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Five Giant Bikes: More performance for your money

By Bruce Lin

Published

Giant has the distinction of being the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, selling over six million bikes annually. Few can match Giant’s production capabilities or its long history of cycling innovation. This gives it a few advantages in the bike marketplace. It’s capable of producing entry- to mid-level bikes that are at the forefront of cycling design, equipped with good componentry, and more affordable than the competition.

Affordable Giant Road Cyclocross Gravel Mountain BikesI regularly test out new bikes from different brands. But if the time comes for me to leave the cycling industry and purchase bikes with my own hard-earned money, I’ll choose Giant bikes. With Giant, I will get the components and performance I need at a price I can stomach. 

The five Giant bikes presented here are all budget-friendly, hovering around $2,000 or less, and they offer high-quality frames and solid component builds. Because of their incredible value, Giant bikes are a perfect choice for any cyclist looking to get the most performance for their money.

Note: Our inventory at The Pro’s Closet moves fast and is constantly changing. But we list dozens of new bikes every day. If a bike featured here has sold out or you’re interested in other Giant Bicycles, check out our entire Giant collection for more.

Road

TCR Advanced - $1,731.99

The TCR is a cycling icon. It was the first road bike to introduce modern compact geometry and it has been raced by some of the world's best riders. It’s an all-rounder that’s lightweight, stiff, and ultra-efficient. It’s a bike for riders that want to maximize their speed and performance out on the road.

Used Giant TCR Advanced Road BikeThis TCR Advanced 1 Disc KOM is race-ready with a carbon frame and Shimano Ultegra 8000 disc group. Shimano Ultegra is crisp-feeling, high-end drivetrain and an incredible value on a bike under $2,000.

See all Giant TCR models.

Defy Advanced 1 - $2,139.99

The Defy is an endurance road bike designed to be comfortable enough for all-day adventures and a variety of road surfaces. Even with the smooth ride, it still offers fast handling and enough stiffness for quick accelerations. It’s seen race action at rough one-day classics like Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. It is perfect for riders who want to put in huge miles in the saddle, day after day. 

Giant Defy bike

This 2018 Defy Advanced 1 is a great entry-level carbon endurance bike. It’s equipped with a Shimano Ultegra and 105 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes.

See all Giant Defy models.

Cyclocross / Gravel

TCX Advanced Pro 2 - $2,032.99

The TCX is a multi-purpose cyclocross bike that can handle everything from elbow-to-elbow racing to wide-open dirt and gravel roads. It’s designed to deliver agile handling on mixed terrain with race-proven geometry and built-in compliance. The TCX will satisfy riders looking for off-road capability, cyclocross racing, or gravel exploration. 

Giant TCX bike

This 2018 TCX Advanced Pro 2 uses a lightweight carbon frame paired with a SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain and a wide-range 11-42t cassette. The Zipp 30 Course wheels are tubeless-ready so riders can enjoy the advantages of tubeless tires right out of the box.

See all Giant TCX models.

Mountain

Trance 29 2 - $2,099.99

The next-generation Trance 29 is a highly capable short-travel trail bike with a progressive design. It combines long, low, slack geometry with 29er wheels, 115mm of rear travel, and a 130mm fork to produce a bike that is extremely capable on both steep climbs and rowdy descents. It’s a bike for new-school riders who want to have fun and pedal hard on the same ride.

Used Giant Trance 29 Mountain BikeThis Trance 29 2 is a great entry-level full-suspension bike with a rugged aluminum frame, FOX Rhythm series suspension, and a wide-range 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain.

See all Giant Trance models.

XTC Advanced+ 2 - $2062.99

The XTC is a hardtail built for big adventures. In 27.5+ trim, it has high-volume tires for confident handling, increased traction, and more comfort on loose and rough singletrack. Sliding dropouts even allow riders to convert it to a singlespeed. The XTC is incredibly versatile and can handle everything from cross-country racing to multi-day backpacking adventures.

Used Giant XTC Advanced 27.5+ mountain bikeThis XTC Advanced+ 2 uses SRAM's reliable and proven NX 1x drivetrain, the popular 120mm RockShox Reba fork, and large 3.0” Schwalbe tires. With a carbon frame and relaxed geometry, it’s lightweight, comfortable, and capable.

See all Giant XTC models.

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