Giant Ocr 2 Composite
 

I am considering buying the Giant OCR 2 Composite road bike. Could you wise sages please weigh-in on the pros and cons of this bike? I am interested in hearing from owners and those of you who know owners and whatever you know about their joys and heartaches regarding the bike.

Thanks

The top tube slopes downward making it and look like a girl's bike.

I have an 03 TCR Composite. If I were buying today I would look seriously at the OCR Composite. I would have no interest in the alu version. The OCR has a more relaxed geometry. That means the handlebars will be higher in realtion to the seat than the TCR, it has a larger wheel base, comes in a triple which the TCR does not. It also comes with 700/25 tires which are more comfort oriented. I would probably put on 23's when they wore out unless you like a cushy ride with less performance.

The OCR Composite is a bit ugly, but I bet it rides sweet and is a great bang for the bling.

On the other hand if you are young and in shape and like to go pedal to the metal then look at the TCR.

The only real issue I have with Giant bikes is their sizing scheme. If you happen to fit one of their limited sizes then things usually work out fine but if you're in between size and they have to play games with saddle and stem to get the top-tube right then you may uncover other mis-fittings along the way. Of course this is not a problem only for Giant branded bikes and can occur with any bike manufacturer but those that choose to market only a handful of sizes usually are more prone to fitting issues. I would strongly advise that you try and get fitted for the bike in person and give it a good half-hour to an hour spin to make sure it feels right.

New model for 2006 below...check out the beauty of a compact frame




http://a.im.craigslist.org/HK/Vy/EFD...yicQ0M0XYz.jpg



Sorry couldn't resist...I hope someone can give you the info you need :p

Schwinn got sold again? :)

I have a deposit down on a OCR Composite 2. It was easily the best bang for the buck. I tried the Specialized Roubaix Elite, the Trek Pilot 5.0 and the Klein Reve X and I honestly couldn't tell much difference in the ride. I'm 55 and I was after the smoother ride of carbon and the more upright position of a compact geometry.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

Make sure you get sized properly.... I had a 2001 OCR 1, size large, which I bought as a close-out floor model in 2002. The "salesman" raised the seat post and maxxed out
the stem elevation to "make the bike fit me". I was a real novice back then, and I thought I was getting a "great deal." It turned out that the bike NEVER fit me properly, and I finally sold it last week. I'm now riding an excellent fitting, brand new '05 Specialized Roubaix. The Serotta trained fitter at my LBS spent over 2 hours fitting me properly, from shoes/cleats on up, and everything's great.
The Giant was a great bike, but it never fit me.....So make sure that the limited frame sizes of the Giant will work for you. If the fit is perfect, buy the bike. If not, try other brands until you're convinced that everything is going to work

LUCAS,

I have an OCR C3 and love it! I hope you can your hands on an C2 ASAP! I purchased my bike in Feb. after online research. My LBS has not got one in yet and does not know when they can get their hands on any of the OCR Composite series. I was on a trip and went into a bike store and they had two C3's in stock, a medium and XL. I rode the XL(in the shop) and decided to take a risk. I have been told these bikes are going to be hard to get your hands on so if you can get your hands on one, and you like it grab it! I am really happy with mine and although I am biased I like the top tube slant and think the bike looks SWEET! Happy Hunting.

If your LBS has one in your size, grab it. The next ones will not be out until late June. I sell them.

I havs three 2's on order, fully paid for. Right now, many of the bikes that will come out in early summer, are already sold. Meaning that there will be a bit of a shortage of wall hanging rack filling take it for a test ride bikes in this style.

OCR's a softer ride...TCR's a racing ride. Your choice. Both are the same carbon, what Giant calls F1.

Great bikes...considering that the Trek 5000 is all round tubes and is two grand. Most manufacturers have tuned carbon frames for better rides with tube shaping, even Trek....like the Madone.

Great value, new size between medium and large on the carbons, don't know any owners who have anything negative to say about them...

but they look like girls bikes.

Must be Ullrich's problem....maybe why Beloki was crying when he crashed....riding a girl's bike and all... ;)


BTW...these bikes are so bad looking that Trek had to come out with a whole new line to compete with them... :eek:

Giant was a non factor in the Pilot decision. You are confused with the Specialized Roubaix series.

