nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
Was just having a think again about both of these bikes, and I can afford the triban 3 now and I'm going that way on Saturday, or is the defy 5 worth saving the extra for?
defy 5 vs triban 3
- Thread starter nickg
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
The Defy range is good and the Defy 5 would be a sound choice as a entry level road bike. However the Triban 3 at £300 is probably the best value bike out there. My mate has one -it looks good and performs well. Has the same 2300 groupset as the Giant though only on a Triple. The Triban also has Carbon Forks ( i think the defy is aluminium) so looks the better spec.
In fact i think the Triban also compares well against the Spez Allez or Trek 1.2 - both again very good bikes with Carbon Forks but coming £200-£350 more.
as i say all are good bikes but i am not sure they offer any more for the cash compared to the Triban- to some degree you are paying for the name emblazoned on the frame. Unless you want to go into the next price bracket ie £750+ i would go for the Triban.
just my opinion
In fact i think the Triban also compares well against the Spez Allez or Trek 1.2 - both again very good bikes with Carbon Forks but coming £200-£350 more.
as i say all are good bikes but i am not sure they offer any more for the cash compared to the Triban- to some degree you are paying for the name emblazoned on the frame. Unless you want to go into the next price bracket ie £750+ i would go for the Triban.
just my opinion
OP
OP
nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
That's very interesting read, thank you. As I say I'm going down to lakeside at the weekend so will go and look and road test. Is the triban upgradeable much? How far could it go?
The Triban has a decent frame- as do the other bikes i mentioned. The bikes are upgradeable in terms of groupsets /wheels etc. The thing to bare in mind with upgrading is the cost effectiveness. They say buy the best bike/components you can afford at the start. These are entry level bikes - if you you wanted to upgrade in the near future ie better rims or a tiagra or 105 groupset etc it would be more cost effective to save more and buy a better bike in the beginning- if you plan to upgrade as things wear out then a cheaper bike is fine.
For me a Triban at £300 is terrific value compared to the Giant/Spez/ Trek. At that price after couple of years you could sell it or keep it as a winter bike and buy another bike with better components and you would feel you hadn't lost that much than if you forked out £500 or more now.
Check out the Triban- i think you will be pleased with it but if you can check out other bikes as well and see what appeals to you. Nothing beats seeing them in the flesh and seeing how they feel.
For me a Triban at £300 is terrific value compared to the Giant/Spez/ Trek. At that price after couple of years you could sell it or keep it as a winter bike and buy another bike with better components and you would feel you hadn't lost that much than if you forked out £500 or more now.
Check out the Triban- i think you will be pleased with it but if you can check out other bikes as well and see what appeals to you. Nothing beats seeing them in the flesh and seeing how they feel.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Is save up for the Defy, but if there's no way you can find the extra schmoolies then you won't be disappointed with the Triban. People seem to love them.
Peteaud
Veteran
- Location
- South Somerset
Triban is amazing value and imho almost as good as the Giant.
It depends on what you intend to do, if its a bike to see how things go then go for the Triban, if you are 100% about cycling then the Giant may be better.
but it really is 50/50 and i would go with what feels best to you.
It depends on what you intend to do, if its a bike to see how things go then go for the Triban, if you are 100% about cycling then the Giant may be better.
but it really is 50/50 and i would go with what feels best to you.
Basil.B
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Go for the Defy! 
outlash
also available in orange
- Location
- ice station zebra
Like most things, if we're talking about the budget end of the spectrum then it's built to a price point, and there's probably not a huge amount of difference between them.
Most bikes are upgradeable, I've just fitted a new set of wheels & tyres to my Triban and it's made a noticeable difference.
Tony.
Most bikes are upgradeable, I've just fitted a new set of wheels & tyres to my Triban and it's made a noticeable difference.
Tony.
OP
OP
nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
Tony what difference did it make? Better ride? Smoother? More feeling while you ride?
outlash
also available in orange
- Location
- ice station zebra
The wheels on the Triban aren't the best (I think replacements are only about £30 new!), heavy too so overall a better, smoother ride, although I'd put some of that down to the tyres too. I've also added clipless pedals to mine. I'm looking at a new saddle for comfort and new parts (stem etc) to get the fit exactly how I want it and that will be that.
But you could go on forever with upgrades though, do a bit of window shopping at places like Wiggle to see how much you could spend!
Tony.
But you could go on forever with upgrades though, do a bit of window shopping at places like Wiggle to see how much you could spend!
Tony.
OP
OP
nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
Cheers outlash. What sort of riding are you doing on yours? I'm looking to progress and enter events, I've put my name down for London ride 100, and if I don't get in I will be doing otheres in local area.
outlash
also available in orange
- Location
- ice station zebra
No worries, I ride for fun so it's weekend mornings for me mainly for an hour or two, 20 - 50 miles a ride, but I haven't been riding with purpose for that long. Like you, I'm looking to build it up during the winter and do some sportives/audaxes later in the year. Whatever bike you choose, have fun on it 
.
Tony.
.Tony.
Easytigers
Guru
+1 I've had my Triban now for about 5 months and have ridden coming up to 2000miles. I'm really pleased with it but have also changed the wheels and tyres, as well as putting on a new stem (just a bike fit thing and not essential) and clipless pedals too. This has also made a big difference so would budget for it over the first few months...No worries, I ride for fun so it's weekend mornings for me mainly for an hour or two, 20 - 50 miles a ride, but I haven't been riding with purpose for that long. Like you, I'm looking to build it up during the winter and do some sportives/audaxes later in the year. Whatever bike you choose, have fun on it
Tony.
OP
OP
nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
Thank you everybody so far, I'm really wanting the defy, but that will be a couple of months more saving, where as when I go look at the triban I've got a feeling I will buy it as the money is there waiting. I need to keep a sensible head on.
