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giant defy, btwin triban

desidereodesidereo Posts: 26
edited March 2013 in Road buying advice
Im either going to buy a defy or a btwin. Would you say the giant will have better components such as frame wheels and gears etc .
Or is the giant just a higher price. I want to buy good quality and buy once

Posts

  • ShutUpLegsShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12911536&p=18207267#p18207267
  • Mr DogMr Dog Posts: 643
    The Giant. You can hang what you like from a bike but if the frame is cr@p then its a non starter. The Defy will have a better frame... simples.
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • elderoneelderone Posts: 1,410
    If you can afford the defy then its a no brainer.
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • finlayson99finlayson99 Posts: 213
    I disagree that it is a no brainier.
    Firstly get over the B'twin decals
    Notice that the frame is built in Italy by Dedacciai and then decide if it is cr@p
    Check out the reviews
    Look at the build quality
    Try both bikes if possible
    Then decide and at that point I would suggest it is a no brainier.

    Which ever bike you get though.......enjoy
    SC Heckler
    Chopper Mk2
    Grifter
    Merlin Malt-CR
    Revolution Courier 2
  • ooermissusooermissus Posts: 811
    Shame there are so few reviews of the B'twin range.
  • ♠ChumBucket♠♠ChumBucket♠ Posts: 388
    The triban 3 won a test last year in cycling active mag. In fact, the guy who did the test was so impressed- he bought the triban 3 which he was sent to test!! Of the tests I've seen, they conclude that the Btwin is as good as other bikes 2 & 3 times it's price!!
    B'TWIN Triban 5A
    Ridgeback MX6
  • Shaun67Shaun67 Posts: 219
    I've just got a B'twin Triban 3 for my son, we looked at Moda, Vicini and Battaglin, the B'twin is better spec'd by far and was the cheapest. Don't dismiss B'twin and try to see past the name and Decathlon.
  • finlayson99finlayson99 Posts: 213
    Also remember that Decathlon/B'twin have some pedigree as they used to run a TDF team.

    A far as I am aware the frame on their £850 carbon bike was their 2007 TDF frame. Their website also points out that it was the 2007 France Elite champion frame.

    Now I know this isn't the T3 frame but it just demonstrates that they know a bit about bikes and can engineer good ones.

    Now way would Dedacciai built cr@p.

    Be prepared to look beyond the obvious and keep an open mind.

    Buy the bike that suits you best not just the name.
    SC Heckler
    Chopper Mk2
    Grifter
    Merlin Malt-CR
    Revolution Courier 2
  • gerroffandmilkitgerroffandmilkit Posts: 160
    Triban 3. Good spec for little money. You can't buy better for the price.

    But I would say that wouldn't I. V V V V
  • zx6manzx6man Posts: 1,092
    new tribans are now on website too
  • elderoneelderone Posts: 1,410
    The triban is a good buy at the price,but the defy has a frame thats much better and can be upgraded with better components at a later date.Correct me if im wrong but doesn,t it share the same frame as the defy 1.
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • desidereodesidereo Posts: 26
    I bought a defy three and it is so sexy and light and very fast. Im so happy . I went so quick on it. The brakes are good it turns beautifully. Im happy
  • matt@theforcematt@theforce Posts: 647
    Triban anytime :D

    Why pay more for a name? Doesn't mean your getting a better bike!

    I've had my Forme5 for nearly a year (Over 2000miles) and done many happy miles. Nothing has broken, no creaks/squeeks/rattles & still cleans up like new 8)
  • VTechVTech Posts: 4,736
    I bought a triban 3 for my turbo bike and it is sooooo comfortable.
    Now I'm no pro of course so can only comment on looks and feel but both are important and both are great, the triban looks are good and is built very well and I'm not sure that had I purchased the triban first, would I have ever bought the felt ?
    Living MY dream.
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    This sounds like your first road bike if thats the case than try both bikes out. The opinion formed riding both bikes will be more relevent than any opinions espoused here saying this bike is better or the other is better. For a start I suspect the geometrys of both bikes are different and your physiology may determine which suits best. If you look at ebay there lots of first bikes being sold probably for the reason that the bikes did not fully suit the sellers. I think you should consider other bikes if you can. A secondary consideration is the the level of support that decathlon/halfords or the lbs can provide before/after sales.

    Oh by the way, how the bike feels on a turbo trainer is very different to how it will feel on the road.
  • Camcycle1974Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    matt@theforce wrote:
    Triban anytime :D

    Why pay more for a name? Doesn't mean your getting a better bike!

    I've had my Forme5 for nearly a year (Over 2000miles) and done many happy miles. Nothing has broken, no creaks/squeeks/rattles & still cleans up like new 8)

    Whilst Giant is a "name" as you put it they are the biggest bike manufacturer in the world so actually deliver good value for money through economies of scale. Compare the Defy 3 with the Triban 5 for example and they are pretty much in the same ball park. Both great bikes so it's down to personal preference really.
  • skyblue337skyblue337 Posts: 135
    In 2012 the Defy 1 frame was different from the lower down the range - smoother welds and it had the "newer" press fit bottom bracket which is stiffer. Not sure with the 2013 models - it looks like the Defy 1 has been pushed down to accommodate the Defy 0 above it. That said the Defy is a great frame although it would be better to stretch to the Defy 4 to get the carbon fork. My 2012 Defy 4 (size L) is running Campag 11speed and Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels and weighs in around 8.7kgs. It's comfortable and plenty stiff enough
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