of what upcoming and only deal with the present. You have to relearn how to anticipate how your suspension anticipates the terrain and adjust to too firm or changing suspension settings on the fly. Give the rider control of their suspension and make it simple and wireless.
  • 1 0
 wireless isnt simple and carries a freaking battery in all triggers and actuators.
  • 1 1
 @thelittle: yup, like etap stuff. The cable actuated lockouts for suspension are all problematic, finicky and unreliable. Especially the ones that connect front and rear systems together.
  • 5 0
 @thelittle: He’s saying rather than Live Valve running sensors and constantly chasing the right lockout settings just give a simple a wireless controller to toggle the lock on and off.
  • 1 0
 @bruvar: true in this case makes a lot of sense. but i still prefer a good suspension system that doesnt depend much on lockouts, altough my style of riding isnt XC.
  • 1 0
 As far as I can tell the ability to do this is a secondary mode in flight attendant.
So the tech is there (servo motor on the fork and shock), we just need a "flight attendant lite" that only offers manual adjustment between open/pedal/locked via AXS paddles.
I say give it 2-3 years, once everyone who wants full fat flight attendant has bought it, they can trickle it down to this cheaper version.
  • 10 1
 Does it accept apple pay?
  • 7 0
 Everyone remember like 5 years ago 5000$ was near top of the range? www.bikemag.com/gear/mountain-bikes/review-giant-anthem-advanced-2017
  • 2 5
 Yeah, but this is the 275 version that nobody wanted for XC. Check Q&A on this article and laugh..
  • 4 0
 Not only Giant. This affects all brands. For example in 2017 I paid 5 grand for my Scott Spark RC which has just come out and there was basically nothing left to upgrade.
  • 3 0
 @SimonJaeger: Was it by chance the Spark RC World Cup model? I had that one too and I also bought it in 2017! Great bike, I've got so many good and fun memories attached to that bike. Should have never sold mine.
  • 2 0
 @BenTheSwabian: Yes that one exactly, Spark 900 RC World Cup. The black and neon-yellow one with Fox Performance Elite and SRAM X01. Man what a bike, I absolutely love mine. It's the one bike that I'll never sell, because I scored my first ever race victory with it.
  • 8 0
 External brake hose routing on swingarm gets a thumbs up from me.
  • 4 0
 Yeah, I had one of those Stances. My wife got it for me to get me back in the sport for a decent price. I can verify that their warranty is excellent as my chainstay used its full Travel. Luckily it snapped when I was pedaling uphill. Think about what could have happened often.
  • 7 0
 Non-kashima live valve?? Didn't know this was a thing!
  • 6 17
flag taskmgr (Nov 18, 2021 at 9:53) (Below Threshold)
 "When your Giant you don't ask you grab them by the live valve even if they aren't Kashima" - president cringelord
  • 1 0
 I sent my live valve into Fox for service. They moved me to black front and rear. Bike looks 1000x better.
And, black is like 60% cheaper in service!
  • 2 0
 @Jwbender: black is the new gold
  • 1 0
 @skimons: always was
  • 4 1
 1 water bottle cage and you want how much?? just cause you threw carbon wheels and made it look like the scrappy cousin of the Trance? Their 2014 was probably their best XC model... I used to have 3 Giant MTBs. Now I only have a commuter to cruise around the beach and paved paths.
  • 1 0
 You can add a side by side cage mount.
  • 3 0
 Interesting flex joints. I can't tell exactly from these photos where the pivot point should be. Normally it's obvious where the flatest section is, but on this bike I can't see a part of the seatstay with more width than height.
  • 3 0
 Awesome looking bike, I like the clean frame design. The geometry looks bang-on perfect aswell. I'm glad that there are still some companies left who make real XC bikes, designed from the ground up with racing in mind. From a performance and weight perspective, going with a flex stay pivot makes a lot of sense too. Flex stays can do very interesting things for your kinematics, if tuned right. But if Giants previous bikes are anything to go by, it's going to be well made, efficient and really light weight. Unfortunately it's a bit on the pricey side.
  • 5 1
 Kona was making these XC/DC bikes back in 2017. Never seem to get credit for it

konaworld.com/archive/2017/hei_hei_dl.cfm
  • 8 0
 That's what I was going to say, but specific to flex-stays. I had a flex-stay Kona Hei Hei in 2016.

www.pinkbike.com/photo/15008500

The chainstay broke, but it was their first year for the model. They quickly replaced it on warranty with a re-designed version of the part.

