Giant Defy Range And Technology

The Giant Defy has long been one of the most famous Road Bike we supply here at Westbrook Cycles. The Defy range is now in its fifth generation, and it’s a fantastic road bike for anyone looking for endurance; they’ve also got some of the most impressive paintwork and finishes we have seen on any road bike.

This fifth-generation bike brings together several different improvements in performance. This defy range is lighter, more efficient, more compliant, and smoother than ever before. It’s a bike that allows you to push yourself to your limits.

The Defy Difference

Its design is one of the most significant differences between Defy and other rivals. The Defy, more than any other bike, is now a result of feedback from its riders, ranging from recreational riders to riders riding the Defy on the world stage. The Giant development team has chosen to move away from how road bikes are traditionally developed—looking at the bike's overall design instead of just relying on the usual shock absorbers and bushings.

Lightweight

The defy has always been designed to be ultra-lightweight, but the flagship model represents the cutting-edge approach that Giant has taken to weight saving. The flagship model within the range is the Defy Advanced SL, which weighs 785g in medium frame size, almost a complete 20% reduction in weight compared to the outgoing model.

Testing has also shown that the new frame offers 28% more pedalling efficiency than the outgoing model. Further weight savings can be found on the front forks, which are 15% lighter than the outgoing version, alongside the handlebars, now being 8% lighter.

Engineered Compliance

The advanced carbon frame used on the Defy saves weight and has allowed Giant to create a frame and fork designed specifically for endurance-focused road riding. The ride is smooth and efficient, and the increased ride quality because of the high-grade composite means that the Defy is more comfortable than ever. The presence of D-Fuse components, as seen on other Giant Road Bikes, works well together to reduce shock and soak up vibrations.

Since 2018, the Defy range has benefited from including D-Fuse components. The most important is the D-shaped composite seatpost shaft, which does a fantastic job of soaking up bumps and vibrations. The new Defy Advanced SL frame for 2024 has been shown to provide 42% greater compliance than previous models.

The D-Fuse design also provides the Defy's handlebar design. The bars have a D-shaped composite tube at the top, increasing downward compliance.

Carbon Choices

Riders lucky enough to be in the market for a Defy have two main choices - and that’s what Advanced Carbon Composite they choose to use. Advanced SL Composite is the most premium choice and can be found on bikes further up the budget range. The SL composite is professional-grade carbon fibre woven in Giant’s composite factory to create the lightest, stiffest and highest quality frames. This composite carbon is found on the bikes of professional racers that use Giant Bikes. The second choice is no poor option; the Advanced Composite frames use high-performance grade raw carbon again, created within Giant’s own factory - this composite has a high stiffness-to-weight ratio and allows for unique construction methods such as the front triangle being assembled in one piece - known as modified monocoque construction.

You can choose between Defy Advanced, SL, Pro and Advanced. All of which can be found here.