Now the Specialized is a really sweet girls bike.

Hello Roadwarrior,

Would you say $1800 is a reasonable amount to pay for this bike, per your experience? I was trying to get the bike shop to sell it to me for $1500. He has refused to budge from $1800. He had listed the bike originally at $1999.99.

What do you think?

Regards, Lucas

$1,800 is a very good price. $1,500 is under the price for the 105 model.
I sold three of them in no time. They are hot bikes and not readily available.

Sorry....Specialized also copied Giant.
But nice try....

they say that the first bike, you buy for looks, the second bike, you buy for comfort. My first bike is a beautiful lugged celeste bianchi veloce with ergo 8 spd gruppo. Frankly, I think it's really not the greatest, but it is just about the prettiest -- exactly what I think is cool lookin, an italian traditional frame with nice shiny quill stem, steel fork, etc.

My second bike is a specialized roubaix with a sloping top tube, clunky threadless stem, overbuilt large aluminum tubing, and the silly looking carbon seatstay. Frankly, just about the last bike I would've picked based on looks. Whatever. It fits like a glove, is several pounds lighter and substantially stiffer than the veloce. My veloce is now my girlfriend's ride.

The Giant ocr/tcr 2 seem like screaming hot deals -- extremely high quality full carbon frames with ultegra 10 gruppo and respectable wheels for 2g's. If it fits you, ignore these posters with their girl's bike comments and ride on.

And fellas - we have a hobby where men habitually shave their legs, wear colorful ankle-length socks and skintight lycra. And you're worried about whether your *bike* is girly? Overdefensive, much? :rolleyes:

I have an OCR2 on order as well. It should have been here by now but the shop said it was posponed by two weeks. I cant stand the wait. I've seen C3's in shops but not the C2 yet, maybe no one has gotten these? I haven't heard of anyone with one yet.

His teammate did say he was crying like a girl.. :D

I accidentally saw the OCR Composite 3 at a LBS today that I don't normally frequent and was really surprised. I was looking at buyign the Scattante CFR for about the same price but now I'm thinking this might not be a bad deal. Didn't ride it though although the small seemed to fit me alright just trying it out at the LBS (I'm 5' 6").

Hello Classic1,

What do you mean by new sizes between the Medium and Large? What does Giant call this new size, and when are they coming out with it? I better wait for the new size. The Large was too big for me, and I felt a little cramped on the medium.

I wait to hear from you.

Regards, Lucas

Here ya go lucas, from the Giant website! Size is M-L. Available in Australia as we speak. Assume it is available everywhere else. I must ride about the same size frame as you! Seriously considered getting one, even though they look like girls bikes. If I was in the market for a complete bike, rather than just a frame, I would have got one.

Just click on the thumbnail

Hey Classic1,

It turns out that the new size ML is only offered in Australia. Also, it looks like only the TCR composite has the ML size.There is a slight difference in the frame geometry of the TCR and the OCR. The TCR is more of a racing frame, while the OCR is an enthusiast's bike.I talked to a Giant sales representative today, and he is not aware that the new size is going to be offered in the U.S.A.

He did volunteer that there has been a lot of requests from prospective buyers who are interested in the ML size.

I, for one, would have preferred the ML size. The Large is too big for me, while the Medium is a little tad small for my preference. One could begin trying to dial-in the fit through the use of shorter/longer stems etc, depending on the size one purchases, but the problem is that, change of stems and other steering components sometimes throws off the steering of the bike.

I do not understand why Giant would not offer an ML size for their OCR composite bicycles, considering the fact that they would be building in only four sizes. And that the bike at $2000 is no cheapie.

What is it with these big-shot bike companies?

I agree. The ML fills a gap in the sizing that nearly everyone whinges about on forums, in cycling magazines and down at the local bike shop.

the rep may be plain wrong - giant now has 5 sizes and there's no reason why they're not offering particular sizes in the US. You'll just be lucky to find a LBS that has them all in stock because there's a general shortage right now.