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Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs vs Specialized Epic 8 Comp

Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs, side view

Giant

Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs

Specialized Epic 8 Comp, side view

Specialized

Epic 8 Comp

High endCross-countryFull suspensionCarbon2026
High endCross-countryFull suspensionCarbon2025

Close on the specs and the list price: here are their 18 differences, line by line.

Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs, side viewGiantGiant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs
Specialized Epic 8 Comp, side viewSpecializedSpecialized Epic 8 Comp

At a glance

  • Specialized Epic 8 Comp has the higher-range groupset: SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission, against SRAM Eagle AXS, GX Eagle Transmission.
  • Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs is the newer model (2026).
Key specs6 differences
Model year 2026 2025
FrameSame for all Carbon
As printed

Material: Carbon

 Carbon
As printed

FACT 11m Carbon

SuspensionSame for all Full suspension, 120 / 120 mm
As printed

Type de Suspension: Tout Suspendu

 Full suspension, 120 / 120 mm
Fork model RockShox SID Select+ 3P °Value not published by the brandHigher range RockShox SID Select
As printed

RockShox SID Select, Ride Dynamics developed 3 position, TwistLoc remote adjust, Debon Air

ShockSame for all RockShox SidLuxe Select+ °Value not published by the brand RockShox SIDLuxe Select+
As printed

RockShox SIDLuxe Select+, ... 190x45mm

Wheelset 29" · Giant XCR WheelSystem °Value not published by the brand 29" · Specialized Alloy 29 °Value not published by the brand
DrivetrainSame for all 1×12 1×12
Groupset SRAM Eagle AXS, GX Eagle Transmission °Value not published by the brand SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission Higher range
Brake model Shimano Deore XT BR-M8220 °Value not published by the brand SRAM Level Bronze Stealth, 4-piston caliper, hydraulic disc
Seatpost Dropper · Giant Contact Switch SL dropper, remote °Value not published by the brand Dropper · X-Fusion Manic, 30.9, 125/150/170 Travel, 0mm offset
As printed

X-Fusion Manic, 30.9, 125/150/170 Travel

Weight–Not given 11.89 kg

Prices

Each model's retailers, delivered to your country, and their prices over time.

Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs

Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs

Specialized Epic 8 Comp

Specialized Epic 8 Comp

Affiliate links: no extra cost for you ♥

Character

The bike at a glance: the ground it is made for, how it handles, its gears and its equipment, beside the other bikes of its kind.

  • Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs · Mountain bike very demanding, very stable, rather high equipment.
  • Epic 8 Comp · Mountain bike very demanding, very stable, long gearing, rather high equipment.
Terrain
Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs 84%Specialized Epic 8 Comp 92%3 bikes1 bike6 bikes3 bikes13 bikes3 bikes2 bikes4 bikes1 bike7 bikes2 bikes3 bikes2 bikes2 bikes5 bikes1 bike4 bikes4 bikes2 bikes3 bikes3 bikes4 bikes1 bike2 bikes2 bikes4 bikes2 bikes · Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs5 bikes2 bikes3 bikes · Specialized Epic 8 Comp1 bike5 bikes2 bikes
EasyDemanding
Handling
Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs 84%Specialized Epic 8 Comp 89%4 bikes1 bike1 bike2 bikes2 bikes2 bikes2 bikes1 bike2 bikes7 bikes1 bike2 bikes4 bikes1 bike3 bikes2 bikes1 bike1 bike2 bikes2 bikes1 bike1 bike5 bikes4 bikes · Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs3 bikes · Specialized Epic 8 Comp2 bikes3 bikes1 bike
NimbleStable

Gearing

Speed in the lowest and the highest gear at 90 rpm: lower on the left climbs easier, higher on the right goes faster.

  • Specialized Epic 8 Comp8 km/h - 43 km/h
Easiest gear (climbing)Hardest gear (descending)
Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 GxsSpecialized Epic 8 Compother cross-country mountain bikes

Components and specs

Every spec line by line; the higher range of a component is marked. The technical groups are folded.

Ride type
DisciplineSame for all Cross-country Cross-country
As printed

Progressive XC Race Geometry

Frame and fork1 difference
Max tyre clearance 61 mm °Value not published by the brand–Not given
AxlesSame for all Thru-axles °Value not published by the brand
As printed

Advanced SL-grade composite front and rear triangles, 120mm FlexPoint Pro suspension, flip chip, 12x148mm thru-axle. Frame weight 1530 grams (size medium).

