Released September 15
Photo Credit: Giant
Builds
5
Price Range
$3,300–$12,000
Suspension
Rigid
Frame Material
Carbon
Defy is for going longer. It’s for climbing higher, riding faster, and doing it all with confidence and smooth control. It’s for reaching your limit and blowing past it.
This fifth generation Defy range takes everything riders love about it—namely its unbeatable blend of lightweight efficiency and smooth compliance—and levels up. It’s now lighter, smoother and more efficient. It’s the perfect companion for an all-day sportive, an ambitious gran fondo, or an epic solo day on challenging roads.
The highs and lows of this model family
MSRP | $3,300 | $4,400 | $5,400 | $7,000 | $12,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spec Level | |||||
Wheels | Aluminum | Aluminum | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
Groupset | 105, Shimano | 105 Di2 | 105 Di2 | Ultegra Di2, Giant | RED AXS |
Drivetrain | 2 × 12 | 2 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 12 Electronic |
Power Meter | None | None | None | Giant Power Pro | Red AXS |
Where to Buy | $3,300 At Giant | $4,400 At Giant | $5,400 At Giant | $7,000 At Giant | $12,000 At Giant |
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Wheels | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 527 | 541 | 558 | 577 | 596 | 615 | |
| 369 | 375 | 380 | 384 | 393 | 402 | |
| 1.43 | 1.44 | 1.47 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 1.53 | |
| 515 | 530 | 545 | 560 | 575 | 595 | |
| 410 | 445 | 480 | 515 | 535 | 565 | |
| 74.5 | 74.0 | 73.5 | 73.0 | 73.0 | 73.0 | |
| 120 | 140 | 150 | 175 | 195 | 215 | |
| 70.5 | 71.8 | 72.5 | 72.5 | 72.5 | 72.5 | |
| 75 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 70 | |
| 261 | 261 | 261 | 266 | 266 | 266 | |
| 587 | 586 | 590 | 600 | 615 | 630 | |
| 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | |
| 995 | 994 | 998 | 1,010 | 1,025 | 1,040 | |
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | |
| 72 | 63 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 59 | |
| 705 | 733 | 762 | 796 | 814 | 841 | |
Stem Length | 80 | 90 | 100 | 100 | 110 | 110 |
Crank Length | 170 | 170 | 172.5 | 172.5 | 175 | 175 |
Handlebar Width | 400 | 400 | 420 | 420 | 440 | 440 |
🐐 Measurements listed in mm and degrees
Sep 14, 2023 · James Huang
Giant’s fifth-generation premium carbon fiber endurance road bike, updated with a lighter chassis, additional tire clearance, and a more refined ride quality.
Impressively lightweight
Composed ride quality
Quick handling
Some semblance of cockpit customization
Looks brilliant.
Composed-but-not-cushy ride quality
Handling is arguably too quick
Questionable wheelset spec
Still a proprietary stem.
Sep 14, 2023 · Troy Templin
The Giant Defy is for going longer. It’s for climbing higher, riding faster, and doing it all with confidence and smooth control.
FUNCTIONAL SIMPLICITY
Free of cumbersome gimmickry, the frameset is one of the lightest in its category. With a perfect balance of high-performance reactivity and all-day comfort, it offers a “less is more” experience for modern endurance road riding.
ENGINEERED COMPLIANCE
Advanced-grade composite frame and fork are specifically engineered for endurance road riding, delivering a smooth and efficient ride quality that minimizes fatigue on long rides. The new D-Fuse components work together to further absorb road shocks and vibrations.
TOTAL CONTROL
New D-Fuse handlebar features ergonomic shaping and an 8-degree flare for comfort and control on all-day rides. Wider rims across all series are optimized for high-volume tubeless tires (up to 38mm), providing predictable handling and stability from asphalt to cobbles.
D-FUSE TECHNOLOGY
Each new Defy features integrated components with a focus on compliance. The first is the D-Fuse composite seatpost, created by Giant a decade ago and now commonly used by other brands. Originally used for Giant’s pro cyclocross racers, D-Fuse seatpost technology made its way to Defy bikes in 2018.
The heart of the design is a D-shaped composite shaft that absorbs shocks and adds a small amount of flexing action (up to 7mm). This significantly reduces the energy of bumps and vibrations that travel up through one of the bike’s key contact points, the saddle. Testing shows that the new Defy Advanced SL frameset and seatpost produce 42 percent greater compliance (combined) than the previous generation Defy Advanced Pro series.
This technology is also applied to the front of the bike with new D-Fuse handlebars. The bars use similar D-shaped composite tubing on the tops, which creates greater downward compliance while at the same time increasing upward stiffness. This means you get shock-absorbing qualities and also better efficiency for hard, out-of-the-saddle efforts like sprinting or climbing. The new D-Fuse SLR handlebar, which comes on Defy Advanced SL and select Defy Advanced Pro models, delivers 40 percent more compliance compared to the previous generation.
