Giant Defy Review (Giant's Endurance Road Performance Bike)
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- čas přidán 19. 11. 2018
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In this video, I review the all-new Giant Defy Advanced 2. Giant's entry-level endurance road performance machine.
So this is Giant’s upgraded version of the Defy in 2019. Notable changes in the new version of the Defy versus its predecessor include:
1. The Giant De-fuse technology - which helps reduce road shock and vibrations. That was once only in the rear of the bike, now sits in the handlebar system too.
2. Giant have changed cable routing to make it more seamless throughout this endurnace road bike.
3. Giant have made some advancements in the carbon fibre construction to apparently make the frame more compliant and stiffer.
4. Giant have increased the ability to get some gurthy tyres in there. Now up to 32mm.
I break this road bike review up into two parts - The bike itself, and then the riding experience. I then wrap things up with my opinion on what type of rider I believe this bike best suits.
This Giant Defy comes with: ever so reliable Shimano 105 and the braking performance, including disc brakes. You’ve also got plenty of gearing thanks to an 11-34 cog on the rear.
The wheels are some of Giant’s own, being the PR2 Disc’s, and last but certainly, not least you’ve got De-Fuse technology in the seat post and the handlebars. Which are essentially engineered tube shapes that are optimised to absorb road shocks and vibrations.
Specialized Roubaix review here: • Specialized Roubaix Ex... - Sport
ROAD BIKE GIVEAWAY - Please note that I have recently announced that I will be giving a road bike away to a lucky subscriber 1 week before Christmas. There will be more information to follow. Please also consider you will need to have your CZcams profile listed as ‘public’ at least one week before the draw on the 18th of December. Otherwise, your profile name will not appear on the list I extract from CZcams to facilitate the draw. Many thanks, Cam
Hi Cam, which frame size? M/L ? What is your height ?
Cam Nicholls
May I ask a questions Cam, I am buying a giant defy advance 2 2019 for 2300 and not sure if it worth to pay 500 more to get a 2020 one. The notable change in 2020 is the full hydronic break and taking off the semi hydraulic connect part from handle. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Important to get the size right, Giant Defy Advance 2 2018..main thing is to keep riding
douglas yong I actually decided to go for advance 1 Ultegra components including hydronic break... 2900 sounded like a good deal.
Thanks for this review, Cam. Bought this bike ^ yesterday after your review. Completed a 40 km ride and am loving it. Keep producing your awesome videos!
I've ridden this bike for a few days so far, and all I can say is... I LOVE IT! For those who are talking about cable routing, you don't even notice it while riding. It is superb. Sturdy, rigid frame but the tires absorb most of the vibrations. It's gotten a lot of compliments too.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Aaron, much appreciated. Cam
Thanks for the video. I'm in my 50's and not a speedfreek anymore, but still go on loooong rides. Tried out s few brands, and settled on the Defy Advance 2. Doing about 150 km a week, and not regretting my choice one moment. Best bike for me.
Nice one Carl, thanks for sharing. Cam
150 is what I aim for. I'm 63, just registered 45,000 in Spain, 10 years, so not remarkable.
Good to hear. This is a bike I'm looking into right now.
@@bradbeining3341 I have a TCR and a Revolt. Considered a Defy but convinced myself otherwise and I'm not regretting it ... but that's because it particularly suits my local riding.
I have a 2018 defy advanced 1 and couldnt be happier with it.
Thanks for sharing. Cam
no worries my brother. i appreciate all your help.
Hey Cam, you have made my purchase decision more easier. Thanks for the wonderful review mate.
Awesome mate, enjoy!
thank you. that was a great review. I have been thinking of getting this bike and the points you make are honest and to the point.
excellent review mate, you hit the nail on the head, when a sixty something old track racer wants to go out and fight with the twenty and thirty somethings he brings his tcr sl, when he doesn't want to get beat up and take in some scenary he brings his defy ironically with the lighter wheelset!! rock on!
haha, well said. And much appreciated. Cam
Thank you ! Finally the truth this bike is slower ,I was wondering why I was worried so hard to keep up
Great to see you reviewing more affordable bikes. Watching Ferrari reviews are always interesting, but most of us drive a Toyota or a Honda-priced car :-)
Grab the TCR Advanced Pro 1 next - Ultegra, carbon wheels, 7.5kg and around $3200 for a 2018. Probably the best bang for buck available.
haha, thank you sir. I will try. Giant has proven to be difficult to deal with locally. I had to borrow this bike from a local bike shop to get the review done! Cam
Best bang for buck is always used bikes rather than new bikes, just like used cars.
