Why pay extra for Trek or Specialized?
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Doesn't Giant make some of the bikes for Trek and Specialized? You might be buying a Giant made bike anyway.
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Can someone tell me why these differently equipped bikes cost different prices???
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What you can say though is that Giant are very competent at manufacturing bikes and, being the largest producer in the world, they have economies of scale making them generally very competitive on pricing.
What Giant lack is brand cache. I have a Giant Defy and it is an excellent endurance bike, but it doesn't have any soul/character/X-factor or whatever you want to call it. But then again Trek and Specialized don't do much for me in that respect either. They are all bikes you see literally everywhere. I would get the one that you like the best. They are all decent bikes.
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#33
Banned
Important to look at the customer support provided by the manufacturer and the shop where you intend to purchase the bike. I have purchased 3 Specialized and 1 Scott bike this year and the pre and post sale experience varied greatly. The nearest Giant dealer is a 90 minute drive or 3 hours round trip so I would never consider buying a Giant bike for that reason alone. The 3 Trek bike shops near me are all owned by the same person and he hired a part time manager to oversee all three shops. This does not work at all well for the customer experience as I found out when shopping for a Trek Domane + HP and I ended up buying two Specialized Turbo Creo SL bikes instead.
#34
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In the good old days you would drop by your local LBS and try out a bunch of different bikes and buy the one you liked most. Bikes vary in terms of fit, comfort, performance, feel, weight, build quality, durability and visual appeal. I remember in the past I could never get a Giant frame to fit right. They assumed their compact geometry allowed them to get away with making only four or five frame sizes but I always felt I was somewhere in between. The Treks always felt good right out of the box and could be dialed in perfectly by the LBS. Fit is always critical. Buy the bike that fits and feels right.
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maybe I was rounding up in my head. But it was like $2300 for TCR and $3200 for the specialized
I should say, that lower end TCR comes with rim brakes and the trek and specialized carbon models are disc only. In Chicago where I live there is very little elevation. Very flat. And I don’t ride in the rain. So why pay more for a heavier disc tech? And hydraulic needs occasional bleeding. Ugh
I’m just thinking out loud before committing. I hope more options are available soon around here and I can ride a couple different bikes to see how they actually feel
I should say, that lower end TCR comes with rim brakes and the trek and specialized carbon models are disc only. In Chicago where I live there is very little elevation. Very flat. And I don’t ride in the rain. So why pay more for a heavier disc tech? And hydraulic needs occasional bleeding. Ugh
I’m just thinking out loud before committing. I hope more options are available soon around here and I can ride a couple different bikes to see how they actually feel
Bikes in general depreciate greatly. Worrying about an unquantified amount of that depreciation at time of purchase is just plain silly.
#36
Banned
Be sure you are comparing apples to apples in terms of the brakes, derailleurs, and drivetrain, as this is where manufacturers make choices to meet a given price point. It may not matter but if you decide to upgrade components later it will cost you more than to get a higher grade model with them installed by the factory. In terms of reach there is no need to stay with the factory installed stem and changing to one that is longer or shorter may make a great deal of difference in riding comfort.
Something I like very much about Specialized is their incredibly broad range of bike families with very different frame geometry choices for their road bikes. Giant and Trek are much larger companies but they do not come close to offering this range.
Something I like very much about Specialized is their incredibly broad range of bike families with very different frame geometry choices for their road bikes. Giant and Trek are much larger companies but they do not come close to offering this range.
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Looking to get a new race geo bike and looking at the 105 equipped Giant TCR that is comparably equipped about $1000 less than the Trek Emonda sl5 or specialized tarmac sl6. What gives?? Is it just branding? Marketing? Would a noob like myself know the difference? Should I save the thousand and get nicer wheels down the line??
If you compare a Giant bike to an equally equipped bike from another manufacturer (make sure you are comparing apples with apple as there may be slight differences between the two bikes), Giant will most likely always be cheaper.
If you are a ''noob'' and like the ''general feel'' of the Giant bicycle you tried at a LBS, then I would say go ahead and buy it. Ride it like you stole it!
Last edited by eduskator; 11-02-21 at 03:12 PM.
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Be sure you are comparing apples to apples in terms of the brakes, derailleurs, and drivetrain, as this is where manufacturers make choices to meet a given price point. It may not matter but if you decide to upgrade components later it will cost you more than to get a higher grade model with them installed by the factory. .
