2018 Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 0 Review - The Ride!

After my first look of the 2018 Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 0, I spent a few days riding the bike. Here is my review after those rides.
First look review:
• 2018 Giant Anthem Adva...
Fund the channel: www.patreon.com/clintg

[@jeramycarney]

My Large Anthem Advanced Pro 1 29er comes in at 23lbs even without pedals and my Dad's Medium comes in 2oz lighter without pedals. Not sure how much lighter the Pro 0 29er is, but I cant seeing it being worth the price difference. Everything you said is spot on. I have never been this confident on a bike before and it is so much fun to ride fast. I tell everyone that it can be summed up in two word - Predictably Fast! Thanks for all your reviews and tutorials! I have learned so much!

[@joethomas3593]

TruthEdgeTech what kind of scale do you have? I work in a shop and every single Pro 1 has been 23lb 10oz on the dot in medium. Also the Pro 0 is 21lb 12oz if I remember correctly, may actually be quite a few oz lighter but I don't want to claim it if it's not that light.

[@billz410]

Pro 1 in Large weighed 25 lbs w/no pedals at the shop I was at.

[@jeramycarney]

I'm just going by what my LBS told me. I will have to check with them on what scale they are using. Regardless either way we are most likely talking a pound maybe two difference for a $3500 increase in price. When you compare the Pro 1 to similar specs of bikes from other brands, it's amazing the value Giant packs into the Pro 1. JMO

[@billz410]

TruthEdgeTech- Yup I would agree on that for sure. Seriously considered a 1.....

[@jeramycarney]

billz410 What did you end up going with?

[@borisc2061]

I knew you would like the bike. I absolutely love my pro 1, best xc I have ever owned so far.

[@stefanielehmeier8337]

Hi. I see you own an anthem. Can you please help me. I want an anthem for my long tours about 4 hours or more. Is it good for long relaxed tours.or is it to aggressive and only an racer.thank you.greetings Stefanie

[@mikemoore5168]

There is a Giant bike shop a mile from my home. I recently demoed the Anthem Advanced Pro 1. I really liked it. You hit the nail on the head with small bump compliance. It is fast, easy to rail corners, great on descents. With pedals it weighed 24 and some change. I nearly pulled the plug on one but got a screaming deal on another bike that had a few personal things I liked better. The lockout was annoying to me also. I like the three setting lockout a bit better. Thanks for another great video!

[@gusbloke5934]

"I"ll take it slow so I can talk" That was my flat out! Great review Clint and congratulations on the 50K

[@AaronSchroder]

Great insights on the bike thanks Clint. Video quality for me seemed better towards the 2nd half for some reason. Stablisation and audio were good. Thanks for the review.

[@ctrawick3]

Clint - I think this is one of your best to date. Video and audio were good, in my view.

[@user-pg9cy1sd1p]

I just moved from a 2009 Giant Anthem to a 2018 Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1. I've been interested in a Giant 29er for a very long time. The 2018 design improvements and recent end of model year sales pushed me to make my move. My old 2009 has been updated with XT components and converted to 1x11. It also has Stan's Crest Mk3 wheels and a dropper post. The 29er has had a dropper added. Interestingly the weight of the bikes is very close. The 2018 29er is 25.5 pounds with dropper, water bottle cage, and Garmin mount. The 2009 is 25.7 lbs with the same setup. Out on the trail the bikes are quite different. The 29er accelerates a tiny bit slower and isn't as maneuverable, but it more than makes up for it with better stability and great comfort and efficiency over rough surfaces. Tree roots and washboard surfaces don't sap energy or create drama nearly as much. The slacker head angle, while not as responsive, is much appreciated for the confidence it brings to sketchy areas. There are some boarderline white knuckle sections of the local trail that are no longer as much of concern. The dropper post is much less a necessity on the 29er versus the older Anthem. It's still nice to have for some the tricky downhill spots, however short. The remote lockout on the 29er is great - I used it a lot more than expected and I really like the convenience. The Maxxis Ikons on the 29er have noticeably higher rolling resistance than the Schwalbe NN/RR combo that I'm used to. However, traction seems better too. Overall the 29er knocked 7 minutes off of a 1:34 ride consisting of pavement, single track, and a few loose rocky sections. No big jumps or anything like that - not my thing. Probably the most noticeable difference immediately hopping on the 29er is the huge handlebar width. The added control is nice, but things are tight in some trail sections. Overall, the new 29er is a better all around bike. I knew the difference would be noticeable but was surprised by the degree. I did test ride the bike, but that's not quite the same as riding it on trails I've been riding for years.

