If you've been looking to buy a full-suspension cross-country trail bike that doesn't ask you to choose between climbing efficiency and descending confidence, the Giant Anthem X Advanced SL 1 is worth your full attention.
The Giant Anthem X has always sat in an interesting spot in the market, quick enough for XC racing, capable enough for proper trail riding. This generation pushes that further than ever.
The new Anthem X Advanced SL blurs the line between XC and trail performance with a lightweight composite frame, a new semi-integrated FlexPoint Pro rear suspension setup with 120mm of travel, a flip chip to adjust geometry, and a 130mm fork.
Add in an integrated handlebar with clean cable routing and you've got a bicycle that's fast, fun, and genuinely ready to rip on almost any terrain you point it at.
For riders in the UK, where trails can switch from hardpack to loose chop to rooted singletrack within the same ride, that kind of versatility matters a great deal.
RACE-BRED TRAIL SPEED
The full-composite frameset is both ultra-light and highly efficient, helping you power up climbs without haemorrhaging watts. The WheelSystems and integrated handlebar and stem units are built for maximum efficiency and instantaneous response to rider input. The rear shock is repositioned and semi-integrated with the top tube, shaving weight and freeing up space for a second water bottle cage, a detail any rider who's ever bonked mid-ride will quietly appreciate.
TOTAL CONTROL
The new FlexPoint Pro suspension delivers 120mm of smooth, active rear travel paired with a 130mm fork, giving you the confidence to push harder on rough descents while still climbing with purpose on technical ascents. A flip chip lets you fine-tune the handling to suit the terrain you're riding, whether that's tight, punchy trail loops or longer, more flowing XC courses. Superlight composite Giant WheelSystems come with a next-generation 120-tooth helical ratchet drive system for immediate power transfer, and robust 5mm rim sidewalls for solid protection against impacts and punctures. British trail riding tends to be hard on kit, and Giant have clearly thought about longevity here.
SYSTEM INTEGRATION
The new one-piece integrated handlebar and stem unit adds compliance to absorb trail buzz, improving both control and hand comfort over longer rides. Available in two versions, the Contact SLR XC Integrated composite and the Contact SL XC Integrated alloy, both share the same clean, seamless cable routing and come in versatile sizing with a 780mm standard width and stem lengths from 50mm to 90mm.
The Giant Anthem X Advanced SL 1 in Solar Prominence is one of the best-looking builds in the current Giant lineup, and the colourway looks even sharper on the trail than it does in photos.
If you're trying to decide where this sits against the competition, the short answer is: right at the top of what a full-suspension cross-country trail bicycle can do at this price point in the UK market.