We have Faith in the youth to carry on the traditions, stewardship, and love of riding bikes. Giant Bicycles is renewing that Faith with an all-new, updated youth mountain bike. It’s a renewal, as the Giant Faith isn’t a new line, but it’s reimagined for a new generation of kids who want to have fun and shred.
The Giant Faith is specifically for developing young riders. The new range features purpose-built (youth-friendly) suspension, updated geometry, and components for smaller, lighter bodies.
A Return of Faith
The new Faith range is the first of its kind from Giant. It’s a collection of high-performance, full-suspension trail bikes that are on par with adult mountain bikes. The difference is that they are specifically dialed for youth use and dimensions—right down to the dropper seatpost.
The updated Giant Faith line starts with an aluminum frame with youth-specific geometry. The updated geometry expertly matches Giants’ all-new proprietary suspension setups, WheelSystems, and ergonomic touchpoints for smaller bodies.
The small bike packs a lot of cool tech, so let’s start at the base.
Giant ALUXX SL Frameset
Let’s start with the frame. The Faith’s canvas is a high-performance ALUXX SL aluminum frameset with youth-specific trail geometry. Weight is a big part of the picture here, and Giant wants to keep the Faith as slim and sleek as possible.
The frame boasts features like internal cable routing, dropper post compatibility, and a tapered headtube. Its construction looks very beefy and on par with some serious alloy trail bikes. The graphics are cool and understated, with a bit of skate style mixed in. Plus, there is lots of blank space for stickers, and if your kids are like mine… the more, the better.
TRA WheelSystems
Next up is the wheelset, and that, too, is youth-focused. Giant’s new youth-specific TRA WheelSystems borrows essential tech from the adult TRA WheelSystem, including nice modern wide rims, performance-level hubs, and extra thought put into the longevity of the build.
The rims are slightly overbuilt, with 5mm rim walls that hopefully will keep these kiddos dent-free for a while. The rear wheel boasts a 72-tooth freehub, better than some adult mountain bikes. The hubs are easily serviceable, like most Giant TRA hubs, and should last.
Suspension Tuned for Young Riders
How a young rider sees the trail differs significantly from how a 6-foot-tall adult blasts through the single track. Their bikes should be able to tackle those unique demands and try not to hinder their riding growth. Giant feels the best way to overcome this is variable wheel sizes and suspension tuned specifically for kids.
The Giant Faith uses the Giant FlexPoint rear suspension system with a Crest FloTrac Lite shock. New Crest Lite suspension forks with FloTune Lite dampers help kids tackle technical terrain with more confidence and control.
Two Distinct Giant Faith Models
The new Giant Faith range includes two models. The Giant Faith features a new Giant TRA WheelSystem with a 27.5-inch front wheel and 26-inch rear. The wheels borrow vital features and technologies from race-proven adult TRA WheelSystems, including WideGuard technology, to improve rim strength and reduce the risk of flats. The smaller Faith 24 has 24-inch TRA wheels front and rear for lighter weight and easier handling.
All Faith models have youth-specific cranks, brake levers, and new Contact Switch AT Lite dropper seat posts. The Contact Switch AT Lite dropper has a lighter action and requires less force/weight to initiate the drop, making it much easier for kids to use. The grips and levers are also youth-focused, with a smaller diameter grip and easier-to-access levers.
Super Active FlexPoint Rear Suspension
Both Faith models feature FlexPoint rear suspension systems with a Crest FloTrac Lite shock. This linkage-driven, single-pivot system creates consistent damping and spring performance throughout the travel. Like larger Giant bikes, it isolates the rear shock to provide small bump sensitivity through the entire wheel path.
Kids may or may not notice all the subtle nuances of the tech, but they can sure feel if it’s smooth. My son describes it as having a “magic carpet feel.” The above result is a smooth, active feel through the shock stroke with no harsh bottom-outs.
