I've been watching your videos for sometime now and truly appreciate your honesty and insight into bikes overall. I have always enjoyed riding bikes in all sorts of terrain from road to trail, but have never owned one other than the typical Walmart run of the mill mountain bike LOL. I believe I am close to choosing the Giant Trance 3 based on research I have done and the price point i would like to stay with. Thanks again for your willingness to share experiences related to these bikes. Looking forward to seeing more videos.
I’m glad I went with the Canyon Nerve (120 mm; All Mountain) as my only and first real MTB. I love technical descends and have recently installed a Reverb. What a game changer this thing is! Now I can jump, manual and descend so much better, and it is far safer to ride! Thanks for the video!
I believe that for average rider who is not in position to have few bikes and who not going into XC races, trail bike is the way to go. Because geometry and suspension travel will make you more confident and you will probably have more fun on it. I have 29er hardtail and it is ok bike, good climber, good straight line speed but when things become more downhill and you hit bumps and some small jumps you very fast reach limit of that bike.
Actually, the decision between the two bikes is a bit more challenging then just suggesting the anthem is only for XC racing. I used my 2015 Anthem and Trance Advanced bikes for identical use. I pounded both through rough technical sections. Generally speaking the Trace was the better of the two for the descents that required the increased suspension travel. On the flip side to that, I thought my anthem had the advantage on the climbing portion of a tech section. Since I am more of a 29er rider at heart, I sold both my Giants for a Pivot Mach 429 trail. It combines the climbing ability and agility of the Anthem with the descent and bigger drop abilities of the trance. In my opinion if you can ride a hardtail hard on terrain, it doesn't matter if you are out in the trails riding an anthem or trance. Both have their niches, but both are also extremely capable of whatever you throw at them.
I'm late to the party, but I ride anthem frames with 120 forks on some pretty rocky and technical trails. It's not great for drops, but I do it, and the maestro suspension soaks it up as long as I stay off the forks.
I had same choice back in 2010... I went for the Anthem X4 as the Trance's suspension link had issues back then. I've been to a few trail centres and is great on anything within reason, but I am bottoming out on some of the larger hits (105kg rider may have something to do with it). Saying that I do regret not going for the Trance... I was in a Giant store today actually, and the 2017 ones look very nice with great kit, might pick one up :)
I went with a bike that could do as much as possible. I got a 2018 Trance 2. It was the right mix of everything - full sus with good travel front and rear, a full SLX drivetrain, decent tires set up tubeless stock, and a dropper post. It is my only mountain bike, so I wanted something where I could hit just about everything and never feel like I had made the wrong choice. There may be better blades and screw drivers, but I'd prefer a Leatherman tool.
I went with a Giant Anthem Advanced 2 after testing one at the Alafia Fat Tire Festival. I live in Tallahassee and am loving it so far . I did replace stock 780 mm stock bars with 700mm carbon bars bc am short with short arms. As a 50 year old i want light, sporty and fun and Anthem is it. I also tested the Trance Advanced at the festival as well as the Livs but just wasn't feeling the Liv Pique.
Laurel Williams - I demoed the same two bikes and as much as I thought the Trance was going to be the bike for me, I actually fell in love with the Anthem Advanced. It is by far the most fun I've had on any demo bike. Can't wait to get my hands on one! Ohh, and I was killing those decents over that Trance!
Moro GP, I rode the Trance Advanced first as a demo my first time at Alafia Fat Tire Festival. Going out the first ride blind on Northcreek, a blue trail, i felt like a champ handling the trail and was amazed. Then i rode the Anthem on Northcreek and Roller Coaster and just loved the feel of it better as it felt much more like a sports car. I have driven Golf GTI for years now and that is feel I go for in a bike. P
That's my current issue. Not really felling the Pique and leaning toward the Anthem '16 SX. Going to try it tomorrow. I rode the Trance today but the price is too high for my budget.
I Just ordered the 2017 Anthem Advanced 0 to join my existing 2016 Reign Advanced 0 and 2014 Trance Advanced SX family and can't wait to test it out on our local trails. :-)
HI Mr. Gibbs, i am about to venture in my very first MTB and these two bikes were the same bikes presented to me when i went to a local GIANT SHOP only last Saturday, here in Manila, Philippines. Your review precisely pointed out why i should go for the Anthem. Relatively, it was made clear to me that when someone gets a mountain bike, he should invest in the most expensive that he can afford and not just cheap ones. Thank you for your review...
That Trance is super sexy bike, but what i personally would like to see it that Giant make 29er Trance. Trance 29er with all that agresive geometry...that would be monster!
Thank you. very informative. I am currently in South Africa, but will be returning to UK in January. The trails in the UK differ to the more hardened trails in SA. I would appreciate your advice on what to purchase, suiting the UK terrain? I am not interested in racing. My partner and I enjoy mountain cycling together and exploring the country side. Thank you.
If the trails are not too rough then a Hardtail 29er would keep things simple. If you go full suspension I would get a 29er trail bike with around 120 mm a travel front and rear.
Enjoyed the video. I've been asking myself this question too, after doing a demo ride last week on a Trance and an Anthem. I liked the Anthem's handling much better, but I really need more test rides to determine if I liked it because of the different geometry, the 29" wheels, or the fact that it was a Large and the Trance was an XL (I'm 6'2", so roght on the line). My local trails are definitely more suited to the Anthem, but if I start taking one or two trips a year to NC like I want to, I might be left wanting more bike. I could always take my old Heckler, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. Anyway, good video and very informative.
2k carbon wheels, woah! Here in WA the majority is either down or up and very little XC. Soo Ive decided on the 2017 Trance 2/3. Thinking of selling my small boat to get the Trance Advance, now that would be awesome! Great comparison by the way, very detailed and not ghetto like most on here.
Thorn between 2019 Anthem 29er or Trance 29er!! Hey Clint. Great video. I had a Anthem 2017 27.5 with 120mm front. Loved but had to sell due to moving. Now I am on a quest for a giant second hand again. And I am really in doubt between the anthem 29er 2019 or the trance 29er 2019. I would like the bit more travel of the trance (i dont need 150mm since I have an enduro bike). I live in a mountain area now and I want a bike that climbs well but also have some descent capability. Basically i know the anthem climb capability but not the descent for the 100mm 29er. For the trance i can imagine the descent capability suits my need (for too hard stuff i have the enduro anyway) but not sure on the climbing part. I Basically want to do some 3 hours rides with quite some climbs..and the enduro is not for that in my opinion, its too bad to pedal. Have you tried the trance 29er 2019? Does it pedal well? Thanks man!!
