Giant Defy Composite 2 Road Bike
4.3
/5
REVIEWS
4.3
QIKRATE
0.0
WEB
0.0
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DESCRIPTION
Watch your daily and weekly mileage goals increase faster with Giant's Defy Composite 2. This stellar ride features a composite frame and fork for the
USER REVIEWS
OVERALL RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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VALUE RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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Comfortable, looks good, light weight for the price, reliable Shimano 105 groupset, upgrade worthy frame
Stock saddle is harsh, wheels are a bit heavy (as expected at this price point)
I use to ride an aluminum frame/ carbon fork flat bar hybrid bike for commuting and recreational rides but I found that the lack in different hand positions was causing me back pain on distances over 20 km. My commutes are 20 km one way and my weekend rides range from 50-80 km. I began researching and testing road bikes in the $1500-2000 CAD range. I don't need a pannier rack and mud guards for the riding I do and decided I wanted a carbon frame for comfort and weight and chose the Giant Defy Composite 2 because it seemed like the best value and bought one for my 31st birthday.
I probably put about 5,000 kms on it so far and am loving it. I am 5'11" tall and the M/L fits me perfectly. The frame is entry level composite (wish I could afford advanced grade) but it looks good (I got the charcoal) and absorbs road vibration very well. I haven't weighed it, I would guess around 19.5 lbs complete with two bottle cages and pedals, not much lighter than my aluminum hybrid but much more comfortable (and faster!). The geometry is exactly what I was looking for - more of a relaxed position which is great for long distance rides or city commuting. Although it falls into the "endurance" category, I think it is also worth of entry level races.
I am very happy with the 105 groupset (10 speed) and the shimano brakes (R561). When the components wear out I'll consider upgrading to ultegra level components but the 105 is all I really need, reliable and smooth shifting. The crankset (R561) and cassette (Tiagra) seem to be holding up well but are likely the first components that will wear down. The double wall aluminum Giant PR-2 are very durable but a little heavy. The stock Giant saddle is garbage, I replaced it with a Specialized Romin. The stock Giant tires are surprisingly grippy even in the rain and I won't replace them until worn.
Overall this is an excellent road bike for the money. I am really happy with my purchase and I probably won't change anything on it until the components wear out. In my opinion, this is an upgrade worthy frame. If I had to choose one upgrade on this bike, I would replace the wheels. I personally think the Charcoal paint scheme looks great - I store indoors and every time I walk by it screams ride me!
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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Comfortable and stable. Light for the money.
None in that i'm probably not experienced enough in judging any negativity. Oh yeah - the stock seat Velo is comfortable but heavy - i weighed it at over 300grams.
I'm a moutain biker and always believed road riding was way too dangerous - too many w ankers out on the road. But 1 talk by by cousin (another rider) had me looking for a road bike to join him. I wanted something comfortable and stable. A few road bikes i've been on have been very twitchy and difficult to handle and needed all my attention to be safe. LBS then had a sale on and i tried it on decided it was stable enough for me. I liked the idea that the setup is more upright and that it has compact cranks - mine's the SRAM APEX and it's ok - can't compare to anything else as i've not ridden any other road bikes seriously. I'm happy that the Defy is light and seems reasonably stiff for me - i'm a 50s rider and rely don't need to burn anymore rubber - just want to enjoy a safe ride. I'm really enjoying the lightness compared to my mountain bikes - it's wonderful to powerup and feel the acceleration without being encumbered by a lot of weight. The bike is also very quiet with no squeks and the chain shifts reliably - thank-god no chain suck or dropped chains.
OVERALL RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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Light weight, comparatively low price
Stock saddle a bit rough on the posterior
I'm 51 and up until last year mainly just a runner. But I wanted to get into cycling for some time. Last year I purchased a Schwinn Katana and built up endurance on it, as well as commuted to work occasionally. This year I finally joined the local cycling club and decided to get a bit more serious. I budgeted between $1200 and $2000 for the upgrade.
Considering the Schwinn is 26lbs,at roughly 18-19 the Giant was a serious eye-opener for me. I test rode several other bikes in the same price range, including Trek, KHS, and Cannondale, but the first time I jumped on the saddle, this one just clicked. A big plus was the LBS's pre-purchase attention and after-purchase fitting and followup.
I put a Specialized Romin Expert saddle on it and now it's just about perfect. In general riding, the slightly more upright position is more comfortable for longer rides for me than a more agressive position. Transition from the top bar into the dropdowns is easy and also very comfortable. It's good on hills and is fast enough overall for me to keep pace with the riders on the more advanced bikes. Gear shift is accurate and smooth. General responsiveness and maneuverability are very good.
I've had it now for just over 3 months and have put a few hundred miles on it... so far so good and it seems to be getting better with time as it and I adjust to each other. All that said, it's my first "real" road bike (entry-level label or no) and because of that I acknowlege I have a limited perspective on this other than my short test rides on the other bikes mentioned. But - this thing really works for me. No buyer's remorse here.
OVERALL RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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VALUE RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
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Frameset
Wheels, tires and 11-32 cassete
My first Carbon road bike, impressed with the comfort.