"Feel" of defy 1 vs defy 4

johngti
johngti Posts: 2,508
edited March 2014 in Road general
Tricky one (for me) this.

Given that the frames on the defy 1 and 4 are pretty much identical in terms of material and geometry, why does the defy 1 feel different to ride? I know part of it will probably be psychological but that can't be all of it!

The only differences that I can see are the smoothed welds on the 1 and the bigger BB shell which has a press fit BB installed. It's not just the cranks though - I had the defy 4 set up with a full 105 groupset and that included external BB and 105 cranks.

The defy 1 just seems a bit livelier, a bit more go to it. It really feels like it carries the speed better and accelerates more quickly. How much does the BB make (the wheels are also different but I wouldn't have thought its a case of night vs day!!)

Comments

  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    wheels (& tyres) will make biggest difference of all. Group set and BB not a lot of difference.
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    is the defy 1 your best bike? do you ride it when the conditions are more favourable? that might make the bike feel better?
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • johngti
    johngti Posts: 2,508
    Chris Bass wrote:
    is the defy 1 your best bike? do you ride it when the conditions are more favourable? that might make the bike feel better?

    Nope, my only bike now so its been ridden in as crappy a set of weather conditions as the 4. In favourable conditions like riding home on Monday, I'm 2mph quicker than on the 4 so I put that down to 90% psychological but 10% is a difference in the bike. Silly to be thinking about it really but that's what we do isn't it?
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    could also be that the 1 is new and the 4 was old and / or badly maintained.
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    johngti wrote:
    Chris Bass wrote:
    is the defy 1 your best bike? do you ride it when the conditions are more favourable? that might make the bike feel better?

    Nope, my only bike now so its been ridden in as crappy a set of weather conditions as the 4. In favourable conditions like riding home on Monday, I'm 2mph quicker than on the 4 so I put that down to 90% psychological but 10% is a difference in the bike. Silly to be thinking about it really but that's what we do isn't it?

    it certainly is :-)

    well as long as it feels better then its all good really! or just put it down to your now far superior cycling skills!!
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • Primus84
    Primus84 Posts: 109
    The Defy 1 has a higher quality aluminium in the frame - Aluxx SL as opposed to the Defy 4's Aluxx
  • johngti
    johngti Posts: 2,508
    t4tomo wrote:
    could also be that the 1 is new and the 4 was old and / or badly maintained.

    Nah, the only thing badly maintained is me!
  • johngti
    johngti Posts: 2,508
    Chris Bass wrote:
    johngti wrote:
    Chris Bass wrote:
    is the defy 1 your best bike? do you ride it when the conditions are more favourable? that might make the bike feel better?

    Nope, my only bike now so its been ridden in as crappy a set of weather conditions as the 4. In favourable conditions like riding home on Monday, I'm 2mph quicker than on the 4 so I put that down to 90% psychological but 10% is a difference in the bike. Silly to be thinking about it really but that's what we do isn't it?

    it certainly is :-)

    well as long as it feels better then its all good really! or just put it down to your now far superior cycling skills!!

    Don't get me wrong, my cycling madskillz are clearly the major component. <ahem>
  • johngti
    johngti Posts: 2,508
    Primus84 wrote:
    The Defy 1 has a higher quality aluminium in the frame - Aluxx SL as opposed to the Defy 4's Aluxx

    Had a look at the website and I'm sure the 4 is aluxx sl too... Probably wrong about that too! :)
  • Primus84
    Primus84 Posts: 109
    No, to get Aluxx SL you have to be on a Defy 1 or a Defy 0, none of the other frames in the Defy range are Aluxx SL.
  • thescouselander
    thescouselander Posts: 549
    Primus84 wrote:
    No, to get Aluxx SL you have to be on a Defy 1 or a Defy 0, none of the other frames in the Defy range are Aluxx SL.


    I'm not sure about that. My Defy 2 clearly says Aluxx SL on the frame.
  • Primus84
    Primus84 Posts: 109
    According to Giant's own site, Aluxx SL is only on Defy 1 of Defy 0 frames.

    It would appear that before 2013 all Defy frames were SL but 2013 and 2014 frames are only SL at 1 or 0.

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