Anthem SX wasn't even on my radar before this video. I live in MS and trails are XC trails with some fun bumpy areas(Ridgeland Trails) I absolutely love my anthem SX. I did my first xc race s couple of weeks ago and am training do do more. I get the feeling that the sx w 27.5 tires isn't considered a legit xc bike but I love it. I changed from the nobby nics to a maxxis ardent tires but that's all I've changed. Im still relatively new(3 months) but am running fork at 20% and rear shock at 25%. I feel like I have it set in a good place to be fast enough to hang with the other pure xc bikes which are the norm. Am I at a big disadvantage being that it's a 27.5 tire bike with aluminum frame? Seems like the carbon 29ers get all of the respect. Thanks so much....
yet im late.. very late.. but your comparison enlighten all my questions.. thank you very much.. im ended up purchased a bit smaller bike due to my smaller budget..😥😪
I bought an anthem sx about 4 weeks ago from my local Giant dealer. I originally wanted a trance (I'm new to mountain biking, so I didn't really know what to get), but they kinda talked me into the anthem, they said I didn't need the extra travel for local riding, so I compromised and got the sx. I kinda regret my choice now, I don't really care about being the fastest guy out there, I just want to be out in the fresh air having fun and getting fit. The anthem just seems to run through it's travel to quick and feel a little harsh and fatiguing after a couple of hours of riding. I like having the dropper, and appreciate a lighter bike, but I just feel like the extra travel would have made things a little more comfortable for exploring the unknown. I'll probably ride it for a year or so and then pick up a carbon trance, but who knows, maybe I'll just get use to it and won't notice the difference after a while. Oh, and btw, how do you keep your bikes in such good condition, after four weeks my looks like it's about a year old, it kills me every time I see a news scratch lol. Awesome content too btw.
+Eden Hill what kind of bumps are you hitting on the Anthem? 1-2" roots, baby-head rocks, drops? Just trying to help you decide if the anthem SX is the right amount of suspension travel.
+Eden Hill what kind of bumps are you hitting on the Anthem? 1-2" roots, baby-head rocks, drops? Just trying to help you decide if the anthem SX is the right amount of suspension travel.
Thanks for the reply. The thing is I don't really have a defined riding style yet. I'm pretty new to the sport, so sometimes I just like exploring fire trails, other times more technical single-track. The occasional small drop and jumps (under a foot) I'll usually pick a line that avoids bigger hits if possible, I avoid loose rock gardens and most black diamond stuff for now, but that's just down to a lack of confidence and skill, but that might change as I develop as a rider. I do wonder though how much of it is physiological, the whole that-bike-has-more-travel-so-it-must-be-better mentality. But I'm stuck with it now for better or worse for a while, and to be fair, four weeks probably isn't enough time to get a grasp on the bike and it limits -and mine, for that matter-so I'll guess time will tell. Appreciate you taking the time to reply and create content! Cheers
My honest opinion is that you are on the right bike. If you get a bike with too much travel when you are new to the sport it's going to hinder your skills from developing. That's why even hardtails are good for people who are new. It really teaches you to ride smooth and maneuver the bike. But even still, The Anthem SX can cover quite a variety of terrain. If your local shop is worth their weight I would take their advice on what's best for your local trails.
Hello Mr Gibbs, ok so you said that one of the advantages on the Trance for climbing is more suspension Travel and and that's going to give you more traction, My question is isn't it recommended to lock out the suspension when climbing? I actually had this conversation with a friend this morning and he said to always lock it, I said a lot of riders don't do that, can i tell my friend hes wrong? HaHa!
You would lock out the suspension on smooth climbs, especially pavement, most likely fire roads, and if the trail is smooth. If the trail has roots and rocks, especially if they are wet, you want to keep the suspension open but use a firmer compression damping.
Hey Clint...curious what is the head angle on your Anthem? Giant website says 68degrees and Trance at 67....68 i thought was a bit slack for XC. My Trek Superfly is 70....also have you noticed any difference with the Boost spacing or did they introduce that on the 2017? Great informative video as always. What is the engagement on those Valor wheels? I think the I9 carbons with better engagement might be something to consider as you can usually buy them from online websites that offer 20% off coupons. Love my Trek Superfly 29er but been looking for a 650b XC bike with 120mm travel for a bit more fun and next to the Pivot Mach 4 the Giant Anthem might be what I am looking for....Thanks Scott
+Scott James the head angle on my Anthem is 69.5. The new anthem for 2017 is 68. The 2017 model now comes with a 120 millimeter fork. Since your superfly is a 29er it needs a steeper head angle. A 27.5 can get away with a slacker hear angle and still be pretty agile. Regarding the wheels, I went with the Neo ultimate hubs which have a higher degree of engagement (like the I-9) as compared to the regular Neo hubs.
I don't have enough money to buy a Trance but I have enough for a Stance 2 , I know it is an entry level bike but I would love you to say a couple of words about the Stance . Thanks , Clint . Love your videos .
I think it's a solid bike for the money. The suspension design is not as advanced as maestro but for an entry-level rider I don't think you would notice.
@@ClintGibbs Good news , Clint . I saved some more money and I'm going to buy a Trance 27.5 in aluminum . I'm not really an entry level rider , more like an intermidiate but after the relief check and my tax return , I muster enough money for a Trance . Thank you , very much . Blessing s for you and your family . I'm also a Giant fan .
You should ride and compare the new 2017 Stance 1 to these bikes. With 130/120mm travel it is right between these two, but without the Meastro suspension design. You could also compare the new 2017 trance and Anthem with their new updated geometries.
Great vid Clint. Question for ya' I plan on doing a "wide range" of riding, with a goal of completing a 24hr. mountain bike race.... XC or Trail bike... or a compromise type of one or the other...
+Eric Meech Global Network I would go cross country, either 27.5 or 29, and use a 120 millimeter travel Fork. The new giant anthem may be the perfect solution for you, with 110 in the rear and 1:20 in the front.
+Dan Morgan yep, that's why I ride a lot of gravel roads during the summer. That storm in the video dropped about 3 inches of rain in about an hour and a half. But the next morning the gravel roads were great!
Hey Clint, I am in the market for a new 2018 Giant soon. I was set on the Trance 2 but with the new 27.5 Anthem geometry I am wondering how it compares now to the Trance. I have seen a lot of discussion on this and thought it would be a good topic for a comparison. Thanks for the great reviews and content.
Just from my experience, the 2018 Anthem 2 is basically a short travel trance. The geometry is very playful and is almost like a hybrid XC/Trail bike. It’s really a fun bike that seems good at everything I have thrown at it. I own both a 2018 Trance 2 and an Anthem 2, and for most situations the Anthem does everything faster unless it’s big drop situations, then the Trance shines. I say either one is a great choice. They both come with a dropper and set up tubeless.
I would be really curious about a time trial between these two. I would want to know what is my time penalty if I would to race xc with a trance and it would also interesting to know how mush slower is the Anthem downhill. I got the feelings you mentioned related to the bike and its still a valuable video. But your time trial comparison videos make the thruth come up ;)
+Balázs Jogg I actually did this at the end of last year. The trance was between 35 and 45 seconds slower on a course that takes around 14 minutes. No sustained climbs but rolling with a fair amount of roots and turns.
Nice review Clint, would you put the anthem sx in the middle of these two? I've thought about changing over to something more trail like the Trance, but love the versatility of my sx.
I currently have a Kona Big Honzo but am looking into a full suspension bike as well. I like to ride the trails, up and down and anything in between. Looks like the HT on the honzo and trance are very close. The Trance is 67.0 and the Honzo is 68.0. I think the Trance 3 seems like a logical choice. Thoughts?
+thomas hudson I've not ridden the Honzo so I can't give first-hand experience on it. But I can't for the trance and it's a great bike. I would say make your decision based on your local bike shop and the deal you can get on the bike. Also make sure you're happy with the components that come on it.
Do you think this bike is still a good value for $2100 brand new? My other options new were the Pique. Might want to switch either option to 1x10 or 1x11. This is for the 2016 Anthem versus a new Pique.
