Innes

Greetings. I am a roadbike transplant. I have a GIANT Defy Advanced 3 (all carbon, 105) which I love, but I think it's time to get dirty.

So, I am committed to buying one of two bikes

the Giant Anthem X3: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...x3/3894/36668/

the Giant Trance X3: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...x3/3897/37062/


I am a fat, out of shape biker who loves to ride, but hasn't yet dropped the fat or increased the heart and lungs to be "badass" yet... but I would really like to keep trying both on road, and on the trail. Plus, I live 100 feet from the start of some of the most gorgeous southern utah dirt trails.

My LBS, who I like, recommends the Trance X3, but I think I like the Anthem, just because of the sportier cockpit.

What can any one recommend on either of these packages? They both have the FOX shocks and maestro real suspension. Mostly it looks like the geometry is the biggest difference.

I just want to go out, have fun, and ride hard and loose. I am not an athelete, I just want to feel the rush and get some great exercise. And I love buying badass new ****!!!

So, can anyone weigh in on the Trance vs. Anthem component packages at the X3 levels I am looking at?

Innes

Can someone quote botto, I can't read his replies since he's on ignore.

Kablooie

I own a giant Anthem X2 with a non-stock build, but with a fox fork and the fox rp2 shock. I love it. I race cross country with it, and use it for everyday mountain biking and I'm extremely impressed with it's suspension performance (very efficient yet fairly plush when run with propedal off) and it's weight (light!).

I have not ridden the trance, but I think your question ultimately comes down to what style riding you see yourself doing. If you're going for more pure cross country riding, with rides where distance and climbing is important and you can afford to sacrifice some plushness on the downhill for efficiency on the up, the Anthem's your bike. If you're more inclined to ride rougher all-mountain type trails, where the added suspension and plushness of the trance would you the most. Both bikes will do you well, and are fairly similar, you just need to make the distinction on how you plan to ride.

xfimpg

Not a quote, but it will have to do... here goes... ""

Back to the serious stuff now. Doesn't the Trance have a higher level of componentry? If they are the same price, get the Trance.
As for ride, both are plush, not sure you'll notice the difference. Just my opinion.

psychlyst

Anthem has 4" of travel,the Trance has 5",so the Anthem will be a bit more twitchier in its ride..unless your racing,I'd say stick with the Trance and enjoy plush ride...

Innes

I'm not racing at all.

It will be casual riding where I push my limits, but I'm not looking to be competitive. Mostly want to do it as a break from road biking.

If I like it enough to do it more than a few times a month, I don't want to limit myself on a plush bike instead of a sport bike. That's what I did with the Defy Advanced, and sometimes I wish I had gone with the TCR Advanced isntead.

I am not familiar with mountain component packages and the hierarchy of sweetness. Does the trance infact have a higher level of compoments?

electrik

Trance, particularly because you mentioned you're bigger... My 200lb friend says his anthem hits bottom a lot. Anyways, the bicycles are almost the same, component wise, too bad you don't get a burlier wheelset on the trance.

Innes

Yeah I'm at the 185+ range. Trying to drop down a bit, but I'm 6'1".

I just want to spend around $2500 total in bike and gear. I already have oodles of road stuff and a great road bike, so I want a mtn bike I don't have to replace. I am not competitive, extreme, or rich. So 1 bike for all seasons would be great.

Maybe I should reconsider the Trance with a wheel uprade?

electrik

Maybe, if you are hard on wheels and the shop will give you an exchange on the wheelset. Otherwise no need to replace it out of the gate. If you do trash the mavic rim finding solid 32h rims for 32h hubs should be easy as there is a wide selection.

Zephyr11

If your friend is bottoming out the suspension, it's likely set up wrong. A 4" and 5" travel bike should not compress at the same rate so the 4" will bottom out first. The 5" should just compress faster, resulting in a plusher (but less responsive) ride.

The Trance is probably better suited for your needs. HOWEVER, you mention you like the cockpit of the Anthem. If that means the Anthem feels better or rides better, that's your bike. Don't get a Trance if every time you get on it, you're going to wish you bought the Anthem.

electrik

Er, no i think it has something todo with the ratio of the suspension stroke... he has a lot of PSI in it.

Zephyr11

Exactly, hence being set up wrong, not being too heavy for a 4" travel bike...

electrik

What I mean is that he has almost the max PSI in it, so the shock is over-leveraged.

xfimpg

Yeah, I had that too, more so when I weighed around 204 (i'm 189 now). I increased the recommended shock pressure from 115 to 130. Doesn't bottom out anymore and still plush.

brianbeech

I had this same decision to make a few months ago. I rode the Trance and the shop was really pushing it, but when I got on the Anthem X2 it just felt GREAT! Felt like my MX bike and I couldn't then choose the Trance. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with it, but the Anthem's geometry just felt great. I haven't ridden a lot, but I'm going out tonight and with the small riding I've done already, I don't think it will let me down. I'm sure both bikes are great, I just chose the one that felt the best under me. Good luck!

Grimlock

I went exactly the opposite direction. The Anthem X2 was available but with a few changes to stem angle and spacer set-up the Trance X2 felt just as snappy and the extra inch of travel was helpful and comforting. In the year and a half that I rode it, there were a number of trails that were definitely a little challenging and not exactly XC and the Trance held its own. On the other hand, the Trance was only a pound and a half heavier- more than a fair trade for the extra sure-footed feel.

Daspydyr 

At your level (and mine) both will be fantastic rides for S. UT. Maybe a good question to ask the LBS is about climbing. I carry some extra weight, so getting some help on the climbs is a priority. Good hubs make rolling smoother, so maybe upgrade the hubs with the rims.

xfimpg

For climbing I think they'll be both very comparable. The difference will come with the rear shock model rero pedal.