Cam Nicholl
Good balanced review - thanks Cam. I have had my defy for 6 months - first road bike ever and I'm in my 50's. I don't have a lot to compare it to, but after 800 km around brisbane roads, paths, occasional grass and gravel, I'm extremely happy with my choice. The disc brakes are excellent and it is comfortable on longer rides and at speed hitting the inevitable rough sections of road. All up I paid AUD $3,200 which included pedals, nicks, jersey, lights, water bottle, spares, shoes, helmet, cleats. Everything I needed to get a respectable, durable carbon fibre bike to get into the sport.
Nice one Paul, thanks for sharing on this thread. Cam
Great video Cam! Thanks for your effort!
Thanks Ciclista, much appreciated. Cam
educational please do more ones like these about value and performance, especially explaning about the headtubes
Nice Review Cam , really well presented .
Thank you Fatty. Appreciate it. Cam
Nice channel, just stumbled upon it as my interest for road cycling grow. Can’t wait to get my first road bike!
Very excited for you Lyle! Much fun to be had. Keep me posted. Cam
@@CamNicholls Definately! Keep up the good work
fantastic review, thanks - enjoyed the detail on how the geometry affects the feel
Cheers Steven.
Hi.
I'm from Portugal and this review was helpful for choosing my new bike.
I just received a 2019 Defy Advanced 1, with Ultegra kit. Just changed de cassette from 11-34 to 11-32 and the saddle to my usual model.
Very nice bike for the money.
Great stuff Luis, thanks for sharing. Appreciate it 👍
Agree with JMS. Good review. Have been looking at this bike. Very helpful.
Great review, very informative. Thanks!
bought my Canyon Endurace SL Carbon, 105 hydraulic, $1899. Added Reynolds Assault wheels Tubeless for $600. Perfect machine.
Very well reviewed for a simple take on the bikes value points
👍👏
An excellent bike. The Giants and Cubes are among the most affordable A-level bikes today.
For instance, My Salsa WarBird 2019 frame alone costs a tad over €2.000,- here.
The Giant Defy Advanced with mid-range components costs about the same. Same goes for Cube endurance bikes.
The one thing I disfavour about the Deft Advanced - is the proprietary seat post shape, meaning, the seat tube won't accept third party seat posts (i.e., the Redshift ShockStop, the by.Schultz G.2,, the Came Creek ThudBuster and more or less any carbon seat post).
Very nice review probably the best review i have seen so far. Thanks a lot.
Nice of you to say so. Thanks Bobby. Cam
@@CamNicholls My Pleasure Cam.
I really enjoyed your review. I am currently in the market for a new bike and will add the Defy to the list of bikes I want to test ride.
The Contend SL1 has identical spec and very similar if not identical geometry with an alloy frame for half the price. I ride one and dig it. I agree the wheels are heavy, but reliable.
Thanks for sharing Patrick. Cam
Spot-on review, I have one of these and have knocked up about 250km on it so far. I find it really smooth and it feels like I could ride on it forever, and ever, and ever.
Thanks Alan. Appreciate you sharing your experiences too. Cam
Great review! I have actually just ordered this bike in the UK (long waiting list). I bought it on the basis that I bought a Giant Contend disc as a winter bike last year (near identical geometry) and just rode it all summer as well (my poor Emonda didn't get much fun). The comfort as you point out is amazing, I switched the stock PR2 wheels so Mavic Kysrium Disc Pro and it does improve the ride speedwise, I will probably switch them over to the Defy when it arrives.
Thanks for sharing Robin. Hope you enjoy many rides on this bike! Cam
I bought a 2018 defy advanced 1 in early 2019 and love the ride. Like you said in the video, I do find myself struggling to keep up on the flats with the group, but can pull away on the hills. I am looking for some new wheels on a semi budget. Any recommendations? Also, I feel the compact 50/34 chainring is also a part of that struggle. Your thoughts? Thanks!
Hey Cam. Thanks for the reply. I will definitely consider that. The way to work is all road, but on the weekends l like to ride a small bicycle trail by my home. The trail is pavement, but does have some areas that are dirt.
Hey what's up Cam? How are you doing brother? So just to recap, I went ahead & got the 2018 giant TCR advanced 2 yesterday. Damn, this bike rides like a dream. You were right. I haven't really opened it up yet. It's been raining a lot here, & I really don't want to get gunk all over it. Once the weather clears up some, I am really looking forward to talking the TCR out.