I really enjoy how informative your videos are. This video recently helped me decide between these two bikes. I just recently purchased a 2017 anthem 3 and I love the bike (so far its a blessing in comparison to my old 2012 Haro FL-29 sport). Right now I want to upgrade the wheels to the stans ztr valors as my first major upgrade since the bike does feel a bit heavy. I'm just not sure how much weight I'm gonna be saving by switching from my current XC-3 rims (cant find the weight on those for some reason). My goal for this bike is to hopefully make it as efficient and light as yours...that might take my wallet a while though!
+CRYMTZ I think you'll save a pretty good amount of weight, but what's going to be even more noticeable is that Precision in steering. It will honestly blow you away how awesome those Wheels ride. If you end up getting them let me know what you think. Meanwhile, enjoy your anthem!
Oh there was one little fact I forgot to mention about the 2017 anthem 3. Its geometry is a bit different than before and the stock shocks (RockShox 30 Gold RL and Deluxe RT) now have 110 mm of travel in the back and 120 in the front. From what I have read it seems they have now made this model suited for slightly more aggressive trail biking . So now I'm also trying to decide between the stans valor or the bravo. If I'm not mistaken I think the bravo has about 3mm more flex than the valors and is more suited for trail-biking at the cost of additional weight. I suppose it will depend on what type of biking I use my anthem for. >.>
The Anthem, the XTC and Fathom look like great FL bikes.. jack of trades Great for flats.. some trails.. and gravel/dirt paths.. and can handle some bumpy terrain
My trails around here don't have monster descents, but they are far from smooth with tons of rocks and tree roots and some jumps that I definitely want to hit. Would the Trance be the better option here?
+DGEFresh my first reaction is the Anthem SX. It's going to depend on how fast you want to be overall. If your focus is fun on downhills and over rough stuff then I would say the trance. But if you want to be faster on the overall trail then the anthem SX is probably your best bet.
Hi Clint, Great video! i have a cannondale Quick CX3, im looking at getting a 2nd bike but unsure what to get either the trance 2 2016 or the anthem 2 2016 both the same price at my local bike shop at the moment but cant decide, im more in favor of the Anthem after seeing it, i will use my CX3 purely for road use with a little gravel on route to work, and then use one of the others for off road use, never done any downhill but would like to try it. do you have any advice for me please? just worried that the Anthem would be more closer to my CX3 then the trance and not worth me spending the money on such a small difference. Thanks!
The stance 2015/2016 does have the lower link/pivot just before the axle and lower in position. Does breaking have effect on the rear suspension performance in this case? I read it's a single pivot and not 4 bar maestro like the trance. Could you explain what to expect from Trance?
+kay poly The Stance is indeed a single pivot bike. In theory the braking would affect suspension performance but I cannot verify that since I have never ridden one. The bike is going to be a good all-around mountain bike but not be as good on the the descents as a trance. It will be more flexy and not have as much suspension travel.
I am planning on buying my first full suspension bike. Could you tell me how do I tell what system acts like maestro, what suspension system are going to stay activated even when on brakes? brands names? or what should I watch out for to tell which one is which. Till today, I still don't know how to differentiate a single pivot from a 4bar suspension . These are the videos you content providers should be making.
I have been watching many of your videos and enjoy them very much. That brings me to my next questions. I am in the market for a dual sport bike (about 80 % road use and 20 % light off road). I am looking at the Trek DS 8.6 and the Giant Roam. What would you recommend and why? Thanks.
+Michael Esposito if you're riding 80% Road and the 20% trail is pretty light I honestly would not go for either of those bikes. I would go with a gravel bike like the giant revolt or a cyclocross bike. If it were me it would be the cyclocross bike. I ride mine on trails and it does fine on smooth trails.
Another informative video, Clint. could you give me/us your opinion on hand fatigue? I use some fox dirtpaw and and have lizardskin dsp 32mm grips and often get numb hands after more than 1-1.5 hrs of riding. Any tips would be great. Thanks.
+eric contreras do you ride with gloves? Make sure you use full finger gloves with good padding in the palm. I would also highly recommend ESI Chunky grips.
+Clint Gibbs i do always wear full finger gloves. i have some with padding some without. i have tried the ESI extra chunky and still have had the same issue. is there something else i can do?
Hey Clint I’m looking at getting the 2020 trance 3. Also looking at used trances. Is there any particular years of trances that you would recommend over others on used trances
Clint, hi great channel bud:-) question... i have the giant amthem 3 2018 with the recon gold rl solo air 130mm on the front and rock shox R trunnion on the back, would i improve the ride if i upgraded my rear shock or swap the bar and stem to carbon? all the best G
I own a 2016 trance and rode a 2019 Anthem 29 today. I always prefer full-suspensiom mtb's, but for the first time in my life i'd say: get a hardtail instead of an Anthem 29 with the short travel. The super short travel anthem made me crash multiple times on a trail with just a couple of small jumps. Couldn't become friends with the (fox) suspension with my light weight
Good comparison as always. Interested to know your personal take on the overdrive 2 steerer tube. Can you convert the overdrive 2 system to accept a standard tapered fork and standard stem? Thanks.
Nope, that bike does not have OD2, it was completely done away with on all MTB's in 2015. Someone obviously hasn't updated the international Giant website. Under the "Technologies" section it lists "OverDrive 2 / OverDrive" but it's definitely Overdrive 1, which uses an upper steerer-tube diameter of 1⅛".
Hi Clint I have been weighing up an Anthem and a Trance and I am literally 50/50 still. If you had to have one bike regardless of terrain. ie: You ride on all sorts of terrain equally but could still only have one bike, which one would you choose. From watching the video I get the impression it would be the Anthem...am I right?
+rogase68 the new Anthem with a little bit more travel would be the perfect bike for an all-arounder. The only exception would be if you're seriously into cross country racing. In that case a hardtail 29er or even a full suspension 29er would maybe be the better choice if you don't ride very twisty Terrain.
Great review. Can I get happy with an 2019 Anthem. I ride long distances about 4 hours in the woods. Im afraid iam sitting to stretchet on the bike. Thank you for your videos.greetings from Germany. Stefanie
If you're spending that much time on a bike, as long as the trail is not too rough, you will be fine on the anthem. I don't think you will feel too stretched out on the bike. If you do just swap out the stem for shorter one.
@@ClintGibbs thank you for answering. Its not easy to find an perfect fully for long distances. XC bikes are eventually to much racing geo.and all others are to much weight. Thank you for your help.I think I take the anthem and hope my neck don't hurt 😂
I really like your reviews, keep it up! Have you had a look at the new anthem 2017 and if, what do you think? Im going to buy a new FS bike and are looking for different options, either Scott spark or Anthem. I had almost decided to get the scott spark 2017 until i started to watch your youtube channel. Now i don't know what to get ;) Do you experiens a lot of pedal strikes?
+Jörgen Måg as I've mentioned in a few other comments, it's an interesting move the giant is making with their 2017 models. I have not ridden one or heard much about them yet so I can't really make a judgment yet. I don't really have a lot of pedal strikesbut it can be an issue if you're not conscious of it. But with the 2017 models they are going to a longer fork so pedal strikes should be much less of an issue. I know that when I ran 120 mm fork on my anthem for a while it really reduced pedal strikes. Hope this helps.
