Lombard

Compared to other endurance bikes like the Cannondale Synapse and Trek Domaine, the stack on the Defy isn't that high.

Ridinglurker

The D fuse seat post feels nice. But that chim mechanism sucks. Every year I take the post out for cleaning, I swear I never buy another Giant bike. Hope you never lend the bike to a friend because adjustment also sucks.

I also have the suspicion some wear at the insertion point will create a cut in the carbon. Not sure if it is real, but I wouldn't be surprised.

And you never can get a different post. I also don't know if all the D posts are interchangeable or if they have different sizes. In 10 years they may not have replacements.

I bet there are nice round posts that work equally as good

PeteHski

I was comparing it to the current bike. The Defy has a relatively high stack in line with most other modern endurance bikes. The 2011 Jamis Xenith has a much lower stack.

Lombard

So the Jamis Zenith is more of an aggressive race bike?

PeteHski

I have not had any issues with the Giant D-fuse post and it does make the ride compliant. But I do prefer the split round post on my Canyon Endurace. It would not be a deal breaker for me. either way.

PeteHski

Well they don't list stack height for the Jamis, but the head tube is 25 mm shorter than the equivalent size Defy. The Jamis also has a much shorter wheelbase and slightly longer top tube.

KerryIrons

Nope. Different undoubtedly, but if you're expecting a noticeable performance improvement (e.g. faster) the answer is most certainly no.

tomato coupe

I don't see the problem with a proprietary seat post. It performs a very simple function, and it doesn't really wear out. If (by chance) you break it, you can buy another one from Giant.

70sSanO

Now we are getting somewhere.

Aside from the wider tires, and newer tech, how would the Giant fit and ride compared with the Jamis.

You have to figure out what is lacking, or desired improvements, in the ride/handling of the Jamis, or what Jamis qualities you want in the new bike.

Except for that grail bike that fits and rides perfectly, every “production” bike has some compromises. If the benefits outweigh those compromises, it will be fine. If you find yourself going back to the Jamis, it will be an expensive lesson.

John

veganbikes

No they generally don't break and decent quality ones seldom have issues but say Giant decides yeah we want a new shape for our seatposts, you are out of luck. Or say you want to do a Kinekt or eeSilk or Thudbuster or a dropper post or titanium post or have a different need that the two options don't provide. Say a clamp breaks it is an odd proprietary clamp as well so you could be well screwed if something does happen. Granted yes it is not often these things happen but they do happen and that is why proprietary seatposts don't do it for me. A 27.2, 30.9, 31.6 seatpost is really all we need simple round made by most all the manufacturers of seatposts in at least one of those sizes and sometimes most or all in such a wide variety of options.

tomato coupe

Sure, you obviously shouldn't buy a bike with a proprietary seat post if you think there's a chance you'll want to replace it with a dropper post, etc. But, the majority of cyclists aren't going to do that, so a proprietary seat post is a non-issue.

70sSanO

Just in passing, do people actually install a dropper on an endurance road bike?

I really don't know, but I applaud anyone who is pushing that type of bike down terrain that requires one.

John

Lombard

If you read his whole post rather than homing in on one item, you would see there are multiple reasons one might want a different seatpost. Here, I'll help you:

Not to mention what if you want a seatpost with a different setback. Again, you are SOL.

mstateglfr 

I am not defending the dfuse seatpost here and I largely dismiss proprietary tech as ever being an option to own.
With that out of the way, the dfuse comes in at least 25mm and 0mm offset. I ride with people who have both.
If a cyclist cant get properly fit on either of those seatpost, something is wrong with the bike's fit.

Now yes, that doesn't address the possibility of someone wanting a thudbuster on their giant dfuse seatpost road bike. For those 3 people in the world, they are SOL. Same with the 4 people in the world that want to slap a titanium seatpost on their carbon Giant road bike. Those 4 people are also SOL.

kommisar

disc brakes? Do you live in a rainy climate and ride in the rain? Otherwise, I don't think they do much for a road bike.

internal cable? Hard install, hard to maintain, no practical benefit. You can definitely live without this

wider tires? Yes please, this is a definite upgrade and might be worth it. Are you uncomfortable on your current tires during most rides?

tubeless? Do you ride somewhere with goatheads? If so, it would be very desirable... Otherwise the possibility to reduce pressure could increase comfort so maybe nice

seatpost? Ok this could be nice too.

Can you get a pair of tubeless ready wheels and suspension seatpost for your current bike? Would be much cheaper and would win almost all the benefits you would see from the expensive bike.

tomato coupe

Relax. That word at the end of the my sentence ("etc") meant I agreed with your list of possible reasons.

The D-Fuse seat post is available in two setbacks.

Lombard

OK, understood.

tFUnK

With respect to proprietary seat posts, the D post on my BMC is proprietary and it came cracked from what I suspect to be over-clamping by the previous owner. Finding a replacement was a bit challenging and expensive. I got lucky on eBay but I'm hoping that crack was a one-off and not a design flaw that might creep up again down the line with my replacement post.

RH Clark

I don't want proprietary anything on a bicycle. I've lived long enough to know it will eventually be a problem, or at least an aggravation.

PeteHski

Given that this is Giant we are talking about, proprietary parts are likely to be available for decades. Of course it limits your options if you happen to be a serial seatpost addict. But for most users it is very much a non-issue.

Steve B.

I would upgrade an older bike to get 3 things, disc brakes, Di2 or E-Tap electronic shifting and tubeless wheels/tires.

You need a new frame and wheels for disc brakes, so might as well buy a new bike.

veganbikes

One would hope the parts will be available from Giant for decades.

Like I said there are many reasons to want a different seatpost and this does limit your options to according to their website a single option but obviously they make a carbon version so two versions. During the endemic we are still facing there are still parts shortage issues, if our options were between only two posts we would be severely limited for repairs especially if they couldn't meet demands.

Look I get it people love Giant and their proprietary seatpost is just fine with nary an issue ever sure whatever but I will not subscribe to that. Working in the industry knowing companies who use proprietary parts and discontinue them or people needing to replace them for one reason or another I am always leery of parts like that even if it is a lower likelihood of issues.

PeteHski

There are actually several different versions of the carbon D-fuse post at differing price points. It's a pretty effective system as it happens. Being proprietary is only a problem for those who absolutely have to replace their stock seatpost with something different for whatever reason. It wasn't a big deal for me as the carbon D-fuse post is perfectly fine.

veganbikes

Sure but again if something does happen, maybe you want a isolation or suspension post, a dropper, a different material, they are out and you need one or they actually do decide to discontinue the post...things like that can cause issues. The concept isn't terrible but there are so many great round posts that pretty much everyone else uses.

PeteHski

You worry too much. These are non-issues for 99% of Defy owners. The D-post concept works and that's one of the attractions of this particular bike. It's not for everyone, but worrying about not being able to source a seatpost for my Defy is not something I lose sleep over. If it was a more niche brand then maybe it could be more of a potential issue. But Giant parts, including discontinued parts, are relatively easy to source online. There are even several third party suppliers who specialise in Giant spares. There are a lot of Giant bikes out there, so the demand for spares is not going to dry up overnight.