2021 Trek Marlin 7 vs. Giant Talon 1 vs. Specialized Rockhopper Comp

Описание: Hello and welcome to the flow. Today on Cycling With Sully we are comparing the 2021 model year of the Trek Marlin 7, the Giant Talon 1 and the Specialized Rockhopper Comp. As you probably already know mountain biking can be quite an expensive sport, hobby, passion, whatever you call it. If you just get into mountain biking it can kind of seem unrealistic or even impossible just getting the gear that you need. One of the most obvious things that you’ll need is a mountain bike but how do I choose the right one. Luckily I have done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of mountain bikes that will get you started riding without burning through your wallet.

First we have the Trek Marlin 7. At $839.99 the Trek Marlin is the perfect bike to get you going on light singletrack mountain bike trails. With an option of 27.5 wheels or 29er wheels you are sure to get a bike that fits just for your size. The Rockshox Judy coil fork with 100mm of travel will absorb most small bumps on the trail but may not do so well doing hard hits such as jumps and drops. And last but not least the Marlin 7 has a Shimano Deore 10 speed drivetrain with a 11 to 46 tooth cassette sure to become handy tackling the steepest climbs on the trails. If you're looking for a lightweight modern bike to be ridden on light singletrack the Trek Marlin 7 is the right bike for you.

Second we have the Giant Talon 1. At $800 the Giant Talon is much like the Trek Marlin 7 but with a few key differences. First being the fork, unlike the Marlins Rockshox coil fork the Talon has a sxc air fork. If you are new to mountain biking you may not be familiar with the difference between coil and air forks. After riding both coil and air forks I cannot recommend an air fork enough not only is more adjustable it is also way lighter. But to keep costs low Giant uses an in house brand to make the air fork. A 10 speed shimano deore drivetrain paired with an 11 to 42 tooth cassette drives the bike forward. The Giant Talon is at home riding whatever light singletracks trails you can find.

Third we have the Specialized Rockhopper Elite. At $750 the Specialized Rockhopper Comp is the cheapest bike out of the bunch but does more money get you less bike? No not really, the Rockhopper does have a 9 speed microshift advent drivetrain with a 11 to 42 tooth cassette, one less gear compared to the Marlin and Talon but the Rockhopper has the same range. The question is will you notice that you have one less gear, probably not. A 100mm travel Suntour XCM coil fork dampens the ride up front. Even if all of that sounds a little dull remember the Specialized Rockhopper is a legendary mountain bike. From the start of the first mountain bikes available to the market the Rockhopper made a name for itself as a great mountain bike.

If I had to choose one of these bikes I think I would choose the Specialized Rockhopper. The Trek Marlin does have a Rockshox Judy Fork and a 11 to 46 tooth 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain which is all very nice. The Giant Talon has an air fork which is pretty important to me but I’m just not sure about Giant’s in house brand. Even though the Marlin and Talon have slightly better components than the Rockhopper I would still take the Rockhopper because of its deep mountain biking roots that make it such a great bike.

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