OK here's a little review:
I had the SPD pedals tensioned up pretty tight, that's how I prefer it but my head is still uneasy about using them. Even crossing the train tracks was a worry but I coped OK.
The bike is instantly bumpier than the Reign but hey, that's to be expected. I did however set the front fork a lot lower than recommended pressures after reading many reviews and I think that helped a lot as it felt pretty good.
On the gradual long stretch after the highway crossing I felt great, the bike's definitely a shitload faster on that stuff and the SPD's helped a lot as I could pull up on the pedals (cheating!!!!).
The bike's bumpy on the rocky stuff, propedal is off too. It's not so much about the bumps but about the front wheel steering off course due to it hitting rocks and deflecting off them. I think I can afford to run the tyres at a lower psi (currently 25). I'll give that a go next time.
With descending half of it was the thin tyre feel and the other half was being clipped in that stopped me from bombing it like I do on the Reign but sure, the climbing ability of this bike, it's night and day in comparisson to the Reign. I even stayed in the big ring for the climb out of the big long DH, felt great.
The X0 shifters are completely in the wrong place. I'm hoping I can adjust the angles with the matchmakers. The upshift paddle is fine but the downshift paddles are way too far in and out of the way. Shifting worked fine though.
The Fizik Gobi saddle was fine. I like it except when it smashed my dick (it hurt, a lot). I'm not used to a saddle up high for the techy descents.
The rear brake is rubbish. I literally can't lock it up at all. I might end up putting a 160mm rotor on there to replace the 140mm if it doesn't get any better.
The position is more aggressive and stretched out that the Reign. I can feel it in my shoulders, but the wide bars are great and make me feel more at home.
I did hop on Jing's Cannondale for a little stunt and felt an immediate difference. His bike felt faster, like it was on thinner tyres, but it was bumpier over the rough stuff. It got the power down great but I could feel something in the rear which felt a little like bob and a little like a flat tyre. Great bike, very different to the Anthem for sure.
So all in all I am happy. There's no doubt I'm faster on this thing. I'd like to play with tyre pressures and maybe running a tiny bit more sag. Looking forward to getting used to SPD's too as I just can't imagine putting flats on it, so it's forcing me to get into SPD's.