Kona quietly drives a lot of innovation in the bike industry, often years ahead of their time.
  • 2 0
 @greenblur and @gdharries

Exactly! The 2017 kona hei hei trail dl and 2016 yeti asr-c in our garage are both very much up to par with today's newest frame 'developments'
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I'm on a 2019 Kona Hei Hei and the geometry and suspension design is pretty similar to the latest XC bikes. I'm sure the Anthem is superior in a number of ways, but I'm really not all that tempted to upgrade. Especially at these prices.
  • 1 0
 @jcrr: Loved my ASRc. Did not love the tight rear clearance so I replaced it.
  • 1 0
 @JohanG: I got a Nobby Nic 2.25 on mine. I'm assuming you needed something beefier for your riding needs.
  • 1 0
 @jcrr: 2.25 is fine for me, but during hard riding there is some flex, plus when little pebbles get caught between the side knobs, they stick out and hit the carbon stays. If I add frame protection, that just decreases the clearance.
  • 5 0
 Giant's website says the PRO3 comes with: Giant XCR 2 29 Carbon WheelSystem.
  • 5 0
 I really like the approach with the PRO3. The money has gone into the (1600g) carbon wheels and bars; saving where possible with the functional Deore group. It looks like a really solid build.
  • 3 0
 When i was in high school I got a job at a bike shop, I never took a paycheck and saved up for a shiny red Giant Anthem and STP frame. I still have both, well kinda I broke that stp frame and got a replacement.
  • 5 4
 Glad to see Giant with the XX1 AXS model. While I understand where the drivetrain purists are coming from, on the race track, perfect shifting under load every time is a game changer. I have three races on GX AXS now and have no plans to go back.
  • 1 0
 In this article it says the top 0 model comes with XX1 Eagle AXS, but on Giant's website they say XX Eagle AXS. Is SRAM bringing back the XX name or is Giant's spec list wrong? The image appears to show XX1 components. www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/anthem-advanced-pro-29-0-2022
  • 1 0
 The specs are wrong. XX1 is here for the foreseeable future.
  • 1 0
 “Specifications subject to change at manufacturers discretion” welcome to a world of supply chain issues
  • 3 1
 Many XC bikes have the shock on the top tube to free up space for 2 bottle mounts. Interesting that this one doesn't. If would be a negative if I was an potential XC customer.
  • 4 0
 Apparently more and more xc race bikes are moving to 34mm stanchions rather than 32mm
  • 1 0
 I think people forget, the fox 32 was designed with q/r dropouts 26 wheels and 1 1/8 straight steerer, since then every other aspect of the fork has been beefed up, wheel sizes have grown, the small stature of the skinny tubes have been outgrown by the rest of the bike, it makes sense that the 34 is now xc, 36 trail and 38 for enduro, they've all moved up a tube size....
  • 1 0
 Then of course, how would 32mm stanchions hold the bike back? A tru-axle is actually easier on the fork structure. Sure wheelsize (hence axle to crown) has grown a little. But if dirtjump forks can still get away with 32mm stanchions and harder hitting forks from back in the days (including big 8" travel DH forks) weren't having issues either, I wonder how XC racers would feel held back by 32mm stanchions. I think if stiffness is a goal, it would be better to get away from step cast so that they can actually get a decent bushing distance. Also, larger diameter stanchions obviously need more room. Keeping the same crown width would reduce tire width, so I suppose crown and lowers got wider to preserve room and clearance for the tires. So yeah, larger diameter stanchions may add a little bending stiffness and strength to the fork, but I wonder how much of that cancels out because of the wider stance. And more elemental, what issue were they trying to solve in the first place?
  • 1 0
 @vinay: 32mm stanchions don't hold back these 120mm forks. The Manitou R7 Pro, tested by bike-magazin.de in the April 2021 issue, was the stiffest of the 120mm forks from all the top players.
  • 3 0
 Cheapest version is 4.600 € and comes with MT401 brakes, you gotta be kidding me.
  • 2 0
 What a time to be alive
  • 4 0
 Not much of a Giant fan but the pro model looks awesome
  • 5 3
 110mm 34 is getting kinda crazy , wish fox wouldn't have killed the 32 to the point that this needed
  • 2 1
 Its had the 34 for years, my 2018 has it. Has room for a 2.5 Magic Mary. I dont remember if the 32 could fit that large a tire.
  • 2 2
 @fabwizard: The latest 34 SC isn't a very stiff fork, and it's pretty damn light. To me, it seems like the right choice for 110mm. I'm running a full size 34 at 120mm, and the stiffness is just right for me (and I'm 160 lb / 73 kg).
  • 3 0
 IMO, 34sc or SID 35 is the way to go for an xc race bike unless maybe you are under 150lbs. However, given that, the frames may as well be designed around a 120mm fork - very little decrease in stiffness and almost negligible if any weight increase, so I don’t see much advantage for 110 over 120mm fork.
  • 2 0
 @fabwizard: I fail to imagine any sort of scenario where you could possibly want 2.5" Magic Marrys on your XC race bike.
