The Giant Talon 2 in Dried Matcha is a highly capable mid-range hardtail designed for aspiring trail riders and cross-country enthusiasts. The "Dried Matcha" finish is a sleek, earthy, muted gloss green that looks right at home in the woods.
What makes the Talon 2 particularly special is that it brings "proper" modern mountain bike standards—like front and rear thru-axles, a 1x drivetrain with a clutch, and a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)—down to an entry-level price point. It’s built to be a bike you can actually upgrade as your skills progress, rather than outgrowing it in a year.
Frameset & Fork
Frame: ALUXX-Grade Aluminium, featuring internal cable routing, integrated chainstay protection, and a modern aligned seatstay junction for better stiffness. It is also fully compatible with an internally routed dropper post.
Fork: SXC32-3 RCL (Coil Sprung) with hydraulic lockout, tapered aluminium steerer, and a beefy 15x110mm thru-axle.
Travel varies by size: 80mm travel on XS and S (27.5" wheels) / 100mm travel on M to XXL (29" wheels).
Seatpost: Giant Sport, 30.9mm.
Saddle: Giant ErgoContact Trail.
Cockpit: Giant Connect Trail Handlebar (690mm width on XS/S, 780mm on M-XXL) & Giant Sport Stem (7-degree rise).
Colour: Gloss Dried Matcha.
Drivetrain & Brakes
Shifters: microSHIFT Advent, 1x9-speed (Trigger shift).
Rear Derailleur: microSHIFT Advent with Clutch (Keeps the chain tight over rough terrain to prevent dropping and slapping).
Brake System: Tektro HDC M275 Hydraulic Disc Brakes.
Rotors: Tektro 180mm (Front) / 160mm (Rear).
Cassette: microSHIFT, 11-46T, 9-speed.
Chain: KMC X-9.
Crankset: ProWheel Charm, 32T (for 27.5" models) or 30T (for 29" models).
Bottom Bracket: Sealed Cartridge.
Wheels & Tires
Rims: Giant GX03V Alloy, double-wall, 21mm inner width.
Hubs: Giant Tracker Alloy, Sealed Bearing. 15x110mm thru-axle (Front) / 12x142mm thru-axle (Rear).
Tires: Maxxis Rekon 27.5x2.4" OR Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4" (High-volume wire bead tires for maximum grip and comfort).
Key Highlights
Thru-Axles Front and Rear: This is a massive upgrade over the quick-release skewers found on the cheaper Talon 3 and 4 models. Thru-axles physically thread into the frame and fork, providing a significantly stiffer interface. This means better steering precision and brake rotors that don't rub when you take the wheel off and put it back on.
microSHIFT Advent 1x9 Drivetrain: By ditching the front derailleur, the bike becomes much easier to operate and maintain. The wide-range 11-46T cassette gives you plenty of easy gears for steep climbs, while the clutch mechanism on the rear derailleur acts like a shock absorber for your chain, keeping it quiet and secure over roots and rock gardens.
Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH): The frame uses SRAM's UDH standard. If you ever bend or snap your derailleur hanger in a crash, you won't have to hunt down a proprietary Giant part—you can walk into almost any bike shop in the world and buy a replacement off the shelf.
Proportional Wheel Sizing: To ensure the bike handles perfectly regardless of the rider's height, the Extra-Small and Small frames roll on nimble 27.5-inch wheels. The Medium through XX-Large frames use faster-rolling, obstacle-crushing 29-inch wheels.
Hydraulic Lockout Fork: The suspension fork features a lockout lever. If you are riding on smooth tarmac or climbing a steep, paved hill, you can "lock" the suspension to make the bike completely rigid, meaning none of your pedaling energy is wasted bobbing up and down.