Rightsizing mountain bikes and components for youth riders can be challenging. Ultralight riders often suffer on mountain bikes with overdamped shocks, forks and even dropper posts. 

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With many youth riders weighing so much less than the baseline compression damping tune for suspension components, getting a youth rider optimally set up for their mountain bike can be hugely frustrating. 

Giant's solution is the new Faith range: aluminium frame dual-suspension trail bikes with components chosen to help ultralight youth riders shred. 

Using its enormous manufacturing scale and resources, Giant has secured a range of suspension components for the Faith bikes that work with perfect compression profiles and progression for ultralight youth riders. 

Bringing big performance to small riders

Giant's new youth bikes have a rear triangle and axle interface that delivers an adult bike's rear-wheel tracking stability and suspension sophistication in a youth-sized package. The Faith's Crest FloTrac Lite shocks are trunnion mounted, and the rear wheel is secured with a 148x12mm thru-axle system, unlike the smaller QR axles often used on youth bikes. 

2024 giant faith 24 hero.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Available in two configurations, there's a Faith for light and ultralight riders. The 'series’ Faith is targeted at riders under 62kg. It features a 140mm Crest SL FloTune Lite fork, paired with 135mm of rear suspension, rolling a mixed wheel size: 27.5-inch front and 26-inch rear. 

For even smaller youth riders under 46kg, who want all the benefits of a lightweight compression tune dual-suspension mountain bike, there’s the Faith 24. It uses a Crest TR Elite Lite Fork 140mm fork travel and trims the rear suspension to 130mm while rolling 24-inch wheels front and rear. 

Geometry numbers are very progressive, with the Faith and Faith 24 featuring a 64.5-degree head angle, while reach numbers are 410mm for the larger mixed-wheel size bike and 376mm for the 24-inch version. 

Rightsized for youth shredders

Beyond the forks and shocks with their specific ultralight compression tunes, Giant’s Faith youth bikes feature several compact component choices, selected to work with the overall proportions and geometry of these smaller wheeled trail bikes. 

2024 giant faith 24 3qr.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Drivetrains are MicroShift 1x10, with chain guides for additional chain security when youth riders are testing the limits on technical trails. The brakes are Tektro, actuating 180mm rotors front and 160mm rear, delivering powerful stopping power. 
 
Creating cornering confidence and pedalling comfort are short 155mm cranks, ideal for youth-sized riders. The cockpits have 40mm stems, clamping 740mm handlebars on the Faith 27.5/26-inch and 680mm on the smaller 24-inch wheel version. 

Tyres and traction are crucial to trail riding confidence, and Giant’s Faith rolls Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in width front tyres, with 2.4in Minion DHR IIs at the rear. The Faith range wheelsets are alloy, with a 30mm internal diameter, creating the ideal tyre shape when inflated, and with a broadened rim bead to reduce pinch flatting risk. 

Faith 24 action.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Best of all? The Faith youth trail bikes come with dropper seat posts with a lighter compression setup, meaning youth riders can easily and comfortably sit and manage seat height on the go. 

Giant Faith and Faith 24 are both priced at £2,399. 

• www.giant-bicycles.com

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