Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

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Defy The Odds
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Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby Defy The Odds » Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:42 am

So after lots of to-ing and to-ing and working out finances the day has come where I can finally afford to upgrade.

I currently ride a 2013 Giant Defy Composite 2 with SRAM Apex. The bike has been great and I love it but who really needs an excuse to upgrade or N+1 right ?

The Defy has been fitted to me, and is considerably more aggressive then when I first bought it. Stem slammed, stem length increased by 20mm to 110mm, saddle height increased and Fulcrum Racing Quattro's.

So I'm keen to hear your recommendations on some bikes in my budget.

Do I keep with the endurance geometry and more race orientated like say, a Tarmac or Propel ?

So many options.

I test rode a BMC RoadMachine a while back and liked it but don't want to get a bike that more or less feels like the defy.

Thoughts? Suggestions ?

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10speedsemiracer
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:01 am

If your fit leans away from endurance geometry, maybe a TCR Advanced 1 Disc (I'm sure you can beat the RRP of $3299) and use the change to upgrade/mod whatever you don't like (perhaps the wheelset/rubber, throw some Fulcrum disc rims and nice rubber on there, and keep the oem wheels for when you want to sell in 2-3 years). Just thinking.
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tomee
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby tomee » Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:52 am

currently specials on the Cannondale super six evo HI MOD disc $3999.
Even the regular evo disc is on sale.

check bike exchange for sales. I believe Trek and cycles galleria also have specials on atm.

Best head into stores and give them a ride

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Mububban
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby Mububban » Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:26 am

Before my N+1 money disappeared into car repairs and dental work, I was looking at TCRs. The Advanced Pro 1 with new mech Ultegra and carbon wheels and 7.5kg is $3200-$3500. The Advanced pro 0 with mech Dura-Ace and slightly upgraded carbon wheels and 7.0kg (in Large) is about $4800 at a nearby store. Both felt amazing compared to my Contend SL1 disc and nothing to upgrade (barring saddle preferences).

And my Contend (very similar geometry to Defy) with its stem slammed is only a few mm off the TCR in its most upright position. So I don't think you'd have any problems moving between frame styles.
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g-boaf
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby g-boaf » Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:59 am

Defy The Odds wrote:So after lots of to-ing and to-ing and working out finances the day has come where I can finally afford to upgrade.

I currently ride a 2013 Giant Defy Composite 2 with SRAM Apex. The bike has been great and I love it but who really needs an excuse to upgrade or N+1 right ?

The Defy has been fitted to me, and is considerably more aggressive then when I first bought it. Stem slammed, stem length increased by 20mm to 110mm, saddle height increased and Fulcrum Racing Quattro's.

So I'm keen to hear your recommendations on some bikes in my budget.

Do I keep with the endurance geometry and more race orientated like say, a Tarmac or Propel ?

So many options.

I test rode a BMC RoadMachine a while back and liked it but don't want to get a bike that more or less feels like the defy.

Thoughts? Suggestions ?
I love the TCR Advanced SL - mine are both from 2013/2014, and they are built as top end race bikes. Neither is in original as purchased configuration, they are both heavily customised. And for that reason, I wouldn't be going for any new bikes soon, none of them are better.

Cervelo R5 is also nice if you can find one from a few years ago, that will be cheaper.

However, have you thought about building up a project bike? Get a top level frameset like a Canyon Aeroad (a beautiful thing) and then acquiring the parts to build it up over time? You can then get the bike exactly how you want it. It's more special when you've built it yourself too.

On the topic of mechanical Dura Ace mentioned above, yeah it's not fancy electronic stuff, but it shifts beautifully, so crisp and fast, and it is also very light.

I'd also recommend contacting Drapac Cannondale pro cycling team (Slipstream Sports LLC):

https://www.shopslipstreamsports.com/bi ... team-bikes

They are very reliable and easy to deal with in regards to buying bikes. They occasionally have new unused framesets/bikes for sale at very good prices. Even though they haven't got anything listed at the moment, no harm in dropping them an email, they usually reply very quickly.

vosadrian
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby vosadrian » Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:45 pm

Someone I know just bought a Canyon (Aeroad with latest Ultegra Di2 and nice deep carbon wheels). It seemed like great value for money. I would have a serious look a them. There are a number of models to choose from to suit your desired style of bike.

fat and old
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby fat and old » Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:07 pm

g-boaf wrote:
Cervelo R5 is also nice if you can find one from a few years ago, that will be cheaper.
like this

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /103036005
https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /102974008

Lot of bike for the $$, and I reckon they'd go cheaper. You may want to slam the stem, they have a tall H/T.

