While there are so many mountain bike brands, Giant is among those setting the pace. Their high-end full-suspension and Hardtail MTBs are such a vast attraction globally. But are giant mountain bikes good?
Giant mountain bikes are good because they enjoy massive load capacities, quality components, and lifetime frame warranties. Even better, the bikes employ advanced suspension and design technologies that promote better bike handling and comfort.
Giant bikes also come in a wide range of prices, sizes, and categories. As a result, there is a Giant MTB out there for everyone.
I’ll talk about all the categories in this post and make a few recommendations. But before that, I’ll explain in detail why your next bicycle should be a Giant MTB.
In a hurry? Check out some of the hottest MTBs by Giants on the list below.
6 Best Giant Mountain Bikes For Sale
- Reign SX 29: Best Giant Enduro Mountain Bike
- Giant Talon 1: Best Giant Trail Mountain Bike
- XTC Advanced 29 3: Best Giant XC Mountain Bike
- Giant ATX: Best Giant Recreational Mountain Bike
- Giant Yukon 2: Best Giant Fat Bike
- Talon E+ 29 3: Best Giant Electric Mountain Bike
Are Giant Mountain Bikes Good? The Good and the Bad
The Good
Here are things that make Giant MTBs worth it:
1. Lifetime Frame Warranty
Giant offers lifetime warranties for all their MTB frames except for downhill options. You only get three years for downhill models, which is understandable given that downhill MTBs take on the roughest abuse.
In addition to the frames, Giant offers a couple of years on other bike components.
2. Massive Load Capacity
According to Giant Bicycles, their MTBs have a 300-pound load capacity. That’s more than most MTB brands and even Giant road bikes, which have a 275-pound capacity.
So, Giant is an attraction for anyone who is plus-size but not exceeding 300 pounds.
3. Quality Components
Giant build their MTBs and other bikes in-house. Though they produce their bicycles in masses in Taiwan, they don’t leave any room for quality issues.
They control components sourcing and oversee the fabrication of the frame to ensure that the final products (the bikes) are quality-assured.
From the gears and disc brakes to the wheels and fork suspensions, everything is high-quality.
4. Advanced Technology
Giant has been at the height of innovation since it first launched in 1972. The brand, for instance, was the first to produce carbon frames using computer-aided designs.
The frames, known as CADEX carbon frames, are popular on Giant MTBs. They are known to combine strength and lighter weight.
Their MTBs mainly employ a Piggyback design, which offers you more power to control the bike downhill effectively.
And when it comes to their electric options, such as the Talon E+ 29 3, you can count on their Sync-Drive Motor technology for smooth power delivery on varying terrains and EnergyPak technology for intelligent battery charging.
Moreover, you get to adjust its setting on the handlebar using its Ride-Control One function.
Giant has also invested a lot in more advanced suspension technologies that set them apart from their competition.
One notable suspension innovation is the Maestro System which offers you better climbing power.
5. All Budget Bikes
Giant MTBs are not all expensive and unaffordable as most people presume them to be. Though most Giant MTBs are on the higher side of the budget, there are more than enough mid-range and low-end MTBs.
For example, while a high-end Giant MTB is likely to cost over $2,500, a mid-range option cost $1,000-$2,000 while a budget choice costs under $1,000.
Overall, you are likely to pay more for full-suspension Giant MTBs than their Hardtail and rigid siblings.
6. Bike Variety
This is where giant suppresses most of its competition. Depending on your cycling preference and terrain, there is always a giant MTB out there to match you.
For starters, Giant categorizes its MTBs according to the suspension type as follows:
a) Giant Rigid Mountain Bikes
This is an MTB line with no suspension. The bikes are primarily fat tire options, which I’ll talk about later.
Overall, rigid suspension MTBs are lighter and more responsive. Moreover, they have less maintenance, which is their key selling point.
b) Giant Hardtail Mountain Bikes
Giant hardtails only have a front suspension. They are generally the best for taking terrains that are neither too steep nor too rocky.
Overall, they make good entry-level choices and are lighter than Giant full-suspension options.
c) Giant Mountain Bikes Full Suspension
For those who want a more advanced MTB for professional cycling, Giant MTB full suspension is the way to go. These MTBs can tackle the steepest and rockiest terrains and everything else you throw at them.
Their only issue is that they are heavier and costlier.
Note that depending on the type of suspension, Giant mountain bikes come in these categories:
- Enduro MTB
- Trail MTB
- Cross-country MTB
- Recreational MTB
- Fat tire MTB
- Electric MTB
7. Size Variety
Giant produces all their mountain bikes in multiple sizes. Overall, you can find your bike size by looking at the frame size and, secondly, the wheel size.
Let’s start with the frame size.