I’m looking forward to your BMC 105 review. I’ve also looked at the defy. A place has the advance pro 0 for $5300. But I’m not sure as I’ve heard the power meter is not reliable. Cheers again 👍🏻👍🏻
@ Cam Nicholls, I purchased a 2020 giant defy pro 1 based off this video. Thanks for the review 👍
Nice one mate, appreciate you sharing that. Cam
I got one of these at the end of October last year. Basically perfect for the kind of riding I like to do and I REALLY enjoyed the feel of this bike. Unfortunately I caught a pretty good sized pothole with the rear wheel and cracked my frame a few weeks ago . It's in to be looked at for possible warranty. Fingers crossed... Want to get riding again soon.
just curious, did they cover the break in the warranty ? How long did it take for the turnaround ?
@@JitinMisra they did replace the frame! I want to say it took about a month to get my bike back after dropping it off with Giant Santa Monica, who handed the warranty and rebuild of the replacement frame. The whole process was super easy and they were great to work with. Been on the replacement since early June of 2020 and the bike has been wonderful!
I have an old giant aluminum frame that I renovated and it has a particularly high bottom bracket, a very long wheelbase and clearance for 46 mm tires easy. Thing that makes it curious and fun to ride is it utilizes racing geometry in the head tube, 71.5 deg., snappy.
Nice one, thanks for sharing. Cam
@@CamNicholls I put a quick video of my Giant now Milwaukee Bicycle Co. on my CZcams channel. I like the Milwaukee logo.
Thanks for the review! Is it possible to fit an out-front GPS mount on this bike?
Thank you for the informative review. What model of shimano is the crankset on this bike?
Own this one. It's true the wheels are the first thing I would replace in order get more speed. Very heavy and not as responsive. Thanks for the review Cam.
Agreed, and cheers mate
Great review! Looking towards buying a brand new 2020 Defy Advanced 3 model. I really like the concept of the bike and it's versatility. And much cheaper in 2023 -))
Good review. I’ll be watching this channel more. I’m glad CZcams threw it up for me.
JMS thank you sir, much appreciated 👍 Cam
Thank you Cam for the great review. I am in the process of buying 2018 model and noticed the only difference is the colour if i am right!
I think also the de fuse in the handlebar system! Cam
@Cam Nicholls, I bought one today ! Testing was great. Now I'm going to use it for longer rides. Might change the cranckset and wheels next year ! Just have to find a mount solution for my Wahoo Element Bolt. Thanks for the video !
Awesome, thanks for sharing that. And enjoy! Cam
HEY @flying mistery did you figure out how to mount Wahoo Element Bolt?
I’ve just had this issue too, any resolution?
Great video bro, I’m going to test ride one tomorrow
Nice one Rudy, enjoy! Cam
Its nice how you cut the scene always when the master cylinder appears
I got into biking because I want to race. I was guided toward this bike from my local shop. This video breaks my heart...
Exactly my situation over a year ago :( still have the bike
I own the Defy Advanced 2 as well, just two years older than this one. It's the most comfortable, but still reasonably quick, bike I have ever ridden. The qualities you bring up are especially true for someone over about 40 who still rides a lot, group rides, LBS and club rides, centuries, etc. I also agree that the one upgrade I'd make to improve the bike are the wheels. The Giant stock alloy are fine, and tires are superb, but for speed and weight, upgrading to carbon with a 40mm aero would be a big improvement. But also add over $1500 to the cost.
Thank you for sharing your experiences Phil. Cheers, Can
What I didn’t like was the attachment on the handlebars to convert standard levers with cables for hydraulic discs.
Thanks Chris, appreciate you providing your thoughts! I can understand that for sure. Cam
i walked straight past this bike in the shop for this reason alone
Thank you for a great and very complete review mate! What are your toughts about confort position between Specialized Roubaix vs Defy
Roubaix wins. That is an epic bike. Cam
Great review, thanks.
Cheers Andrew. Cam
This year I bought a 2018 Defy Advanced Pro 0 and I couldn't be happier. That being said, I find the ride very stiff on gravel or rough pavement. Then-again, I'm comparing it to my other bike, a 2015 Specialized Diverge Comp, with 30mm tires, which is quite comfortable on rough pavement or gravel.