The canyons do seem like great value too. Was my pick until I checked the Curves.

Oh, crap. Out of your budget....soz. Canyon then, or TCR.

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Defy The Odds
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby Defy The Odds » Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:57 pm

Sorry, I should mention I am based in Melbourne.

I really like the look of Cannondale's, particularly the CAAD and the Supersix Evo, however have heard multiple reports of annoying creaking bottom brackets and people repeatedly taking the bike back to the dealer/local bike shop to have it fixed or looked at. This would drive me insane to be honest. Are they really this bad?

Building a bike is probably out of my budget to be honest. I remember doing some sums a while back and the cost would be more than buying a complete bike. I understand the satisfaction of built not bought, but I also have to stay within my budget. I've done well convincing the minister of finance to get this far !

The Canyon Aeroad does look quite nice.

I weighed my Defy the other day, it is an XS frame and so with plastic bottle cages, garmin out front mount, and Fulcrum Racing Quattro's (heavy bastards) it came in at just under 8.3kg which is not exactly lightweight. I could probably shave off around 3-400 grams off the wheels and then perhaps another 200 or so off the bar and stem but not going to bother. I want the next bike to be much lighter, climb better and just outright faster.

Wouldnt the Cervelo R3 be similar to the Defy? Endurance geometry and all ?


NOTE: I am considering a bike that can take minimum of 28's, possibly 30's or even 32's. I ride some pretty ordinary Melbourne suburbs and the wider tyres wouldn't go astray... consideration at this point. My Defy currently doesn't go wider than 25

Here are some of the bikes I have an interest in, wouldnt mind opinons on these (and others that sound suitable):


https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /102821952

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /102948172

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /102971399

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /103213988

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /102911722

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /103100493

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /102999293

Seeing as I am spending quite a bit (for me anyways), I wouldn't mind something a little different rather than your run-of-the-mill Giant. Nothing wrong with Giant in fact I love my Defy, but I guess something a little different, perhaps more "exotic" for lack of a better word.

Sorry for the long winded post

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10speedsemiracer
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:16 pm

Ah, something without a Giant sticker....

How about a nice tasty Bianchi.
Carbon, Ultegra, seems to be the geometry you're looking for and comes in your size, although I can't vouch for 28mm tyres as some end up being small on the rim, some not so much. So a 28mm Vittoria Rubino may fit where a 28mm Conti GP may not, etc:

Image

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/road- ... /103130233
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10speedsemiracer
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:44 pm

Or there's a Wilier for sale here on the threads.

http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... 25&t=96988
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fat and old
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby fat and old » Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:32 pm

S3 seems the pick....Di2. R3 would be lighter though. Cycle House has some great deals on Cervelo and Cannondale. Back their product too (I bought my R5 there. Let me just dissapear for over 60 minutes on a test ride). However.... Cervelos are well known for the B.B. creak. Mine did. Fixed by shop, never came back.

Arbuckle23
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby Arbuckle23 » Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:05 pm

I have a Synapse. Nearly 7000 km and no creaks.

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rodneycc
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby rodneycc » Sat Jan 20, 2018 10:07 am

Saw this one and thought of you mate...
Should be able to wangle down at least another $500.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mernda/o ... 1147476808?

Been listed quite a long time though...but you never know.
2013 BMC TM SLR01;2013/14 Bianchi Inf CV
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2013 Giant TCR Adv SL1;2014 Giant Defy Adv SL

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Defy The Odds
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Re: Upgrade Time - Best Bike Under $4.5k

Postby Defy The Odds » Sun Jan 21, 2018 2:23 am

rodneycc wrote:Saw this one and thought of you mate...
Should be able to wangle down at least another $500.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mernda/o ... 1147476808?

Been listed quite a long time though...but you never know.
Cheers mate! Good spot that !

They want to sell minus the wheels so another good wheeler will set me back a further grand.... will probably give them a buzz and have a look at it.

Thanks again :)

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