+neirboca it depends on how rough your trails are and how much you are into trail riding. I would say focus on the type of mountain biking you want to do and then just use it for commuting. If you're in a hilly area and your commute is fairly long I think a Trance will be a little bit too much weight to ride. So my first thought is the Anthem is going to be the best all-around bike bike. if your trails are fairly smooth and you like a light and fast accelerating bike and I would say go with a hardtail 29er.
Hmm it's only about 7km or 5 miles commute so not far, I was looking at a XTC advanced 29er2 but i think they might not be that comfortable off road? So thinking of a trance2 or anthem 2, all around the same price.
Hi! I am thinking of getting a full suspension bike and my options are either a Stance 2 or a lower model Trance 3 or 4. I know that their rear suspension is different; by chance do you know how different it feels in riding? And which would you recommend from the 2 bikes? The anthem could also be an option but the prices of available models near me seem a bit steep. Can you help me with your input? Thanks in advance.
+actino The Stance is definitely going to fit between the anthem and trance. I have not ridden the flex Point suspension design but it seems like a single pivot design, which would mean it may stiffen up a little bit under hard braking. But it looks like a good value for sure. If you want something that can tackle rougher Trails better than the Anthem, I think the stance is good option.
+koukimonzta if you are right on the border between sizes, I would probably go for a frame that's slightly smaller if you want it to be able to be thrown around, like aggressive descending. If you like a really short stem then you may want to go to the larger frame.
Hi, the 2017 Anthem SX is 130mm travel in front and 110mm rear, what do you think about this bike? I'm trying to choose between the Anthem SX 2017 and the Trance 2 2017.
+Javier Claudio if you need a bike that has a cross-country feel but more capable on rougher descents The Anthem SX is a great option. The trance is a little sluggish on XC trails. It's really made for descents. Just decide what type of riding suits you best.
Clint Gibbs, I live in a 100x35 miles island, i have all kind of trails near of my house. I want to do some non competitive cross country rides but i want to do some enduro trails too, I don't know if the Anthem SX do the job for both kind of riding, it has 130mm in front but only 110mm rear. By the way, you have great videos.
Most of the trail i run are not very rough, they has drops, maybe some short rough areas, a lot of xc trails with uphills, downhills and flats. I used to run some trails in a Specialized Rockhopper 29er but I sold it the last week. I'm relatively new in MTB and I want a bike that I feel confidence in the downhills and in the technical sections too but still fast in the flats. I want to try the enduro trails and that the reason that i sold the hardtail.
Honestly I would go with the anthem SX. Jumping to a 150mm travel bike I think is going to be too much. With that much travel you can get lazy and your skills won't develop as fast as they should.
That bike should work fine for Enduro racing. Endura racing is less about weight and more about bike stiffness. Later on you could add a set of carbon wheels to the bike and improve the stiffness.
It's a trail bike with pretty beefy tires so I definitely would not get it for riding a lot of asphalt. Of course it can ride on it but it's going to be slow compared to something like a gravel bike or road bike.
Thanks for never dumbing down your videos, I'm always learning some new technical detail from them.
69 likes lmao
unlike the comment!!!! Make it 69 again
Excellent video and answers all the questions I needed on these two bikes...many years later!
EXACTLY what I was looking for plus some. great video. thanks dude
Great comparison, after 3 years all points are still valid.
Would love to see a remake of this video based on the 2017 Anthem and Trance models.
I've been watching your videos for sometime now and truly appreciate your honesty and insight into bikes overall. I have always enjoyed riding bikes in all sorts of terrain from road to trail, but have never owned one other than the typical Walmart run of the mill mountain bike LOL. I believe I am close to choosing the Giant Trance 3 based on research I have done and the price point i would like to stay with. Thanks again for your willingness to share experiences related to these bikes. Looking forward to seeing more videos.
Love the in depth comparison that's also very simple for beginners to understand
Thanks for that explanation. Far better than my lbs. Definitely considering the Anthem now
I’m glad I went with the Canyon Nerve (120 mm; All Mountain) as my only and first real MTB. I love technical descends and have recently installed a Reverb. What a game changer this thing is! Now I can jump, manual and descend so much better, and it is far safer to ride!
Thanks for the video!
120mm All Mountain? What are you smoking? Nerve is an XC bike with longer travel
Thanks for letting me see the "light" :) Great video dude, very practical approach you provide here. I know where to put my dollars now.
I believe that for average rider who is not in position to have few bikes and who not going into XC races, trail bike is the way to go. Because geometry and suspension travel will make you more confident and you will probably have more fun on it. I have 29er hardtail and it is ok bike, good climber, good straight line speed but when things become more downhill and you hit bumps and some small jumps you very fast reach limit of that bike.
Actually, the decision between the two bikes is a bit more challenging then just suggesting the anthem is only for XC racing. I used my 2015 Anthem and Trance Advanced bikes for identical use. I pounded both through rough technical sections. Generally speaking the Trace was the better of the two for the descents that required the increased suspension travel. On the flip side to that, I thought my anthem had the advantage on the climbing portion of a tech section. Since I am more of a 29er rider at heart, I sold both my Giants for a Pivot Mach 429 trail. It combines the climbing ability and agility of the Anthem with the descent and bigger drop abilities of the trance. In my opinion if you can ride a hardtail hard on terrain, it doesn't matter if you are out in the trails riding an anthem or trance. Both have their niches, but both are also extremely capable of whatever you throw at them.
I have had an anthem 3 for about six years now , it has a great balance in speed , comfort etc .
I'm late to the party, but I ride anthem frames with 120 forks on some pretty rocky and technical trails. It's not great for drops, but I do it, and the maestro suspension soaks it up as long as I stay off the forks.
I am new to this hobby and i think you have a very detail comparison between the 2 and i learn a lot from your information. Thanks
Best review so far !!! great job and thanks for sharing !
I love all your videos Clint. I always thought you looked like an actor but couldn't quite put my finger on it until now. Jim Caviezel!
+Tom Luckner maybe I could get a job as his double, of he does any mountain biking scenes ;)
I had same choice back in 2010... I went for the Anthem X4 as the Trance's suspension link had issues back then. I've been to a few trail centres and is great on anything within reason, but I am bottoming out on some of the larger hits (105kg rider may have something to do with it). Saying that I do regret not going for the Trance... I was in a Giant store today actually, and the 2017 ones look very nice with great kit, might pick one up :)
Love your videos Clint, all the best from Downunder
I went with a bike that could do as much as possible. I got a 2018 Trance 2. It was the right mix of everything - full sus with good travel front and rear, a full SLX drivetrain, decent tires set up tubeless stock, and a dropper post. It is my only mountain bike, so I wanted something where I could hit just about everything and never feel like I had made the wrong choice. There may be better blades and screw drivers, but I'd prefer a Leatherman tool.
I went with a Giant Anthem Advanced 2 after testing one at the Alafia Fat Tire Festival. I live in Tallahassee and am loving it so far . I did replace stock 780 mm stock bars with 700mm carbon bars bc am short with short arms. As a 50 year old i want light, sporty and fun and Anthem is it. I also tested the Trance Advanced at the festival as well as the Livs but just wasn't feeling the Liv Pique.
Laurel Williams - I demoed the same two bikes and as much as I thought the Trance was going to be the bike for me, I actually fell in love with the Anthem Advanced. It is by far the most fun I've had on any demo bike. Can't wait to get my hands on one! Ohh, and I was killing those decents over that Trance!