Thanks for sharing Ron. Cam
I'm thinking of buying it.. What's with the 'knob' on the top of the head tube? I'm new to road cycling.. Thanks
thank you very much, I wanted to ask you i m 178cm tall what size gaint defy bike is suitable for me
Hey cam. Great video. I'm really interested in the 2019 defy advanced 2. Right now I have the 2015 defy 3. ( Clearly time to upgrade.) I was also looking at the 2019 TCR advanced 2 as well. I think I'm probably going to go with the defy though. Spring time out here in northern California is coming. Great time to Cruz around the neighborhood. Plus I'm not really into racing, but going to work & back I have to go through some hilly terrain. So maybe the defy would be a better choice for me.
Hey Tommy, I'd say consider a TCR with some thicker tires and running them at a lower pressure for comfort. It's lighter and a better all-round machine for the hilly terrain. However, if you're going off-road a bit, then go the Defy. Cam
Nice video! I'm from Turkey. Been looking for a comfortable and speedy endurance bike after a year of touring bike experience. After i buy a road bike, i will use it until it gets impossible to ride, so the one i'm gonna buy should really meet my expectations. Here, due to the huge value difference in currency - a dollar means 7 Turkish liras- i have to pay a lot of money , like 15-16k compared to the currency of your country. With that being said, i just teeter between Tcr Advanced 2 and Defy 2. I want to take around 250-300km once i hit the road so i need a highly comfortable and speedy bike. Which one should i go for? Do you have any other recommendations for an endurance one ? Thanks in advance. Have a nice week ✌🏽
The advanced pro 1 is a massive improvement over this spec, the carbon wheels make the bike all day long, and the obvious upgrade to full ultegra components including hydro's is a good investment. Just wait for the end of the season sale and save 33% because then it makes it a GREAT spec bike for the price and you can do everything including race on it, I never understand why anyone would pay RRP on any of the big brands.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts JJ Henters. Cam
You cant race on a defy because the stack is way too high
@@NathanTeskey an easy adjustment, and some pro's have raced on the defy, so its definitely possible.
Yeahyeah, that was a great review
Another awesome review bruh
Thank you sir. Cam
I do a lot of endurance riding and train about 200 miles a week. I’m considering this bike as well. Is there a way to lock out the saddle and headtube shocks? Seems the tires and frame geometry along would be good enough for road surfaces. I olan to replace the wheelset with sort of 1500gr or less wheelset.
I drive this bike since 2020. I have now 57, and is it perfect for me. The most important is changing the wheels because the originals was lead and smooth. I had change in 2022 for Mavic Ksyrium SL Disc and win 700 gr (with tyres 28 mm). The bike is now really different, funny and reactive. The new Defy (2024) is probably better again. This a endurance bike for road, not for all road.
I Love Your Roadbike. It's Very Clean And Nice Color!
Thank you sir. Cam
Cam got the defy advanced pro 1 and as a winter disc bike it’s the business
Nice one Colin! Enjoy. Cam
Whych defy was it actualy advanced pro series or the cheaper one?
Regards aemi
Very helpful review
Glad to hear it. Thanks for sharing. Cam
I was hoping you would go in to more details of The Conduct Brakes. How good a design they are? How do they compare to a proper hydraulic disc setup?
Hi Mughees, unfortunately I didn't have a long time with the bike, nor an appropriate terrain to properly test out the braking system. Hopefully in reviews to come. Cam
Great review.
Thank you sir. Cam
New subscriber here. Thanks for the videos. One question: What's the deal with not putting the BOA wire through the slots on the tongue of your S-Works 6 shoe?
Thank you for supporting the channel! I think I might have had some foot issues that day. Loosening the shoe up to take pressure off the big toe. Cam
Comprehensive review👍🇦🇺
2020 Giant Defy 2, full shimano 105 EXCEPT for the crankset. Why did they cheap out?
I have the same exact bike I paid 2300$ for it it's a great bike smooth and super comfortable he nailed it with his summary and his analysis 👍👍👍
Thanks Gil, and nice one. Enjoy the ride. Cam
This video actually made make the purchase thank u
I wanna know if 32m continental gator comfortably fit on this bike
What if you reduced the wheelsize from 32 to 28, wud that save weight and increase speed?
Good review, i Will buy this bike, after very serch.
outstanding!
Good description . Thank you . Can you compare this bike to Cannondale Synapse 105 SE and Trek ALR5 which are more or less in same price range ? Much appreciated .
Thank you sir. I'd like to but access to riding the bikes is difficult. Probably not doable in this instance I am sorry to say. Cam
Thank you for this review! It inspired me to purchase my first road bike based on your review of the defy, I only ended up getting the blue colour instead of the grey. Thanks again!
