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Trance x1 29er or Anthem x1 29er
Hey guys,
Just wanting a bit of advice really, ive got a green light on a new bike for xmas and with a budget of $2500 these are the two bikes that are on my radar, im ex motorcross and for the last couple of years have been riding a lower end avanti 26 er
I have access to a house in dunno and love riding the trails there and at margaret river but want somthing F/S
I also want to start riding KC ect
The only problem is i did the anaconda ride as part of a team recently and loved it, its the first time ive done any racing and loved it, ived just registered to do the dunsborough triathalon ride also as part of a team ( im not a runner or swimmer)
So i suppose my question is will an Anthem be ok for places like Margs and KC or alternatiy can a Trance be set up well enough to handle race legs of up to say 50km?
Any input would be greatly appreciated
Cheers russ
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Assuming this is for the 29" version you're referring to.
I tried both bikes during the Demo day they had in Sydney a few weeks ago.
The Trance is a playful bike, if you're into doing jumps, drop offs, etc I would get the Trance.
The Anthem is a no nonsense fast machine, it climbs well, harsher ride than the Trance,but much smoother than my 26" Anthem. Out of the 2 and for what I do I preferred the Anthem as it's a quicker bike, don't do jumps etc, and the Anthem looks better than the Trance IMO. The Trance headtube is just plain ugly to me.
Not familiar with the trails in WA so can't really comment on that. The Trance should have no issues for 50K events, the bike is light enough and still climb well.
You should be able to try out these bikes from your local dealer.
Cheers bmar
I edited the title for clarity, is the anthem ride a lot harsher than the trance?
i weigh 82kg's and 179cm
cheers russ
I ride a 2012 Anthem 29er and I'm at the KC most weekends. Obviously it depends on how you ride. If you just want to cruise up the climbs and really enjoy the downhills then a Trance is probably better. If you want to go racing and be a fast climber then I would definitely go the Anthem.
I haven't actually ridden a Trance so can't compare harshness but I get annoyed with the pedal bob on my Anthem and I ride with 10-20psi extra in my rear shock and never turn propedal off. From watching people on Trance's the pedal bob looks quite a bit worse.
Hey droo, the wait list for a trance x 1 is first week in feb so hopefully ill see you out there then.....
Maybe the answer is a Trance for the fun stuff and a cheap Hardtail 29er for the comps?
Cheers Russ
nah not a lot harsher, but noticeable.
I was just faced with the same dilemma. I was too'ing and fro'ing between them when i came across a used (barely) trance. I got it for a great price, and having stepped up from a halo, i was wrapped, the difference is phenomenal. It is an awesome free ride / all mountain bike, but I can confirm everyone's comments, a lot of pedal bob - even with the adjustable steps on both shocks. I don't race, but I'd like to in the near future. If your certain you will be racing I'd go the anthem. You will save yourself a couple hundred in the process. I have to repeat myself though, that the trance is a very fun ride!
droo,no offence intended mate, but if your getting pedal bob on an ANTHEM you must be stomping your pedals like your making your next cellars worth of chardonnay:-).Ive owned a reign which I've downhilled at thredbo on and used to comute a 40km round trip.My girlfriend rides a giant cypher,basically a womens specific trance,and hers has almost no pedal bob when she has the pro pedal setting on,and she does NOT ride with finess! the maestro suspension system on the giants allows for a very smooth ride,may i suggest you use your hams and calves more and pedal through the stroke rather than mashing the pedals?Admittedly neither my reign or the misses 's cypher is a 29 but wouldn't have thought it would affect the pedal bob...Also another member on here,Liam rides an anthem when he wants to go fast but I've watched him flat land his anthem on over a meter drop with no dramas at all,these bikes have more in them than we give them credit me thinks....
I demoed an anthem at the start of the year in the lead up to the Karri Cup. I had it for about a month and road it a lot around the Camel Farm and all the trails leading up to it from Helena Valley. Whilst the bike performed ok it seemed to be sluggish coming out of tight corners etc and it felt really awkward which I put down to it being a 29er ( regular ride was a anthem 26in). In the Karri Cup it was great on hills and the straights but just wasn't that good in the twisty stuff.
Since then the new Specialized camber has been released and after demoing one of those I took the plunge and had my first event at the 12hr. Man what a machine there was nine of the sluggishness of the anthem and it absolutely ate up the course. The camber is touted as being a cross between stumpies and epics (anthem/trance).
So my point to this is consider the camber it fits the price range and may just give you the best of both worlds. I think both brands are bring demoed over the next few weeks as well.
bikemad: the pedal bob issue is only really when i'm out of the saddle. maybe it's a technique thing, who knows. but i am comparing to my riding buddy's 2012 epic evo 29er with brain on hardest or second hardest setting so i'm bound to be disappointed.