Giant Defy Advanced E+ Elite 2 Review

At the same time as the Liv Avail Advanced E+ Elite electric-assist road bike, 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 starting from €6500. We were able to get our hands on the entry-level Defy Advanced E+ Elite 2 version.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©DamienRosso/Giant

Apart from the sizes offered, 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 for the three models in the range are also uniform, with the Advanced E+ Elite 0 with Sram Red AXS and carbon wheels at €10,500, the Advanced E+ Elite 1 with Sram Force and carbon wheels at €8000, and the Advanced E+ Elite 2 with Sram Rival and aluminum wheels at €6500.

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

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

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

We tested the entry-level version of the Giant Defy Advanced E+ Elite, with a Sram Rival drivetrain, aluminum wheels, an aluminum handlebar and stem, as well as a D-Fuse seatpost that is slightly less advanced than on the two models with Sram Force and Sram Red. The result: the bike weighs 13.7 kg without pedals on the scale, which is 1.7 kg more than the top-of-the-range version. A difference that is barely noticeable in all situations where assistance is on, but more pronounced as soon as it automatically cuts out, above 25 km/h.

Reassuring road holding

On the road, the Defy Advanced E+ Elite quickly seems to shed its extra weight when the minimal electric assist level is engaged, whether starting off or riding in traffic. Accelerations are progressive and efficient, and never surprising to the point of making you feel like you’re losing control. And unlike some competing machines, this same assist becomes very progressive when you gradually reduce the intensity of your effort, which allows for a smooth ride when approaching slowdowns, roundabouts, or before stopping at a red light.

Out of the saddle, the bike feels heavy and a bit sluggish without assistance, especially with 32 mm tire width tires that don’t have the direct and sharp feel of narrower tires during steering movements. But here again, the first level of assistance seems to diminish this phenomenon by helping you gain speed easily. As for the first small hill encountered on the route, it immediately demonstrates the bike’s capabilities by encouraging you to increase motor assistance using the two Sram Blips placed on the handlebar close to the brake levers. The kick in the pants is exhilarating, but always progressive. It simply gives the sensation of having an extra hundred watts and being able to push the effort without hitting muscular limits. The effort is real if you really want to go all out, with a natural and smooth pedal stroke, and without feeling like you’re riding a moped. It’s just extra power, which makes it easier to conquer the most difficult slopes.

Thanks to a geometry very close to that of a race bike, the Defy Advanced E+ Elite corners perfectly on descents. It allows for very high speeds without giving the impression of understeering or being carried by its weight to the outside of curves. In these conditions, the 32 mm tires provide extra confidence with their very high grip. The machine is reassuring in sequences 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 beyond 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 tackle previously inaccessible routes, or to limit the consequences of fatigue. For a well-trained cyclist, it also allows for climbing without going into the red or feeling like you’re always on the rivet. In short, there are different ways to appreciate this type of bike, but this Elite 2 version differs from the higher-end models by its higher weight and less performing wheels. The result: the assistance cutting out at 25 km/h seems a bit frustrating. It always remains progressive as you approach the speed limit, but on a gently sloping climb ridden quickly, you feel the drag of the weight as soon as you try to exceed it.

This sensation is accentuated by the motor noise, or rather its whistling, which is quite audible, and which you feel cutting out or re-engaging when you are around the speed limit.

On flat sections ridden at high speed, there is obviously no more assistance, and the bike is not as free-rolling as a traditional road bike, mainly due to the wheels, tires, overall weight, and gearing offered.

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

Regarding autonomy, we observed a 27% loss of battery capacity on a 50 km ride with a little over 500 m of elevation gain, after testing the different assistance modes. A trained cyclist perfectly managing the assistance only when necessary can expect to ride close to 200 km with this bike, without undue suffering and without adding an extra battery.

Within this new range of electric-assist road bikes from Giant, this entry-level model is, in our opinion, more intended for those seeking discovery rather 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 better suited for faster rides, thanks to their superior acceleration capabilities beyond the assistance speed limit.

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