Upgrading a Giant Defy 4
Discussion
I bought a Defy 4 a few years back as a keen mountain biker who wanted to try road riding so went for the basic spec but am now enjoying road rides more and would like to treat the bike to a few new bits and hopefully increase its ability in the process.
The first thing I have done is changed the rubbish Tektro brakes for a set of 105's and also recently put Lithion 2 tyres on. What should be the next step? I am thinking a carbon fork could make quite a bit of difference or should I concentrate on groupset, wheels...?
Its this model: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/de...
The first thing I have done is changed the rubbish Tektro brakes for a set of 105's and also recently put Lithion 2 tyres on. What should be the next step? I am thinking a carbon fork could make quite a bit of difference or should I concentrate on groupset, wheels...?
Its this model: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/de...
The thing about road bikes is that it's much more engine (you) dependant, than transmission (the bike) dependant. Roads are roads, tarmac is tarmac, hills are bloody hard.
There's no point upgrading that bike. Are you looking to do uphill time trials on a road bike? Are you a recreational rider? Is your riding enjoyment utterly dependant on having the 'newest amd shiniest' under you?
There's no point upgrading that bike. Are you looking to do uphill time trials on a road bike? Are you a recreational rider? Is your riding enjoyment utterly dependant on having the 'newest amd shiniest' under you?
Barchettaman said:
The thing about road bikes is that it's much more engine (you) dependant, than transmission (the bike) dependant. Roads are roads, tarmac is tarmac, hills are bloody hard.
There's no point upgrading that bike. Are you looking to do uphill time trials on a road bike? Are you a recreational rider? Is your riding enjoyment utterly dependant on having the 'newest amd shiniest' under you?
I get that the best thing you can do is improve the rider, but surely 'no point upgrading' is a bit negative. The upgrade to 105 brakes has made the world of difference and only cost about £50. I am a recreational rider and do a few of the wiggle / Evans / bike-events rides around 50/60 miles. Typical weekend ride is about 25/30 miles though.There's no point upgrading that bike. Are you looking to do uphill time trials on a road bike? Are you a recreational rider? Is your riding enjoyment utterly dependant on having the 'newest amd shiniest' under you?
The spec's are missing from the GIANT page linked in your posting, so it is difficult to have too much of an opinion on the current build.
I would say that replacing the fork would help give a slightly more forgiving ride on the front end, but you need to be extremely careful to replace it with a fork with the correct rake etc - otherwise you could turn your bike into a suicide machine by seriously upsetting the handling.
The most noticeable upgrade you can make to a 'base' build will always be the wheels. Most stock wheels are around 2-2.2 kgs - a lot of that weight being rotational in the rims. Spending some of your hard earned wedge on a set of 1.5-1.7kgs wheels will give you a tangible difference from standstill, up hills and along the flats - but will be a slight disadvantage when the road points downwards!
Before you spend any more cash can I give a word of advice based on doing a similar thing a couple of years ago? Before going mad on anymore upgrades ask yourself if you are likely to spend more time riding the roadie in 2015. If so you might be better sitting on your cash and buying yourself a new, better specc'd roadie in the New Year. If you get bitten by the upgrade bug with your current bike it is not difficult to spend almost as much on upgrades as you could spend getting a well specc'd 2014 or 2015 model in the sales.
I would say that replacing the fork would help give a slightly more forgiving ride on the front end, but you need to be extremely careful to replace it with a fork with the correct rake etc - otherwise you could turn your bike into a suicide machine by seriously upsetting the handling.
The most noticeable upgrade you can make to a 'base' build will always be the wheels. Most stock wheels are around 2-2.2 kgs - a lot of that weight being rotational in the rims. Spending some of your hard earned wedge on a set of 1.5-1.7kgs wheels will give you a tangible difference from standstill, up hills and along the flats - but will be a slight disadvantage when the road points downwards!
Before you spend any more cash can I give a word of advice based on doing a similar thing a couple of years ago? Before going mad on anymore upgrades ask yourself if you are likely to spend more time riding the roadie in 2015. If so you might be better sitting on your cash and buying yourself a new, better specc'd roadie in the New Year. If you get bitten by the upgrade bug with your current bike it is not difficult to spend almost as much on upgrades as you could spend getting a well specc'd 2014 or 2015 model in the sales.
MadDad said:
Before you spend any more cash can I give a word of advice based on doing a similar thing a couple of years ago? Before going mad on anymore upgrades ask yourself if you are likely to spend more time riding the roadie in 2015. If so you might be better sitting on your cash and buying yourself a new, better specc'd roadie in the New Year. If you get bitten by the upgrade bug with your current bike it is not difficult to spend almost as much on upgrades as you could spend getting a well specc'd 2014 or 2015 model in the sales.
This is a good point and I have been trying to get the other half into road riding. Maybe I will see how she measures up on the defy and treat myself to something new (had my eye on a planet x pro carbon for a while). Just quite enjoy the process of upgrading and tinkering.
richardxjr said:
Similar to my (now winter) bike.
I got a s/h carbon fork off ebay to replace the boat anchor steel lump, some Racing 5s with decent tyres, saved well over 2kg and ride quality much improved.
Full proper Giant mudguards if you haven't already.
Thanks, useful info. I don't have any mudguards yet, I was debating between the crud ones or raceblades but wasn't sure if I would have fitment issues, especially now with the 105 5700 brakes as these are a 49mm drop rather than the 57mm I had before.I got a s/h carbon fork off ebay to replace the boat anchor steel lump, some Racing 5s with decent tyres, saved well over 2kg and ride quality much improved.
Full proper Giant mudguards if you haven't already.
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant-defy-avail-bl...
Defy 1 had/has 105 so should fit. Makes it a really good winter bike.
Defy 1 had/has 105 so should fit. Makes it a really good winter bike.
Ive got the defy3, it shares the same frame but its got the carbon fork, which does ride well.
ive upgraded loads on mine inc the bakes to ultegra, which as you say are amazing compared to the tektro.
The biggest change was the wheels from the stock CR's to fulcrum quattros along with some decent tyres - it just made the bike feel livelier.
From memory i think that wheels/tyres/cassette saved about 900g
cheers
Clive
ive upgraded loads on mine inc the bakes to ultegra, which as you say are amazing compared to the tektro.
The biggest change was the wheels from the stock CR's to fulcrum quattros along with some decent tyres - it just made the bike feel livelier.
From memory i think that wheels/tyres/cassette saved about 900g
cheers
Clive
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff