2015 Giant Talon 27.5 3 Review - Light, Quick, and "Playful"

The 27.5 compromise - "playful" results for the Giant Talon

Also called 650B, the new wheelsize and accompanying smaller lighter frame provides the greater stability and confidence of a the larger wheels, while creating a more "playful" feel. Don't take our word for it. Here is how BikeRadar.com reviewed the Giant Talon 27.5 3:

The Talon 4 was our first experience with a 650B wheeled bike at this price point, and we liked the outcome. 

650B makes a lot of sense at the budget price point – it provides a lighter feeling and more playful ride compared to a 29er, while still providing greater control to 26in wheeled bikes.

 Ride and handling: handling and control beyond its price

The Talon 4 is an entry-level bike that’s full of surprises. Taking the Talon off-road, we were immediately surprised by its confident handling and playful ride nature. We’d previously ridden the Talon 29er and found it slow to accelerate and hard to throw around, but the 27.5 does away with these traits.
It was sprightly and easy to get up to speed, yet never felt twitchy. This characteristic made the Talon a joy to ride, encouraging us to find the limits of the tyres in and out of every corner. Large volume tyres meant it didn’t feel harsh – they numbed much of the trails buzz. 

While the entire lineup of Talon's offer great performance, we suspect that the Giant Talon 3 will be the choice of most Pedal Power customers. We believe that the better drive train offering, with Shimano HG20 11x34, 9-speed casette and FSA Dynadrive, 22/32/44 crankset, makes it well worth a few extra bucks compared to the Giant Talon 4.  Besides, you can also buy the 3 in Yellow! What more could you ask?

Giant shows off their amazing proprietary aluminum frame design capabilities on the Talon. Giant opts to increase lateral stiffness in the headset and bottom-bracket areas, which helps to make the ride even feel more nimble.

Here are the complete specs:

Frame
Sizes	S, M, L, XL
Colors	Black/Red, Yellow
Frame	ALUXX-grade aluminum
Fork	SR Suntour XCM w/ hydraulic lockout & preload adjuster, 100mm travel
Shock	N/A

Components
Handlebar	Giant Connect XC, Low rise, 31.8mm
Stem	Giant Sport
Seatpost	Giant Sport, 30.9mm
Saddle	Giant Connect, Upright
Pedals	MTB Caged

Drivetrain
Shifters	Shimano Altus
Front Derailleur	Shimano Altus
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Alivio
Brakes	Tektro Auriga, Hydraulic disc, 160mm
Brake Levers	Tektro Auriga
Cassette	Shimano HG20 11x34, 9-speed
Chain	KMC X9
Crankset	FSA Dynadrive, 22/32/44
Bottom Bracket	FSA sealed

Wheels
Rims	Giant Alloy, Double wall
Hubs	Giant Tracker Sport Disc, 32h
Spokes	Stainless Steel, 14g
Tires	Giant Sport, 27.5x2.1

1904 Staples Mill Rd.
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 658-2126
randy@pedalpowerbicycles.com
www.pedalpowerbicycles.com