New product season is in full swing with a number of brands trickling 2018 options into stores. 2018 looks set to be a big one for the mountain bike world, particularly for Giant, with a number of new additions and improvements found in the hugely capable off-road range.
For 2018, Giant has introduced a new cross country race weapon to the mountain bike range in the form of the Anthem Advanced Pro 29er and has made it Reign, overhauling its popular Enduro platform. The rest of the range sees a range of updated components and trickle down technology find it’s way down to enthusiast-level rides.
Colorways across the off-road range are more subdued for 2018, however, there’s still a generous helping of neon for those wanting to standout on the trail. Read on for all the highlights from Giant Australia's mountain bike range for 2018.
Related reading: Giant 2018 road bike performance range overview.
Anthem gets race ready
Returning to its short travel cross-country (XC) race bike roots, the Anthem Advanced Pro 29er has upped the ante across the board, all with the view of crossing the finish line first.
As its name suggests, wheel size has grown to 29in, a big step for Giant given they have long championed the 27.5in movement in the past. The Anthem Advanced Pro 29er 0 and 1 score a totally re-engineered frame, featuring an Advanced grade composite frame and rear triangle for reduced weight and a claimed increase in stiffness. The new frame is longer, lower and slacker than its 27.5in stable mate and weighs in at a claimed 1746g with a fully built size medium weighing in at 10.2 kg (weight courtesy of Colin Levitch of BikeRadar).
One other interesting change which reaffirms the race intentions is the move to a 27.2mm fixed seatpost (as opposed to the previous dropper) with Giant offering its Contact SLR seatpost on the Advanced Pro 0.
Trunnion mount metric shocks and Giant's Maestro suspension technology is found throughout the entire Anthem range. All 2018 Anthem models feature a lower leverage ratio allowing for lower shock pressures to be used.
Suspension travel has been reduced on the Advanced Pro 29er and refined to 100mm up front with 90mm in the rear. Front and rear suspension lockouts are now available via one lever for on the fly suspension changes.
Further down the range, the alloy framed Anthem 29er range is set to provide riders with a cracking race bike without the money no object price tag. Priced from $3,500, and featuring a host of impressive spec, it’s surely one to consider for the budget conscious.
Elsewhere in the Anthem family, both the 27.5in-wheeled Anthem Advanced (carbon) and Anthem (alloy) models get a fresh lick of paint and updated spec. These bikes continue to blur the lines between XC and trail bike with front suspension travel being bumped up across the range to 130mm.
Anthem Advanced Pro 29er 0 – $8,500
Advanced Composite front and rear triangle, Fox Factory 32SC fork, Fox Factory Float EVOL rear shock, SRAM XX1 Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, SRAM Level Ultimate brakes, Giant XCR 0 Composite Tubeless 29in wheels and Giant Contact SLR 27.2 seat post.
Anthem Advanced Pro 29er 1 – $4,900
Advanced Composite frame and rear triangle, Fox 32SC Performance Elite fork, Fox Float Performance EVOL rear shock, SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain/brakes, Giant XCR 1 Composite Tubeless 29in wheels and Giant Contact SL seatpost.
Anthem 29er 1 – $3,750
Aluxx SL grade aluminium frame, Fox 32 SC Performance Elite fork, Fox Float Performance EVOL rear shock, SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain/brakes, Giant XCR 1 Composite Tubeless 29in wheels and Giant Contact composite seatpost.
Anthem Advanced 0 – $8,000
Advanced grade composite front triangle, alloy rear triangle, 27.5in wheels, RockShox Pike fork, RockShox Super Deluxe RCT rear shock and SRAM XO1 Eagle 1x12 drivetrain.
Anthem Advanced 2 – $4,000
Advanced Composite front triangle, alloy rear triangle, 27.5in wheels, RockShox Revelation RC Solo Air 130mm-travel fork, RockShox Deluxe RT trunnion mount rear shock and Shimano SLX 1x11 drivetrain and Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes.
Anthem 2 – $2,600
Aluxx SL grade aluminium frame, 27.5in wheels, Fox Float 34 Rhythm fork, Fox Float Performance shock, Shimano SLX 1x11 drivetrain, Giant XC1 tubeless wheelset.
Anthem 3 - $2,200
Aluxx SL grade aluminium frame, 27.5in wheels, RockShox Gold fork, Shimano Deore 10sp drivetrain Giant XC1 tubeless wheelset.
