Giant Talon 1 (2025)

The Giant Talon 1 is the second-tier performance recreational mountain bike in the range. It's designed to take on (easy) local mountain bike trails, gravel and fire access roads.

Even though Giant designed the Talon 1 as a rugged mountain bike, it's still fine for family bike rides and leisurely rides.

In this preview, we'll explain what Talon 1 is, who should consider buying it and we'll cover the key components.

What is the Giant Talon 1?

It's the second-best Talon mountain bike in the range. The components selected for the Talon 1 build are designed for mountain bike trails and durability.

For example:

The robust suspension reacts smoother to rocks, tree roots and even trail surfaces.

A dropper seat post is remotely controlled to get the saddle out of the way on descents.

And the larger gearing range allows riders to climb steeper grades easier.

So, Giant has built it for (new) riders who want to spend more time on the trails.

Who is the Giant Talon 1 for?

Consider the Talon 1 if you're interested in riding mountain bike trails. Or want a robust mountain bike for rugged trails.

This new Talon is the best we've ever seen. And one of the improvements has been handling.

It's super stable and calm. Which makes it perfect for new riders.

The key components

At the front end, Giant focused on stiffness and control. Two key ingredients for confident handling on rough trails.

To achieve this, they made two important upgrades: a larger diameter suspension fork and a larger front axle.

The SXC32-3 RL suspension fork uses robust 32mm stanchions.

The front axle also increases from a standard 5mm quick-release to a 15mm thru-axle. While the hub spacing widens from 100mm to 110mm Boost spacing.

This combination means the front wheel resists twisting and flexing when you ride over rocks, roots and uneven ground. Delivering you a more stable and precise feel on the trail.

It’s not just about size. The fork’s damper is also more refined; delivering smoother, more responsive action to soak up bumps. Improving front-end grip and handling.

For riding mountain bike trails, a dropper seat post is almost a necessity.

It makes descending down trails so much easier if you're a new rider.

That's because you can adjust the seat height using the remote on the handlebar.

And because the seat is out the way, you can lean down and back. Getting into a far more comfortable and controlled descending position.

Shimano's latest CUES components are designed for durability.

That's because the cassette and derailleur use LinkGlide technology.

LinkGlide was developed for electric bikes, to handle the extra torque and power. Recently Shimano transitioned this over to normal bikes.

Without getting too deep in the weeds:

The LinkGlide cassette has thicker teeth and a special angle to the teeth. This increases wear resistance by up to 300%. So it lasts 3 times longer than non-LinkGlide cassettes.

The CUES U6000 rear derailleur has a stabiliser built into it. It stops the chain from jumping around when you're riding on bumpy trails. Quieting sound and improving gear changes.

Another thing to note about the drive system:

It has 10-gears which is an upgrade over the Talon 2's 9-speed system.

And the gears have a broader range. Meaning new riders will find it easier climbing steeper gradients.