The all-new Giant Anthem

Announcing the long-awaited release of the World Championship Winning bike!

Anna Beck 13.11.2025

Giant have announced the official launch of its completely overhauled Anthem range in a move that will shock absolutely no one, considering World Champion Alan Hatherly has been ripping everyone’s legs off on the new Anthem for several months.

Debuting the new Anthem Advanced SL and Anthem X Advanced, the new frame is claimed to be both more efficient and stiffer than the outgoing model, with a claimed 6% greater stiffness than the Specialized S-Works Epic 8 – wowsers!

The new Anthem features Advanced SL composite carbon technology and an updated 120mm Flexpoint Pro suspension system – a complete overhaul from the linkage-driven, single pivot Flexpoint Pro system of the former Anthem.

While the Flexpoint Pro name remains the same, the shock position couldn’t look more different from the outgoing model and is now nestled under the top tube – making the new Anthem look very similar (at least aesthetically) to many of the new guard of modern cross country bikes.

Giant claims that the updated suspension design allows the bike to have a much firmer pedalling platform, less resistance and increased efficiency. By eliminating the lower rocker arm, Giant have managed to reduce significant weight, with a claimed frame weight of 1550g (medium).

Other nice-to-have features include two bottle cages in the main frame, a composite bar/stem cockpit (on selected models).

In the words of dual World Champion Hatherly:

“This bike is exactly what I needed to achieve my goal of winning a second straight world championship. XC is full-gas intensity and focus, from the second the start light goes green until you cross the finish line – no room for error. It’s about being efficient and controlling the chaos. And knowing that, when you see the opportunity to make your move, the bike is right there with you, maximizing every pedal stroke and conquering the most challenging technical sections”

Anthem Advanced SL vs Anthem X Advanced

So why the two bikes? What’s the deal?

While Giant have gone all-in on creating the fastest, most efficient bike for dedicated race whippets like Hatherly, the reality is that many people want one bike to race on the weekend and shred trails through the week.

While both bikes feature 120mm rear wheel travel, the Anthem X Advanced features a burlier 130mm fork and downtube storage.

In Australia, we will see four models of the Anthem Advanced SL hit stores, with some stock available today. The Anthem Advanced SL is also available in a World Championship frameset. The Anthem X Advanced will be available in two models from the end of the year.

Geometry

Lending from the world of trail and enduro bikes, the new Anthem range features adjustable geometry, with a high/low setting allowing riders to go from red-lining to good times with ease. For the Anthem Advanced SL series, the seattube angle slackens from 76º in the high setting to 75.5) in the low, while the headtube angle reduces from 67º in high to 66.5º – pretty moderate numbers by 2025 standards. With a 445mm/450mm reach in medium in low/high setting, we would expect the new Anthem Advanced SL to ride like a compact pocket rocket.

The Anthem X Advanced sports only minor geometry adjustments, with a 75.5º/75º seatube angle and a 66.5º/66º headtube angle in high/low settings.

Looking at the numbers, we would expect both The Anthem Advances SL and Anthem X Advanced to handle well, corner on a dime and feel exactly like a cross country bike should – but we won’t be able to confirm until we swing a leg over!