Giant v Storck

amc

Insurance company have just agreed to give me £2,500 as a crash repair after nearly three weeks of badgering them non-stop. Yet to get cheque in hand but now seriously planning...
I'm an average Cat 3 rider and bike will be mainly for road racing but maybe turned out for the odd club tt and odd sportive. I have some Campag Neutron Ultra summer race wheels to add to the bike.

Choice down to

Giant TCR Advanced 2 - spec here http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 309/49803/ from the lbs (who were v helpful helping me with quotes etc with the insurance company), not in stock yet but they would have something similar to try for size so to speak. I would use a converter to get the wheels to run with Shimano

Storck Scenario 1.1 with Athena 2012 groupset and Fulcrum race 7 wheels (for winter). Problem is that Storck don't really have demo models to try out so would be buying blind (although will have a fitting to tinker with components)

I guess erring on the Giant as the lbs have been good to me...but the Storck seems a bit sexier. But as not riden either yet, i'd appreciate anyone's thoughts. Cheers

dawebbo

The giant is a great bike, and personally I always prefer to use my LBS (even if it is a little more expensive).

alihisgreat

i would at least test ride the giant -> have you seen their new test ride thingy? http://www.test-ride.co.uk/

dawebbo

The obvious question I omitted is what was your previous bike?

Brian B

I have the Storck 1.1 and also had the 0.9 beforehand. Great bikes and although I dont race its designed for speed not comfort. Great looking and not as common as a Giant. I have had mine over various big climbs abroad and the marmotte and it handles like a dream. Dont take my word for it - phone Wally at Poshbikes for some info.

giant_man

Storck do have demo bikes available at their concept stores AFAIK. Much more exclusive than any Giant imo.

fosst

I have a TCR Advanced, while it is designed to race I find it pretty comfortable. Not done the Marmotte but I did 5 cols of 1000m or more over 80 miles finishing on the Ventoux. It looks ok and handles great so I would recommend the Storck...here's why.
Poor finish especially around drop-outs
Poor fit of upper head race bearing in frame
Rear mech hanger made of cheese
Unique seat post and the dealers don't keep spares
Actually I would say have a look at the Giant, it is good in spite of the niggles above.
Paint flakes off drop out is annoying but has little effect on the bike. Have to keep head bearings properly tensioned, you get used to it...
New models have better rear hanger and it will fit the older (2010) models.
Seat post would be a major pain if it gets damaged.
Giants are mass produced items, good but £2500 good? You can buy the frame fork headset and seat post for about a grand that is possibly a better option but you still might get all the niggles.

Zoomer37

For a bit more money it would be worth checking out the Storck Scenero.

Think Downland Cycles do a Ultegra build for around £2800.

Mr Dog

Can only comment on the Giant.. was so impressed I bought another. The finish on both bikes is excellent. The frame is quality... stiff and stable. If you want exclusive then it has to be the Storck. Giant have a test ride program, go try then buy from your lbs.

amc

Thanks all.
My previous bike was an Airbourne Blackbird, made up with handbuilt wheels and nice components but i think you can see how helpful the lbs have been - hence me being torn.
I've not read any reviews for the 2012 Advanced 2 and not even sure how they differ from last year's model but it's a nice position to be in. I'll take a Giant for a test ride and see how I go.

ilm_zero7

Stork over Giant any day - a different class of bike

Mr Dog

Stork over Giant any day - a different class of bike.... or a cheap butter substitute My TCR's are buttery smooth.

rogerthecat

A friend of mine had a Felt F4 he loved the bike thought it was great, however he was never that comfortable going hard into corners, now then he has recently bought a Canyon and can not believe the difference in ride quality and handling and is hitting the corners much harder and faster, the reason I mention this is that I ride a Storck Scenario 1.0 and have ridden a host of other bikes and nothing handles like it, it is true to say that they are built for speed not comfort like the Cervelos ( yes the RS is quite comfy) however if you want to ride like you are on rails then go for a Storck every day of the week.

The Giants are fine bikes and can not knock them but the Storck is better IMO.

Last point to consider, the cost if you get a better spec on one bike compared to another and they are both the same cost, where do you think the manufacture has made the saving? The Frame is the heart of the bike, if you put a Super Record Groupset and some Zipp wheels on a Halfords Carrera frame is will still be a Cr4p bike!

dodgerdog

Have you tried the radical approach of telling the LBS of your dilemma and seeing if they could source you a Storck thereby killing both birds with one (insured) stone

please note:
1. Do not through the stone in the LBS as it may damage a precious bike
2. Throwing stones indoors is dangerous
3. The author of this post does not condone the use of stones as a means of communication or indeed slaughter
4. Insurance payments are highly unlikely to be issued in the currency of stones

petergriffin

Storck, no question. They are a different class of bike to the Giant full stop. Just my opinion though...

Omar Little

I'd go with the Storck probably.

