Michael Reviews the Giant Talon 1
The Giant Talon has been a staple in the brand’s lineup since the early 2000s. Designed as a budget-friendly, entry-level hardtail, it’s built for riders keen to explore rail trails, cruise with the family, or dip a toe into mountain biking. For 2025, the Talon sees some welcome updates, including an in-house dropper post and five models to choose from.
Giant sent us a Talon 1 test bike to see how the brand’s budget hardtail stacks up out on the trails. Standout features on the bike include the dropper post, a boost front hub, and the Shimano Cues drivetrain. I was intrigued to see how such a budget-friendly bike would feel out on the trails and what weaknesses would show up after some hard riding. I was also keen to get back on a hardtail and see how it handled without the extra tech—just a simple setup that puts the focus back on rider input and trail feel.
An Overview of the Giant Talon
The Talon is Giant’s entry point into modern mountain biking. It’s a straightforward alloy hardtail with a 1x drivetrain, designed for riders who are new to the sport or simply curious to give it a go – without blowing the budget.
The Talon is offered as a dedicated 29er with a clean, simple frame that features internal cable routing. Its geometry leans towards cross-country, making it ideal for newer riders. Sitting just above it in the range is the Giant Fathom ($1,899), which takes things further with slacker geometry and a longer-travel air fork. The Fathom will be better suited to riders already comfortable on the trails and keen to hit jumps or steeper singletrack.
Giant Talon | Frame Geometry
Geometry-wise, the Talon strikes a surprisingly modern balance for a budget hardtail. The 67.5° head angle and 74.5° seat tube angle give it a confident feel on climbs and smoother descents. The 170mm cranks are well-matched to the bike’s size and purpose. The reach on our medium test bike was 436mm, which made the cockpit feel compact, while the longer 455mm chainstays added a sense of stability when things got rough.
Giant Talon | Price & Specs
There are five models in the Talon range, starting with the Talon 4 at $829 and topping out with the Talon 0 at $1,699. Our test bike, the Talon 1, sits just below the top-spec model at $1,399. The key upgrade on the Talon 0 is its air-sprung fork and 12-speed drivetrain. The rest of the range features more basic coil-sprung forks and a mix of 1×8, 2×8 or 1×10 drivetrains.
The Talon 1 we tested comes with a Shimano CUES 10-speed drivetrain, which has been surprisingly smooth and reliable for an entry-level setup. Despite having just 10 gears, the wide-range 11–48T cassette offers enough versatility for most climbs. One surprise was the non-boost rear hub and the lack of an air fork, which featured on last year’s model. For 2025, Giant has opted to include a dropper post instead.
While a dropper is a great addition for trail control and confidence, it’s a cheaper upgrade than a suspension fork. In that sense, the previous version arguably offered better value and gave riders more room to improve a key performance component over time.
2025 Giant Talon 1
Frame | ALUXX-grade Aluminum
Fork | SXC32-3 RL, Coil Spring, 100mm, Boost 12×110
Wheels | Giant GX03V 29 Alloy, Double Wall
Tyres | Maxxis Rekon Race 29×2.4 Wire Bead
Drivetrain | Shimano CUES U6000 Shadow +, Shimano CUES 11×48 Cassette
Brakes | Tektro TKD143, 180mm Front, 160mm Rear
Bar | Giant Connect Trail, 31.8mm
Stem | Giant Sport, 7-Degree. Length 50mm (S), 60mm (M), 70mm (L), 80mm (XL)
Seatpost | Giant Contact Switch Core Dropper, 30.9mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 120mm (M-XL)
Saddle | Giant ErgoContact Trail
Confirmed Weight | 14.78kg
Price | $1,399 AUD
Giant Talon | Sizing & Fit
Giant sent us a medium test bike to match my 173cm height, and it offered a comfortable, upright fit that suits the Talon’s intended use. The reach is on the shorter side, which helps newer riders feel more in control and less stretched out on the bike.
The handlebars were also noticeably narrower than I am used to at 690mm. It is worth noting that for new riders getting into the sport, this may not be an issue as they wouldn’t be coming from longer bikes with wider bars. As with most bikes, after a few rides, I noticed these differences less. It was only when pushing the bike beyond its intended purpose that they caused a few issues, such as on steeper, rougher tracks. This is where the shorter cockpit and narrower bars contributed to the bike feeling skittery and less controlled.
Setting Up Suspension | Giant Talon
The SXC32-3 RL coil fork offers minimal adjustability, with only a basic compression lever and a preload dial, neither of which made a noticeable difference on the trail. Out of the box, the fork felt stiff and unresponsive, though it did begin to feel slightly more compliant after a few rides. Like most coil forks at this price, it’s functional for smoother trails but will likely be the first upgrade for anyone riding more technical terrain regularly.
