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Giant Defy Advanced 1: The concept
The Defy is "made for endurance rides on all types of roads", says the world's largest bicycle manufacturer about the bike. It quickly becomes clear that the Giant should be seen as an uncomplicated all-rounder that wants to be at the forefront in many categories - above all riding comfort.
The riding experience on the Giant Defy Advanced 1
This impression is confirmed by the wheel Model year 2023 with Shimano's new 105 Di2 after just a few turns of the cranks. The very long head tube puts you in an upright, yet balanced riding position thanks to the long stem. The rear suspension works perfectly thanks to the carbon seat post with a D-shaped cross-section and 32 millimetre wide tubeless tyres. The Giant also feels at home on easy terrain. If you often ride on unpaved roads, you can fit tyres up to 35 millimetres wide. The handling is a harmonious blend of directional stability and agility. However, as with almost all bikes in this comparison, the relatively high overall weight detracts from the riding pleasure.
That's what you get for your money
The revised Defy now shifts with Shimano's electronic 105 instead of the mechanical Ultegra and has become 400 euros more expensive. Unfortunately, the new 105 is not installed correctly; a heavy compact crank and no-name brake discs, which do not exploit the potential of the brakes, spoil the picture, especially in view of the higher price. The Defy has eyelets for mudguards.
The target group for the endurance bike
The Defy is the "people's bike" among the marathon models; a no-nonsense, unpretentious companion for many occasions, whose wide range of gears with 1:1 transmission is suitable for racing, rolling and climbing.
The Giant Defy Advanced 1
- Price: 3299 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 8.8 kilos
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 1184/477/58 grammes
- Frame sizes** S, M, ML, L, XL
- Seat/top tube/head tube 515/560/186 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 588/377 millimetres/1.56
- Wheelbase/caster 1010/53 millimetres
Giant Defy Advanced 1 - Equipment
- Drive/Circuit Shimano 105 Di2 (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.)
- Brakes Shimano 105/Giant MPH (160/160 mm)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Giant PR2 Disc/Giant Gavia Fondo 1 32 mm (f./h. 1,485/2,056 g)
Strengthsbalanced driving behaviour, good comfort
Weaknessesrelatively heavy, simple brake discs
The test results at a glance
In addition to the Giant Defy Advanced 1, we also tested the Canyon Endurace CF 7 All-Road, the Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 RL, the Specialized Roubaix Comp, the Cube Agree C:62 and the Trek Domane SLR 7 in our endurance road bike test.
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer's specification, test size in bold.
***Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach): 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 a very upright riding position.
****Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/ thru axles and brake discs if applicable.
Julian Schultz
Editor
