Giant Talon 2 Review - My Dream Bike From 6 Years Ago

[@brianfranta9549]

I have the same bike. 29er med. 2021 talon 2. Swapped out the 42t for a 46t. Changed the chainring to a 30t. New brake pads and 180 rear rotor. Internal dropper super easy to install, frame is made for it. Some Rekon tires and an air fork. Love the bike. But, just got my rift zone 3 in the mail!!!

[@downtoridemtb]

Solid list of upgrades. Rekon tires are great. What air fork did you put on? Not sure if you have watched my other videos but I also have a Rift Zone and really like it. Happy new bike day to you!

[@brianfranta9549]

@@downtoridemtb I used the suntour xcr32. I extended it to 120mm travel. Great for bigger drops but it is not very effective with little bumps. I cannot wait for the snow to melt so I can get out on the new bike.

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s cool. I was thinking of increasing the travel when I put my Judy on but I think I’ll leave it at 100mm first and see how it feels.

[@erikleon9175]

The Talon 2 was able to get me out there, took everything I threw at it and had a blast. Riding on the east coast with the water shed for about a year really put it through its paces. I just upgraded to a full sus but still have my Talon to ride when I need to be humbled.

[@downtoridemtb]

Right on, yeah it’s fun to ride a bike like this. And also super fun to go back to full suspension after a few rides on a hardtail.

[@TMcocoa]

Wish I could do this. Haven’t been on a bike since I was a child and bought a bike a few days ago. Now I’m learning how to ride again

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah it definitely takes time to learn certain things the right way for trail riding. I still have to think about proper form and techniques or I’ll find myself doing the opposite. Good luck and enjoy!

[@TMcocoa]

@@downtoridemtb thank you

[@Calburds]

When you were riding the bike what track did you go on

[@downtoridemtb]

Forest Hill Park in Richmond, Virginia. It’s one of my favorite loops in the JRPS trail system. More flow and less tech than the other trails.

[@sawyerthree302]

Let me start off my saying, love your video. I’m a newbie mountain biker (almost a year into it) and bought a Talon 2. I agree, it’s a great beginner’s bike. Have a question… what diameter dropper post did you purchase/install? I’m having a helluva time figuring it out. The PDF states 375mm but I’m certain I’m reading something incorrectly. I think installing a dropper seat will benefit my rides tremendously.

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks! Yeah you’re looking at the length. 30.9 is the diameter so that is what you need. I’d say 150mm drop for a large frame. Anything smaller and you can probably only use 125mm drop. I’ve seen some videos online of people internally routing it but it looks like a pain. PNW makes a nice externally routed dropper. Good luck!

[@sawyerthree302]

Great appreciated. Thank you for the reply.

[@6ryba6]

In theory steeper ht angle on 29 er makes sense as 29" wheels have this gyroscopic effect and are slower to steer, steeper ht angle should make bike with big wheels turn easier. That's my non profesional opinion on the subject.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah that makes sense I suppose but so much of biking is leaning the bike to turn rather than actually turning the bars.

[@manolos8230]

Is it good bike I sold my marlin 4 but idk if I’ll get another bike cause I have one right but I did have 2 but only 1 at the moment 😊

[@dododale-ni7bf]

crap......save the money for a better bike!!

[@juanvelarde9923]

Tengo la Talon 2 concrete es una hermosa bici y al subirme a ella es otra cosa. su estructura y forma es muy comoda.. saludos desde Peru

[@TimSwinson86]

Picked one up for ~200USD ($300 Australian) absolute bargain. Upgraded the forks to a Fox 32 air shock I got on clearance, shorter stem, added a dropper post and upgraded to a 1x11 Shimano Deore drivetrain and it's like a completely different and better bike.

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s awesome! I still haven’t upgraded mine but it’s coming soon-ish.

[@pabichpawel]

Out of curiosity @TimSwinson86, how much did the upgrades cost?

[@TimSwinson86]

@@pabichpawel about $800 AUD by the end, I shopped around for good deals and got OEM shimano parts because retail Shimano parts are a rip off.

[@ThomCordeiro]

Great video! I bought a 2022 Talon 2 last year as my first entry to mountain biking and I love it.

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks! Great first bike to get into MTB. I got a little sidetracked but I’m getting back to this bike. My upgrade video will be coming out in a few weeks.

[@Dark.Casper6]

I’m trying to decide between this & the Bobcat Trail 4. Which one would you choose & why. Also like to note I live closer to Giant dealers than I do Marin.

