A steep 73.5-degree seat angle helps you keep power on the pedals and maintain traction on steep climbs. The 69-degree head angle doesn’t count as slack in the modern sense of long, low, giant ROAD BIKES and slack mountain bike geometry, but is more relaxed than the Marlin 7. When you’re bashing over rocks and roots every little bit counts and this small difference was perceptible.
But the Talon’s uncompromisingly rigid chassis and smaller diameter wheels don’t so much talk about what’s going on under the tyres, as shout. Amazingly, these super-economical bikes include fairly advanced, feature-rich frames. giant KIDS BIKES Due to COVID-19 and continued supply chain disruptions it may take 3-7 business days before your order ships and you receive a shipment confirmation. Most shipments leave our warehouse within 48 hours of placing an order.
The stem’s a tad too long for our liking – but that’s easily fixed. That’s not unusual at this price point, but the Talon’s frame is so eager to be thrashed it’s just crying out for a fork that’s capable of being pushed hard too. If you’re used to a more forgiving ride – from bigger diameter tyres, rear suspension or a frame that’s a little more compliant – the Talon’s constant chatter will come as a shock. The good news is that thin tube walls help take the edge off the bigger hits, keeping things on the right side of harsh. You’ll never be in any doubt what’s going on down below, but neither are you likely to lose any fillings. Bikexchange is a free resource site for buying bicycles & cycling gear online.
The Giant Talon 2 is a comfortable and fast hardtail MTB with a top notch frame, powerful brakes and a smooth front suspension fork with lock-out. The Talon 29 2 embodies the great developments that have been happening with low-cost bikes, although it can be easy to overlook a rather unassuming bike like this one. But it’s one of the best bikes you’ll find that can seamlessly transition between rugged commuter, weekend fitness bike, and entry-level racing bike. The tires are light and fast, great for dry trails and cinder paths while not slowing you down much on pavement. Rear rack mounts add to its appeal as a mixed-terrain commuter.
I think it’s beyond stupid for bike manufacturers to be putting 32t chainrings on every single 1x bike they sell. I mean, sure, it means they’re only needing to stock one chainring size for assembly which reduces their cost, but that’s not the size that most riders are going to need. The wheels consist of Giant’s own brand GX03V rims and quick-release hubs and are shod in 2.2in Maxxis Ikon tyres. Tektro mechanical disc brakes are exclusive to this cheapest model. It features the same 6061 single-butted aluminium frame as the rest of the range.
The Giant Sport Custom saddle was wide with enough cushioning. The stopping power in the Talon 2 is taken care of by powerful Tektro TKD 143 Hydraulic Disc brakes at the front and back. These disc brakes are powerful and balanced which felt safe to engage even at high speeds during the test ride.
Or, save significant dough by choosing Talon 3 – it boasts similar components to Talon 2, and is otherwise specced to reliably take on any XC terrain, trails, or roads. Riders and reviewers of Talon noted the efficient big-name component group, sleek looks achieved by internal cable routing, and cool frame color graphics. Overall light-weight and quick, confident handling were also mentioned, as was the plushness of the SR Suntour suspension fork. Riders of all three models appreciated the Maxxis tires, citing them as normally not specced on such economical MTBs. 100 mm of plush suspension travel up front – supplied by SR Suntour and RockShox forks – keeps you in control when things get rough.
Fox float 32 does an excellent job soaking up the terrain. This bike climbs like a mountain goat but gets a little squirrelly coming down fast. Likely will replace the bar, stem, and seat post with carbon in time.