Originally Posted by
Cpn_Dunsel
Maybe the Giant Talon 2 would be a good fit here and you could update the fork at a later date.
Very difficult to hit all the needs here and still be under budget. Some compromise will likely have to be made unless you stumble upon someone really underselling their used bike.
The Talon 1 does sport a better shock but is over your budget number.
I rented a 2020 Talon 2 last summer on a trip to Colorado. Did some pretty challenging trails with long steep ascents and fast, rocky, rooty descents. The Talon 2 was perfect for a guy like me who wants to have fun without doing anything insane — no big jumps or drops, etc. I actually liked it a lot better than the much pricier Co-Op DRT 3.2 full suspension bike I had rented for a previous trip out west. The Talon felt lighter, climbed better and I noticed no significant improvement in comfort or handling with the full suspension bike. Certainly not worth an extra $1,500 for what I used it for.