Quote Originally Posted by bpchik View Post
Tzvia, or anyone else who might have some feedback,
I see you rode the Specialized Safire, but own the Giant Anthem W.

I'm considering both of them right now. The Safire Expert 2010, and the Giant Anthem W1 (2011). They are different, but I'm stuck regarding Specialized's brain technology, and the Talas fork (more options, more travel), and a $1000 discount off of last year's model ($3300 down to $2300). Both fit okay, but the geometry and feel is definitely different. Unfortunately the two bikes are in two different towns (an hour away), so I haven't been able to ride them back to back to really compare.

My gut tells me to go with the Giant, just because it feels faster and more responsive, and everyone says the components on it are awesome. The Safire Expert has a rear X.0 derailleur, though (Giant Anthem 1 is XTR).

Thoughts?
Yes, they feel very different. The Giant feels more 'quick'; I'm in more of an attack position with a flatter back and the top tube is longer. The suspension is awesome but mine is an '08 with only 3.5" in the rear and 80mm up front. The Safire suspension is more firm feeling, the ride is more upright with a shorter top tube, and it has over an inch more suspension front and rear. The brain is awesome. I don't touch a thing during the ride, it's stiff when I hammer and more active in the rough. The Giant bobs a bit under power and I tend to flick the propedal on '2' in the rear. Sometimes I lock out the fork too on long climbs to stop the bobbing. On the Safire, I just motor along and it does it all by itself.

As for the X0 vs XTR- I've got a mix of XT/XTR on the Giant and XO on the Safire. Between the two, I now prefer the X0. Close, but I just like the feel of the levers.