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Giant Bikes...why the lack of love??

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Giant Bikes...why the lack of love??

Old 10-20-11, 07:50 PM
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fetzer
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Giant Bikes...why the lack of love??

I have been reading BF for some time and have noticed that Giant bikes get very little attention. Why is this? The bikes are very well rated (Bicycling magazine reviewed the TCR composite and Defy very well for 2011), offer a good value and have a lifetime warranty.
Is it simply because they lack "bling" and "boutique status"?
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Old 10-20-11, 07:52 PM
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Old 10-20-11, 07:55 PM
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Giant has positioned itself as the cost leader, which makes them attractive for low volume shops. The problem becomes one of stock. Low volume shops don't get the higher end bikes. They cater to townie and commuter riders. If you want to ride a high end bike, you go to a high volume shop, which will frequently have Trek or Specialized. Some shops will double up with Cannondale and Giant. Why go questing for a high end bike when other models are so readily available?
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Old 10-20-11, 07:56 PM
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I don't have a Giant road bike, but I do have a Giant mountain bike. It is solid, but I agree that many people don't seem to talk about them much. My view on it though is that isn't necessarily a bad thing because it seems to keep the value pretty good.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:00 PM
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I would happily ride a TCR Advanced.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:01 PM
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Though it isn't a proper road bike, I've got a Giant Bowery which has worked out very, very well for me. Actually, I'm the only person that I've ever seen rolling around on a Giant. In Chicago, you see a lot of Mercier, Specialized, Bianchi and Trek.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by NathanC
I would happily ride a TCR Advanced.
As would I - - it's a solid ride, but boring. Not a bike I'd get excited about on BF.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:07 PM
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It is the rider that makes the bike. Andy Schleck made 2nd two times in a row in TDF. Once on a Specialized and once on a Treck. He would have done the same on a Giant as well, no doubt.

Last edited by UCIMBZ; 10-20-11 at 08:12 PM.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:11 PM
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It seems to me that American or European companies that sell Chinese-made bikes are more accepted than a Chinese company that sells Chinese bikes, even if the bikes are just as good. That doesn't mean it makes sense, necessarily.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Treefox
As would I - - it's a solid ride, but boring. Not a bike I'd get excited about on BF.
The 2012 looks great.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:34 PM
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Giant made crap bikes years ago ... still got that stuck in my mind.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenH
It seems to me that American or European companies that sell Chinese-made bikes are more accepted than a Chinese company that sells Chinese bikes, even if the bikes are just as good. That doesn't mean it makes sense, necessarily.
Giant is Chinese. I did not really know that...or care, even. All I knew was that Giant was the primary manufacturer of almost every major brand being sold. Isn't Shimano chinese?
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Old 10-20-11, 08:34 PM
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those who know, know better.

Originally Posted by Treefox
As would I - - it's a solid ride, but boring. Not a bike I'd get excited about on BF.
What makes the TCR boring to you?
It's not performance so it must be looks.
Looks are overrated.
(no pun intented for Look owners)
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Old 10-20-11, 08:35 PM
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They are made in China and are evil like Wal-Mart.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by fetzer
Isn't Shimano chinese?
No.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by fetzer
Giant is Chinese. I did not really know that...or care, even. All I knew was that Giant was the primary manufacturer of almost every major brand being sold. Isn't Shimano chinese?
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Old 10-20-11, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Gator
They are made in China and are evil like Wal-Mart.
Evil or not I still like/love the 4 or so I've owned.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:38 PM
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They don't know how to do carbon.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Accordion
They don't know how to do carbon.
I've been away too long and my sacrasm detector is turned off for the night.
Are you serious?
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Old 10-20-11, 08:44 PM
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They make just about everybody's bikes, I like that. They really really know how to build a bike, and have very extensive knowledge and experience in carbon.

I also like that they're not pretending to be anything. They're a Chinese company making great Chinese bikes at a good price.

I like Giant a lot more than Trek, or Specialized for that matter.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:48 PM
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Never ridden one. Don't know why. I understand their top end are very fine bikes. Perhaps they miss on the marketing??
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Old 10-20-11, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 3v1lD4v3
Giant has positioned itself as the cost leader, which makes them attractive for low volume shops. The problem becomes one of stock. Low volume shops don't get the higher end bikes. They cater to townie and commuter riders. If you want to ride a high end bike, you go to a high volume shop, which will frequently have Trek or Specialized. Some shops will double up with Cannondale and Giant. Why go questing for a high end bike when other models are so readily available?
This is 100% dead on for me. Two tiny shops in my town of 425k people have Giant and neither of them ever have a TCR or TCR Advanced. Ever. And I'm not putting down money on a bike I can't ride first. I know this sounds weird, since I ride a bike from CC, but I could've gotten 100% of my money back less $150 for shipping if I didn't like my mailorder bike. And it was far cheaper than a TCR.

Or I can test ride a Cannondale, Trek, Cervelo or Specialized. Maybe not the exact model I want, but at least the right frame and size.
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Old 10-20-11, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by BarryJo
I've been away too long and my sacrasm detector is turned off for the night.
Are you serious?
serious.jpg
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Old 10-20-11, 08:59 PM
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Test rides are overrated.
Figure out your size, have the shop order you a leftover '11 TCR SL and enjoy the ride.
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Old 10-20-11, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Accordion
It was actually a yes or no question.
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