Giant defy 5

[Georgem123]

Hi all

I know you probably get a lot of these questions, but this is my first post so oh well.

Basically, I am thinking of getting my first road bike.
I currently use a GT mountain bike.

I am planning a tour from England to Italy next summer, so need a road bike that can take rear rack/ panniers.
I do prefer a road bike to a touring bike as I don't fancy lugging around the extra weight a tourer has for the next 8 months till my Italy trip.

Also my budget is £400 and below.

So my question is.. Will a giant defy 5 (£399 in my local shop) suffice? Is the frame strong enough to take panniers (10kg max) to Italy? (I weigh 60kg).

Thanks

George

 

[vickster]

I am sure you'll be fine - I ride a Giant Avail (WSD Defy) with a rack and trunk/fold out pannier and I weigh significantly more than you...stock wheels seem pretty strong, done several thousand miles on mine, no issues

 

[Cuchilo]

Ive got the 5 with panniers ( Altura night vision ) although they only get put on to carry the veg back home from the allotment . I have thought once or twice that the bike could easly do a tour and thought of just taking off with a tent . Then real life kicks in

 

[MikeW-71]

I have a Defy 2 which also has rack mounts, however the manual says that the max luggage weight is only 1.5kg, so it would not be up to a 10kg load.

 

[Cuchilo]

My panniers are 1.8 kg

 

[Cyclist33]

I have a Defy 2 which also has rack mounts, however the manual says that the max luggage weight is only 1.5kg, so it would not be up to a 10kg load.

take no notice of that! a rack is the best part of half a kilo and if giant seriously think anyone would fit one plus pannier and then only go up to 1.5 kg gross, then either you misread the manual or they misprinted it...

 

[MikeW-71]

It does seem like a ridiculously low limit to me I must say.

 

[the snail]

I think the defy would be ok for lightweight touring, but the compact chainset/ narrow-ish tyres wouldn't be much fun loaded up with full camping gear. You might be better off with a CX style bike with a triple, and put some skinny tyres on for non-touring rides.

 

[Georgem123]

I think the defy would be ok for lightweight touring, but the compact chainset/ narrow-ish tyres wouldn't be much fun loaded up with full camping gear. You might be better off with a CX style bike with a triple, and put some skinny tyres on for non-touring rides.

I'm pretty sure you can get a triple on defy 5