Make it Reign
The Reign has been totally re-engineered for 2018, with a range of tweaks and component changes to make Giant’s hugely popular enduro bike as aggressive, fast and fun as ever. The geometry has been tweaked with the toptube lengthened by 20mm to increase stability, while the headtube remains a slack 65 degrees. Suspension travel stays at 160mm at both ends. And as introduced to the Trance for 2017, the new Reign receives a trunnion mount metric rear shock, resulting in a lower leverage ratio which allows for a lower shock pressure.
Featuring a remote lockout, the RockShox Super Deluxe rear coil shock found on the Reign Advanced 0 is claimed to offer confidence inspiring control when descending and a lock out for enduro racers transitioning between stages, or riders wanting an easier time when climbing back up the trail to blast down another run.
Giant's carbon rims are out and alloy is in with the top spec Advanced models scoring DT Swiss hoops wrapped in aggressive Maxxis rubber.
Reign Advanced 0 – $8,200
Advanced composite frame, Aluxx SL rear triangle, RockShox Lyric fork, RockShox Super Deluxe Coil shock (with remote lockout), SRAM XO1 Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, SRAM Guide RSC brakes, DT Swiss EX1501 Spline One wheelset shod with Maxxis High Roller II (Rear) and Maxxis Shorty (front) rubber
Reign Advanced 1 – $5,400
Advanced composite frame, Aluxx SL rear triangle, Fox 36 Float Performance Elite fork, Fox Float DPX2 performance shock, SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, DT Swiss E1700 Spline Two wheelset.
Reign SX – $4,000
Aluxx SL aluminium frame, RockShox Lyric fork, RockShox Super Deluxe Coil RT shock, Shimano SLX 1x11-speed drivetrain with SRAM Guide RS hydraulic disc brakes, Giant P-AM2 Disc wheelset.
Reign 2 – $2,700
Aluxx SL aluminium frame, RockShox Yari fork, RockShox Deluxe shock, Shimano Deore 1x10 drivetrain, Giant PAM-2 tubeless wheelset.
Trance remains a killer all-round option
The hugely popular trail-ready Trance range continues with little change in 2018 following a range of updates in 2017.
Like the Anthem, XTC and Reign, the Trance features Boost axle spacing, whilst a Trunnion Mount metric rear shock and forged composite rocker arm are featured throughout the range.
Suspension is business as usual with front travel remaining at 150mm, with the rear at 140mm. Headangle sits at 67-degrees. The Trance looks set to be a hit for trail riders with alloy models, as usual, offering impressive value for money.
Trance Advanced 0 – $8,000
Carbon composite front triangle, RockShox Pike RCT3 fork, SRAM X01 Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, SRAM Guide RSC brakes, Giant TRX 0 Composite Tubeless wheels, MRP chain guide and Maxxis High Roller II rubber.
Trance Advanced 1 – $5,000
Carbon composite front triangle, Fox 34 Performance Elite fork, Fox Float DPX2 rear shock, SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain/brakes, Giant TRX 1 Composite Tubeless wheels and Giant Contact Switch S dropper post.
Trance Advanced 2 - $4,000
Advanced-grade composite mainframe, RockShox Revelation RC Solo Air 150mm-travel fork, RockShox Deluxe RT trunnion mount rear shock, Shimano SLX 1x11-speed drivetrain with Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes, Giant TRX 1 Composite WheelSystem with Maxxis High Roller II tubeless tires.
Trance 2 – $2,825
Alloy frame, Fox 34 Rhythm fork, Fox Float Performance EVOL rear shock, Shimano SLX 1x11 drivetrain and Giant Contact Switch dropper post.
Trance 3 – $2,300
Alloy frame, Suntour Aion fork, RockShox Deluxe R rear shock, Shimano Deore 1x10 speed drivetrain and Giant XC1 tubeless wheelset.
The hardtail lives on with the XTC range
The XTC Advanced 29er is again set to provide riders with a versatile ride, suited to many different riding disciplines thanks to its ability to switch between 27.5+ and 29in wheels (27.5 Plus tires feature a similar external diameter to a 29er tire, but pack a massive three inches of grippy tread and plush air volume). This versatility is a trend we’re seeing plenty of in the industry.
Adding even further versatility, the XTC Advanced platform features horizontal dropouts, making converting to a single track munching singlespeed a sinch.
For those wanting a little more trail fun, Giant is now offering the XTC Advanced+ 2, which comes equipped with trail ready 27.5+ wheels shod with 2.8” wide tires, see below for more.
XTC Advanced 29er 1 – $4,000
Advanced carbon frame, RockShox SID RL fork, SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, SRAM Level TL brakes and Giant XCR 1 Composite wheels.