Giant Talon | Weight & Tyre Pressure Setup
Our Talon 1 test bike weighed in at 14.78kg without pedals and with tubes installed. While not especially light on paper, it felt easy to manoeuvre on the trail. Instead of running a precise tubeless pressure, I took an old-school approach—starting at 25 psi, then letting air out by feel until the tyres gave just enough without squirming under load.
As a budget-friendly, entry-level bike, the Talon isn’t built with weight-saving in mind — and upgrading parts just to shed grams probably isn’t the best value. Its real purpose is to get new riders out on the trails, building confidence and having fun. Instead of chasing marginal gains, it makes more sense to ride it as-is and enjoy the experience while saving up for a bigger upgrade down the track.
What did we like about the Giant Talon?
On smoother, rolling terrain, the Talon delivers a fun and engaging ride that feels well suited to its purpose. Giant has spec’d it with sensible components that work well together. The Maxxis Rekon Race tyres offer decent grip and rolling speed, while the Shimano drivetrain keeps things simple and reliable. The inclusion of a dropper post adds a welcome level of control on descents, especially for newer riders who are still building confidence. It might not be designed for big jumps or rough, technical trails, but for flowing singletrack, local loops and rail trail adventures, the Talon has everything you need to get started and stay motivated.
For riders mixing light trail use with cruising around town or exploring rail trails, the Talon is a great all-round option. It rolls efficiently on smooth surfaces, and the dropper post is a handy addition even off the trails, making stops and starts more comfortable. The shorter reach creates a more upright riding position, which can reduce lower back strain and help newer riders ease into longer rides.
One thing I appreciated was how riding a hardtail again sharpened my focus on the fundamentals. Without rear suspension, I had to be more deliberate with body position, especially keeping my heels down and choosing clean lines through rougher sections. It’s a reminder that bikes like the Talon don’t just get you started — they also help build good habits from the ground up.
It’s that simplicity that makes the Talon such a strong option for newer riders. With no rear suspension to rely on, it encourages you to develop solid fundamentals like body position and line choice — skills that can sometimes be overlooked on more forgiving bikes.
Climbing on the Talon felt comfortable and efficient. Even with fewer gears than I’m used to, the Shimano CUES drivetrain handled the hills around my local trails with ease. The 60mm stem helped keep weight over the front wheel, which was especially useful given the bike’s shorter reach.
What could be improved?
With its coil fork, XC-focused geometry and narrow bars, the Talon does have its limits on the trail. Descending was where those limits showed most clearly. My local test trails are fairly rough, and the constant hits didn’t give the bike much chance to recover or stay composed — a tough ask for any hardtail, especially one at this price point. Jumping also felt less confident, largely due to the fork and conservative geometry.
That said, if your trails are smoother or less technical, the Talon is still a fun and capable bike to ride. It’s important to remember who this bike is built for — riders new to the sport or returning after time away. In that context, the Talon delivers a lot and gives beginners the chance to grow their skills before upgrading down the line.
Giant Talon | Component Highs & Lows
From a budget perspective, the Talon 1 offers solid value. For just over $1,000, you get a bike with hydraulic disc brakes, an in-house dropper post and a capable Shimano CUES drivetrain. The biggest drawback is the coil fork, which feels harsh on rougher trails and limits the bike’s potential. If your budget stretches to the Talon 0, the upgrade to an air fork and 12-speed drivetrain is well worth the extra money. It adds durability and broadens the type of terrain the bike can handle.
Beyond the fork, the Talon 1 is well suited to newer riders. When you consider how most of us started — with v-brakes, triple chainrings and 26-inch wheels — there’s no doubt today’s entry-level bikes are far more capable. Riders getting started now have access to technology and geometry that used to be reserved for high-end bikes.
The Shimano CUES drivetrain performed above expectations. Despite having only 10 gears, it shifted smoothly and had enough range to handle steep local climbs. The dropper post was also a standout. While we didn’t get to test it in wet or muddy conditions, it performed faultlessly throughout the review.
Flow’s Verdict
Getting back to basics on the Talon was a refreshing reminder of how important the fundamentals are. With its simple setup and solid spec, it encourages good habits and trail awareness — things that sometimes get overlooked on more advanced bikes. It also highlights just how far entry-level bikes have come. Features like a 1x drivetrain and dropper post used to be the stuff of dream builds, and now they’re showing up on bikes under $1,500.
This is a bike for new riders getting into the sport or anyone after a reliable hardtail for family rides and casual loops around local trails. With its clean design, sensible spec and surprisingly modern geometry, the Talon 1 should be on the shortlist for anyone starting their mountain bike journey.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Michael Cooper
Gold Coast, QLD
173cm
Over calculated yet imprecise
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