Long story short, I've been looking for a new bike, and was looking at the Giant Defy Advanced because I've been having a problem (having test ridden about 8 bikes already) that everything seems to either be to racy, or to relaxed for my taste. I want something right in the middle - responsive steering, but not twitchy. A frame where you can feel the road a little (no dead feeling like the older entry level Madone or Damone), but that isn't going to wear you out on a long ride. Etc etc. Everyone else seems to be one way or the other so far, the Giant marketing (by that I mean the "reviews" I've seen) claims the Defy is right in the middle - feels good for long rides, but still responsive in steering and road feel.

A local shop has the 2012 Giant Defy Advanced bike available on discount because it's an older model. But the awards (aka, what I assume is Giant's marketing) refer to the 2013 model actually winning the awards. The bike shops claims the frame between the 2012 and 2013 is exactly the same, but they want to get rid of it. I've spent an hour searching the internet, and only found this reference to it -
"One of the best all-round framesets ever created" - Giant Defy Advanced - News & Reviews | Giant bikes UK & Ireland official website | UK / Ireland

Triathlon Plus Magazine loved the Giant Defy Advanced back in 2012 - so when they rode the 2013 Giant Defy Advanced 2 for their £2000 endurance road bike test in the March issue, testers wondered if the latest incarnation of Giant's carbon endurance road bike could re-capture that same magical ride.



Which makes it sounds like maybe the frame has changed in some way, even if it's the same specs it might be newer carbon.

Does anyone know anything else about whether it's the same exact frame or a different one between the 2012 and 2013 frame?

I suspect there's minimal differences between frames.

Other options to consider would be Bianchi Infinito, Cannondale Synapse, and many other "Endurance" or "Gran Fondo" frames. Almost every manufacturer has a version of this frame style. The Domane and Specialized Roubiax both have sophisticated shock systems that provide very effective isolation. Other manufacturers don't damped quite the same amount and may feel more or less lively. Also, tire pressure matters, make sure pressure and tire sizes are equivalent between bikes.

I tested the Defy and thought it was a little too dead for my taste. The Infinito was more lively but had less edge than a TCR or other really stiff racing frame.

In looking at the model archives directly from Giant's website, both bikes list the same identical language from the frame material.

They changed the frame between the 2011 & 2012 model years, not between 2012 & 2013.

Interesting, that's what the bike shop thought to. You wouldn't happen to know of any source for that info would you? 'course I probably wouldn't have a source either...

Thanks, but while I saw that, I looked through the 2010 model (which the bike shop thought was an older frame) and they seemed to use the same language there, to.

I've tried the Synapse - the green accent colors are definitely not my taste, but the ride was pretty good. Only thing I didn't like it that it didn't have a getupandgo feeling to it - nice bike for coasting along on a long ride (and in reality probably not any slower than anything else). It's on my "consider coming back to it" list.

Haven't tried an Infinito.

Tried a Roubaix - the previous gen base model. The frame feels waaaaay to stiff. Which is weird, because the "2" frame design was supposedly less stiff than the current design.

Tried a Roubaix - the current model in the midrange with the new "4" frame. I actually like the frame quite a bit, but I don't like Specialized's twitchy steering. I mean on Roubaix's I rode years and years ago, my complaint was that their steering was to slow, but the modern Roubaix's steering was like my Specialized Tarmac. It's been the only bike where I felt like it was difficult to keep it going straight while looking behind me.

Trek Madone 3.1 frame in base - not very fast, a little dead feeling, but not that bad - it was a little bland, but no real negatives.

Trek Madone 6.x - way to expensive, a little to stiff for my taste. But unlike the Roubaix, the steering was excellent - felt like it responded to whatever I wanted, but also had no problem keeping a straight line, even while I was looking behind me.

Trek Madone 4.x - didn't like it, steering was ok but frame ride felt like it was cheap (how do they sell you their more expensive frames, I suppose...)