Last edited by Sy Reene; 11-02-21 at 04:05 PM.
#39
Junior Member
Probably true, but they make them to the design and spec of Trek and Specialized, so they are different bikes.
What you can say though is that Giant are very competent at manufacturing bikes and, being the largest producer in the world, they have economies of scale making them generally very competitive on pricing.
What Giant lack is brand cache. I have a Giant Defy and it is an excellent endurance bike, but it doesn't have any soul/character/X-factor or whatever you want to call it. But then again Trek and Specialized don't do much for me in that respect either. They are all bikes you see literally everywhere. I would get the one that you like the best. They are all decent bikes.
What you can say though is that Giant are very competent at manufacturing bikes and, being the largest producer in the world, they have economies of scale making them generally very competitive on pricing.
What Giant lack is brand cache. I have a Giant Defy and it is an excellent endurance bike, but it doesn't have any soul/character/X-factor or whatever you want to call it. But then again Trek and Specialized don't do much for me in that respect either. They are all bikes you see literally everywhere. I would get the one that you like the best. They are all decent bikes.
#40
Senior Member
My primary road bike is a Giant. I compared a wide variety of bikes when I bought that bike and it was really easy to go with Giant. Not to sound like an ad for Giant, but here's what I percieve:
1. Giant road bikes routinely are highly rated in reviews and routinely win comparison tests.
2. Giant bikes are well known to have some of the best and most advanced carbon quality offered. Giant is vertically integrated and their scale allows them to do things at a reasonable cost that few other manufacturers can do. For example, check out the carbon construction on the TCR Advanced SL. They weave their own carbon and use very advanced and accurate automated layup and molding techniques. The result is very light, durable and affordable frames that ride very well.
3. Giant routinely has a better spec at a better price. Giant throws in good dual-sided power meters starting at midrange prices. Giant specs very modern hookless carbon wheels and rebranded DT Swiss hubs at very low prices. For a comparable build, a Giant is always going to be 10-20% lower than Trek or Specialized and often has better parts even with that discount.
4. Giant is well known among mechanics for being relatively easy to work on. There's little fluff in Giant bikes, everything is relatively simple and tried-and-true. Their internal routing is easy. Their headset designs are sometimes weirdly sized but simple in their engineering. They use the BB86 standard, which is generally known to be the most problem free press fit standard, and their BBs have better tolerances than almost any brand. Their seatposts don't slip. Etc.
5. Giant has one of the best carbon warranties on the market.
1. Giant road bikes routinely are highly rated in reviews and routinely win comparison tests.
2. Giant bikes are well known to have some of the best and most advanced carbon quality offered. Giant is vertically integrated and their scale allows them to do things at a reasonable cost that few other manufacturers can do. For example, check out the carbon construction on the TCR Advanced SL. They weave their own carbon and use very advanced and accurate automated layup and molding techniques. The result is very light, durable and affordable frames that ride very well.
3. Giant routinely has a better spec at a better price. Giant throws in good dual-sided power meters starting at midrange prices. Giant specs very modern hookless carbon wheels and rebranded DT Swiss hubs at very low prices. For a comparable build, a Giant is always going to be 10-20% lower than Trek or Specialized and often has better parts even with that discount.
4. Giant is well known among mechanics for being relatively easy to work on. There's little fluff in Giant bikes, everything is relatively simple and tried-and-true. Their internal routing is easy. Their headset designs are sometimes weirdly sized but simple in their engineering. They use the BB86 standard, which is generally known to be the most problem free press fit standard, and their BBs have better tolerances than almost any brand. Their seatposts don't slip. Etc.
5. Giant has one of the best carbon warranties on the market.
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I like the specs on the Giant fat bike but wish they had a carbon version.
#42
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When buying a Specialized Stumpjumper last month the price for the alloy frame bike was $3,500 and $4,200 for the carbon back in February. In October the price for the carbon frame version (otherwise identical components) was $4,700 or a $1,200 premium for the carbon frame. For my own riding paying $1,200 to have a 3 lb lighter trail bike was not worth it and I bought the alloy version.
#43
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+1 Giant - it's the brand for discerning folks who aren't into wank. The fact they're a bit cheaper is a reflection of the fact they're a proper huge company, of a scale only rivaled by Shimano in the bike industry, so they stand to have the best R&D, like Shimano.