XTC Advanced+ 2 – $2,800
Advanced carbon frame, RockShox Judy RL fork, Shimano SLX 1x11 drivetrain/brakes, Tranzx dropper seatpost and Giant GE35 27.5+ tubeless wheelset.
XTC Advanced 29er 3 - $1,950
Advanced carbon frame, Suntour Radion LO-R fork and Shimano Deore 1x10 drivetrain.
Glory remains the same
Save for a fresh paint job and some specification tweaks, the downhill-focused Glory range continues without any major changes for 2018.
Glory Advanced 0 – $8,000
Carbon front triangle, 200mm travel, team-replica spec, RockShox BoXXer Team fork, RockShox Vivid R2C rear shock, SRAM X01 DH 7-speed drivetrain, SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes, MRP G4 Mini Carbon chain guide and DT Swiss rims/hubs.
Glory 2 – $3,150
Alloy frame, 200mm travel, Marzocchi Bomber 380RC fork, Fox Vanilla Performance rear shock, SRAM X5 9-speed drivetrain and MRP G3 Mini Alloy chain guide
Fathom 29er bolsters its credentials
The trail-friendly Giant Fathom 29 hardtail continues on with little change after its update last year. Featuring the stellar ALUXX SL aluminium frame, 69-degree head angle, 100mm travel suspension fork and 29in wheels, the Fathom range is sure to be a hit with XC (cross country) riders wanting a competent hardtail and bang for their buck. Australian dealers will be selling two Fathom 29er models. The frame remains unchanged from the 2017 Fathom 29er 2 we reviewed earlier in the year.
Fathom 29er 1 – $1,450
The Fathom 29er 1 looks to have plenty on offer for the aspiring mountain biker, including a 1x11 Shimano SLX drivetrain, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a Suntour Axon LO-RC fork.
Fathom 29er 2 – $1,050
The Fathom 29er 2 features a 2x9 Shimano Deore/Alivio drivetrain, Suntour Raidon XC LO-R, and Aussie-condition friendly 2.2in wide Maxxis Ikon tires.
Fathom 1 - $1,450
ALUXX SL-grade aluminum frame, SR Suntour Axon LO-RC 120mm-travel fork, Giant XC-1 Disc wheelset, Shimano SLX 1x11-speed drivetrain with Shimano M365 hydraulic disc brakes.
Fathom 2 - $1,150
ALUXX SL-grade aluminum frame, SR Suntour Raidon XC LO-R DS 120mm-travel fork, Giant XC-2 Disc wheelset, Shimano Deore 2x10-speed drivetrain.
Stance, an entry-level Trance
Stance 1 - $2,100
ALUXX-grade butted aluminum frame, Fox 32 Rhythm 120mm-travel fork, Fox Performance rear shock, Shimano SLX 1x11-speed drivetrain with Shimano M365 hydraulic disc brakes, Giant XC-1 Disc wheelset.
Stance 2 – $1,500
For those keen on a dual suspension bike at a similar price point to the Fathom, then check out the Stance 2. The 27.5in-wheeled bike features 120mm travel all around courtesy of a Suntour Axon RL-R fork and Suntour Epxion R shock. It uses a Shimano Deore 2x9 drivetrain and sits on 27.5in Giant XC2 tubeless wheels.
The Talon tightens its grip
The Giant Talon continues to be a mainstay of the off-road range, proving to be a popular option for riders considering an entry-level hardtail. The Talon, available exclusively with 27.5in wheels and 100mm of suspension travel, will be available in two models in Australia, the Talon 2 and 3
Talon 2 – $750:
Talon 3 – $520:
Talon 29er 2 - $750:
Talon 29er 3 - $520:
Giant continue to expand into parts and accessories
There was plenty new to see in Giant's expansive range of parts, clothing and riding accessories. However, it was two new shoes that dominated interest this year.
First is the new downhill focused 'Shuttle' mountain bike shoe. Using Giant's 'EXOBeam' outersole design, the shoe looks to feature an aggressive tread pattern, durable upper and a rubber bump cap on the toe of the shoe. The key talking point of the footwear is its moisture management properties with Giant claiming the shoe only gains 30g in weight when completely saturated. Expect these to sell for AU$169.
The 'Line' trail shoe is the other new addition to Giant’s off road shoe range which has been worn by Aussie Giant Factory rider Josh Carlsson throughout this year's Enduro World Series. The Line features Giant’s ExoBeam nylon outersole, the same aggressive tread pattern and bump cap found on the Shuttle, yet features a lower cut cuff with a combination ratchet/velcro closure system on the upper.
For more information, or to get hands on the new range, visit your local Giant dealer.
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