  • 1 0
 @BenTheSwabian: www.pinkbike.com/photo/21669087
  • 3 0
 Flex-stays, so hot right now. Flex-stays
  • 3 4
 Imagine that this geometry is not much far from their past Anthem 650b. They could have launched a modern 29 XC MTB standard like 5 years ago, but they insisted to use the small and dead for XC small wheels. "It have the advantages of 26 and 29", they said. And almost no one bought it.
  • 5 0
 Just for your notice: Todays date is Nov 18 of the year 2021.
If you were in a plane that mysteriously disappeared and just returned to us, the Anthem has been rolling on 29 wheels for all those years you can't recall.
  • 1 0
 @EggsandApps: For sure, i had 2013 Anthem 29r. But check for yourself the weird geo of 2012~2018 Anthem 29. They had 71,5 degree head angle, ridicously short reach and a freaking 462mm long chainstays. I think about 2015 they launched the new Athem 27.5 with 68ha, short stays, decent reach and 120 front travel, but kept they 29r as (shit) as it is up to about 2018. Than about 2019 they launched a new Anthem 29, with a 69ha and still conservative geo. It tricks me that Liv bikes (giant company for womans bikes) had the Pique model, with much better geometry than the Anthem at the same time. geometrygeeks.bike/bike/giant-anthem-x-29er-2017
  • 2 0
 @EggsandApps: its not like they dindt had the 29 version, the problem is that they give a sh!t about upgrading it to a decent geo. Instead, at that time, they tried to shift the entire market to 275 wheels saying that was the best, glorious and definitive wheel size for everything and abandoned the development of 29r versions. Same thing happened with the Trance, but on its category it made lot more success than the 275 Anthem. All Im saying it they made the wrong bet.
I had some obsession with the Anthem in the past because I had a 2009 26r one and it was fantastic, than change it for a 2013 29r and was a bit deceptive. After selling the 29r and going to another brands, I was expecting that they would update it to a better geo soon. It took almost 10 years (since they launch Anthem 29 at 2012) for them to make a decent geo for anthem 29r.
  • 1 0
 @EggsandApps: www.bikemag.com/gear/mountain-bikes/review-giant-anthem-advanced-2017 here the wrong bet explained by Giant itself.
  • 4 1
 Save your money, save the planet and don't buy a new bike!
  • 2 1
 Save the planet, stop eating food!
  • 1 2
 kinda disappointed. I was looking for a new XC bike next year and hoping the anticipated new anthem would fill the bill with updated geometry and the great pricing they used to have. The geometry is so-so, probably is fine, but the price is a bummer. For that kind of money you may as well look to more boutique brands or the big S with better resale value.
  • 2 0
 The American Dental Association would like a word...
  • 2 1
 BB92 only works well with Shimano 24mm spindles. This standard needs to go away.
  • 2 3
 Forget about SRAM/Shimano, press fit needs to go away.
  • 1 1
 Is it really necessary to keep '29' in all the model names when there's no other wheel size offered? Seems like most of the industry dropped that redundant moniker years ago.
  • 1 0
 It looks like they took the front triangle of the new Epic and merged it with the rear end of a last generation Spark.
  • 2 0
 Anthem 2 and 3 still have carbon weels: Giant XCR 2 29 Carbon WheelSystem
  • 2 0
 I’m still not understanding steep seat angles on short travel xc bikes.
  • 3 2
 Looks cool but it's cookie cutter.
  • 1 0
 2021: The Year of the Single (High or Not) Pivot
  • 2 5
 Is anyone else not entirely impressed with carbon fiber? I had a Marin Mount vision from 2014, It had flex stays, and cracks started to show its first season. I Loved that bike but when it came time for the second frame warranty, I just asked for an aluminum hardtail. I love it, and will never go back to carbon fiber again
  • 8 0
 Yes everyone should write off carbon fiber because a bike from 2014 wasn't designed correctly, noted. Take a look at any forum, just as many cracked seat/chain stays at weld joints on AL frames. Everything "can" fail, but some fail a lot less than others.
  • 1 0
 I'm not impressed with the durability of carbon but there really aren't many alloy options left in the XC full suspension category (there are still a few in the "downcountry" category like the Ibis Ripley AF, Scott Spark, and Trek Top Fuel). Sadly, it looks like Giant did away with the alloy version of the Anthem for 2022.
  • 1 0
 Id only buy a "flex stay" carbon frame if I had lifetime warranty.
  • 2 0
 Sure. Everybody should just outright disregard the impressive and superior physical properties of carbon fibre because that one sketchy bike from 8 years ago didn't pull it off perfectly.
  • 1 0
 I’ve cracked more aluminum than carbon Wink
  • 2 0
 Frame weight????
  • 2 0
 exactly! "250g lighter.." so what's it weigh then? I saw a comment above stating 6lb+ - where did you find that @seraph ?
6lb for an XC frame is horrendous!
  • 7 0
 @boogie80: Oh I pulled that number out of my ass. It's not the actual weight.
  • 6 0
 "Effen light" should definitely be in this article somewhere. It's the lightest frame on an XC start line, and so much less money than an S-Works.