Trek Madone 5.9, but older model - this was probably my favorite model. Was a tiny ***** twitchier in the steering than their more recent models (a little more like the Roubaix), but the carbon feel like I liked better. Cost is the major factor, even on discount it's $4k for the only model I could find (lower priced models not available any more).

Trek Damone 4.x - handling a little to slow for my taste, frame very shock absorbent, but a little dead feeling.

Trek Damone 5.x - frame got a little to stiff. Handling still slower than I would prefer. Also to expensive.

So basically, the two top bikes I've liked to far are the Cannondale Synapse (nice ride, nice steering, doesn't have the "fast" feeling and obnoxious colors though) and the older Trek Madone 5.9 (nice ride, fairly nice steering, has the "fast" feeling, nice colors, electronic ultegra, but to expensive).

I'm riding a modern Trek 5.2 this weekend, and found a Giant Defy Advanced frame I'm going to try out as well...

Thanks for your thoughts on the ride quality. We'll see if I also think it's to dead or not, I'm not a fan of that...

Out of curiosity, what did you end up getting? What's do you think the best you've found is?

Don't really have a source ... if you look at the Giant bike archive you can clearly see from the pictures how the design changed between 2011 - 2012. On the later models the seatstays joins the seat tube at a point below the top tube, whereas on the older ones all the tubes join at the top of the seat tube. Also they moved to an all carbon fork with a larger diameter steerer (which they had initial problems with for which they had to issue a safety recall). This was around the time I bought mine, I bought a leftover 2010 in early 2012. The only thing to point to same frame for 2013 vs. 2012 are:
- frames look exactly same, and same specs on web site
- manufacturers rarely do major redesign in consecutive years, just paint/component spec
- lack of any mention of changes in online reviews for the 2013, which would tend to mention such things

I got the Bianchi Infinito. I was a little more than really wanted to spend but it was the one that definitely felt "right". Honestly, out of the bikes in this price range, there aren't really any bad choices. It really is about finding the bike that has the ride quality you're looking for.

The main things I like about the Infinito was the ride quality, stiff without being harsh, and the handling. If you read reviews, most people complain the handling is a bit on the slow side. I found it was extremely predictable. The bike will definitely corner much tighter than I'm willing to. Like stiffness vs ride quality, quick handling vs twitchy is another personal issue.

A part of me still wonders if I didn't get the Bianchi just because it looked a million times better than the TCR.

I see what you mean. But like I said on that last point -

Triathlon Plus Magazine loved the Giant Defy Advanced back in 2012 - so when they rode the 2013 Giant Defy Advanced 2 for their £2000 endurance road bike test in the March issue, testers wondered if the latest incarnation of Giant's carbon endurance road bike could re-capture that same magical ride.

Would wonder if they kept the frame the same but changed the carbon...

Changes in carbon would be trumpeted fairly loudly on the manufacturer's web site, they have to market something, they wouldn't ever be subtle about it. It's the same frame. The different carbon is between their SL vs. Advanced vs. Composite series, not between these particular model years.

As an update, I went and rode the 2012 model. The ride was a mix of awesomeness and weirdness.

Awesome - on good road, it feels like you're riding on a cloud. I didn't have a chance to take it for a long ride yet, but on a short ride it felt like the most comfortable ride I've ever ridden.

Weirdness - on nasty road (there was a stretch in front of the shop), it was the only bike I've ridden this year (except for the other lower spec giant) where I could feel rolling over stuff in my butt. I haven't actually felt a sharp ping in the rear when riding with any other full carbon frame this year.

So not sure what to think. Going to ride the 2104 model this week, if it ever stops...snowing. Yeah, welcome to Minnesota, lol.

Was thinking the higher model frame (Giant Defy Advanced SL) might be something to check out to, but then I read it has an integrated seatpost which isn't really adjustable for fitting, and that's dampened my enthusiasm. It's only $800 more than the "advanced" model though ($3200 vs about $4,000), but I don't want a bike that I might have to worry about getting fit on, or have trouble reselling because of an odd seat post.

