Trek and Giant

[iendicott]

Visited a LBS today and was advised that Trek is a subsidery of Giant. Is this correct ?

Thing is the Trek 2.3 is a much better spec over the Giant Defy Alliance with a better gear set for only £50 more so why buy the Giant ?

Ivan

 

[jay clock]

They are separate companies to my knowledge. The Trek does have 105 vs Tiagra on the Giant. To be honest my personal view is that the frames on bikes at this price range are not much better than the bikes £500 cheaper. Still aluminium. I have a trek 1.2 as a winter bike and I got it out today and it does not seem much slower than my £2000+ road bike.

 

[iendicott]

Jay are the frame a different alloy composite though on the £1k bike though. If not best thing is to buy the £500 bike and then upgrade gear set and wheels to bring it upto or better spec than £1k bike ?

 

[lazyfatgit]

Jay are the frame a different alloy composite though on the £1k bike though. If not best thing is to buy the £500 bike and then upgrade gear set and wheels to bring it upto or better spec than £1k bike ?

Even when a range of bikes share the same framesets, it's generally cheaper to buy a complete bike than to buy the cheaper one and upgrade, unless you happen to have a groupset and wheels lying in your shed, in which case you'd only need to bike a frame and forks.

 

[iendicott]

I think the wheels on the Trek are better as well, they are Bontrager and the Giant has Mavic CXP22's which to be honest I have never heard off.

 

[Mista Preston]

Visited a LBS today and was advised that Trek is a subsidery of Giant. Is this correct ?

Thing is the Trek 2.3 is a much better spec over the Giant Defy Alliance with a better gear set for only £50 more so why buy the Giant ?

Ivan

I maybe wrong but I think Giant actually supply frames to Trek and the likes?

 

[threefingerjoe]

IMO, there is nothing wrong with either bike, but, keep in mind, that Bontrager wheels are not made by Bontrager. Bontrager is the name on Trek's "house brand" wheels. As far as I can tell, they're good, but they are proprietary. If a freehub wears out, you may not be able to easily find a replacement. So, then you decide to replace the whole hub, and discover that because of an unusual spoke-count, that you can't find a replacement hub. I prefer to stick with generic or Shimano standard components.

Last I heard, Giant makes MOST of the aluminum frames for other manufacturers, but I can't say for sure that they make Trek's frames. My Trek aluminum frame is from Taiwan, and, if I remember correctly, a workmate's Giant is from China. But, whether or not they simply came from different manufacturing plants owned by the same company, I can't say.

 

[Steve Austin]

Trek and Giant are not connected in any way at all

 

[Fab Foodie]

Trek and Giant are not connected in any way at all

Agree.

Your bike shop is talking rot.
And don't worry about Mavic CXP22's, Mavic are one of the worlds, maybe even No 1 manufacturers of quality bicycle wheels and wheel componants. Watch the Tour de France or track racing and you'll see many. The CXP22 is a good solid rim, strong, each spoke hole has decent eyelets unlike many cheaper wheels, good braking surfaces and a wear indicator. Not the lightest rim on the block but equal or better than most that you'll find at your price range. A few years back I bought a Giant £1200 TCR with Ultegra hubs and CXP22 rims they're still going strong, just had them retensioned after 4 years use.

Both Trek and Giant make very good bikes, you'll not go wrong with either. Test ride them both and go with what fits and feels best for you.

 

[2Loose]

http://allanti.com/page.cfm?PageID=328

Some Trek bikes were made by Giant...but not all

 

[Mista Preston]

http://allanti.com/page.cfm?PageID=328

Some Trek bikes were made by Giant...but not all

good read that, nice find.

 

[iendicott]

Trek and Giant are not connected in any way at all

You might want to read the very good article 2Loose has posted before making that assumption.

 

[iendicott]

http://allanti.com/page.cfm?PageID=328

Some Trek bikes were made by Giant...but not all

Excellent find, well done !