Specialized S-Works Epic EVO – 1,659g
Giant Anthem Advanced Pro – 1,735g
Orbea Oiz OMX – 1,740g
Specialized S-Works Epic – 1,869g
Scott Spark HMX SL – 1,870g
Cannondale Scalpel Hi-Mod – 1,910g
Trek Supercaliber – 1,933g
Santa Cruz Blur 4 – 1,933g
Canyon Lux CF SLX – 1,922g
Merida Ninety-Six RC – 2,064g
  • 3 2
 At least it's not a hidious stupid Mullet Fadadoodledo!!
  • 3 2
 No excuse for no size specific geometry.
  • 1 0
 They are just taking extra pivots off to save money in manufacturing
  • 3 4
 ooh, another company ditches their proprietary design to copy the Scott Spark.
  • 5 1
 Modified single pivots bikes have been around a lot longer than the Spark. Also giant has had Flex Point for around 7ish years on the Stance.
  • 4 4
 4600 usd base is a daylight robbery
  • 5 1
 Not so much when it has carbon rims and the same frame as the $3,000 frameset. I mean, it's still a lot, but it matches up well against any other company and it's not everyone wants high-end on the drivetrain when Deore works so well and is cheaper to replace.
  • 5 1
 Specialized: *new XC bike for 6000 USD base price*
PB Comment section: This is fine. Great. Well done Specialized. Very Performance, many value, wow.



