Smallguy

Hi I'm looking at a few bikes this year for racing...I have a trail bike

in no real order

- Giant anthem 1
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-CA/....x/8084/46575/

- Trek top fuel 8
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...fuel/topfuel8/

Devinici Dexter XP (huge maybe right now)

https://devinci.com/bikes/browse_9#9_30_96

these are 3 bikes I really like that I can get form Shops I know well

I'd say the Giant has the best part spec of the 3

I don't want to go carbon because of the huge price difference and I can get all 3 of theses for roughly the same price

what would you choose and why? any bikes I'm leaving out that aren't boutique brands feel free to post them up...looking to spend 3k to 3500 tops

dminor 

You have some good choices there. Of the three, I like the Devinci number one because of the geometry - - it's the slackest of all three (which may not be your cup of tea); and because of the split pivot design.

If I wasn't such a rabbid Yeti fanatic, the Anthem, in my mind, would be hard to beat. The shop I race for is a Giant dealer, so I get a lot of exposure to them (although I've never had one myself) and it would be on my short list too.

Which brings me to my next idea: how about the idea of a "boutique" brand at a not-boutique price: Yeti ASR-5 Alloy (https://www.yeticycles.com/#/bikes/ASR5Alloy/1/). 'Enduro' build kit is at the low end of your budget. 'Race' kit is above; but you could probably get a middle-ground built for you within your budget.

craigcraigcraig

this one is nice:

https://transitionbikes.com/Bikes_Bandit.cfm it is also more slack than the ones mentioned above. The first build kit is in your budget and surely could be tweaked to your liking. That old guy above me used to race transition bikes and says great things about them.

dminor 

^^ I forgot all about that company.

Corporate shill . . . .

Smallguy

Unfortunately there is no noe locally selling Yeti.... I might be albe to find a shop to birng one in but not sure

I really like the devinci but my deal that i believe may fall through puts the bike in my price range but with out it 1k ish out of mine

I already have a 5 inch travel bike or the Trace would be on my list for sure

also toying wit the idea of getting an anthem X 29'r.... it looks hot IMO

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-CA/...er/8085/46578/

I just like tubeless and the options are limited and the bike doesn't come with tubeless wheels so I'd need to acquire some

Smallguy

I thought about it allot and I love my Fuel ex 9 I have zero complaints about it

and I talked to a good friend of mine who got me a smoking deal I just can't pass up on a Top fuel 9.8

I'm fairly confident 'll ride an 18.5... Trek has frame size and actual size the 18.5 is actually a 17.5 and 17.5 is actually a 16.5

Another good friend of mine who is my height just bought and 18.5

going to the shop even though it's 1.5 hours away and test fitting Saturday

ed 

I'd look for a nice Raceface equipped Turner.

Daspydyr 

I like this bike-

https://www.scott-sports.com/us_en/pr...3/55346/217924

But I am old and infirm. The full lock out is fun and helpful, but is sometimes a distraction.

Alan@TreeFort

I am a big fan of the Giant Anthem. I have ridden both the Anthem and Top Fuel, and have friends who have owned them. The Anthem is snappy, fast, and comfortable - all around a fast race bike that you can ride all the time nearly anywhere.

scrublover

Plain XC racing, some super-D mixed in, solo 24 hour races? What sort of racing? If looking for a pure XC machine, I'd go for the Giant.

That said, if you have a smokin' deal possible on the Trek, well, don't pass that up!

Dilberto

Not only the best price...the Giant Anthem X will turn you into a Wolverine, on the race course. I told myself I'd never race - but my Anthem X2 BEGS to be ridden faster and faster, every time. The damn bike is like meth....

theextremist04

For racing the Giant seems like the best choice to me.

Kablooie

I've had a giant anthem x2 for just over a year (on my second season of racing it) and I love it. Fast and stiff enough to race but plush enough to make normal riding more fun as well. I'm really impressed with Giant maestro suspension.

Smallguy

the trek is an amazing deal for me and I can get extended Red shield Warranty on it

I have no doubt the Anthem is a serious race bike

but the carbon trek should come in at around 24-25 pounds approximately... a 17.5 online was posted at 24.4 I think and I'll ride an 18.5

I've had good luck with my Trek fuel and the top Fuel 9.8 is a very sexy rig IMO....the Gian Anthem 1 colors just don't excite me

I'll do Xc races , Short Track and some endurance events on my new ride

dminor 

Sounds like you made the choice that was 'just right' for you. Good luck with your race season . . . be sure to post pics and reports in the Racing subforum as the year unfolds.

Smallguy

Hoping to improve my resuklts in XC racing... I had a great first season in Road .... But my XC season was plagued with Mechanical issues, bad weather racing... and one extremely hot race where I just couldn't handle the heat

my best race last year was the first one.... I was doing well for me and moving up passing people then crashed bent my rear derailleur hanger and couldn't **** at all after

I'm in better shape this season so I'm hoping to finally tie it all together

Smallguy

it arrived but was missing a crucial part.. a stop where the FD cable comes out..the parts been rushed

my friend weighed it for me and it sits at 23lbs14oz

I'm swapping it over to tubeless asap since the stock tires are not good for the terrain here but don't expect it will gain much if any weight

using Geax Saguaro 2.2 TNT tires if anyone wants to know