Giant lists the frame sizes from X-Small to X-Large, all suiting riders of different heights as shown below.
| Rider Height | Frame Size (inches) |
| 5’1”-5’5” | 13-14” (X-Small) |
| 5’4”-5’8” | 15-16” (Small) |
| 5’7”-5’10” | 17-18” (Medium) |
| 5’9”-6’1” | 19-20” (Large) |
| 6’0”-6’4” | 21-22” (X-large) |
To further get a perfect bike size, you can narrow your options based on the wheel size. Giant offers you three wheel sizes for their MTBs as follows:
- 26 inches
- 5 inches
- 29 inch (29er)
Note that the bigger the wheel size, the bigger the bike is likely to be.
The Bad
Giant MTBs have the same issue as most MTB brands. Their mountain bikes are heavier and somehow slower, apart from electric options.
The prices are another issue. There is undeniably a considerable price gap between the hardtails and full suspension. Of course, the exceptions are used giant mountain bikes for sale.
While it’s possible to get a Hardtail for under $1000 like the Giant Talon 1, it’ll cost you at least $2,500 to get a full-suspension option.
That forces you to wonder, why are giant mountain bikes so expensive?
The apparent reason is what I’ve just mentioned; the suspension. You pay more for a full-suspension Giant bike than its Hardtail sibling because a full-suspension has more capability.
It can take on the roughest terrains and is even faster.
Other reasons include expensive components, quality frames, advanced technologies, and intricate, labor-intensive designs.
Giant Mountain Bikes Discussed!
Now let’s talk about the Giant bike categories:
1. Are Giant Enduro Mountain Bikes Good?
Giant enduro comes exclusively in full suspension, making them among the costliest. These MTBs, also known as All-Mountain MTBs, come with more travel suspension (150-180mm) that’s sufficient to take just any terrain.
Their climbing power is unmatched by other MTBs apart from downhill options, and they are pretty decent going downhill. The MTBs have a much slacker geometry, thus comfortable to maneuver off-road.
One fantastic choice by Giant is the Reign SX 29, which features a 170mm travel fork, 29er wheels, and Maestro Suspension.
2. Are Giant Trail Mountain Bikes Good?
Giant trail MTBs don’t come with as much travel suspension as their endurance siblings. So, expect the travel not to exceed 140mm.
The MTBs enjoy a slacker geometry, thus comfortable to maneuver.
Overall, they are the best for trail riding, just like the name is suggesting. You’ll get them in full-suspension and Hardtail options.
An option like the Giant Talon 1 may be only a Hardtail, but it has the potential of some Giant full-suspension MTBs.
I’m talking about fast-rolling 29-inch wheels, adaptive geometry, 100mm travel, among others.
3. Are Giant Cross Country Mountain Bikes Good?
Giant cross-country (XC) MTBs have the shortest fork suspension (not more than 100mm), making them the lightest. That also means they are the speediest, and they come in Hardtail and full suspension options.
Overall, these MTBs are best for lighter trails, especially cycling paths. They have a steeper geometry, which encourages aggressive off-road cycling.
But despite their smaller suspension travel range, these MTBs come with stronger wheels, powerful disc brakes, and tubeless-ready designs, among other impressive features.
A perfect example is the XTC Advanced 29 3. This Hardtail 29er is everything you want in a cross-country MTB.
4. Are Giant Recreational Mountain Bikes Good?
Recreation MTBs target entry-level mountain bikers who want to ride for fun. They come with shorter travel suspensions, just like XC MTBs, but it’s enough for a comfortable off-road ride.
Their suspension forks also offer you better bike control. These bikes are much lighter for fast riding, but they are also durable.
They only come as Hardtail, which again proves my point – they are an entry-level choice.
One such MTB is the Giant ATX.
5. Are Giant Fat Tire Mountain Bikes Good?
Giant fat tire mountain bikes are distinguished by their supersize tires, which promote these functions:
- Off-road stability and control
- Shock-absorption
- Floatation
I remember mentioning that most rigid MTBs are fat tire options. Well, these bikes don’t come with wheel suspensions. So, the thick tires play the role.
The fat tires also enable you to ride over mud, soft sand, snow, and terrains that you would ordinarily slide or sink.
No Giant fat bike illustrates that better than the Giant Yukon 2.
Its sloppy low-slung geometry lowers your center of gravity to offer you a better posture for easy bike maneuver on technical terrains.
6. Are Giant Electric Mountain Bikes Good?
Giant electric mountain bikes are like no other, owing to their impressive Sync-Drive Core Motor that delivers instant power and fast-charging EnergyPak technology.
I also have to mention the Ride-Control smart-adjustment technology, impressive suspension, and powerful battery.
These MTBs also have a longer battery mileage and enjoy an unconventional aerodynamic design that offers wind resistance.
In my view, they are the perfect off-road choice, and leading the pack is the Talon E+ 29 3.
Closing Thought: Are Giant Mountain Bikes Good?
Giant is irrefutably a pacesetter based on frame warranty, components quality, innovation, and bike variety. Moreover, you can get Giant MTBs in all price points and sizes.
In my view, that’s market dominance!
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