First Impression – Giant Anthem X 29er 2
Originally posted on March 31, 2011 at 11:22 amBy Karl Rosengarth
It’s about time.
Giant finally mated their proven Maestro suspension design with big wheels. Viola! Giant gives birth to the Anthem X 29er lineup in model year 2011.
This bouncing baby boy sports 100mm of front/rear travel, thanks to a Fox F29 RL fork with QR15 thru-axle up front, and a Fox Float RP2 rear shock (coupled to Giant’s Maestro rear suspension).
Initial forays into rock/root infested territory resulted in bumps disappearing beneath my wheels—and a big, stupid grin appearing on my face.
The quick handling of the Anthem X 29er (thanks to it’s 71 degree head angle) was notable from the get go. Coming off a "slacker" bike, it took me a few rides to "adjust" to the Giant’s quickness. But as the miles pile up, I’m feeling more and more comfortable with how the Anthem X 29er rolls.
My mid-range "model 2" version of the Anthem X 29er weighed in at 27.1 lbs sans pedals and outfitted with a nice mix of parts, including a Shimano Deore XT/SLX drivetrain mix, Avid Elixr 5 hydros, and a handful of house-brand parts. Average USA retail price of the Anthem X 29er 2 is around $2,950.
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Visit Giant’s website for more info.