Moro GP, I rode the Trance Advanced first as a demo my first time at Alafia Fat Tire Festival. Going out the first ride blind on Northcreek, a blue trail, i felt like a champ handling the trail and was amazed. Then i rode the Anthem on Northcreek and Roller Coaster and just loved the feel of it better as it felt much more like a sports car. I have driven Golf GTI for years now and that is feel I go for in a bike.
P
That's my current issue. Not really felling the Pique and leaning toward the Anthem '16 SX. Going to try it tomorrow. I rode the Trance today but the price is too high for my budget.
I Just ordered the 2017 Anthem Advanced 0 to join my existing 2016 Reign Advanced 0 and 2014 Trance Advanced SX family and can't wait to test it out on our local trails. :-)
+suspensiondude 👍
HI Mr. Gibbs, i am about to venture in my very first MTB and these two bikes were the same bikes presented to me when i went to a local GIANT SHOP only last Saturday, here in Manila, Philippines. Your review precisely pointed out why i should go for the Anthem. Relatively, it was made clear to me that when someone gets a mountain bike, he should invest in the most expensive that he can afford and not just cheap ones. Thank you for your review...
+jimmy john santos 👍
or the best frame and can upgrade components as the less expensive wears out.
ah ok.. thanks Sir for the valuable input. I'm thinking of carbon frame and wheels... as initial major investment...
That Trance is super sexy bike, but what i personally would like to see it that Giant make 29er Trance. Trance 29er with all that agresive geometry...that would be monster!
They used to make it until 2014, I don't know if it's still manufactured: I just noticed it's not in the 2016 lineup
I have a 2013 Trance 29er and i LOVE it. Im riding it until it falls apart.
The trance 29er was a monster. The wheel base was so long and it just didn't have the handling compared to other long travel 29ers
Ohh ok i didnt know that trance had 29ers version before...now i see. My bad :D
you could probably find one for a reasonable price. I just like my bike to be a little more maneuverable.
Thanks Clint. Solid info here! I am thinking of going with the trance 2. Appreciate it. Florida Trailrider
+Florida Trailrider 😀🚴
Clint Gibbs i have beem contemplating putting like a 70mm stem on my top fuel 8. have you evet had any experiance with a shorter stem on a xc bike?
thank you for the info, i'll be taking a Trance out on a demo this weekend and look forward to buying one!
Man I love you videos. I'm so jealous I'm living vicariously through you. Some day I'll be able to afford a trance. Love the vids.
i loved racing the trance.was so sad when i had to give it back ..but anthem is way to go for cross country.. awesome video btw .very spot on.
Great video. INCREDIBLY useful.
Thank you. very informative. I am currently in South Africa, but will be returning to UK in January. The trails in the UK differ to the more hardened trails in SA. I would appreciate your advice on what to purchase, suiting the UK terrain? I am not interested in racing. My partner and I enjoy mountain cycling together and exploring the country side. Thank you.
If the trails are not too rough then a Hardtail 29er would keep things simple. If you go full suspension I would get a 29er trail bike with around 120 mm a travel front and rear.
@@ClintGibbs Thank you very much for your advice. greatly appreciated.
Enjoyed the video. I've been asking myself this question too, after doing a demo ride last week on a Trance and an Anthem. I liked the Anthem's handling much better, but I really need more test rides to determine if I liked it because of the different geometry, the 29" wheels, or the fact that it was a Large and the Trance was an XL (I'm 6'2", so roght on the line). My local trails are definitely more suited to the Anthem, but if I start taking one or two trips a year to NC like I want to, I might be left wanting more bike. I could always take my old Heckler, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth.
Anyway, good video and very informative.
Great vid, lots of passion for the sport. Keep it up !
just went to the fall bike show here in toronto canada. just ordered 2017 trance 4. we got a good deal since we ordered 3. not even in stores yet :)
I live in north central Florida just south of Jax. I am absolutely torn between the 2018 Trance 2 and the Anthem 2..
2k carbon wheels, woah! Here in WA the majority is either down or up and very little XC. Soo Ive decided on the 2017 Trance 2/3. Thinking of selling my small boat to get the Trance Advance, now that would be awesome! Great comparison by the way, very detailed and not ghetto like most on here.
You'll get the best compromise between both with the Giant STANCE...
Hope you'll make a video on this bike soon.
The stance is definitely not that it doesn’t have the very good sus and doesn’t have mastroe
yes the king of you tube bike reviews comes back
+Esseker Fit ha. I've been moving. Ridiing and making videos is MUCH more fun than moving!
Thorn between 2019 Anthem 29er or Trance 29er!!
Hey Clint. Great video. I had a Anthem 2017 27.5 with 120mm front. Loved but had to sell due to moving.
Now I am on a quest for a giant second hand again. And I am really in doubt between the anthem 29er 2019 or the trance 29er 2019. I would like the bit more travel of the trance (i dont need 150mm since I have an enduro bike).
I live in a mountain area now and I want a bike that climbs well but also have some descent capability.
Basically i know the anthem climb capability but not the descent for the 100mm 29er. For the trance i can imagine the descent capability suits my need (for too hard stuff i have the enduro anyway) but not sure on the climbing part.
I Basically want to do some 3 hours rides with quite some climbs..and the enduro is not for that in my opinion, its too bad to pedal.
Have you tried the trance 29er 2019? Does it pedal well?
Thanks man!!
Anthem SX wasn't even on my radar before this video. I live in MS and trails are XC trails with some fun bumpy areas(Ridgeland Trails) I absolutely love my anthem SX. I did my first xc race s couple of weeks ago and am training do do more. I get the feeling that the sx w 27.5 tires isn't considered a legit xc bike but I love it. I changed from the nobby nics to a maxxis ardent tires but that's all I've changed. Im still relatively new(3 months) but am running fork at 20% and rear shock at 25%. I feel like I have it set in a good place to be fast enough to hang with the other pure xc bikes which are the norm. Am I at a big disadvantage being that it's a 27.5 tire bike with aluminum frame? Seems like the carbon 29ers get all of the respect. Thanks so much....
Thank you sooo much for this video!
yet im late.. very late.. but your comparison enlighten all my questions.. thank you very much..
im ended up purchased a bit smaller bike due to my smaller budget..😥😪
Missed your videos, you should upload more!
Great video as always !
I bought an anthem sx about 4 weeks ago from my local Giant dealer. I originally wanted a trance (I'm new to mountain biking, so I didn't really know what to get), but they kinda talked me into the anthem, they said I didn't need the extra travel for local riding, so I compromised and got the sx.
I kinda regret my choice now, I don't really care about being the fastest guy out there, I just want to be out in the fresh air having fun and getting fit. The anthem just seems to run through it's travel to quick and feel a little harsh and fatiguing after a couple of hours of riding. I like having the dropper, and appreciate a lighter bike, but I just feel like the extra travel would have made things a little more comfortable for exploring the unknown.
I'll probably ride it for a year or so and then pick up a carbon trance, but who knows, maybe I'll just get use to it and won't notice the difference after a while.
Oh, and btw, how do you keep your bikes in such good condition, after four weeks my looks like it's about a year old, it kills me every time I see a news scratch lol. Awesome content too btw.