 Thru-axles
As printed

12x148mm UDH compatible rear dropout

Bottom bracket SRAM DUB, press fit °Value not published by the brand SRAM DUB Threaded Wide
Cable routing–Not given Internal
As printed

internal cable routing

Seatpost diameterSame for all 30.9 mm °Value not published by the brand 30.9 mm °Value not published by the brand
Suspension
Fork travelSame for all 120 mm °Value not published by the brand 120 mm
Rear travelSame for all 120 mm °Value not published by the brand 120 mm
Drivetrain4 differences
Groupset brandSame for all SRAM
As printed

Antriebsmarke: Sram

 SRAM
As printed

SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission

ShiftingSame for all Electronic, wireless °Value not published by the brand
As printed

SRAM GX AXS Transmission SRAM AXS Pod, discrete clamp, 1x12

 Electronic, wireless
ChainringsSame for all 1 °Value not published by the brand 1
Gears at the backSame for all 12 °Value not published by the brand 12 °Value not published by the brand
Chainring teeth SRAM GX Transmission, 34t, 55mm chainline °Value not published by the brand SRAM S1000 Eagle, DUB, 34T, 165/170/175mm °Value not published by the brandHigher range
Cassette SRAM XS 1275, 10x52 °Value not published by the brand SRAM XS 1270 Transmission, 10-52t
Rear derailleur SRAM GX AXS Transmission °Value not published by the brand SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission °Value not published by the brandHigher range
Shifters SRAM AXS Pod, discrete clamp, 1x12 °Value not published by the brand SRAM AXS POD Controller °Value not published by the brand
Brakes
BrakesSame for all Hydraulic disc °Value not published by the brand
As printed

Shimano XT Disque hydraulique

 Hydraulic disc
As printed

SRAM Level Bronze Stealth, 4-piston caliper, hydraulic disc

Front rotorSame for all 180 mm °Value not published by the brand 180 mm
Rear rotorSame for all 160 mm °Value not published by the brand 160 mm
Wheels and tyres2 differences
Wheel sizeSame for all 700c / 29" 700c / 29"
As printed

Specialized Alloy 29

Rims–Not given Aluminium °Value not published by the brand
Rim inner width–Not given 27 mm
Tubeless readySame for all yes °Value not published by the brand yes
Tyres Maxxis Aspen 29x2.4, foldable, 120tpi, MaxxSpeed, EXO, tubeless °Value not published by the brand Specialized Fast Trak, Control Casing, T7 Compound, 29x2.35 / Specialized Renegade, Control Casing, T5 Compound, 29x2.35 °Value not published by the brand
Tyre width fitted 61 mm °Value not published by the brand 60 mm °Value not published by the brand−1 mm
Cockpit and seatpost4 differences
Handlebar width 780 mm °Value not published by the brand 750 mm −30 mm
Handlebar Giant Integrated XC, composite, 780mm, 9-degree upsweep °Value not published by the brand Specialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp °Value not published by the brand
Stem Giant Integrated XC Carbon °Value not published by the brand Specialized, 3D-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 7-degree rise °Value not published by the brand
Seatpost model Giant Contact Switch SL dropper, remote °Value not published by the brand X-Fusion Manic, 30.9, 125/150/170 Travel, 0mm offset °Value not published by the brand
Weight
Weighed in size–Not given M
As printed

Poids Taille MD

Mounts and storage
In-frame storage–Not given yes

° Value not published by the brand

Geometry

A size per bike (the nearest to the first one's at first), the differences measured from the reference bike.

Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs · MD LOWEpic 8 Comp · M
  • Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs · MD LOW
  • Epic 8 Comp · M

Stack and reach

570580590600610620630640410420430440450460470480↖ UprightAggressive ↘Reach (mm)Stack (mm)Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs · MD LOW — Reach (mm) 445 · Stack (mm) 607Epic 8 Comp · M — Reach (mm) 450 · Stack (mm) 598
  • Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs · MD LOW Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs · MD LOW — Reach (mm) 445 · Stack (mm) 607
  • Epic 8 Comp · M Epic 8 Comp · M — Reach (mm) 450 · Stack (mm) 598
Geometry15 differences
Size MD LOW M
Reach 445 mm 450 mm +5 mm
Stack 607 mm 598 mm −9 mm
Top tube (effective) 602 mm 605 mm +3 mm
Seat tube 420 mm 410 mm −10 mm
Head tubeSame for all 95 mm 95 mm
Head angle 66.5° 65.9° −0.6°
Seat angleSame for all 75.5° 75.5°
Chainstays 437 mm 435 mm −2 mm
Wheelbase 1,168 mm 1,179 mm +11 mm
Front centre 736 mm 747 mm +11 mm
Standover 764 mm 760 mm −4 mm
BB drop 51 mm 44 mm −7 mm
BB height 323 mm 326 mm +3 mm
Fork offsetSame for all 44 mm 44 mm
Trail 116 mm 117 mm +1 mm
Stem 70 mm 60 mm −10 mm
Handlebar width 780 mm 750 mm −30 mm
Crank lengthSame for all 170 mm 170 mm
Fork length (axle to crown)–Not given 530 mm

Where to buy them

Compare the whole Giant Anthem rangeCompare the whole Specialized Epic range

Frequently asked questions

What groupset do Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs and Specialized Epic 8 Comp come with?

Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs: SRAM Eagle AXS, GX Eagle Transmission. Specialized Epic 8 Comp: SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission.

How do Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs and Specialized Epic 8 Comp compare on geometry?

In size MD LOW, Giant Anthem Advanced SL 1 Gxs has a stack of 607 mm for a reach of 445 mm; in size M, Specialized Epic 8 Comp has 598 mm for 450 mm. More stack for the reach means a more upright position.

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