Nice one Nenad, thank you for sharing and enjoy! Cam
I have the same exact bike same year I love the bike but would it be a good swap to swap the stock tire for the continental gatorskins?
Yes, that would be a nice little upgrade! Cam
The Defy Advanced Pro series come with carbon wheels and integrated stem.
Nice looking bike
Just in the process of picking up a 2018 defy advanced 2 in the bright green.. Can't wait to get it and ride it.
I'm presuming the shock system is only on the 2019 version not previous models? (2018)?
The shock system is still in the rear of the bike on the 2018 models. That is where it's most important. Enjoy the new bike, Andy. Cam
I am in the same situation. In the process waiting for the delivery. I found the difference is only in the colour if i am right!
Classic bike this. Strange cable routing on the front imo. Is 34 the new 32?:)
Looks to be that way
I'm thinking of getting the giant defy pro 0 I'm not doing any racing and I want a good all rounder
It would be a solid choice then. Cam
Hello! Could you please tell me what is the name of the "front" light you are using in this video on Giant Defy Advanced 2? I spotted it at 5:15. I own the same bike and I would like to get such light! @Cam Nicholls
Sorry mate, I can't recall. Don't have it anymore. Cam
Nice review Cam. Yeah, the Defy is a nice bike. As I said the other day, its a good all rounder for commuting, endurance or Orlax. Its not going to be the fastest, since there are pure race jobbies that do it better. But it is a good all day bike for eating up the miles and its quick enough for that. What next Cam?
Yep, well said. Factor 02 full review and then CHAPTER2 RERE! Cam
OK so now there is a 2020 version with ultegra hydraulic breaks with 32mm tyres for 2950USD. Does that make it much better deal and ride?
A little, mainly because of the components, the frame is still the same! Cam
What's up cam? How are you doing brother? I got a quick question for you. I'm looking to upgrade my wheel set for my 2018 giant TCR advanced 2. It still has the stock wheel set. I'm still fairly new to cycling, & therefore don't know to much about components, upgrading, or what are good brands ext ext. I'm looking to buy some carbon fiber racing wheels. Just wondering if you can recommend a good set. I can't spend to much, but something good. What do you think brother?
Sorry for the late reply Tommy, family vacation has left me behind! What is your budget? Cam
Can you pls share what is the intro song. Thank you
Hey. Thanks for the review. I'm currently in the market for a bike and this is in a strong lead for what I'm looking for. I've mostly done mountain biking (full squishy) and want to add more road riding into my time. Currently my "road" bike is an 15 year old GT Avalanche mtb that I put combo tires (slick center and small knobbs on sides) for my road riding. So, I have a question if you don't mind. My only concern is the brakes. I know that the bike comes with the Giant Contact hydro/mech brakes. I've tried to find reviews on this setup specifically, but cant really find anything. I know you said in your video that the brakes were great, but could you maybe add a bit more detail? Do you see any problems with them in the future, or think they will last 2 - 3 years before having to upgrade to full hydro's. I'm used to full hydros as my full squish has slx on them. Thanks if you can respond. Cheers!
Hey Daniel, I can't speak for the longevity of these brakes but the power and modulation was top shelf for the price point. The feedback I've heard from people who own this bike includes - limited space on the handlebar to put mounts for computers and cameras and it's a little unappealing to the eye. Outside of that, the system seems to work very well. Cam
@@CamNicholls . Wow, thanks for the quick reply. Not really worried about computer or camera as I don't have either...yet. Will cross that road when and if I decide to splurge on one/both. Ok, great! A bit more research and then I'll go check some out in person. I appreciate your input. Keep up the cool vids. Cheers!
I believe the Team Sunweb Defy is modified so the headtube length is the same as the TCR. It's not the same Defy you buy off the rack.
Interesting insight. I am not surprised at that either. Thanks for sharing John. Cam
Sunweb is no longer affiliated to Giant.
Best bike review ever.
Thank you Cory, very nice of you to say so. Cam
Fantastic revew! Keep on ride!.....just a question for you: where are you from?...(excuse me,l'm new followere form italy👍 )
luca nava thank you sir. Melbourne, Australia! Cam
Love my Giant Defy Advanced 2.. Did 200km with over 50km of gravel, some single track woods and it didn't miss a beat!! Love it!
TomEnduro thanks for sharing your experiences Tom, much appreciated 👍 Cam
Wondering about comments of this being a solid option to be able to take gravel/country paths. Living in the UK, these are common. What’s your take on the Trek Domane SL5/6? The clearance seems larger and has similar absorption... have you reviewed the Trek?