+Eden Hill what kind of bumps are you hitting on the Anthem? 1-2" roots, baby-head rocks, drops? Just trying to help you decide if the anthem SX is the right amount of suspension travel.
+Eden Hill what kind of bumps are you hitting on the Anthem? 1-2" roots, baby-head rocks, drops? Just trying to help you decide if the anthem SX is the right amount of suspension travel.
Thanks for the reply. The thing is I don't really have a defined riding style yet. I'm pretty new to the sport, so sometimes I just like exploring fire trails, other times more technical single-track. The occasional small drop and jumps (under a foot) I'll usually pick a line that avoids bigger hits if possible, I avoid loose rock gardens and most black diamond stuff for now, but that's just down to a lack of confidence and skill, but that might change as I develop as a rider.
I do wonder though how much of it is physiological, the whole that-bike-has-more-travel-so-it-must-be-better mentality. But I'm stuck with it now for better or worse for a while, and to be fair, four weeks probably isn't enough time to get a grasp on the bike and it limits -and mine, for that matter-so I'll guess time will tell.
Appreciate you taking the time to reply and create content! Cheers
+Eden Hill do you have your sag set correctly?
My honest opinion is that you are on the right bike. If you get a bike with too much travel when you are new to the sport it's going to hinder your skills from developing. That's why even hardtails are good for people who are new. It really teaches you to ride smooth and maneuver the bike. But even still, The Anthem SX can cover quite a variety of terrain. If your local shop is worth their weight I would take their advice on what's best for your local trails.
I have the 2016 Giant Anthem with full XT 1 x 11, and all Thomson. I love it. Going to add some Stan's wheels soon.
very nice to ride giant. Both nice (Y)
Hello Mr Gibbs, ok so you said that one of the advantages on the Trance for climbing is more suspension Travel and and that's going to give you more traction, My question is isn't it recommended to lock out the suspension when climbing? I actually had this conversation with a friend this morning and he said to always lock it, I said a lot of riders don't do that, can i tell my friend hes wrong? HaHa!
You would lock out the suspension on smooth climbs, especially pavement, most likely fire roads, and if the trail is smooth. If the trail has roots and rocks, especially if they are wet, you want to keep the suspension open but use a firmer compression damping.
I just bought a second hand 2016 trance 3 and so far I love it!!!
How much did you get it for, I'm getting a 2016 trance 2 for 450
Hey Clint...curious what is the head angle on your Anthem? Giant website says 68degrees and Trance at 67....68 i thought was a bit slack for XC. My Trek Superfly is 70....also have you noticed any difference with the Boost spacing or did they introduce that on the 2017? Great informative video as always. What is the engagement on those Valor wheels? I think the I9 carbons with better engagement might be something to consider as you can usually buy them from online websites that offer 20% off coupons. Love my Trek Superfly 29er but been looking for a 650b XC bike with 120mm travel for a bit more fun and next to the Pivot Mach 4 the Giant Anthem might be what I am looking for....Thanks Scott
+Scott James the head angle on my Anthem is 69.5. The new anthem for 2017 is 68. The 2017 model now comes with a 120 millimeter fork. Since your superfly is a 29er it needs a steeper head angle. A 27.5 can get away with a slacker hear angle and still be pretty agile. Regarding the wheels, I went with the Neo ultimate hubs which have a higher degree of engagement (like the I-9) as compared to the regular Neo hubs.
Enlightening, Ithank you very much!!.. Anthem is cool.
I don't have enough money to buy a Trance but I have enough for a Stance 2 , I know it is an entry level bike but I would love you to say a couple of words about the Stance . Thanks , Clint . Love your videos .
I think it's a solid bike for the money. The suspension design is not as advanced as maestro but for an entry-level rider I don't think you would notice.
@@ClintGibbs Good news , Clint . I saved some more money and I'm going to buy a Trance 27.5 in aluminum . I'm not really an entry level rider , more like an intermidiate but after the relief check and my tax return , I muster enough money for a Trance . Thank you , very much . Blessing s for you and your family . I'm also a Giant fan .
Thank you, great video. it helps me a lot.
Thanks Clint, great video as always. I am 172cm, what size do you think will fit me best on an anthem?
Medium
You should ride and compare the new 2017 Stance 1 to these bikes. With 130/120mm travel it is right between these two, but without the Meastro suspension design. You could also compare the new 2017 trance and Anthem with their new updated geometries.
+John Guertin there is a giant demo the Sunday 12 minutes from my house. I will be there and hopefully they will have a stance.
Is it just me or does the GIANT logo on the Trance look more like GIBOT? :)
Great vid Clint. Question for ya' I plan on doing a "wide range" of riding, with a goal of completing a 24hr. mountain bike race.... XC or Trail bike... or a compromise type of one or the other...
+Eric Meech Global Network I would go cross country, either 27.5 or 29, and use a 120 millimeter travel Fork. The new giant anthem may be the perfect solution for you, with 110 in the rear and 1:20 in the front.
Is that the Anthem SX you referred to? Thanks for the swift reply.
No, the 2017 anthem.
Thx. gunna' look into that.
Rainy season in Florida? Hope the trails are sand based and dry very quickly for you.
+Dan Morgan yep, that's why I ride a lot of gravel roads during the summer. That storm in the video dropped about 3 inches of rain in about an hour and a half. But the next morning the gravel roads were great!
Hi, what's the width of the tires, is it 2.25? Or 2.35? , thanks in advance
thanks for this video! very helpful!... currently looking into a used 2016 Trance 3. seem like the type of bike i'm looking for.
Hey Clint,
I am in the market for a new 2018 Giant soon. I was set on the Trance 2 but with the new 27.5 Anthem geometry I am wondering how it compares now to the Trance.
I have seen a lot of discussion on this and thought it would be a good topic for a comparison.
Thanks for the great reviews and content.
BUMP
Just from my experience, the 2018 Anthem 2 is basically a short travel trance. The geometry is very playful and is almost like a hybrid XC/Trail bike. It’s really a fun bike that seems good at everything I have thrown at it. I own both a 2018 Trance 2 and an Anthem 2, and for most situations the Anthem does everything faster unless it’s big drop situations, then the Trance shines. I say either one is a great choice. They both come with a dropper and set up tubeless.
I would be really curious about a time trial between these two. I would want to know what is my time penalty if I would to race xc with a trance and it would also interesting to know how mush slower is the Anthem downhill. I got the feelings you mentioned related to the bike and its still a valuable video. But your time trial comparison videos make the thruth come up ;)
+Balázs Jogg I actually did this at the end of last year. The trance was between 35 and 45 seconds slower on a course that takes around 14 minutes. No sustained climbs but rolling with a fair amount of roots and turns.
Thanks for the input. Thats kind of a lot..
Nice review Clint, would you put the anthem sx in the middle of these two? I've thought about changing over to something more trail like the Trance, but love the versatility of my sx.
+Shannon Dalton yes, the SX will be more agile and lighter than the trance but more steady and capable on descents than the anthem.
I currently have a Kona Big Honzo but am looking into a full suspension bike as well. I like to ride the trails, up and down and anything in between. Looks like the HT on the honzo and trance are very close. The Trance is 67.0 and the Honzo is 68.0. I think the Trance 3 seems like a logical choice. Thoughts?
