Giant Defy Composite 2 - 2014

[JackReacher]

I'd appreciate some help from those in the know. A friend has offered this bike to me for £500, he bought it new, cycled it home and never used it since. So it is practically as new. Seems like a decent price for a full carbon frame and 105 set, providing it fits me well from a size perspective.

I currently have a reasonably well used 2015 Specialized Allez with Sora gear set, I only use this for a once a week 10-15 mile fitness cycle through the warmer months of the year and I am not a hard core cyclist.

Spec wise, the Defy seems a good step up, and assuming I can sell the Allez for £150, its only going to cost me £350 to change. Is this a no-brainer or will this bike offer little to me over the Allez for my useage?

Thanks

[GOATever]

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-road-bike-s...

This is more bike, and a lifetime frame and forks warranty, for the same money. And you’ll know this one’s history ( as it’s brand new ).

[rastapasta]

Im going to recommend the Giant. 105 is a decent group and the carbon frame would make it worth it. Just do a thorough inspection to make sure she hasnt been abused and then cleaned up. check the cogs on the gears, the chain, the wheels tyres etc and see that there is no knocking in the bearings of the wheels or the crank or headset or cracks in the frame. Its not like you are buying a never used 1998 fiat however. Bikes are repairable for the most part except for any frame serious cracks so just do a thorough investigation and you'll be fine. enjoy it

[Gareth79]

If it's never been used then it should be obvious on inspection - the chainrings/brake pads/tyres should be the easiest places to check for wear.

I had been shopping for a Defy Advanced (eventually I got a Felt) and this is a good price for that model.

[JackReacher]

GOATever said:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-road-bike-s...

This is more bike, and a lifetime frame and forks warranty, for the same money. And you’ll know this one’s history ( as it’s brand new ).

Thanks, that does get great reviews on the website and in some press articles. But, can you explain to me why its "more" bike?

[JackReacher]

rastapasta said:

Im going to recommend the Giant. 105 is a decent group and the carbon frame would make it worth it. Just do a thorough inspection to make sure she hasnt been abused and then cleaned up. check the cogs on the gears, the chain, the wheels tyres etc and see that there is no knocking in the bearings of the wheels or the crank or headset or cracks in the frame. Its not like you are buying a never used 1998 fiat however. Bikes are repairable for the most part except for any frame serious cracks so just do a thorough investigation and you'll be fine. enjoy it

Yes would do a thorough inspection, but the guy is very honest and pretty confident it's never really been used, so should be fairly obvious looking over it. Will pay attention to the frame for cracks

[JackReacher]

Gareth79 said:

If it's never been used then it should be obvious on inspection - the chainrings/brake pads/tyres should be the easiest places to check for wear.

I had been shopping for a Defy Advanced (eventually I got a Felt) and this is a good price for that model.

Yes should be obvious I agree, so you'd say £500 is a decent price to pay? I am thinking that worst case I don't get on with it, then I could probably sell in Spring for similar money to what I pay for it, and look for something else.

[Master Bean]

Get the Giant. Looks good. Better than some crappy Btwin that gets recommended constantly.

[mikees]

JackReacher said:

GOATever said:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-road-bike-s...

This is more bike, and a lifetime frame and forks warranty, for the same money. And you’ll know this one’s history ( as it’s brand new ).

Thanks, that does get great reviews on the website and in some press articles. But, can you explain to me why its "more" bike?

Look at some more of his posts.

Try the turbo trainer one for quality

[anonymous-user]

If the giant is as unused as indicated, it will be nice

Can it come for £400? ;-)

[GOATever]

JackReacher said:

Thanks, that does get great reviews on the website and in some press articles. But, can you explain to me why its "more" bike?

Better finishing kit, and the warranty.I’ll admit I’m slightly biased because I have one, but it really is punching above its weight:

[Master Bean]

GOATever said:

JackReacher said:

Thanks, that does get great reviews on the website and in some press articles. But, can you explain to me why its "more" bike?

Better finishing kit, and the warranty.I’ll admit I’m slightly biased because I have one, but it really is punching above its weight:

Sora is better than 105 5700? Hmm.

[BoRED S2upid]

GOATever said:

JackReacher said:

Thanks, that does get great reviews on the website and in some press articles. But, can you explain to me why its "more" bike?

Better finishing kit, and the warranty.I’ll admit I’m slightly biased because I have one, but it really is punching above its weight:

But it’s sora?

Offer him £500 for the Giant.

[rossmc88]

Deffo get the giant, superb bike. It’s such a nicely together bike, everything feels really balanced. I had a 2015 Allez and then a carbon Dolan, and now a giant defy aluminium with 105 and I was way faster on the giant than the other 2 bikes, measured with strava. And yours will be even better since it’s carbon, no brainier upgrade

[Daveyraveygravey]

I'm not sure £500 for an almost 5 year old bike is a good deal. If it has had the usage as described, it should be in good nick, but even so, it seems quite a high price to me. What did he pay for it? Can you find other 4 year old Defys on Ebay, and if so for how much?

I'd have a good look at the tyres and inner tubes, if it has been sitting unused for that long, good chance the tubes have gone down and they could perish like that.

[Sa Calobra]

Test ride it. It'll ride different to your Specialized.

I rode one and like it. 500 would buy a shabby version but this from a friend, no brainier.

Don't buy a btwin. Even if someone threatens you harm if you don't.

[Zippee]

Get the Defy. It may be a 4 year old bike and group but that's not that long ago and 105 then is not a huge amount different to 105 now. Groupsets move on but old stuff is by no means crap.
A carbon frame is also IMHO night and day nicer to ride than a cheapo ally. I rode a 13 Allez Elite, decent Ally frame with Tiagra (I'd still take that above the 18 model B-Twin) but my carbon Wilier is way nicer, more comfortable and quicker than the Allez.

[Paraicj]

For £500 a little-used carbon Giant Defy with 105 is going to be a better bike than a new Aluminium BTwin with Sora, even though it's a few years old. You get a couple more gears, with slightly better gear-changing equipment. The BTwin is advertised at 9.9kg without pedals. I have a 2016 aluminium Defy and it is a tad over 9kg with pedals and bottle cages, andI assume heavier than the 2014 carbon version. 9.9kg is heavier than my 2013 Aluminium Scott Speedster 105 with pedals.

Unless you are worried about it breaking, it is a better bike. The BTwin looks fine, but the Giant sounds like a bargain, it would have been ~£1600 new.

[Sa Calobra]

OP ask him to sell it to me

[Daveyraveygravey]

A very quick look on Ebay shows a medium Defy 2 from 2014 hardly ridden £370 with 2 days of the auction left.
And another, similar spec for £112...