[@footfeathers]

Stabilization looks fine on the camera. I actually prefer a little sense of motion and bumps. As for that bike, wow. Everything about it down to the graphics and colors is sweet. I got the Trance 2 last week based on a lot of your reviews and am amazed at the value and how nice it rides.

[@robertsonfamilyfarm9126]

Cross country mountain bikes are so underrated ! What a great bike , I will be surprised if you don’t end up getting a 2018 anthem pro 1 , I demo that bike a few month ago and it just works , I’m old school but it just feels like a mountain bike that you can buy and be good for 10 years , Future Proof . Also I love the lock out , it very easy to use and underrated

[@john601]

I have the 2018 anthem pro 29 0. The bike weighs 22.1 pounds for a small frame size, Xtr9000 pedals, ESI chunky grips, and proper tubeless sealant. Still tweaking the cockpit (bar and stem length) but an excellent bike.

[@OugaBoogaShockwave]

Damn, i have liked giant bikes for about 6 yrs, never rode 1 since i am a specialized nut case BUT i did make a switch to ghost bikes. You convinced me to probably get a giant as a next purchase.....THX My top 3 companies are specialized, ghost & now giant !!! Lastly, i am a scrudge so buying a 7500$ bike is like NOOO WAY, i stick to HT & try not to go above 4k............damn it, bike prices have gone INSANE since the 90's !!!! Nice , i likie teh vid

[@Steven-cm3pq]

Hello Clint, Another great 4review!! I´m Steven and I´m a big fan of your videos on KZbin, especially those concerning mountainbiking / XC, and trail riding. This year I have decided, that it is time to change my old bike for a new one. I really like the Giant Anthem 1 2021 29er. I think It is exactly a bike for me - concerning my riding style and the terrain I ride. But I have a big issue with size. I´m around 5´10´´ almost 5´11´´ with a pretty long inseam (legs) - 33,5´´, so exactly on the borderline between size M and L. The bike that I ride now is pretty short - it is an older Canyon Nerve on 26´´wheels, and I feel, especially in descent that I would need a longer one, but on the other side I have a problem with my lower back - with a disk in my spine. And on this bike I ride pretty much stretched out, so does my back doesn’t hurt. I was thinking that maybe an Anthem size L with a short stem, like 40-50mm and maybe a riser handlebars would work for me… but I´m not sure… or a size M with a longer stem… but then, my legs are pretty long… and a shorter frame in speed is not so stable… Shame is that in a place where I live there is no possibility to test these bikes, they got only Trance for testing and that is quite another bike… So I was thinking, what would you advise? You are pretty smart concerning bikes and have experiences with Giants… There fore I thought I could maybe ask you, your advise would be really helpful for me  Many thanks and sorry for bothering. Steven

[@ClintGibbs]

Definitely go for the large with a short stone. Shorter stems really improve the handling of a bike.

[@A2ONVXR]

For anyone who is interested a new 2019 Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 1 in Large weighs in at 10.93KG. Should comfortably see sub 10KG

[@joesentme1]

M is 10.67kg

[@njrivetelite]

So.. I went in an interesting direction with my bike buying.. I ordered the Giant Toughroad SLR 2. I can't hit the trails like you do on a hardtail or full suspension.. but can do some off road with its beefy tires.. I wanted something that could do roads decently too.. around town.. that is why I opted for the one I did.. The toughroad has ok gearing for inclines.. and is impressively light.. about 25lbs.. yet rugged. Great review btw.. I hope to get to a level in fitness etc to make the best out of a bike like the anthem.. Who knows.. maybe that will be next bike.. you flew through those trails on it

[@peacedets]

Brian Michael Anthem is for great fitness, but Toughroad is for bike travelling. If you want off-road fitness and some XC competitions - go Anthem.

[@njrivetelite]

a lot of my riding will be on road for awhile.. with mild dirt trail stuff.. I do think the Anthem is spectacular and looks quick as well.. I'll eventually get a solid Off Road Bike.. But for now.. the Toughroad will have to take me where I need to go on a bike

[@gnosismonk]

My Pro 1 with XTR pedals weights 11.15kg (24.4 Lbs) Large Size. The remote lockout has its benefits but I dont use it that much. The indexing on the eagle drive train can be sensitive also so make sure its set 15mm from the top cog to the bottom cog using the B screw and shifting will be smooth as poo. Mine came with a tea spoon of stans in the Tyre's, they will need filling properly thats why some bikes will seem to be under weight. The ikons seat really well into the rims. The ikons are useless on the front on loose over hardpack, great on clay or light sandy conditions. It took me a month to get my suspension right but once its dialed its amazing. Drop the stem. The eagle drive train is great I noticed it climbing straight away. I think the bike is well worth the money. Some people will want to cut the 780mm bars down. Brakes are nice and may take a while to get used to if you come from Shimano. The bike rides very quiet which is noticeable. I'm a very intermediate rider.

[@ClintGibbs]

+gnosismonk 👍

[@jonathanelswood216]

When you say 15mm do you mean from the bottom of the 50t gear to the top of the upper pully? Just want to mays sure I’m clear. Typical gear set up used to be approximately 6mm

[@familybikeguy]

Hi Clint, thanks for this info. I am going to be in FL for family xmas and happen to be selling my HT and upgrading to a FS. Anthem Pro1 and Norco Revolver and my two options (I am a bike ambassador for a shop in MN that sells those brands). Problem is, I can't get on an Anthem for a test ride up here... no demo's. For a price like this, I'd really like to thoroughly test my bike. I race XC competitively on all types of surface. Since I'll be in FL in the Winter Haven/Lakeland area for a week I'll be getting out to ride Balm Boyette, Alafia and Loyce Harpe between xmas and new years (last year I rode them all in a day, fun stuff). Thank you in advance for any thoughts or bike shops you could point me to!

[@ClintGibbs]

+Andrew C. Urban I'm actually not familiar with any giant dealers down that way. The only one in Florida that I've really worked with is my local shop. Check Giants website and see if perhaps there may be a demo somewhere in Florida while you're here. That would be ideal.

[@martinwebb8381]

image stabilisation is amazing

[@tarpontime7562]

I love the sound of a Sram cassette!

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

Fairly smooth stabilization but it seems to create some artifacts. Gimbal still appears smoother but this may be good enough for some vids...

[@davidklein4465]

If possible I would love a comparative review of the 2018 Anthem 27.5. Looks like a really fun, fast bike!

[@davidklein4465]

Thanks John. Wondering what kind of trails you are riding on. Most of the trails we ride and courses we race on in VT and New England in general are pretty chunky and technical for XC. Looking for not a dedicated race machine, but one that is also good for general trail riding. Probably about 75% trail riding/25% XC racing. Thoughts?

[@davidklein4465]

Thanks for the info! Have fun out there

[@joethomas3593]

I think you have a bit of misconception with this lockout. You're not missing a "fully open" setting. There is locked and fully open. You're actually missing the firm setting in between. I think it's just the way that the EVol suspension rides that is throwing you off. Has a different feel to it at first for sure. There is no fault of the lockout mechanism just a different suspension setup.

[@ClintGibbs]

+Joe Thomas the suspension doesn't feel quite as compliant as on my personal cross-country bike if I have the settings all the way open.

