Giant Defy Advanced E+ Elite 2 review

At the same time as the bike of route electrically assisted Liv Avail Advanced E+ Elite, Giant is launching an equivalent model aimed more at men, with a slightly different geometry. The frame, equipment and technology used remain the same, as do the prices, with three models sold from €6500. This is the entry-level Defy Advanced E+ Elite 2 version that we were able to get our hands on..

By Guillaume Peephole – Photos: ©DamienRosso/Giant

Aside from the offered sizes, colors and geometry, the Giant Defy and Liv Avail in these new Advanced E+ Elite versions are identical. : same carbon frames and forks, same motors and batteries, same accessories and components. The prices of the three models in the range are also uniform, with the Advanced E+ Elite 0 in Sram Red AXS and carbon wheels at €10, Advanced E+ Elite 1 in Sram Force and carbon wheels at €8000, and the Advanced E+ Elite 2 in Sram Rival and aluminum wheels at €6500.

Just like Avail at Liv, the Defy is the “comfort” type bike dedicated to long distances at Giant, offered alongside the aerodynamic model Propel and the lighter model TCR. Frame design and geometry allow for a slightly less stretched out and more upright position than on bikes intended for pure competition.. And between the Liv Avail and the Giant Defy, there are also some differences in the sizes offered and the length of the tubes, so that they are more specifically adapted to male and female builds. These brand new Advanced E+ Elite versions are no exception to the rule, even if the technology used remains rigorously the same.

So we find a new engine Giant SyncDrive Move Plus discreet in place of the rear hub (without cable), which delivers a maximum torque of 75 Nm, a RideControl Go control placed on the top tube of the frame with five levels of assistance, an integrated and invisible Energypak Smart battery in the down tube of the frame of 400Wh (with the possibility of adding an additional 200Wh battery), all connected to a Giant RideControl App (free download from the App Store and Play Store) for activity tracking or system customization.

For more details, you can consult the test of Liv Avail Advanced E+ Elite.

We tested the entry-level version of the Giant Defy Advanced E+ Elite, with a transmission Ram Rival, aluminum wheels, handlebars and stem also in aluminum, as well as a D-Fuse seat post a little less advanced than on the two models in Ram Force and Sram Red. Result: The bike weighs 13,7 kg without pedals on the scale, or 1,7 kg more than the top-of-the-range version. A difference that is not very noticeable in all situations where the assistance is running, but more noticeable as soon as it cuts off automatically, beyond 25 km/h.

An outfit of route reassuring

On route, The Defy Advanced E+ Elite seems to quickly shed its extra weight when the minimum level of electric assistance is engaged., whether starting off or moving through traffic. The acceleration is progressive and effective, and never surprising enough to give you the impression of losing control. And unlike some competing machines, this same assistance is very degressive when you gradually release the intensity of the effort, which allows you to adopt a smooth ride when approaching slowdowns, roundabouts, or before stopping at a red light.

When dancing, the bike feels heavy and a bit clumsy without assistance, especially with 32 mm section tires that don't have the direct and sharp side of narrower tires when steering. But here again, the first level of assistance seems to reduce this phenomenon by helping you gain speed easily. As for the first small bump encountered on the course, it immediately demonstrates the bike's capabilities by encouraging you to increase the assistance of the engine thanks to the two Sram Blips placed on the handlebars very close to the brake levers. The kick in the butt is enjoyable, but always progressive.. It simply gives the sensation of having a good hundred extra watts and being able to push the effort without hitting the muscular limits. The effort is real if you really want to give it your all, with a natural and smooth pedal stroke, and without having the impression of riding a moped either. It's just extra power, which makes it easier to clear the toughest slopes..

Thanks to a geometry very close to that of a racing bike, The Defy Advanced E+ Elite fits perfectly into downhill turns. It allows you to reach very high speeds without giving the impression of understeering and being carried away by its weight on the outside of the curves. In these conditions, the 32 tires provide additional insurance with their very high grip. The machine is reassuring in the series of turns and offers a significant gain in confidence over long distances. In this sense, even with electric assistance, the Defy Advanced E+ Elite falls into the same category as the traditional Giant Defy.

A bike that gives you wings

This bike excels on climbs with gradients above 7 to 8%, as it allows you to reach 20 km/h quite easily if you put in a bit of effort.. No climb seems to resist it. A good way to get started on previously inaccessible routes, or to limit the consequences of a bout of fatigue. For a well-trained cyclist, it also allows you to climb without getting in the red or to have the feeling of always being in grip. In short, there are different ways to appreciate this type of bike, but this Elite 2 version stands out from the higher-end models by its higher weight and less efficient wheels. Result: the assistance cut-off at 25 km/h seems a little frustrating. It always remains progressive when approaching the speed limit, but on a low percentage slope.tagand climbs quickly, you feel the brake of the weight as soon as you try to overtake it.

This feeling is accentuated by the noise of the engine, or rather its whistling, which is nevertheless very present in the ear, and which we feel cut off or come back into action when we are moving around the speed limit.

On the flat sections approached at high speed, there is obviously no longer any question of assistance and the bike is not as smooth as a regular bike route traditional, mainly because of the wheels, tires, overall weight and gear ratios offered.

The fact remains that this type of machine is obviously not designed to operate over long stretches at 45 km/h, and that ultimately the difference in behavior between this Defy Advanced E+ Elite 2 and the version Elite 0 in Sram Red and carbon wheels is the same as between two bikes of route traditional with the same respective equipment. The essential is elsewhere. Because With this bike, many cyclists will be able to reconcile themselves with the difference in altitude, whether it is to climb at a good pace and avoid making friends wait or to avoid suffering too much and stay in their comfort zone. It also allows you to continue riding on beautiful routes when you get older or if you have health problems, and to accompany the usual group of friends.

Regarding autonomy, we were able to observe a loss of 27% of the battery capacity on a 50 km outing with a little more than 500 m of elevation gain, after having testand the different modes of assistance. A trained cyclist who perfectly manages the assistance only when necessary can expect to travel almost 200 km with this bike., without suffering excessively and without the addition of an additional battery.

Within this new range of bikes, route Electric-assisted at Giant, this entry-level model is, in our opinion, more aimed at those looking for discovery than performance., and who ride at reasonable average speeds. The other two versions of the Defy Advanced E+ Elite, lighter and with more dynamic wheels, are more suited to faster outings, thanks to their superior recovery capabilities beyond the speed limit of the assistance.

With a discreet but efficient motorization, a battery that has good autonomy and perfect integration of all the system components, the Giant Defy Advanced E+ Elite demonstrates in any case all the possibilities offered by this type of hybrid machine.