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Anthem Frame Breakage
Synopsis: My Anthem 29' Frame Broke/snapped and Giant replaced it. I understand that a number of frames have broken in a similar spot, so if you have an Anthem don't be surprised...
The frame break was a real surprise. I had a very slow speed off after catching a fence post as I went through one of the obstacles on the pipeline track through Davidson. I picked the bike up and jumped straight back on but then it made some very strange noises. I hoped off again and then noticed that the frame was extra flexible. The crossbar joint with the saddle stem had snapped clean through. The frame was 2.5 years old and I ride a fair amount but still that's not that long for a frame to break. I was very depressed until I spoke to the LBS where I bought it and they said Giant would switch it as they have seen it a few times recently. The LBS switched all the parts for me and I now I have a virtually new bike!
So very good on Giant! Very good on the LBS (Turramurra)! But be careful on Anthem 29' frames. I love mine but still. (Its interesting that Anthems seem to be getting replaced with Trek Superfly's at some shops. Trek Superfly's have that weld covered with a sub-stem)
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Giant are fantastic with there warranty's.
I have cracked the last 3 giants I have owned. The last was a Giant Reign that cracked with in 9months of owning it.
Giant have replaced all 3 with out issue!
All 3 of my bikes cracked in exactly the same place where the top tube joins the seat post. I have a mate with a glory and it also cracked in the same place!
IIRC the first year of Anthems (2011) had quite a few occurrences of that issue and was beefed up in the second year to fix the issue. There was even a recall of the originals so Giant have been good at taking care of anyone effected
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/11/news/gian...
Giant know how to look after their customers. It's no surprise they are popular with retailers.
You are lucky....A certain other brand (that not many retailers bother with anymore due to warranty treatment).....if they found out you had hit something prior to the frame break they would have knocked you back.
I ride Giants for their reputation of no hassle warranty too.
Hope the 2012's Anthem 29ers are stronger or I might get a new frame.....woo hoo.
You think about the punishment they get around tracks like Manly Dam and you wonder how they last more than a few months
I thought I had better check my 2012 X1 anthem for any cracks after your post and found two hairline cracks. One in the usual spot of seat post to top tube and another on the shock brace ,driveline side. The bike is almost two years old and it has probably done close to 3000kms of fairly hard riding but nothing a xc bike shouldn't handle. I will give the bike shop where I bought it a call and see what my course of action will be. I would really love a new frame with no chips all shiny and new but will have to wait and see.
I just got my bike, 2011 anthem x1, back after 5 months - same thing - crack on top tube, no crashes. Giant replaced frame under warranty and I got an upgrade to carbon for the wait!
I couldn't wait 5 months for a replacement, I hate leaving my bike in the lbs for any more than a day or two.I hope there is a fast turn around if they take my frame
I've broken 3 Anthem 29ers now, it's odd that they continue to manufacture the frame without rectifying the issues at the seat/top tube and the shock mount/seat tube junctions properly. But my replacements have been same day, 2 days and the last one just over a week all XL's. I have not been let down in a race or long ride so I've been lucky, but next time if it happens again I may pay for the Carbon upgrade. The last one lasted a lot longer after changing to an inline post, and it was the shock mount fractures not the top/seat tube crack like the others.
Giant's customer service is exceptional, their gamble on not fixing the design fault's properly not so great.
The one thing about this is Giant aren't admitting to the issue as Anthems have been so popular. My mates and I have bought 4 Anthem 29'ers between us as they were such great value for money. But clearly if you go into your LBS, they won't say anything directly but clearly the Alloy Superfly's price has been brought down and the Anthems are gone. I'd see the morale of the story that it remains good to buy Giants/Treks because they do look after customer satisfaction and leverage their scale to give great value for money but the Anthem design is not great in a 29er and I would not be buying them again. Now I have a brand new anthem frame after the break I'm really happy as the bike has handled well and been very good over the last 2.5 years but my advice to anyone looking at a new or second hand purchase is not to go anywhere near Anthems.
I have never had a Giant frame fail. But a colleague's husband had his frame break about a year ago which was replaced with no questions asked. You can't beat that for service.
Given the paper thin width of these hydroformed tubes, is it any wonder the frames fail after an off? Makes sense to me. Tap the side of your Giant frame top or down tube. Tink, tink, tink. I have used stronger drinking glasses. But this is not a complaint. It is simply the current way of the industry.
I bought a 2008 Anthem and discovered a crack half way around near where the top tube connects to the seat tube in May 2012. It was replaced without question so top marks to Giant (not so much the designer who signed off on insufficient meat at the end of that tube . . . )
I have an Anthem sl1 26" and cracked it in the same place. Seat post/ top bar. Gaint replaced it with an upgrade to a
sl0 including new CTD rear shock. How awesome is that?