[@rshamann]

30% Sag on a XC bike? lol. It feels dead in the mid stroke? you think? Your hitting small bump in the mid stroke with that much sag and your almost bottoming it out on a basic hit on your tame dirt path your riding. Your report needs more time and adjustments. Lock out on this bike works as open and locked. It skips the in between of a 'CTD' fork. Unless I misunderstood the forks on the front end of both your niner and the giant are the same? They should feel the same. The only thing that changed was where the lock out was located.

[@joethomas3593]

Yep Clint I totally understand! But that is the way the suspension is setup. Nothing to do with the lockout, love the videos!! Hope you get one of these beasts :)

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Giant recommends sag set between 20-25%, for what that's worth. Clint is pretty fit, but I would think someone would have to be built like a world cup XC whippet, or riding on solid compact dirt roads to warrant 30%. Having said that, I do not own one of these bikes, and have not ridden one. I also fully support Clint's judgment and acumen as an expert level cyclist. I agree though, would like to hear him re-review this after some time on the bike, but my understanding is he's not buying one, so that's unlikely.

[@aisotton]

Nice review! Makes me want an XC bike :-) Not a huge fan of the stabilization to be honest. It seems to work very well as long as there are no major bumps, but once it gets a bit rougher it seems to have trouble.

[@njrivetelite]

I have the 2018 Giant Toughroad SLR2 I ride more road and dirt than anything else right now.. so I figured it was a decent in between.. Though I will want something with Suspension in the future that can handle some nice trails and obsticales.. I really Like the Anthem 2 how it is specs look.. and from what I have heard about it.. For me.. Dropping $2600 on a bike would be hard.. Though I do really like it.. it is a solid looking bike..

[@gvaud73]

This video was "money" the moment it started with a Bike Route jersey!

[@TOmsDK]

Oh boy, your trails looks so nice, although dry. Where I live everything is wet and muddy at the moment.. and cold!

[@kaney9235]

TOmsDK where you from

[@TOmsDK]

Aidan Kane Denmark

[@Gatorfan250rrr]

They can be rather sandy down here

[@ThePedro8-25-78]

Didn’t even remember you were gimbal-less until You asked in the 10min mark!!

[@ClintGibbs]

+Peter Dziedzic 👍

[@pepeanza6187]

You can ride a hardtail whit rigid fork in that trail you should test the bike in more agresive trails.

[@ClintGibbs]

+Pepe Anza that trail has a lot more roots than you can see in the video. I've known guys that have ridden rigid Forks out there and it beats the crap out of them.

[@David-rb3tk]

Had a look at your video, James, and I have to agree with you. Where I live and ride, Southern Tasmania, nearly all trails and fire roads look like your track. I ride a 29 hard tail and if I used Clint's sag I would have popped the top out of my fork by now. I think his videos are great but I need to keep in mind the types of trails he is riding.

[@woodstockpaul6066]

Hey Clint, I have a 2018 Anthem Advance Pro 29 1. I am having some trouble getting the suspension set up just right. Could you tell me what pressures are you running?

[@Roadrash.750]

Hey Clint, watching the video the Anthem seems a little slow to turn in (go-pros are misleading I know) I’ve had most incarnations of the Anthem so far and currently own a 2016 Adv 1 27.5 which I believe to be the pinnacle to date even after testing the later revisions. How do you feel this stacks up to the 2016’s geometry? P.s I’m taking the 2018 29er for a demo in April and the camera stabilisation was fine.

[@ClintGibbs]

The 29er won't be as quick handling is the 27.5. It's just a bit more steady and faster on the straightaways. But this is by far their best 29er to date. The shorter chain stays really liven it up.