+thomas hudson I've not ridden the Honzo so I can't give first-hand experience on it. But I can't for the trance and it's a great bike. I would say make your decision based on your local bike shop and the deal you can get on the bike. Also make sure you're happy with the components that come on it.
thank you for the comparison.. help me alot what frame to use..
Do you think this bike is still a good value for $2100 brand new? My other options new were the Pique. Might want to switch either option to 1x10 or 1x11. This is for the 2016 Anthem versus a new Pique.
I really enjoy how informative your videos are. This video recently helped me decide between these two bikes. I just recently purchased a 2017 anthem 3 and I love the bike (so far its a blessing in comparison to my old 2012 Haro FL-29 sport). Right now I want to upgrade the wheels to the stans ztr valors as my first major upgrade since the bike does feel a bit heavy. I'm just not sure how much weight I'm gonna be saving by switching from my current XC-3 rims (cant find the weight on those for some reason). My goal for this bike is to hopefully make it as efficient and light as yours...that might take my wallet a while though!
+CRYMTZ I think you'll save a pretty good amount of weight, but what's going to be even more noticeable is that Precision in steering. It will honestly blow you away how awesome those Wheels ride. If you end up getting them let me know what you think. Meanwhile, enjoy your anthem!
Clint Gibbs thanks and will do! Looking forward to your future videos!
Oh there was one little fact I forgot to mention about the 2017 anthem 3. Its geometry is a bit different than before and the stock shocks (RockShox 30 Gold RL and Deluxe RT) now have 110 mm of travel in the back and 120 in the front. From what I have read it seems they have now made this model suited for slightly more aggressive trail biking . So now I'm also trying to decide between the stans valor or the bravo. If I'm not mistaken I think the bravo has about 3mm more flex than the valors and is more suited for trail-biking at the cost of additional weight. I suppose it will depend on what type of biking I use my anthem for. >.>
The Anthem, the XTC and Fathom look like great FL bikes.. jack of trades
Great for flats.. some trails.. and gravel/dirt paths.. and can handle some bumpy terrain
My trails around here don't have monster descents, but they are far from smooth with tons of rocks and tree roots and some jumps that I definitely want to hit. Would the Trance be the better option here?
+DGEFresh my first reaction is the Anthem SX. It's going to depend on how fast you want to be overall. If your focus is fun on downhills and over rough stuff then I would say the trance. But if you want to be faster on the overall trail then the anthem SX is probably your best bet.
Hi Clint, Great video! i have a cannondale Quick CX3, im looking at getting a 2nd bike but unsure what to get either the trance 2 2016 or the anthem 2 2016 both the same price at my local bike shop at the moment but cant decide, im more in favor of the Anthem after seeing it, i will use my CX3 purely for road use with a little gravel on route to work, and then use one of the others for off road use, never done any downhill but would like to try it. do you have any advice for me please? just worried that the Anthem would be more closer to my CX3 then the trance and not worth me spending the money on such a small difference. Thanks!
Thanks for this informative vid man.
The stance 2015/2016 does have the lower link/pivot just before the axle and lower in position. Does breaking have effect on the rear suspension performance in this case?
I read it's a single pivot and not 4 bar maestro like the trance. Could you explain what to expect from Trance?
+kay poly The Stance is indeed a single pivot bike. In theory the braking would affect suspension performance but I cannot verify that since I have never ridden one. The bike is going to be a good all-around mountain bike but not be as good on the the descents as a trance. It will be more flexy and not have as much suspension travel.
I am planning on buying my first full suspension bike. Could you tell me how do I tell what system acts like maestro, what suspension system are going to stay activated even when on brakes? brands names? or what should I watch out for to tell which one is which. Till today, I still don't know how to differentiate a single pivot from a 4bar suspension . These are the videos you content providers should be making.
I have been watching many of your videos and enjoy them very much. That brings me to my next questions. I am in the market for a dual sport bike (about 80 % road use and 20 % light off road). I am looking at the Trek DS 8.6 and the Giant Roam. What would you recommend and why? Thanks.
+Michael Esposito if you're riding 80% Road and the 20% trail is pretty light I honestly would not go for either of those bikes. I would go with a gravel bike like the giant revolt or a cyclocross bike. If it were me it would be the cyclocross bike. I ride mine
on trails and it does fine on smooth trails.
Another informative video, Clint. could you give me/us your opinion on hand fatigue? I use some fox dirtpaw and and have lizardskin dsp 32mm grips and often get numb hands after more than 1-1.5 hrs of riding. Any tips would be great. Thanks.
+eric contreras do you ride with gloves? Make sure you use full finger gloves with good padding in the palm. I would also highly recommend ESI Chunky grips.
+Clint Gibbs i do always wear full finger gloves. i have some with padding some without. i have tried the ESI extra chunky and still have had the same issue. is there something else i can do?
Try raising your stem or getting a handlebar with a higher rise. That will get your weight off your hands more.
+Clint Gibbs never thought of that. ill give it a try. thanks again.
Hey Clint I’m looking at getting the 2020 trance 3. Also looking at used trances. Is there any particular years of trances that you would recommend over others on used trances
29 or 27.5?
Clint Gibbs I currently have a talon 27.5 but I’m kinda open to both at the moment. I’ve only test rode a 29er in a parking lot before
@@jayf2487 watch my series I'm currently doing on 29 vs 27.5. It should help you decide.
Clint, hi great channel bud:-) question... i have the giant amthem 3 2018 with the recon gold rl solo air 130mm on the front and rock shox R trunnion on the back, would i improve the ride if i upgraded my rear shock or swap the bar and stem to carbon? all the best G
+Robert Garton I would start with a carbon bar.
Thanks Clint, some great advice from you and your channel mate.
I own a 2016 trance and rode a 2019 Anthem 29 today. I always prefer full-suspensiom mtb's, but for the first time in my life i'd say: get a hardtail instead of an Anthem 29 with the short travel. The super short travel anthem made me crash multiple times on a trail with just a couple of small jumps. Couldn't become friends with the (fox) suspension with my light weight
Have to disagree with you on this one. I own a 2021 anthem 29er. Best mountain bike I have ever owned.
Good comparison as always. Interested to know your personal take on the overdrive 2 steerer tube. Can you convert the overdrive 2 system to accept a standard tapered fork and standard stem? Thanks.
All you need is an upper headset bearing with a smaller internal diameter and you can fit a standard tapered fork with a standard stem.
However none of the Giant bikes come with OD2 anymore. Not since 2014.
It seems like they still come with OD2. e.g. www.giant-bicycles.com/int/reign-27.5-2-ltd
Nope, that bike does not have OD2, it was completely done away with on all MTB's in 2015. Someone obviously hasn't updated the international Giant website. Under the "Technologies" section it lists "OverDrive 2 / OverDrive" but it's definitely Overdrive 1, which uses an upper steerer-tube diameter of 1⅛".
Hey thanks buddy.
I live in Illinois. Which bike should I pick up? I'm not sure if the Anthem will be able to handle some of the rougher terrain we have here.
+TheWeaksoup the Trance is so versatile and what of recommend if you're not XC racing
Thanks. I will consider your advice.
Hi Clint I have been weighing up an Anthem and a Trance and I am literally 50/50 still. If you had to have one bike regardless of terrain. ie: You ride on all sorts of terrain equally but could still only have one bike, which one would you choose. From watching the video I get the impression it would be the Anthem...am I right?
