Giant Defy 3 advanced - £1400 a good buy...?

bristolpete

Been offered one of these via a friend in the trade, whilst I have been vocal in that the bike does not quite inspire me like other bikes I think the saving could be a good trade off for better wheels etc at a later date.

Aside from that the bike seems fine and a saving of £200.00 odd quid has to seem worth it?

I am still worrying to much about my purchase

Any opinions?

Pete.

gabriel959

Don't get me wrong. Giants are good bikes but have you ridden it?

For that amount of money you can get an Orbea Onix (£1349)

Zeus Ziccs AC Carbon forks
Shimano 105 10sp groupset with compact R600 chainset
Shimano WH-R500 2009 clincher wheelset
Vittoria Zafiro tyres
Zeus Cat I stem and bars
Zeus carbon seatpost
Selle Italia XR Transam saddle

bristolpete

gabriel959 wrote:

Don't get me wrong. Giants are good bikes but have you ridden it?

For that amount of money you can get an Orbea Onix (£1349)

Zeus Ziccs AC Carbon forks
Shimano 105 10sp groupset with compact R600 chainset
Shimano WH-R500 2009 clincher wheelset
Vittoria Zafiro tyres
Zeus Cat I stem and bars
Zeus carbon seatpost
Selle Italia XR Transam saddle

Yeah, enjoyed it and a massive upgrade on my current machine. I was looking at the orbea range today and yeah, they are nice bikes for sure. But I think that they are much of a muchness with 105 etc and as I said, the wheels are the weak point along with tyres and I would replace them straight away and the wheels at a later date but your point is noted.

gabriel959

Fair enough, if you have given it a go and you like it you should go for it.

The only things that would push the Orbea for me are the lifetime warranty on the frame and that is £50 quid cheaper that you can put towards new tyres and wheels.

You can choose frame colour too!

bristolpete

gabriel959 wrote:

Fair enough, if you have given it a go and you like it you should go for it.

The only things that would push the Orbea for me are the lifetime warranty on the frame and that is £50 quid cheaper that you can put towards new tyres and wheels.

You can choose frame colour too!

Yeah - true enough. The Giant has grown on my and I can see some ways that I can change it up a bit with little cost. I think I will 'pull the trigger' on this one and just get out there and ride.

Never have I had to mull over a bike purchase like this one but I think that the recent price rises have changed the game as effectively, a £1650 bike was a £1300.00 bike and so on. Perspective is also needed as I can put the £200.00 quid away for when I am off to Alicante next month and the upgrades can be done over the next year or so.

STEFANOS4784

IMO if you think the 2 bikes are much of a muchness then the Orbea has a bit more bling factor, again IMO

bristolpete

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

IMO if you think the 2 bikes are much of a muchness then the Orbea has a bit more bling factor, again IMO

Maybe - but I have settled on the Defy and will be looking to pick it up this weekend - with different tyres.

Thanks though....

gabriel959

bristolpete wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

Fair enough, if you have given it a go and you like it you should go for it.

The only things that would push the Orbea for me are the lifetime warranty on the frame and that is £50 quid cheaper that you can put towards new tyres and wheels.

You can choose frame colour too!

Yeah - true enough. The Giant has grown on my and I can see some ways that I can change it up a bit with little cost. I think I will 'pull the trigger' on this one and just get out there and ride.

Never have I had to mull over a bike purchase like this one but I think that the recent price rises have changed the game as effectively, a £1650 bike was a £1300.00 bike and so on. Perspective is also needed as I can put the £200.00 quid away for when I am off to Alicante next month and the upgrades can be done over the next year or so.

Alicante, eh? My family lives there and I lived there for about 15 years (I am Spanish!). It is very warm this time of the year so be prepared (I heard it was close to 40c last week!). Are you thinking on taking the bike there?

Enjoy the bike!!!

bristolpete

gabriel959 wrote:

bristolpete wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

Fair enough, if you have given it a go and you like it you should go for it.

The only things that would push the Orbea for me are the lifetime warranty on the frame and that is £50 quid cheaper that you can put towards new tyres and wheels.

You can choose frame colour too!

Yeah - true enough. The Giant has grown on my and I can see some ways that I can change it up a bit with little cost. I think I will 'pull the trigger' on this one and just get out there and ride.

Never have I had to mull over a bike purchase like this one but I think that the recent price rises have changed the game as effectively, a £1650 bike was a £1300.00 bike and so on. Perspective is also needed as I can put the £200.00 quid away for when I am off to Alicante next month and the upgrades can be done over the next year or so.

Alicante, eh? My family lives there and I lived there for about 15 years (I am Spanish!). It is very warm this time of the year so be prepared (I heard it was close to 40c last week!). Are you thinking on taking the bike there?

Enjoy the bike!!!

No just a good 10 day recharge.

After all that decided upon looking at the bike that it was not for me. Went with the heart not the head and feel better for it.

More to follow, but have irons in the fire.

As for you being Spanish. You lucky soul. I love everything about Spain, have done since I was a kid. Amazing place.

gabriel959

Hehehe, that is how is should be ... with the hearth not with the head!

If it doesn't scream at you, ride me, there is no point about buying it!

Spanish but living in the UK though! I like it here by the way although british people tend to thing that I am taking the mic

bristolpete

gabriel959 wrote:

Hehehe, that is how is should be ... with the hearth not with the head!

If it doesn't scream at you, ride me, there is no point about buying it!

Spanish but living in the UK though! I like it here by the way although british people tend to thing that I am taking the mic

Odd thing is that when in Spain everyone thinks I am local due to dark hair, beard etc. Funny old world....

And yeah, glad I decided not to go for the Defy. Rather drawn out, but glad I made the decsion not to take it.

passout

It makes sense but a small part of me thinks that that is a alot of money for a Giant. I've owned Giants myself, don't get me wrong, they are nice bikes but the thought persists.....