However considering Storck frames are made in Taiwan then there is a pretty big chance that Giant (or Merida) are going to be involved somewhere so i dont really get the different class of bike comments. When it comes to carbon fibre Giant have few peers in terms of R+D and manufacturing capability.

amc

Not sure how much further on I am but this weekend had a Giant test ride. Due to lack of stock tried the Advanced 2 in a large - which was nice, light and stiff but hard to fully judge as was too big.
Then tried the next model up Advanced 0 (better wheels, better frame) in medium/large which felt much better because mainly because it was spot on size ride but also perhaps the better wheels.
As I cannot easily test ride the Storck - buying it involves a visit to Posh Bikes in Kent to go for a ride and then tinker with components - I was tempted to get it then and there but then the bad news. Unlikely to be able to get the Advanced 2 until May!!!

amc

Just checked online and in fact the correctly sized, but too pricey one, i tried was the Giant TCR Advanced sl 3.

foggymike

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 308/49800/

That is a very nice bike indeed, but they're not cheap are they! Still, they last well (I'm still loving my 2006 Advanced frameset which is/was the equivalent of the current SL models - top of the range at the time) and I think are worth saving for. In fact I think that SL frameset might well tempt me to get something new this year (unless Mrs foggy sees this :roll: )

amc

It was long and complicated but last week ordered a Storck. Lbs were great in that the Advanced 2 wasn't available until May so offered me Advanced TCR 3 at £500 off but in the end I couldn't justify going way over the insurance valuation so went with a Storck, fitted up with Athena carbon, not from the uk distributor as they were v rude but through a uk dealer in London instead.
Cannot wait to ride it but i may have to as two days after ordering i broke a carpal bone in my hand while commuting on the fixed (maybe that's karma for shunning lbs!).

Zoomer37

Well played. Once you get a few miles in you'll see why anyone who's ridden a Storck agree's they are the dogs nuts

Oasticles

Is the Storck really that good?

Downlands are my LBS but they'd need me to commit before ordering in.

Ditto with a Focus Izalco. Problem with being a short arse, frames never available to demo in my size!

Bit loathe to buy something on spec but the chance of getting a ride is vanishingly small by the looks of things.

rogerthecat

Yes m8 they are that good.

amc

I hope so Oastiles. I'll post back here when bike arrives and hand heeled.

siamon

amc wrote:

It was long and complicated but last week ordered a Storck. ......., not from the uk distributor as they were v rude ....

Agreed, rang them to place order and whilst there is plenty of awesome factual information they could have droned on about, they decided to give me a load of BS, then name dropped about loads of cycling "celebs" who are paid to ride other stuff but have a Stork for when they cycle for enjoyment. They also sent emails regarding a lacquer problem I mentioned that gave a clearly false explanation! Absolute (excuse the pun) tossers.

I had decided to waive my rule about not buying unless a test ride was available, because I really really wanted the bike but just could not persuade myself to do business with them.

Ended up with a Giant TCR Advanced SL in lieu.

anto164

It's interesting to hear what people say about the TCR's.

My TCR Advanced 2 is due to land next week! Been on order for the past 2 months!!! Can't wait.

I hear what you say about the delays though, a lot of the bikes this year have been delayed quite a bit for some reason. Hope it's worth the wait!

amc

When I did my test ride on the Advanced 2 it was a size too big so wasn't a 100% accurate - that said it felt solid, stiff, but perhaps a bit too understated, not that exciting to ride (which can also be viewed as a positive).

anto164

It's probably a good think i've bought a second set of wheels with it then!

I've got a giant defy in size ml, so the tcr is the same size!

sancho_panza

not sure about the comfort thing re Storck - I have an Absolutist with Cosmic wheels and it's incredibly quick and so much more comfortable and solid than my old (and well-loved) De Rosa Team. And it's about 1 and a half kilos lighter and was three minutes quicker up Mt Ventoux - even with deep section wheels.

Well done buying Storck - a piece of proper bicycle class!

amc

Well the Storck finally delivered.
I took it for first hour-long spin this am...and it was well worth the wait.
Mine is specced with Campag Athena 11 and i put my Campag Nutron Ultra wheels on it so came in at 7.8kg. More imp it rides beautifully. I've not ridden enough different bikes, nor am I knowledge enough to offer a 'review' but i can say somehow it seems incredibly stiff and yet very comfortable. The roughest bits if the road are smoothed out but there is enough feed back there too. It responds immediately to any effort in the pedals and just seems to want to power on, makes me want to train harder so i can do it justice. I need to tweak the cockpit (probably the more upright position of the new Campag hoods compared to my old ones?) but I am very happy with it. Quality frame and fork - shame about the rider.
I couldn't accurately say how it compared to the two Giants I took for a test ride over a month ago now but somehow seem stiffer and smoother.
The obvious thing to ask is why don't we see more Storck's on the road...but there is an answer as alluded on this thread already. Posh bikes have such poor customer service it must put off any non-millionaires but in the end i glad went for it (via a dealer, not them).
If in doubt, go for it.

Brian B

A few Storcks up here in Scotland - but still rare enough to turn heads. Been riding them for the last 6 years.