The Giant Anthem X Advanced SL 2 is a cross-country mountain bike with enough travel to handle proper trail riding.
With 120 mm of rear suspension and a 130 mm fork, the Anthem X Advanced sits between a pure XC race bike and a short-travel trail bike, which makes it a strong option for UK riders who want one bike for everything from marathon races to rough weekend rides in the hills.
In the Dark Jungle colourway, it looks the part on the trail without being flashy about it.
Light frame, more travel than you'd expect
The full composite frameset is built to be stiff where it matters and light enough that climbs don't feel like a chore. The rear shock is semi-integrated with the top tube through Giant's new FlexPoint Pro suspension layout, which saves weight and frees up space for a second water bottle cage. That's a welcome addition on longer rides and races where carrying enough water can be a headache.
A flip chip in the linkage lets you adjust the geometry to suit the terrain. Slacken it out for rougher, steeper trails. Tighten it up for faster, smoother courses. It takes a couple of minutes to swap and gives the Giant Anthem X Advanced a broader range of ability than a fixed-geometry XC bike.
Wheels and hubs built for response
The Giant WheelSystems fitted to the Anthem X Advanced SL 2 use a next-generation 120-tooth helical ratchet drive hub. In plain terms, that means near-instant engagement when you put the power down, which is noticeable out of corners and on punchy climbs where half a pedal stroke matters. The rims have 5 mm sidewalls for better impact protection against rocks and roots, a practical touch for riding UK trail centres and natural terrain where you can't always pick your line.
Integrated cockpit
The one-piece integrated handlebar and stem unit (Contact SLR XC Integrated composite on this model) adds a degree of compliance to absorb vibrations from rough ground, which reduces hand fatigue over longer rides. Cable routing runs internally through the bar and stem, keeping the front end clean. The standard bar width is 780 mm, with stem lengths available from 50 mm to 90 mm, so there's room to fine-tune the fit.
Who is this bike for?
The Giant Anthem X Advanced SL 2 Mountain Bike suits riders who race XC but don't want to be limited by a 100 mm hardtail or short-travel full-suspension bike. The extra 20 mm of rear travel and the 130 mm fork give you more confidence on rough descents without costing you much on the climbs.
It's a good match for UK trail centres, natural singletrack, endurance XC events, and fast riding on mixed terrain. If your local trails have a bit of everything (roots, rocks, loose climbs, and technical descents), the Anthem X handles that range well.
For riders shopping for Giant mountain bikes for sale in the UK, the Anthem X Advanced sits at the performance end of the Giant mountain lineup. If you've been looking at the Anthem X Giant range and wondering where the SL 2 fits, it's the sweet spot between the top-tier SL 0 spec and the more affordable builds lower down. As a Giant Anthem MTB for trail-capable cross-country riding, it's hard to fault.
Specs at a glance
- Frame: Advanced SL full composite
- Rear suspension: FlexPoint Pro, 120 mm travel, flip chip geometry adjust
- Fork: 130 mm
- Cockpit: Contact SLR XC Integrated composite, 780 mm width, 50–90 mm stem options
- Hubs: 120-tooth helical ratchet drive
- Rim sidewalls: 5 mm
- Bottle mounts: two (second cage enabled by semi-integrated shock)