And TCRs are proper weapons. I'm not a fan of the oversized steerer or the pressfit BB, so mine's an 06, but I'm just picky.
Mind you, they did completely stuff up the gear cable routing on the 1st_gen Propel, and those fiddly boat-anchor cable to hydro adapters they stuck on everything for a while were just awful, so they're not perfect, but they're as good as Shimano, so top tier.
And TCRs are proper weapons. I'm not a fan of the oversized steerer or the pressfit BB, so mine's an 06, but I'm just picky.
Mind you, they did completely stuff up the gear cable routing on the 1st_gen Propel, and those fiddly boat-anchor cable to hydro adapters they stuck on everything for a while were just awful, so they're not perfect, but they're as good as Shimano, so top tier.
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#44
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I wrestle with this TBO. My brain tells me the Defy is as good as any other endurance bike (+/- slight variations I couldn’t appreciate), and I also know they don’t market as well as the other brands. But my system 1 brain screams it needs one of the sexier brands and that I wouldn’t be happy without a Cervelo or maybe Specialized.
#45
Banned
Best R&D is with Specialized and it shows in the key patents they have held for the past 20 years for MTB components. Shimano is most likely having their parts made in China or Malaysia and not in Taiwan. Taiwan provides much higher quality for manufacturing but labor costs are higher as they do not use slave labor in any form. German companies have their products designed in Germany and often manufactured in Taiwan. Specialized is currently having its bike made in Taiwan which further reflects on the quality of this country's manufacturers.
These companies have benefited from their ability to get bank loans to finance new tooling and new factories. In the USA funding for small manufacturers dried up completely after 2008 and more than 2 million machinists in Ohio alone found themselves out on the street. Great way to cripple unions but at a high cost to workers and their familiers. I have had my company's tools made in Taiwan for the past 15 years and some made in China for the past 10 years. When I spent 6 months trying to find a company in the USA to manufacture a brand new high end tool there was no one to be found. All said they could not get loans from their bank and this was after working with them for 30 years.
Most of what is shown as made in the USA is actually made in Asia and then shipped to Mexico and assembled or boxed and then, with NAFTA, it can then be taken across the border and sold with a USA source of origin label.
This year I bought two Specialized e-bikes for road and a Specialized Stumpjumper full suspension MTB and this was after spending weeks looking at what was available to buy and the components supplied on the various bikes. It is far easier in the current situation to buy a bike that is already equipped with most of what you want instead of trying to find items on the Web. Even so I am having to buy and install a dropper post on my hardtail as this is still considered an extra by all the bike companies for bikes priced below $2,000. One more reason to work with the people at a local bike shop. Money spent in your community is "recycled" many times whereas money spent at a mail order company or at a Wal-Mart immediately leaves the community. I support local jobs with my wallet.
These companies have benefited from their ability to get bank loans to finance new tooling and new factories. In the USA funding for small manufacturers dried up completely after 2008 and more than 2 million machinists in Ohio alone found themselves out on the street. Great way to cripple unions but at a high cost to workers and their familiers. I have had my company's tools made in Taiwan for the past 15 years and some made in China for the past 10 years. When I spent 6 months trying to find a company in the USA to manufacture a brand new high end tool there was no one to be found. All said they could not get loans from their bank and this was after working with them for 30 years.
Most of what is shown as made in the USA is actually made in Asia and then shipped to Mexico and assembled or boxed and then, with NAFTA, it can then be taken across the border and sold with a USA source of origin label.
This year I bought two Specialized e-bikes for road and a Specialized Stumpjumper full suspension MTB and this was after spending weeks looking at what was available to buy and the components supplied on the various bikes. It is far easier in the current situation to buy a bike that is already equipped with most of what you want instead of trying to find items on the Web. Even so I am having to buy and install a dropper post on my hardtail as this is still considered an extra by all the bike companies for bikes priced below $2,000. One more reason to work with the people at a local bike shop. Money spent in your community is "recycled" many times whereas money spent at a mail order company or at a Wal-Mart immediately leaves the community. I support local jobs with my wallet.
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i can relate to this. Some companies spend more on cool advertising and have a reputation to be sexy like you said. On one ride with some dudes a bunch of people came up to us bc one guy had a new BMC road machine and everyone was gushing. I had a pretty rare steel bike with Columbus zona tubing and no one cared
or ... buy some decals of their favorite brand and slap them on your cheaper, better Giant.
