Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 vs 29 2: Which XC Build Fits You

Introduction

Giant’s Anthem has been the brand’s cross-country race platform for years, and the latest version is a meaningful departure from what came before. The frame is carbon, the wheels are 29 inches, and rear travel stays at 100mm, but the suspension layout has been redesigned around a completely different concept.

For UK riders, two models are offered: the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 at £6,999 and the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 2 at £4,999. They share the same frame, the same 100mm of rear travel and much of the finishing kit, so the choice between them comes down to suspension electronics, drivetrain level and wheel specification.

FlexPoint Pro: What Changed on the New Anthem

Maestro has been the backbone of Giant’s full suspension bikes for roughly a decade. The design holds the rear triangle between two co-rotating links to create a floating virtual pivot point, and it earned a reputation for smooth, comfortable rear ends over the years.

The new Anthem steps away from that entirely. Giant calls the replacement FlexPoint Pro, a linkage-driven single pivot layout with engineered flex built into the rear triangle rather than a pivot at the dropout. A main pivot sits behind the chainring, and the flex in the junction between the carbon chainstays and seatstays drives a composite rocker that pushes down on a vertically mounted shock. Removing the lower link and a pair of pivots is what allows the claimed 250 gram weight saving.

It is a layout that has become common on contemporary cross-country race bikes, and the appeal is straightforward: fewer moving parts, less hardware and a lighter rear end. Giant also claims added stiffness around the PF92 PowerCore bottom bracket area and improved torsional rigidity through the frame, which matters on a bike that will be pedalled hard and run fairly stiff.

The trade-off is that flexible stays change how the rear end behaves under load, and that is the part of the design most riders will want to feel for themselves on familiar trails before deciding whether it suits them.

Geometry, Sizing and Frame Details

The Anthem’s numbers are current for an XC race bike. The seat tube angle has been steepened to 75.5 degrees, which puts the rider in a stronger climbing position, while the head angle has been slackened to 67.5 degrees and paired with a fork offering a little extra travel for technical sections.

A useful side effect of moving away from Maestro is a shorter rear end. Chainstays are down to 435mm, which should make the bike feel livelier through corners. On a size large, the seat tube measures 465mm, stack is 603mm and the wheelbase is 1183mm. Dropper posts are 125mm on small and medium, and 150mm on large and extra large.

Finishing details include an MRP chain guide to keep the drivetrain secure, a 35mm carbon handlebar and a 70mm stem.

Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1: The Live Valve Build

The model 1 is the higher specification of the two UK bikes, and the headline component is Fox Live Valve. Sensors and small motors on the frame, fork and shock automatically open and close the suspension dampers to keep the bike as efficient as possible as the trail changes underneath you.

Suspension is a Fox 34 Performance Elite fork paired with a Performance Elite level Live Valve shock. Shimano supplies the XT drivetrain and brakes, and the wheels are Giant’s own XCR1 carbon hoops with a 30mm internal width, wrapped in Maxxis Rekon Race tyres in 29 by 2.4. A size large build comes in at 11.45kg.

For riders who race, or who simply want the suspension to manage itself on long undulating courses, this is the version that makes its case quickly. It is also the more expensive of the two, and the electronic components add a layer of complexity that not every rider will want on a bike they maintain themselves.

Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 2: The Lower-Cost UK Build

The model 2 uses the same frame and the same 100mm of rear travel, but the specification is deliberately simpler. The fork is a Fox 34 Performance, the shock is a Performance Elite Float DPS without electronic control, and the drivetrain and brakes come from Shimano SLX rather than XT.

Wheels are the XCR2 carbon hoops with a 25mm internal width, which is narrower than the XCR1, though the Maxxis Rekon Race tyres and the Giant finishing kit carry over. For riders who want the frame, geometry and suspension platform without paying for Live Valve, this is the more direct route in.

Weight, Wheels and Component Differences

The gap between the two UK bikes comes down to three areas: suspension control, drivetrain level and rim width.

Live Valve is the biggest differentiator. It reads the trail and adjusts damping automatically, which is designed to keep the bike efficient without the rider reaching for a lockout lever. The model 2 relies on a standard Performance Elite Float DPS shock, so efficiency is managed in the usual way, by hand.

Shimano XT on the model 1 and SLX on the model 2 are both proven groupsets, and the difference between them is mostly in weight, finish and small refinements rather than basic function. The wheels follow a similar pattern: a 30mm internal width on the XCR1 against 25mm on the XCR2, which changes how the 2.4 inch tyres sit and how much support they offer when you push hard into a corner.

UK Pricing and the Global Line-Up

In the UK, the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 is priced at £6,999 and the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 2 at £4,999. Both are UK market models, and both are built around the same carbon frame.

Globally, four Anthem models are offered. At the top sits the 0 model, which pairs a SRAM XX1 drivetrain with Shimano XTR brakes and Fox Factory level suspension. A 3 model sits below the 2 on price, although its specification has not been detailed and it is not available in the UK. For UK buyers, the practical decision is therefore between the two models covered above.

Buying Advice

If you race cross-country, or ride long pedally courses where efficiency is the priority, the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 is the more complete package. Fox Live Valve, Shimano XT and the wider XCR1 rims are all aimed at riders who want the bike to handle suspension decisions automatically and who value the lighter, higher grade component set.

If you want the same carbon frame, geometry and 100mm rear travel without the electronic layer, the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 2 saves a substantial amount and still leaves room to upgrade wheels or components later. Either way the frame is the constant, and the FlexPoint Pro rear end is the part of the bike worth understanding before you commit.

Conclusion

The new Anthem is a clear statement of intent from Giant: a claimed lighter rear end, shorter chainstays, current XC geometry and a suspension design that follows where cross-country race bikes have been heading. The model 1 delivers the full technical package with Fox Live Valve and Shimano XT, while the model 2 keeps the same platform within easier reach. Both share the frame and the geometry that matter most.