Hard to evaluate the ride over the nasty road unless you were riding other bikes over the same exact road with similar size tires/pressure. The integrated seatpost, you do have to get in the right ballpark of height before they cut it, but there is still something like 2cm range of adjustment after the cut, so you can still get a fitting as long as you aren't grossly off. Plus I think they have alternate extra tall masts for another 2cm if you cut off too much. Do agree it's less optimal for resale though, and to me 25% is a lot more, not "only 800".

Thanks for the info. Lol, well, I'm just saying - if I'm already spending $3,200...if the "SL" version was even more compliant 25% more money wouldn't be a "huge" deal for something I'll have for a long time. I mean on other brands it's usually more like $2,000 more for the next frame up.

P.S. You haven't had a chance to ride both the Advanced and the Advanced SL models yourself, have you?

No, they weren't out yet when I bought my older model. I just take a peek at them in the shop, no urge to hassle salesmen for a test ride when I'm still some years away from even thinking about a new bike again.

There is no difference in the frame between 2012 and 2013. 2012 is when they came up with the latest design. I suppose it is possible there were some minor changes from things they learned from the 2012 model.
I had a 2012 Giant Defy Advanced 2. Love it. But finally the weird sizing got to me and I got a 2014 Specialized Roubaix with an SL 4 frame and Ultegra 6800.
Basically the L frame size on the Giant was always a little too smal and the XL is too big. But that bike rode amazing well and steering was telepathic.
The 58cm Roubaix SL 4 frame fits me better but i find the steering is not quite as good. takes a little more pre-planning and effort.
I do miss the Giant but not because my hands fell asleep after 25 miles or so because it was too small. They need to have more increments between sizes. never doing the S, M, L, XL again and I was leery of it to begin with.

Interesting...I know they added a M/L size because of previous complaints about their sizing, though that wouldn't help in the L/XL range. That's what shops keep trying to size me on, though I'm still waiting to ride on to see what I think (keeps snowing, grr...).

That's interesting about the Roubaix, as when I test road one (though a less expensive model) I thought the Roubaix steering was to response. Twitchy, to responsive for me even. Hmm.

I'm a little confused by that last part - you're saying that your hands did fall asleep on the Giant after 25 miles because it was to small?

Yeah though, their sizing is weird...

Did you ever experience what I was talking about that on smooth road it glided almost magically, but on rough road it seemed to transmit shock even more than other models? Wondering if that's the bike or some other factor (like a particularly rough patch of road I was going over)...

It is a bummer about Giant sizing because I would have bought a new one to get the latest Ultegra. I'm sure they do the sizing this way to save money. Fwere sizes lower cost to make.
Yes my hands feel asleep and overall fit was not what it should because the bike was too small. But it really was a great bike in every way but straight line and especially fast curvy downhills. Loved it for that. You also get a lot for your money with Giant since they make their frames and don't have to pay someone else to do it like Specialized and most others.
The 2014 Specialized are all SL 4 frames now, even the lower end spec models. I have Ultegra mechanical 6800 on mine. The frame is great for straight line and long distances but yeah for me the steering requires a little though ahead of time and setting up the line on long curvy downhills and the Giant seemed to go where I want by pointing and leaning with minimal actual steering. Pretty great for a bike also built for comfort with a higher head tube and slightly relaxed geometry. if you get a good fit on a Giant I would not hesitate and go for it.
The carbon fiber on my Specialized seems not as robust too. its got a lot of little scrapes and nicks since November when I bought it while the Giant had none that I can remember.

It really made that much difference? You tried a bunch of different stems and couldn't find one to compensate for that?

It really made that much difference. I had a 90 stem and anything shorter would have screwed up handing and longer would have been too long. I used a fitter that I have used on several bikes who is very thorough and he did what he could. Not many people make stems that fit either so fewer options on a Giant. Even angling the stem to bring it up would have screwed up handling.