[@jesselabelle7210]

​@Black.Casper I have thrown alot at the Talon 3 and it takes everything. Note it has a dropper and airshock highly recommend you get these two features on any bike

[@jayf2487]

awesome video man, Im still rocking my 2018 giant talon 2 as my 2nd bike for a hardtail, its actually the same bike you did a video on a long time ago, that one came with 2 chain rings up front but I honestly like the extra gears on it. I went with a manitou markour on it, curious what fork your going to go with. I do kind of want to put a dropper on it still but mostly ride my trek rail haha but love getting back on a basic hardtail at times.

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks! Long time viewer, that other video was on of the first I ever did! I got a used Rockshox Judy to put on it. I actually really wanted to try a Manitou but couldn’t find one aside from new. I hear you though, nice to ride a simple bike sometimes. Less to worry about

[@viperdemonz-jenkins]

have the talon 4 in med would have went large but would have had to go 29 inch wheels.

[@reyguarinnjbchannel5850]

Thanks for the review of Giant Talon 2, support your channel bro

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks for watching and for your support!

[@eatnosenuggets]

I've had a 2021 Talon 1 in Desert Sage since it came out. The Rockshox Judy is probably a bit better of a fork, but the bike is great. I've ridden it pretty hard for 2 seasons and just got a giant trance. I'm keeping the Talon as a backup. Great bikes.

[@downtoridemtb]

Was hoping to use the Recon that I had but the steerer tube was just too short. So I sold it and bought a used Judy. I think it will make a big difference. Enjoy that new Trance!

[@Flyfinn6]

Just got that bike and it’s good

[@downtoridemtb]

Enjoy it!

[@andrewsiasparks]

As someone who rode the Tallon and the trek EXCalibur I preferred the trek because of it's lower seat tube. It felt like a big jump bike just by swapping to a shorter stem. Love the vids 🤘

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks Andrew! I do plan on doing a shorter stem too. We’ll see how it turns out.

[@ehdlhoualerre5486]

Amazing video. Pick up my new Talon 2 & loving it, perfect for my budget - will do upgrades later. Thanks for sharing. Happy riding. 👍

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks! Enjoy your new bike! I still have to do my fork upgrade. I have the fork but then I got distracted with some other bikes/videos. Coming sometime soon though!

[@КонстантинТотров]

Thank you. I want to buy Giant Talon ( talon 1 of 2021, or talon 2 of 2022) and seen a lot of videos. Your video is absolutely the best review i have seen. Useful information and exciting ride!

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks. Makes me super happy to hear comments like this. Hope you can get one soon and start enjoying the trails. Cheers!

[@enjoyurselfwhileucan4960]

There's one for sale not for from me with a medium frame, I'm 5'11, would any guess the best size person for a med......

[@downtoridemtb]

I think you’d be better off on a large frame

[@enjoyurselfwhileucan4960]

@@downtoridemtb 👍

[@alexanderharper]

Why no one commenting about him saying "one more time"

[@downtoridemtb]

LOL, everyone knows one more doesn’t actually mean one more time!

[@mtbboy1993]

3:16 Plastic cover is not a great idea. Even on the TRP Quadiem, a local guy scraped up the cover horribly. They came stock on his GT SENSOR CRB ELITE. He decided to switch to Saint. The bike probably ended up upside down on a rock slab or asphalt, i did not ask how it happen exactly. But imagine taking really rough sandpaper to it then hitting it with a rock, taking an saw to it, maybe an axe. deep grooves everywhere, it got scraped really deep.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah I agree with you on that. Metal would be way better and can’t be much more expensive for them to make. I’ll try to keep it upright though!

[@NateFastBikes]

You got me regretting selling my hard tail 😭. May have to buy another. my dream bike when I started riding in 2017 was the diamondback syncr

[@downtoridemtb]

Oh yeah I looked at the Syncr too. During Black Friday, they went on sale for $750 which is a steal! Air fork, dropper post, and 27.5+ tires. If I didn’t already buy this bike, I would have gotten one for sure.

[@martinangelomooney1010]

I'm rocking a 2022 Giant Talon 3 27.5 metallic black and yes this was also my dream bike so the minute a local bike shop posted it on Facebook I immediately asked my brother to drive 12kms and I remember I didn't even take a bath that time.😂. I paid as soon as I could, and good thing I came to the shop 3 minutes earlier. I pretty much upgraded everything except for the rims which are tubeless ready, seat clamp and the saddle. I transferred my Shimano Deore M6100 gs, a Suntour Epixon Airfork 120mm with lockout. Tubeless Maxxis Ardent Exo 2.25 like yours, new hubs, carbon bars and seat post. I spent way more than I should have $1.7k all in all but damn it was worth it. I still use the bike almost every other day as my form of exercise and already planning to go back to the mountains with my kid.