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#48
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Best R&D is with Specialized and it shows in the key patents they have held for the past 20 years for MTB components. Shimano is most likely having their parts made in China or Malaysia and not in Taiwan. Taiwan provides much higher quality for manufacturing but labor costs are higher as they do not use slave labor in any form. German companies have their products designed in Germany and often manufactured in Taiwan. Specialized is currently having its bike made in Taiwan which further reflects on the quality of this country's manufacturers.
These companies have benefited from their ability to get bank loans to finance new tooling and new factories. In the USA funding for small manufacturers dried up completely after 2008 and more than 2 million machinists in Ohio alone found themselves out on the street. Great way to cripple unions but at a high cost to workers and their familiers. I have had my company's tools made in Taiwan for the past 15 years and some made in China for the past 10 years. When I spent 6 months trying to find a company in the USA to manufacture a brand new high end tool there was no one to be found. All said they could not get loans from their bank and this was after working with them for 30 years.
Most of what is shown as made in the USA is actually made in Asia and then shipped to Mexico and assembled or boxed and then, with NAFTA, it can then be taken across the border and sold with a USA source of origin label.
This year I bought two Specialized e-bikes for road and a Specialized Stumpjumper full suspension MTB and this was after spending weeks looking at what was available to buy and the components supplied on the various bikes. It is far easier in the current situation to buy a bike that is already equipped with most of what you want instead of trying to find items on the Web. Even so I am having to buy and install a dropper post on my hardtail as this is still considered an extra by all the bike companies for bikes priced below $2,000. One more reason to work with the people at a local bike shop. Money spent in your community is "recycled" many times whereas money spent at a mail order company or at a Wal-Mart immediately leaves the community. I support local jobs with my wallet.
These companies have benefited from their ability to get bank loans to finance new tooling and new factories. In the USA funding for small manufacturers dried up completely after 2008 and more than 2 million machinists in Ohio alone found themselves out on the street. Great way to cripple unions but at a high cost to workers and their familiers. I have had my company's tools made in Taiwan for the past 15 years and some made in China for the past 10 years. When I spent 6 months trying to find a company in the USA to manufacture a brand new high end tool there was no one to be found. All said they could not get loans from their bank and this was after working with them for 30 years.
Most of what is shown as made in the USA is actually made in Asia and then shipped to Mexico and assembled or boxed and then, with NAFTA, it can then be taken across the border and sold with a USA source of origin label.
This year I bought two Specialized e-bikes for road and a Specialized Stumpjumper full suspension MTB and this was after spending weeks looking at what was available to buy and the components supplied on the various bikes. It is far easier in the current situation to buy a bike that is already equipped with most of what you want instead of trying to find items on the Web. Even so I am having to buy and install a dropper post on my hardtail as this is still considered an extra by all the bike companies for bikes priced below $2,000. One more reason to work with the people at a local bike shop. Money spent in your community is "recycled" many times whereas money spent at a mail order company or at a Wal-Mart immediately leaves the community. I support local jobs with my wallet.
It's almost a certainty that Specialized bikes are made on the mainland and shipped to TPE for paint
#49
Newbie
Thread Starter
After finally buying the TCR - I have ONE good reason that in the future I would pay extra for Trek or Specialized or BMC or Cervelo, etc
Here's the reason - if the local bike shop carries other brands - I would only buy from the local bike shop - because stuff goes wrong with mass produced bikes, and it's easy to have the seller of the bike close by.
The Giant TCR I purchased from a bike shop in a Chicago suburb, and now that there's a creak somewhere (BB? wheel spoke?), I need to drive 30 minutes to drop the bike off, then drive again to pick it up - total waste of time. The shop next to my home sell Specialized, and I would totally spend an extra few hundred to have quick access to the seller for quick fixes, etc.
Here's the reason - if the local bike shop carries other brands - I would only buy from the local bike shop - because stuff goes wrong with mass produced bikes, and it's easy to have the seller of the bike close by.
The Giant TCR I purchased from a bike shop in a Chicago suburb, and now that there's a creak somewhere (BB? wheel spoke?), I need to drive 30 minutes to drop the bike off, then drive again to pick it up - total waste of time. The shop next to my home sell Specialized, and I would totally spend an extra few hundred to have quick access to the seller for quick fixes, etc.