Mountain Biking - Advice: Giant Talon or Kona Hoss

Hi I'm Eski,

This is the first time I've used this site.

I'm looking to buy a new bike, and I'm having a hard time deciding
between the Giant Talon and Kona Hoss.

I'm 6'3" (190cm) and weigh 205lbs (93kgs).
My Budget is about $1000 AUD. Both these bikes retail for $1300 AUD.

What I want to use a new bike for:

70% of the time I will be riding along pavement (Road and bike paths).

30% of the time I will ride off road along grass and trails.

Taking in mind that sometimes I will be riding from pavement up and down
kerbs and gutters etc. on to grass/ trails and vise versa etc.

I also want to do some small jumps/ drops/ bunnyhops with the bike
nothing extreme. Probably jumping/bunnyhopping off the ground a maximum of a foot or
foot and a half (30cm to 40cm maximum) nothing more than this.

The Kona Hoss I know is a good bike for jumping, as it has a strong frame
and good set of 'Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 4' Forks. Alex DM-24 Rims, and
Shimanoe Diore gear system.

Please have a look at the specs of this bike on the following link
http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/HOSS/index.html

The Giant Talon I beleive would be a better bike for riding along pavement
as it would be lighter, and has a 'Rockshox Tora 302' fork with Lockout.
It has Sun Rhyno Lite 26" x 32H w/eyelets Rims.

Please have a look at the specs of this bike on the following link
http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/mountain/169/22429/

My questions are:
Are lockout forks a must for riding along pavement, especially up hill?

If I was to buy the Kona Hoss for example, would there be too much wasted energy
riding up a pavement hill, and doing sprints, because the forks don't lockout, would they bounce
too much?

If I was to buy the Giant Talon would it be good enough to handle some small jumps/bunnyhopps as I mentioned?
The 'Rockshox Tora 302' forks I beleive are good enough for jumping, as these same forks are on the
Haro Escape dirt jump bikes.

I know that the Kona Hoss frame is stronger, but I'm not going to do any extreme jumps so wouldn't the
Giant Talon frame still be ok for small jumps?

Comparing the rims is one better (Stronger) than the other or are they both of the same quality, the
'Alex DM-24' Rims on the Kona Hoss compared to the 'Sun Rhyno Lite 26" x 32H w/eyelets' Rims
on the Giant Talon.

Basically I want a bike that I can ride along every day and ride it long distances when ever I want to.
I don't want too much energy to go to waste on pavement if forks bounce alot, especially
going up hill.
I want to be able to ride the bike fast and pick up speed when I want to on various terain
but especially pavement.
I want something that is strong enough so I can do some small jumps/bunnyhops with.

Please give me a recomendation the Giant Talon or Kona Hoss, or any other bike you
think would be suitable.

Thankyou for your help.

Eski :)

I remember reading AMB about bikes below 1000 AUD, cant find it now. Later I go find and tell ya

Kay, well if you can find a Nov/Dec issue of Australian Mountain Bike magazine, there are a list of bikes under 1000. Anyway since you said you want to cycle fast, If its me, I take the Giant one because its lighter. I dont find any problem on cycling uphill with a fork without lock out, I owned a RST Capa T4 for 1 year and I am the second fastest climber in my group, the fastest rider uses a very old RST fork. Anyway about the low jumps, both bikes would do just fine. There are also a few other methods to make erm your bike faster, different type of tyre pattern also affect your acceleration

stop sliptting hairs, buy whichever bike looks the best to you, either will be fine for what your asking of it.

Kay, well if you can find a Nov/Dec issue of Australian Mountain Bike magazine, there are a list of bikes under 1000. Anyway since you said you want to cycle fast, If its me, I take the Giant one because its lighter. I dont find any problem on cycling uphill with a fork without lock out, I owned a RST Capa T4 for 1 year and I am the second fastest climber in my group, the fastest rider uses a very old RST fork. Anyway about the low jumps, both bikes would do just fine. There are also a few other methods to make erm your bike faster, different type of tyre pattern also affect your acceleration

keep in mind that there are only two people in his group.

when in doubt, pick the giant.

when in doubt, pick the giant.


Thats a good one. So far what I have found is that you can not go horribly wrong with giant....you may not get the best bling....but whatever you buy from giant (at any price point) you will find it very competitive or better than the rest of the manufacturers...

I would go with the giant....althoug I like kona bikes a lot....heck I own one...

Hoss is a bit over built for big riders on demanding trails......you are not doing demanding trails...the kind of drops and jumps you are doing would be fine with the giant.....and yes, lock out fork helps on long climbs

No Kona Owners Replying?????

The hoss is a bike built for a purpose and that is for Big and Heavy riders. It is set up to take the strains that a rider like you would fold a normal mountain bike. However- the type of riding you are going to do is not going to stress any bike so either would do. However if you do decide to try some aggressive trails- then Go for the Kona.

I am the same height and weight as you and i bought the KONA HOSS DELUXE if you shop around you will get the HOSS for $1000 AUD i payed $1250AUD for the deluxe rrp $1650 AUD. Try the ANNACONDA adventure stores for good deals on kona or BIKE BARN in Sydney. I do mainly trail riding with the Hoss deluxe and couldnt be happier, it might be slightly heavier but it's good to know that i wont break it !! WAs going to buy a standard hoss but when i was offered such a good deal on the deluxe i could not refuse it. BUY THE KONA !!

Thanks Guys

What would be the weight difference between the Kona Hoss and Giant Talon?
Would it be much at all?

eski

thanks Bikes n Bundy,

I've been thinking about the Hoss delux, the air fork I think is a good feature.
How do you find Riding the Hoss Delux along pavement, for a few km's including
up hill, how does it handle it?

thanks

eski

I think the Giant should be lighter, not sure bout this though

yeah it's fine on pavement not a problem at all, i ride to work and usually try to do a few miles on road after work, the bike doesn't hit the dirt till the weekend if i have time ( kids/work! ) Where in Aus are you ??

I've got a lockout fork on my Bike- I use it for commuting more than trail riding, and I think it makes it better going up hill. It could be all just in my head though.

Thanks.

I'm in Sydney-South Western Suburbs