2024 Giant Defy

[tonimartini]

Yes. I am quite happy with the weight. This is the top version. Found it on Ebay from a guy in the Pacific who was selling a whole bunch of Giant bikes. Stood between this and Enve Melee for a long time, but this came out the cheapest and I could build it up with my preferred parts. First ride report will come after this weekend.

Congrats on a great looking build! How's the bike been riding so far? What did you ride before? Any other insights you can share? Thanks!

[pmprego]

Just built this up. 7,3 kg. Defy SL - Ultegra Di2, Roval Rapide CL II

How many spacers do you have there? There is a headset spacer also, what is the height of it? Giant really likes the -10º stems which makes all their bikes a bit more aggressive that I'd have preferred.

[xanthic]

Just built this up. 7,3 kg. Defy SL - Ultegra Di2, Roval Rapide CL II

How many spacers do you have there? There is a headset spacer also, what is the height of it? Giant really likes the -10º stems which makes all their bikes a bit more aggressive that I'd have preferred.

I have 25mm with spacers under the stem. 10mm is mandatory for internal cable routing.

[xanthic]

Yes. I am quite happy with the weight. This is the top version. Found it on Ebay from a guy in the Pacific who was selling a whole bunch of Giant bikes. Stood between this and Enve Melee for a long time, but this came out the cheapest and I could build it up with my preferred parts. First ride report will come after this weekend.

Congrats on a great looking build! How's the bike been riding so far? What did you ride before? Any other insights you can share? Thanks!

Sure!

I have just started cycling again. I took part in a number of off-road competitions in the past, but after I had kids, it's mostly been in crossfit and kids..

So I've actually had 4 bikes this year. An Aethos, a Domane, Endurace and most recently Defy.

Aethos was nice but abit to stretched out and racy for me.

Domane felt like a hybrid bike.. To sluggish.

Endurace was very good, but I didn't like SRAM.. Lost the chain often in the front.

Defy feels very good so far! A middle ground between Endurace and Aethos. It must be said that I have worked a lot on my core muscles and improved a lot on the bike since I started again in March.

Have only had one ride with Defy outside as the weather here in Norway is not exactly bike-friendly at the moment..

Just ask if there is anything in particular you are wondering about

[xanthic]

[pmprego]

The way the spacers interact with the stem don't seem to be 25mm but less. Looks very nice

[tonimartini]

Yes. I am quite happy with the weight. This is the top version. Found it on Ebay from a guy in the Pacific who was selling a whole bunch of Giant bikes. Stood between this and Enve Melee for a long time, but this came out the cheapest and I could build it up with my preferred parts. First ride report will come after this weekend.

Congrats on a great looking build! How's the bike been riding so far? What did you ride before? Any other insights you can share? Thanks!

Sure!

I have just started cycling again. I took part in a number of off-road competitions in the past, but after I had kids, it's mostly been in crossfit and kids..

So I've actually had 4 bikes this year. An Aethos, a Domane, Endurace and most recently Defy.

Aethos was nice but abit to stretched out and racy for me.

Domane felt like a hybrid bike.. To sluggish.

Endurace was very good, but I didn't like SRAM.. Lost the chain often in the front.

Defy feels very good so far! A middle ground between Endurace and Aethos. It must be said that I have worked a lot on my core muscles and improved a lot on the bike since I started again in March.

Have only had one ride with Defy outside as the weather here in Norway is not exactly bike-friendly at the moment..

Just ask if there is anything in particular you are wondering about

Thanks for the update and the pics! Very well done! How's the flex of the seatpost and handlebars? Do you notice it when riding?

[xanthic]

Nope. Cant feel any flex. I know they where designed to do so. Using 32mm gp5000 tough, maybe they absorb most of the bumps.

[Playitagainsam]

Yes. I am quite happy with the weight. This is the top version. Found it on Ebay from a guy in the Pacific who was selling a whole bunch of Giant bikes. Stood between this and Enve Melee for a long time, but this came out the cheapest and I could build it up with my preferred parts. First ride report will come after this weekend.

Congrats on a great looking build! How's the bike been riding so far? What did you ride before? Any other insights you can share? Thanks!

Sure!

I have just started cycling again. I took part in a number of off-road competitions in the past, but after I had kids, it's mostly been in crossfit and kids..

So I've actually had 4 bikes this year. An Aethos, a Domane, Endurace and most recently Defy.

Aethos was nice but abit to stretched out and racy for me.

Domane felt like a hybrid bike.. To sluggish.

Endurace was very good, but I didn't like SRAM.. Lost the chain often in the front.

Defy feels very good so far! A middle ground between Endurace and Aethos. It must be said that I have worked a lot on my core muscles and improved a lot on the bike since I started again in March.

Have only had one ride with Defy outside as the weather here in Norway is not exactly bike-friendly at the moment..

Just ask if there is anything in particular you are wondering about

Bike looks great. Can I ask how you would compare the Defy to the Endurace apart from the chain drops. Which one is more 'exciting' to ride for want of a better word?

[xanthic]

New Defy definitely feel more "lively", but that's probably because I didn't remove the spacers on the Endurace. Just mention that I have 90 stem on the Defy instead of the stock 100. Maybe that's why it has a slightly faster handling then some reviewers pointet out (Grand Fondo Cycling review).

Also Cycling Weekly said that they felt abit to stretched (for an endruance bike), so based on those two reviews I went with 90 stem (same as Canyon). Still not sure about that choice. Works great for cuising and z2 workout, but when bending the elbows and tucking in for aero position I would have wanted abit more reach.

The Endurace was great for cruising and z2 workouts aswell. Went for 4 hour ride straight and didnt feel any pain at all anywhere. But uphill. Not sure how to explain it, but it felt like the wattage wasn't generating as much speed. Maybe my legs were tired that day. Don't know.. Did the same hills with the Defy and it felt better. Not as good as Aethos but good enough.

[whirly5]

What is the name of this retailer ? Price are competitives ?

Pm'ed

Hey, love your bike! Can you also pm me your retailer? Thx

[xanthic]

Deleted

[Tifosiphil]

Does anyone happen to please have a photo of the underside of the Contact SL D-Fuse handlebars that were specced on the Defy please (not the carbon version). Looks like it would work well as a budget aero handlebar in the 38cm!

[OJ]

Defy experts, I'm thinking -25 Defy Advanced Pro will be my next road bike. How difficult it is to pack the handlebar for air travel? Can the handlebar and/or stem be removed, and bike packed in a traditional type bike bag like Evoc, or would that be a major PITA?

I know there are new bags at least from Scicon and Evoc that you don't need to remove the handlebar, but don't really want to buy one, and the larger size draws little too much attention from airline people, and possibly cost some more in fees.

[pmprego]

Has anyone found a way of using a regular stem with the defy? Some kind of shim for the D shaped steerer?