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s awesome! Sounds like a great bike. I have been slacking on upgrading mine. I have the new fork for it but I just haven’t swapped it over yet. Soon though!

[@thedriftmc]

I've got the 2025 model on preorder and still found your video useful. They seem like great bikes. Literally just using my bike to get to vantage points, as I do landscape photography..

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s so cool, never heard of anyone using their mountain bike for that purpose. Do you post your photos anywhere?

[@emilianoromerocepeda5071]

My friend put this bike together for his son and before I knew it he was done kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L When the son came to put it together he was surprised to see it was already done. All he had to do was take the bike to get air and be on his way. My friend did not have any major problems putting this bike together; small issue was putting one of the brakes on straight; however when the son got home he was able to fix it. The bike rides well gears move correctly; good bike for the price. Wrote review after the son took the bike. Sorry.

[@downtoridemtb]

Bike manufacturers usually list these ranges on their site. But I would guess small or extra small for the frame size. Wheel size shouldn’t matter much and you probably won’t have a choice on that either.

[@nicobeukes4094]

Baught a Orange Talon 2 in 2020, it has rock shocks and came tubeless ... best bike I ever bought ... feels like I have power steering on my bike compared to cheaper bike I tried before 🤣

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s awesome! I don’t think they set them up tubeless from the factory anymore.

[@joehiatt1992]

Have the red one, added new tires ,lighter tubes, rockshox fork,aliexpress cranks,carbon bar,stem,dropper post& few other things lastyear also went with a full suspension Polygon T7,did the same Pike fork,carbon bars,stem,tubeless tires , few other things, love both

[@downtoridemtb]

Nice dude, those both sound like great bikes!

[@Monuyss]

Is Giant good brand?

[@downtoridemtb]

Definitely!

[@Monuyss]

@@downtoridemtb thanks

[@stevechilds4043]

Just bought a 2020 talon 2 27.5. Previous owner put commuter tires on so need to swap those back. Can’t wait to test the hell out of it!

[@downtoridemtb]

Nice! Putting the Ardents back on or trying something different?

[@crazydriver2202]

i really think that this bike will be significantly better with a Manitou Markhor, it's a lil more expensive than a judy but it's lighter, smoother and stiffer

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah I was hoping to find one but I found a good deal on a Judy so I grabbed it.

[@chazzthaspazz4475]

about to pick up a 21 and it has kenda tires… its not a used bike either why is there kenda tired on it not maxxis?

[@downtoridemtb]

During covid times bike companies were struggling to get parts to keep building bikes. Often this resulted in component changes to whatever was available at the time.

[@johndelson6015]

Very nice bike..

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks!

[@kiethpederson7558]

It won’t be long before bicycles will hit 30k and people will still buy them all day long

[@downtoridemtb]

LOL, I’ll be finding a new hobby if that happens!

[@kiethpederson7558]

@@downtoridemtb welp just look at the prices of cell phones, most phones cost more than most our first cars.

[@peterbedford2610]

I can get a good used one for $275. Seems like a pretty good value.

[@demetrius5709]

Great deal if theres nothing wrong with it

[@downtoridemtb]

I’ll second that. Great deal if its in good shape!

[@todd92371]

I have a Jones bar and Redshift suspension seatpost on mine. Just love this setup. Very versatile and am going to use it for bikepacking also.

[@downtoridemtb]

Awesome! I’ve always wondered about a suspension seatpost on a hardtail. And now PNW make a suspension dropper post which would be the best of both worlds.

[@saddleweary2777]

Man, I put a 29" judy on my 2016 aggressor and ride it at least once a week. I hear about "fun bikes" but those older hardtails are real fun, I do things on them that I wouldn't do on a modern bike because of worrying about tearing them up. $100 will nearly fix anything that happens to those "real fun bikes ". Great video !

[@downtoridemtb]

Nice, a Judy is what is going on this bike too! I agree, sometimes a simple hardtail can be more fun. Definitely makes the trails I ride all the time a little more interesting.

[@denisantivatnikov6velophot554]

color is not nice

[@downtoridemtb]

I don’t even factor that in when considering a bike. But I hear you, kinda looks like they primed it and forgot to put the actual paint on.

[@blnunya6689]

Low key, I dig it.

[@Jason-pj8jq]

🎉 'promo sm'