[@Roadrash.750]

Clint Gibbs thanks you for the info. I’m looking forward to testing it as I’ve had/have many Giant bikes and they mostly impress. The last 29er I tried was the 2013 Anthem 0 and I wasn’t greatly won over. And thanks for all the videos 👍

[@TOmsDK]

Hey Clint, when you ride cross country, is it on "normal" trails that are shared with hikers and such or is it on exclusive bike trails? In this video it seems like you are riding normal hiking trails.

[@ClintGibbs]

+TOmsDK the trails that are right most often do allow hikers but not horses. However it's rare to run into hikers. The main hiking side of the forest is in another section.

[@sqwertyu55]

I bot one of these bad boys and have put over 400 on it. Coming off a Trance Advanced 0, it is so smooth, light, fast and climbs like a cat. What's there not to like? Maybe the price...

[@mikerotchburns1622]

those trails are amazing

[@wesleyferguson4052]

Hey, Thanks for the great review. I am busy looking into the 2018 anthems and am wondering if it is worth paying the extra for the carbon frame over the alu version. I believe the weight difference is only about 300gr on the frame? Any thoughts? Cheers

[@ClintGibbs]

+Wesley Ferguson for me it is because I demand the most performance out of my cross-country bikes. Carbon is not only lighter but it's also stiffer which makes for a more precise ride. But for someone who doesn't ride super aggressively than not going to notice as much of a difference. Just depends on what you want out of the bike.

[@wesleyferguson4052]

Thanks your thoughts, I think if the difference in stiffness is something you can actually feel and adds to your enjoyment.... then I will agree.Giant have also brought out a version that is alu rear triangle and carbon front, interesting. To many options.

[@OutdoorsJustin]

Video stabilization looks good.

[@JEllesgaard]

My local shop weighted the pro 1 in size medium to 10.44 kg (no pedals)

[@walterkasper467]

Video is good. Great review

[@kubagajda7347]

That's a full breath name... Giant has to rethink that :D

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Any idea how wide or large of tires you can find on this bike?

[@ClintGibbs]

+Phil Anderson my guess is 2.4, but I don't know for sure

[@ahmetkayakusu5696]

i love your giant menu :):)

[@PitchitSideways]

Can a dropper be internally routed on this bike?

[@kumagka1599]

You should change the title to “giant anthem vs niner RDO” since you talk about your niner alot...

[@mds1422]

So the "Open" setting doesn't give you full suspension travel?

[@ClintGibbs]

+Mark Smith the Compression damping seems a bit more than the fully open setting on other Fox forks.

[@mds1422]

Clint Gibbs ok, I understand now. Thanks for the explanation. Rad bike and great video.

[@kevinwoodard9655]

Hay clint I have been watching your videos for a while now and they all help, however; i learned that all of the great geometries most bikes are technically copied by giant that being said giant should have the best geomitry

[@befitcycle]

sweet bike!

[@tomhowlett1882]

How many KZbin videos did it take to buy the bike

[@ClintGibbs]

Lol. It was a test bike borrowed from my bike shop.

[@jrbowens]

I've been test riding the Pro 1 this week. That HEAD ANGLE is SO slack. Not sure I can switch from my 2012 Anthem X 29 0 with its 71 degree HA. 69 feels too slack for XC.

[@ClintGibbs]

+James Owens I'm going to be doing a comparison video soon with my rkt 9 but after getting back on the Niner actually prefer the steeper head angle.

[@joethomas3593]

James Owens yeah it really depends on the type of trails you ride. I live in the mid Atlantic and I'm sure you've heard the term "East Coast Rocks" haha. Slack head angle is so much better for all the technical terrain in this area. XC race courses are never anything close to easy or smooth.

[@jrbowens]

Yeah, I think part of the problem for me was getting enough weight on the front wheel through turns to avoid washing-out; I even swapped in a 90mm stem angled down.

[@s2korpionic]

That name's not long enough

[@acuriouseye]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZiup3-fjaqBnck - Runs into the scrub - "Cut!"

[@johncarrington8612]

Cheapest way to lose weight off of a bike is to lose it off of the rider.

[@billz410]

Wow now there's an 'original' comment.