Giant: *new XC bike for 4600 USD base price*
PB Comment section: THIS IS LITERALLY DAYLIGHT ROBBERY!!!
  • 3 0
 @jspier: didnt’ see the carbon rims, i guess that makes more sense
  • 4 0
 @BenTheSwabian: This. The Specialized cult thats going on this website is so dumb. I fell for it. Thinking that I would actually get a premium bike buying from Specialized and now I'm once again stuck without any riding for the next weeks as the frame of my Enduro broke for the third time.
  • 2 0
 @pinkbikepinkbike: Apparently it's lighter than the $3,750 S-Works Epic frame too, although the Brain is responsible for enough of that weight so the Evo Epic weighs just a bit less that this new Anthem... but still costs more.
  • 1 1
 At least they dont look like Wal-Mart colors for once.
  • 2 2
 For 15k i want yellow maxxis...ffs
  • 1 0
 no frame weight?
  • 1 3
 They are still using the Overdrive system. Good luck on changing your stem or fork then.
  • 2 0
 Giant has clasic size of stem since 2015.
  • 1 0
 @schwara: Around that time I bough my Giant. Had to deal with the crazy stem/steer tube standart.
  • 2 0
 Overdrive is just a marketing name for the headtube. It is the same size that everyone else uses. You must be thinking of Overdrive 2 from 8 -10 years ago.
  • 1 2
 Looks like a switch blade
  • 2 2
 MAKE. ALUMINIUM. BIKES.
  • 1 3
 I got to get me a Santa Cruz Blur asap, it is a smoking deal compared to these builds.
  • 1 0
 2021 Blur with XT and Sid, Alloy wheels is $6,300. 2022 Anthem with XT, Live Valve, FOX, and Carbon wheels $7,500. It is expensive, but a similarly spec'ed 2022 Blur would or will probably cost more than the Anthem.
  • 2 3
 It's a 2018 KONA HEIHEI
  • 2 4
 Cannondale called and wants their paint job back
  • 4 6
 Maybe it's just the top tube but this bike looks like it came from 2017.
  • 24 1
 No, you're just used to seeing Pinkbike articles with bikes that have 160mm of travel, 63* HTA and 78* STA. This bike has trail bike geometry from 2017 but is an XC race bike. Eventually XC bikes will look like 2021's trail bikes and trail bikes will basically be those adaptive bikes that you lay down on.
  • 7 1
 Giant: *releases a bike with a bent top tube*
Pinkers: this looks outdated

Giant: *releases bike with a straight top tube*
Pinkers: this looks outdated

Giant: ...
  • 6 0
 @yupstate: No. You apparently don't understand XC bikes.

THIS is 2021 XC geometry and it's exactly how it should be. There's a right way to design an XC race bike for physiological and biomechanical reasons and there's a wrong way. THIS is the right way, long and slack is wrong (- at least for a race bike that is meant to go as fast as possible for as long as possible)
  • 1 0
 @bananowy: didn't say anything about it being straight. The Anthem 29 already had a straight top tube. It connects fairly high at the seat tube which is what looks dated.
  • 1 0
 @SimonJaeger: I was making a funny. I like the geo on this for what it is.
  • 5 8
 Flex and a Giant carbon frame you say? Won’t be any warranty claims there, lol.
  • 11 2
 Giant are pretty renowned for reliable bikes.
  • 2 0
 Definitely not known for sexy bikes, but their warranty is very decent. Lifetime and they are responsive.
  • 1 0
 @humoroususername: There's a specific model of Anthem that was known to be prone to breaking at the seat / top tube junction. It was the Alu version. That being said, they would replace a broken frame under warranty, if you're the original owner.
  • 1 0
 @DirkMcClerkin: Only if you're the original owner. It would be nice if it was transferrable to the next, even if it's reduced to 5 years.
  • 2 0
 @humoroususername: riiiiight. 5 broken frames in 1.5 years would say other wise. One bike, was 4 of the frames. Known structural issue but just kept sending a new frame that would break in the same spot.
  • 3 1
 I cracked six Anthem frames in a row (had no real choice in brand and with every new frame or iteration Giant said they'd fixed the problem).

And just because you get a warranty doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Try racing and repping them and looking like an a-hole because you know they were shit and would crack in a matter of months. Try selling a bike (with new warranty frame) that has a reputation for cracking. At one time Giant swapped my Anthem for a Trance as if I was the problem, but I wasn't because I rode the same trails and distances yet no cracks in my four XC bikes since (Scott Spark, Scott Spark RC, Focus O1E, and none so far with the Epic EVO).

Okay, so carbon isn't very good for the environment, but at least if it lasts ten or even five years it's better than if it is thrown in the bin after 10 months.

And, sure, maybe YOUR Anthem didn't crack, but six out of six of mine did. When you've owned 14 Giants get back to me with your sample size.

You are all strangers to me, but I would be an a-hole not to warn you.
  • 1 4
 Why would I pay $3000 for a frame from the walmart of bikes when I could get a more exclusive brand for about the same?
  • 2 0
 Which brand? A brand that everybody has?
  • 1 2
 Yeti did this years ago!
  • 1 3
 Bye Maestro
  • 5 0
 The Anthem Advanced Pro 29 is the only series in our off-road lineup that features FlexPoint Pro suspension. The Trance, Reign and Glory series will continue to utilize Maestro.
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