Haven't ridden the Trek, sorry!
I agree with the wheels. Is there a break in period for wheels? Not digging my 2018 giant tcr PR2 wheels. Only 22 miles so far.
My brother bought a 2019 defy 1 last month. Loves it.
Thank Dom. No break-in period I'm afraid. Cam
These wheels are just heavy. Standard equipment on my Contend SL1 Disc as well, and I'm looking to upgrade to a set of carbon wheels this spring.
I own the blue version of it. Out if the box it’s quite heavy. Did a lot of upgrades and it’s a lot lighter now. Cornering is a bit of an issue I noticed. Getting rid of their giant conduct hybrid braking/shifting system for full hydraulic Ultegra helped a lot. So did getting carbon wheels. Was like a different bike after.
What upgrades did you do? I am thinking about buying the bike but I am put off by the 8.5kg I saw on the website. Thanks
@@d0neall_ carbon wheels, upgraded from their hybrid shifting system to ultegra full hydraulic, carbon bars, carbon stem. Took quite a bit of weight off just going full hydraulic
@@ryanS593 thank you
My 2019 giant defy has 35c marathon plus tires.
I have this particular bike and its undoubtedly my favourite for our Irish roads (rough as shit) It races well too! Its also the cheapest bike I own, and its made me re evaluate my (stupid) spending on my other bikes.
haha, thanks for sharing Michael. It's never stupid when it's on a bike! Cam
I’m in Ireland too and was just looking at this bike in the shop today in cork. The sales assistant was trying to push me to an aero but I feel for just long rides this might be a better option, more comfortable and versatile
Hi Gareth Sheehan, I would stay away from the aero bike our roads are way too rough. I’ve had a few of them (felts and Giants) but they always are uncomfortable after an hour or 2, where as these bikes are great all day excursions plus it’s nippy enough to race on. In terms of the handling I find it spot on for us. I did upgrade the wheels to Mavic Kysriums which made a good difference.
@@mickoholland1 Thanks! Appreciate the feedback (also makes me more comfortable in my bike choice, before this the most i spent on a bike was €500!!)
If you want fast and comfort go the TCR in the Giant range.
Not watch a price - which are better for long distance? This Defy, Synapse, Canyon CF Endurace Domane or Spec Roubaix?
I haven't ridden all of those bikes so can't say. Cam
The ones that I was looking at on Amazon are called superteam carbon fiber road bike wheels. 700c clincher wheelset 50mm matte 23 inch with for $389.00. I don't know if they are a good brand though.
Never heard of that brand, sorry Tommy.
Thank you for this review. I tested it at a local bike shop yesterday. I ride a 56cm Felt and I tested a M (medium) size. I need a ML to feel more comfortable. It rode well, but I have reservations about it because of the cable routing and the horrid brake system management on the stem. It takes a lot of space, to a point where my hands were in contact with the cable tips. Forget putting on accessories. Who @ Giant approved this? Giant seems to be the only one doing it, where they figured out a way to use their branded components with Shimano brakes to drive down the price. The result is very off putting....
Appreciate you sharing your perspective. My understanding outside of price is that it enables them to get the bikes out faster and more efficiently (not having to rely on Shimao for parts). But I understand your concern. Cam
I agree. I have the Contend and I scrapped their hydros for mechanicals and it's perfect. I get their spin on using that setup but the way they almost hide it on the website is almost dishonest. It shows they know it will steer people away from their otherwise great bike. TRP Spyre is a very good mechanical caliper.
Tnx. But it has a Shimano RS-510 crankset, which is a clone (from Shimano itself) of the 105, at 200 to 250 g heavier than the 105. 105 crankset has 105 written on it compared to this one that has Shimano. The 105 is also 200 $CDN more. I'd swap the crankset right from the start too with the wheels, a pair of SLR2 65 rear and 42 (or even 65) front.
If you had a Defy 2 & slammed the stem, could it feel racey like the TCR or is it just sit up & beg enduro city?
Nope it’s so meaty in the head tube stack
May I ask a questions guys, I am buying a giant defy advance 2 2019 for 2300 and not sure if it worth to pay 500 more to get a 2020 one. The notable change in 2020 is the full hydronic break and taking off the semi hydraulic connect part from handle. Does anyone have any suggestions?
pay the extra and get full hydraulic, i bought a 2019 tcr disc and it had the connect system, horrible. now im paying out for a full hydraulic upgrade 6 months later