Is this a Giant Defy 3, 2012? Should I be suspicious?

Eoin_Eamon

Hiya,

I've found someone who's selling a 2012 Giant Defy 3 for €650 (said to have bought new for €829). I've checked several websites to confirm the model but haven't seen any with the exact same colours and paint colours.

He's only had the bike for 4 weeks and says he's lost the receipt and selling it due to back problems.

As I've never spent this much on a bike I want to make sure I'm not being misled or purchasing something deffective. What should I look for when I check it out?

The paint scheme not matching up is cause for concern because it's common to counterfeit tennis racquets by putting a top-end paint job on a shoddy ring and selling it on. Not sure if it happens with bikes as well.

I'd really appreciate any advice or guidance as I'm eager to start riding again.

http://www.donedeal.ie/donedeal/classifieds/viewFullPhoto.jsp?cid=10870067&ad=3194116&s3=true

SachaJ

Giant Defy 4 Compact 2011?
http://vccycles.com/road-bikes/204-giant-defy-4-compact.html
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.4.compact/7842/45449/

lgk

Get the spec/component list of both the 2011 and 2012. Compare the components actually on the bike.

Prices for a lot of components increased for 2012 models, so many brands dropped the spec of their 2012 bikes to keep them in the same price brackets. So a 2011 might actually be a better deal.

Lumen

Nobody would fake a Defy. Pinarello Dogma? Sure. Giant Defy? Not likely.

Eoin_Eamon

Cheers Lumen, that does make sense. ...if you're going to fake a bike, do it for €2500, not €500.

I'm more worried about being misled about the model as I'm not at all familiar with Giants. Just trying to work out if €650 is a fair price for this.

Seve OB

4 weeks seems quite a short time to develop back problems and decied to give up on the bike!

maybe to give the benefit of the doubt, even though he has lost the receipt, ask him where he bought the bike and you could determine from there how genuine it is

as for not counterfiting a cheaper bike, i would think that any bike is counterfitable, did you not see the show on TV3 last night!!!

dave_o_brien

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-giant-defy-4-triple-11-40890

Looks exactly like a 2011 Giant Defy 4, £550 (UK price), around €675 new here last year. The frames changed slightly from 2011 to 2012, especially around the head tube. Now, that donedeal photo is not good enough to definitively say that it is not a 2012 model, but it certainly doesn't look it. Also be aware that Giant supply the Irish and UK market with a limited colour range for specific model years; ie, this years Defy 3 is white and black. On some of their models, they offer a choice (their female Escape 3 came in a nice black or an unusual olive, iirc), but I don't believe an option was offered on the 2012 Defy 3.So if that is a 2012 Giant Defy 3, it wasn't bought in Ireland or the UK.

It's far, far more likely to be a 2011 Giant Defy 4.

manwithaplan

Of course there's every chance that some shops were still selling the 2011 model up to recently. He may believe it's a 2012 model himself.

cassette50

I have the Giant Defy 3 2012- it's white/black and a slightly different shape to the model in the posted picture.

dave_o_brien

manwithaplan wrote: »

Of course there's every chance that some shops were still selling the 2011 model up to recently. He may believe it's a 2012 model himself.

Oh yeah, absolutely, I should have said that. It's been a while since I was working in a shop (September), but it was common to have a few models lying around from a previous year. It is very possible that he could have bought it new and recently. However, IF it is a shop bought, new, 2011 Defy 4, he either got ripped off or didn't pay €829. That's where my scepticism radar starts beeping.

mp31

Eoin_Eamon wrote: »

http://www.donedeal.ie/donedeal/classifieds/viewFullPhoto.jsp?cid=10870067&ad=3194116&s3=true

IMO that's a Defy 2011.

The new 2012 models have the seatstays joining up with the top tube at the back whereas the old models they join the seat tube a inch or so below the top tube.

See this pic for the new 2012 Defy:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.4.compact/9317/49824/

If you can get to Cycle Superstore then check out the Defy in the shop to make sure yourself.

Or buy this (if it's your size):

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/36383/Giant_Defy_2_Bike_2011

iregk

Giant's also have the model number on the frame. So if you see it you will notice it says 4 or 4.0 on it as opposed to 3.

I'd agree as well that it is a 2011 Defy 4. The 2012 frame is shaped differently and looks more like the SCR's from a couple of years back.

Zovelo

Yep, looks like a 2011 Defy 3 to me too.
This being the case, he might be deliberately misleading you to get more cash or he might actually not realise he's got the model and price wrong, in which case you have to wonder where he got the bike from. I'm pretty sure I'd remember the price I paid for a bike 4 weeks ago even if I did lose the receipt and forget which model it was. Hmmm...

mp31

If you like the bike and want to buy it then evidence of ownership is the main thing you need to ascertain from the seller (IMO).

If he has no receipt then how do you know he's the owner.

Ask him verify the purchase from the bike shop by way of another receipt or some sort of written document that has the shops details etc. If it's an online purchase then a purchase order would do I guess. You could also check with the shop yourself just to be sure.

That way if PC plod comes knocking on your door to retrieve a stolen bike then at least you have something to show them.

wendell borton

It's a 2011 defy 4, got the triple last year new for under €700.

Lsc

Looks like 2011 as well

Eoin_Eamon

Thanks for the comments.

The seller seemed a bit off to me when contacting him so I ended up not even seeing the bike.

I found something much better in the end, with a receipt, etc.