What is the Giant Talon?
Giant made the Talon mountain bike range for suburban bike paths, rail trails, light dirt/gravel tracks and light off-road riding.
Each Talon comes in different frame sizes.
This means, the range suits everyone from pre-teens (XS and S frame sizes), teens and adults.
There are 4 Talon mountain bikes to choose from.
The range starts with the Talon 4 and tops out at the Talon 1.
40% off
![Giant Talon 4 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 4 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 4 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 4 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 4 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 4 (2024)]()
Up to 6% off-
![Giant Talon 3 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 3 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 3 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 3 (2024)]()
Up to 6% off -
Up to 10% off
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![Giant Talon 2 (2022)]()
![Giant Talon 2 (2022)]()
![Giant Talon 2 (2022)]()
Up to 16% off -
![Giant Talon 1 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 1 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 1 (2024)]()
![Giant Talon 1 (2024)]()
Up to 15% off
Frame size & Wheel size
Giant has changed things up a little for MY24 at least. As of writing this:
Only the Talon 4 comes in 2 wheel sizes - 27.5” and 29”. And 5 frame sizes - XS, S, M, L and XL.
XS and S frame sizes come with 27.5-inch wheels.
- This is a great option for pre-teenage riders who are upgrading from their smaller (or much smaller!) mountain bike.
- The smaller size 27.5” wheels makes the Talon “feel” lighter and more nimble - more manageable for smaller riders.
SM, MD, LG and XL frame sizes come with 29-inch wheels.
Note how there’s an overlap with the “S” frame size - it comes in both wheel options.
The Talon 3, 2 and 1 are only available in 29-inch wheels and S, M, L and XL frame sizes.
- 29-inch wheels are better for adults and taller teenage riders because it’s way more ergonomic.
- The front of the Talon is “taller” which means tall riders aren’t hunched over like they’re riding a circus bike.
The Talon Models
Riders have 4 model options.
The entry-point is the Talon 4. The best is the Talon 1.
And the difference between them?
- Gears
- Suspension
- Brakes
PS: the frame is the same between all Talon models.
Giant Talon 4
I highlighted the frame sizes (XS, S, M, L and XL) and wheels sizes (27.5 and 29) before.
The Talon 4 will suit riders who are spending most of their riding time on gentle terrain (not steep) and are not riding frequently but do want something that's better than average.
The Talon 4 features:
- Front suspension (no lockout).
- Shimano 14-speed gears (2 front and 7 on the back).
- Mechanical disc brakes.
Giant Talon 3
The Talon 3 has the same suspension as the Talon 4, but gets the following upgrades:
- Hydraulic disc brakes. Not only is there less maintenance, the stopping power and control improves (a lot)
- Shimano 16-speed gears (2 front and 8 back).
- Better gear shifters, rear derailleur and front derailleur.
We also like these for young riders with small hands because we can adjust the brake levers closer to the handlebar without affecting brake power much.
Giant Talon 2
The Talon 2 is a little different from previous years.
They've made the gearing a little more off-road specific.
This model used to come with 2 gears on the front (like the Talon 3 and 4 above), but now has 1 front gear (like the Talon 1).
1 gear = less maintenance and simpler (there's less components).
- New Shimano CUES 9-speed gears (1 front and 9 back).
- Bigger suspension with 30mm tubes (instead of 28mm).
- Better chain, cassette, derailleur and shifter.
Giant Talon 1
The Talon 1 is the best in the range.
This model features a couple of really important upgrades that are worthwhile for riders who are going to spending time on mountain bike trails.
- Air spring suspension fork is not only lighter, it allows us to adjust how hard/soft we need the suspension (based on rider weight).
- Air spring suspension is SO much smoother as well over chattery impacts.
- New Shimano CUES 10-speed gears (1 front and 10 back).
- Huge range allows riders to climb steep terrain more easily.