+rogase68 the new Anthem with a little bit more travel would be the perfect bike for an all-arounder. The only exception would be if you're seriously into cross country racing. In that case a hardtail 29er or even a full suspension 29er would maybe be the better choice if you don't ride very twisty Terrain.
Great review. Can I get happy with an 2019 Anthem. I ride long distances about 4 hours in the woods. Im afraid iam sitting to stretchet on the bike. Thank you for your videos.greetings from Germany. Stefanie
If you're spending that much time on a bike, as long as the trail is not too rough, you will be fine on the anthem. I don't think you will feel too stretched out on the bike. If you do just swap out the stem for shorter one.
@@ClintGibbs thank you for answering. Its not easy to find an perfect fully for long distances. XC bikes are eventually to much racing geo.and all others are to much weight. Thank you for your help.I think I take the anthem and hope my neck don't hurt 😂
I really like your reviews, keep it up!
Have you had a look at the new anthem 2017 and if, what do you think?
Im going to buy a new FS bike and are looking for different options, either Scott spark or Anthem. I had almost decided to get the scott spark 2017 until i started to watch your youtube channel. Now i don't know what to get ;)
Do you experiens a lot of pedal strikes?
+Jörgen Måg as I've mentioned in a few other comments, it's an interesting move the giant is making with their 2017 models. I have not ridden one or heard much about them yet so I can't really make a judgment yet. I don't really have a lot of pedal strikesbut it can be an issue if you're not conscious of it. But with the 2017 models they are going to a longer fork so pedal strikes should be much less of an issue. I know that when I ran 120 mm fork on my anthem for a while it really reduced pedal strikes. Hope this helps.
You're referring to the trance like it's an Enduro bike not a Trail bike. 2:34 11:52
Great video Clint!! What grips you have in your Anthem?
+Jarod RL ESI Chunky
I choose the trance
Can you still get a new 2016 trance bike model in 2018
MaNtICoRe_ YT look on pink bike that exact trance is up for $1900
m.pinkbike.com/buysell/2489186/ if you haven’t already bought a bike
I'm looking at getting a full suspension bike and don't want to spend a lot right now. what do you think about the Giant Stance 2 2017 model ?
+dunno yolo the Stance would be a great option for you. Good component spec for the money and good amount of travel for an all-around bike.
+dunno yolo the Stance would be a great option for you. Good component spec for the money and good amount of travel for an all-around bike.
For a MTB to do some commuting on but also trail, would you recommend an XTC hard tail, trance or anthem?
+neirboca it depends on how rough your trails are and how much you are into trail riding. I would say focus on the type of mountain biking you want to do and then just use it for commuting. If you're in a hilly area and your commute is fairly long I think a Trance will be a little bit too much weight to ride. So my first thought is the Anthem is going to be the best all-around bike bike. if your trails are fairly smooth and you like a light and fast accelerating bike and I would say go with a hardtail 29er.
Hmm it's only about 7km or 5 miles commute so not far, I was looking at a XTC advanced 29er2 but i think they might not be that comfortable off road? So thinking of a trance2 or anthem 2, all around the same price.
I haven't had a mtb for about 15 years so very rusty, had a road bike for commuting/fitness where I used to live but ready to go back to MTB.
Hi! I am thinking of getting a full suspension bike and my options are either a Stance 2 or a lower model Trance 3 or 4. I know that their rear suspension is different; by chance do you know how different it feels in riding? And which would you recommend from the 2 bikes? The anthem could also be an option but the prices of available models near me seem a bit steep. Can you help me with your input? Thanks in advance.
+actino The Stance is definitely going to fit between the anthem and trance. I have not ridden the flex Point suspension design but it seems like a single pivot design, which would mean it may stiffen up a little bit under hard braking. But it looks like a good value for sure. If you want something that can tackle rougher Trails better than the Anthem, I think the stance is good option.
+Clint Gibbs Thanks very much appreciate it!
Get the real maestro rear suspension, man, I think is worth it. The frame is more important than the components.
trance 3 vs stance 1? Both $2100 trail bikes.
what is the ideal stem length for road gravel bike on twisty trails??
do you prefer to go a smaller frame or a bigger frame than your actual size for a descender?
+koukimonzta if you are right on the border between sizes, I would probably go for a frame that's slightly smaller if you want it to be able to be thrown around, like aggressive descending. If you like a really short stem then you may want to go to the larger frame.
Is there any bike manufacturers make titanium frame? And why is titanium frame bike are not so popular
They are now mainly used by boutique brand manufacturers. they're a bit use flexy and hard to work with for full suspension bikes.
Hi, the 2017 Anthem SX is 130mm travel in front and 110mm rear, what do you think about this bike? I'm trying to choose between the Anthem SX 2017 and the Trance 2 2017.
+Javier Claudio if you need a bike that has a cross-country feel but more capable on rougher descents The Anthem SX is a great option. The trance is a little sluggish on XC trails. It's really made for descents. Just decide what type of riding suits you best.
Clint Gibbs, I live in a 100x35 miles island, i have all kind of trails near of my house. I want to do some non competitive cross country rides but i want to do some enduro trails too, I don't know if the Anthem SX do the job for both kind of riding, it has 130mm in front but only 110mm rear. By the way, you have great videos.
How rough are your trails?
Most of the trail i run are not very rough, they has drops, maybe some short rough areas, a lot of xc trails with uphills, downhills and flats. I used to run some trails in a Specialized Rockhopper 29er but I sold it the last week. I'm relatively new in MTB and I want a bike that I feel confidence in the downhills and in the technical sections too but still fast in the flats. I want to try the enduro trails and that the reason that i sold the hardtail.
Honestly I would go with the anthem SX. Jumping to a 150mm travel bike I think is going to be too much. With that much travel you can get lazy and your skills won't develop as fast as they should.
You recomended trance 3 2017 (suspension 140mm) for enduro competitions ?..
That bike should work fine for Enduro racing. Endura racing is less about weight and more about bike stiffness. Later on you could add a set of carbon wheels to the bike and improve the stiffness.
can you do a video about the giant overdrive 2 mtb. =)
Hey Clint do you know the weight of a 2016 trance 2 and anthem 2?
+Vic Lim no, but I am guessing around 30 or 31 for the trance 2 and around 26 or 27 for the anthem 2
damn still can't decide.. lol
I like speed and fast climbs but also like hitting jumps/drops and descents..
Future Unknown trance for sure 👍🏻
Kentucky Fried Chicken yep that's what I ended up getting! Such a good all rounder
Future Unknown yea it can handle down hill much better than the anthem !
Hey man what do you think of the 2017 anthem 3? The price on the anthem 3 fits my budget so.
+Average if it fits in your budget go for it. It's a great XC bike at a great price.
Clint Gibbs Sounds good!
Let me know how you like it after you get a few rides on it.
Clint Gibbs I wil for sure. Thanks for the input!
My pleasure
What u think about 2019 anthem nx with 130 mm front n 115 mm in rear ...
Would be a very fun and playful bike with the 27.5 wheels.
Gentlemen, an aluminum or carbon frame will be better ?
My preference is carbon
Is Trance good for normal asphalt trip?
It's a trail bike with pretty beefy tires so I definitely would not get it for riding a lot of asphalt. Of course it can ride on it but it's going to be slow compared to something like a gravel bike or road bike.