Crest FloTrac Lite-Shock
The Crest FloTrac Lite-Shock is designed and built in-house to complement Giant’s suspension platform kinematics for lightweight riders. It receives custom tuning for less force input and lightweight action.
Paired with Giants Triple Flow Path technology that stabilizes the shock’s motion when active, Crest FloTrac Lite gives smaller riders increased traction and control while descending or climbing. The Crest TR Elite Lite and Crest SL FloTune Lite forks are custom-tuned for light riders. The design boasts low-friction action and the latest Giant FloTune Lite damper.
In addition, all Faith models feature Unified Suspension Setup, a guide displayed on the forks indicating optimal air pressure, and damper setting recommendations for both the rear shock and the fork based on rider weight.
135mm or 130mm of Real Travel
The Faith series has 135mm of rear Travel, with a 140mm Crest SL FloTune Lite fork, which is explicitly tuned for riders weighing under 62kg. The Faith 24 series has 130mm of rear Travel and is paired with a 140mm Crest TR Elite Lite Fork, which is also explicitly tuned for riders weighing under 46kg.
Spec’d to Climb and Descend
Going down the hills is fun, but going up is OK, too, if you have the correct gears. Either Faith model comes with Microshift Advent X G-Series-10-speed, an 11×48 cassette paired with a 30T front chain ring. The crankset is a short 155mm (or 140mm on the 24″ model), hoping to limit pedal strikes and foster a balance of cadence and power.
There is no front derailleur, but there is a very beefy Giant chain guide. Paired with the Advent X G-Series derailleur equals zero dropped chains.
Tire-wise, the Faith gets serious, arriving with Maxxis Minion DHR II, 2.4, 60 TPI TLR. Paired with the Tektro hydraulic brakes with 180/160mm rotors, this bike should able to take on mountains!
Giant Faith Geometry
Giant Faith Full Spec’s
- Colors: Copper
- Frame: ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum front and rear triangles, 12x148mm thru-axle, 135mm FlexPoint suspension
- Fork: Crest SL FloTune Lite, FloTune Lite Damper, 140mm
- Shock: Crest FloTrac Lite, 165/45mm, trunnion mount
- Handlebar: Giant Contact TR, 20mm rise, AL6061 aluminum, 740mm
- Grips: Giant small-hand
- Stem: Giant Contact, 8 degrees, 40mm
- Seatpost: Contact Switch AT Lite, 100mm
- Saddle: Giant Romero
- Pedals: Giant Pinner Lite
- Shifters: MicroSHIFT Advent X Trail trigger shifter SL-M9505-R (with nanowire)
- Rear Derailleur: Microshift Advent X RD-M6205AM
- Brakes: Tektro, 180mm/160mm
- Brake Levers: Tektro HD-J285
- Cassette: Microshift Advent X G-Series, 10-speed, 11×48
- Crankset: ProWheel Charm, 30t, 155mm
- Bottom Bracket: Press Fit
- Rims: Giant TRA WheelSystem, alloy, hollow rim wall construction, hookless, 30mm inner width, 40mm outer width, 21mm height, Wide Guard Technology.
- Hubs: Front- Giant alloy, DBL, six-bolt. Rear – TRA 72t pawl driver, six-bolt
- Spokes: Sapim Laser
- Tires: Maxxis Minion DHR II, 26×2.4, 60 TPI, folding
- Extras: Giant 1x chain guide
What Size Faith Does My Rider Need?
Giant gives some rough outlines of the size guidance.
- Faith 24: 5-9 years old and features a 64.1 cm (25.2 in) standover height—27 pounds with pedals.
- Faith is 9-13 years old and has a 67.6 cm (26.6 in) standover height—29 pounds with pedals.
Pricing and Availability
- Faith $2,500
- Faith 24″ $2,600
All Giant Faith models are available at Giant.com or your local Giant retailer, as we suggest dialing in the perfect size.
Look for our first impressions shortly!
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