Giant Fathom 29 2: A comparison of affordable hardtails - Test Giant Fathom for 1399 euros

Giant Fathom 29 2 // 13.66 kg // 130 millimetres of travel // 29-inch // 1399 euros // aluminium

The biggest point of criticism: The range of the 10-speed drivetrain is too narrow. Despite the small 30 t chainring, the bike lacks an easy climbing gear.

With the combination of the in-house Vario dropper post with 150 millimetres of travel and the high front end, the Fathom conveys a lot of confidence downhill.

The response behaviour of the in-house fork is fine.

The frame of the Giant Fathom has space for a total of three water bottles.

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Photo: Max Fuchs

The Giant Fathom 29 2 tested against 6 other hardtails up to 1649 euros. Which one best fulfils the requirement of being affordable, uncomplicated and versatile at the same time? Which is the perfect bike for MTB beginners?

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We chose the hardtail MTBs for this test because they are affordable and versatile. They should make mountain biking appealing to beginners, but also attract advanced riders with their uncomplicated, robust character. To find out for whom the Giant Fathom 29 2 is worth recommending, we put it through the BIKE test together with six other hardtails.

Giant Fathom 29 2 - Fact check

Weight: 13.66 kg without pedals
Suspension travel: 130 millimetres
Wheel size: 29-inch
Price: 1399 Euro
Frame material: Aluminium
Suspension fork: Giant Crest 34 RCL
Gear system: Shimano Deore 1x10
Gear ratio / bandwidth: 30; 11-46 / 418 %
Brakes: Tektro HD-M 275 180/180 mm
Wheels: Giant AM 1
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF/Aggressor; Exo Protection TR 29 x 2.5
Available frame sizes: S, M, L, XL

Whether on gravel paths or tame trails - with a hardtail MTB, you are ideally equipped for your first attempts at mountain biking. If you plan to become a serious off-road cyclist, you should invest in a particularly off-road trail hardtail like the Giant Fathom 29 2 right from the start.

Photo: Max FuchsWhether on gravel paths or tame trails - with a hardtail MTB, you are ideally equipped for your first attempts at mountain biking. If you plan to become a serious off-road cyclist, you should invest in a particularly off-road trail hardtail like the Giant Fathom 29 2 right from the start.

As one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world, Giant utilises its enormous resources and mainly specifies components of its own design. The wheels, dropper post, cockpit and even the suspension fork are all produced in-house. The geometry fulfils modern standards, but remains free of extremes. A slack head angle, long reach and a steep seat angle - that fits. In combination with the high front end, the Fathom conveys a lot of confidence downhill. Uphill, the geometry distributes pressure well across the front. This allows the Giant to climb even tricky climbs.

However, the heavy wheels need to be set in motion with a lot of dedication. Giant mounts the tyres ex works in a tubeless set-up. Paired with the mighty wide 2.5 mm Maxxis tyres, this allows for very low tyre pressure. This is a good thing, because the rear suspension of the Giant is at its most powerful on rough trails. The response behaviour of the in-house fork is okay, but can't keep up with the forks from Canyon and Rose. The biggest point of criticism: the range of the 10-speed drivetrain is too narrow. Despite the small 30 t chainring, the bike lacks an easy climbing gear.

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Women's choice: Our test bike is also available as a women's version from Giant's sister brand Liv

Photo: Max FuchsLiv Lurra // 13.52 kg // 130 millimetres of travel // 29-inch // 1399 euros // aluminium

The Giant Fathom from our group test is also offered by sister brand Liv as a separate model for women. These are the differences: Visually, the frames of the Lurra - as Liv calls its trail hardtail - and the Fathom are like two peas in a pod. However, the geometry data proves the opposite. With the same frame size, the reach is shorter and the head tube is higher. As a result, the riding position on the Liv is slightly more comfortable.

A good solution: thanks to a shorter seat tube, even small riders can enjoy long-travel dropper posts. In addition, the Liv rolls on 27.5-inch wheels in frame sizes S and XS. This equalises the size ratio of the frame and wheels and guarantees balanced handling. Last but not least, the Lurra also comes with a saddle that has been specially optimised for the anatomy of women, as well as narrower handlebars: