In this article, I’ll guide you through a comparison between the Specialized Roubaix and Giant Defy Advanced; both popular road bikes among cyclists.
I’ll walk through the Specialized Roubaix and Giant Defy Advanced models lineup, their specifications, and retail pricing (USD). I’ll explain the carbon fiber technology used (Specialized FACT vs Giant Advanced Composite), and unique frameset features for each bike.
The goal is to help you get a better understanding before you make your final purchasing decision.
| Specialized Roubaix | Giant Defy Advanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of bike | Endurance | Endurance |
| Frame material | FACT 11r carbon FACT 10r carbon | Advanced-SL carbon Advanced carbon |
| Frame sizes | 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61, 64 | XS, S, M, ML, L, XL |
| Groupset | Shimano, SRAM (12-speed) | Shimano, SRAM (12-speed) |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Cabling | External | Internal |
| Price (USD) | $5,200 to $14,250 | $2,800 to $6,500 |
Specialized Roubaix
The Specialized Roubaix is an endurance bike that got its name from the hardest one-day bike race; the Paris-Roubaix. It has a slightly relaxed frame geometry and wider tire clearance compared to the Tarmac.
Specialized sponsored teams will ride this model for the race instead of their usual Tarmac for its Future Shock suspension system. This technology helps make riding more comfortable when the pros ride across rough cobblestones at 30mph.
There are six models in the Specialized Roubaix lineup based on its groupset setup. It’s also available in S-Works frameset only.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Wheelset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-Works Roubaix | FACT 11r carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | Roval Alpinist CLX | $14,250 |
| Specialized Roubaix Pro | FACT 10r carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | Roval Alpinist CL | $8,700 |
| Specialized Roubaix Expert | FACT 10r carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | Roval C38 | $8,000 |
| Specialized Roubaix Comp | FACT 10r carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | DT Swiss R470 | $5,200 |
Specialized Roubaix vs others
Giant Defy Advanced
The Giant Defy Advanced is an endurance bike.
Unlike the Giant Propel Advanced and TCR Advanced, the Giant Defy is designed for you to go longer distances and be comfortable.
To achieve this, the Giant Defy has a more relaxed geometry with a shorter reach and higher stack than a similar size Giant TCR Advanced. The frame can take up to 700x35c tires.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Wheelset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1 | Advanced carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | Giant SLR 1 36 | $6,500 |
| Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 AXS | Advanced carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | Giant SLR 2 36 | $5,200 |
| Giant Defy Advanced Pro Di2 | Advanced carbon | Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) | Giant SLR 2 36 | $4,800 |
| Giant Defy Advanced 0 | Advanced carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | Giant P-R2 | $4,100 |
| Giant Defy Advanced 1 | Advanced carbon | Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) | Giant P-R2 | $3,900 |
| Giant Defy Advanced 2 | Advanced carbon | Shimano 105 (R7000) | Giant P-R2 | $2,800 |
Giant Defy Advanced vs others
Specialized vs Giant carbon fiber
Specialized FACT Carbon
Specialized FACT (Functional Advanced Composite Technology) is an advanced carbon fiber technology used in high-performance Specialized bicycles. It offers a lightweight yet strong frame construction with precise carbon layup, resulting in optimal strength-to-weight ratio and improved ride quality.
FACT carbon frames are engineered to efficiently transfer power, absorb road vibrations, and provide a comfortable riding experience. With continuous innovation and refinement, FACT Carbon demonstrates Specialized’s commitment to delivering top-notch performance and enhancing the overall cycling experience.
The carbon is available in three grades. The choice between FACT 12r, 11r, or 10r carbon depends on the bike model, your preferences, riding style, and budget.
- Specialized FACT 12r Carbon is the highest-grade carbon used by Specialized. Bikes (S-Works models) with frames made from FACT 12r carbon are the lightest and stiffest in the Specialized line-up. These frames are manufactured using the most advanced techniques and materials.
- Specialized FACT 11r Carbon used to be the highest-grade carbon until the S-Works Tarmac (SL5). Today, it’s the highest-grade carbon for the S-Works Roubaix.
- Specialized FACT 10r Carbon is two steps below 12r in the Specialized carbon hierarchy. While it doesn’t provide quite the same level of weight savings and stiffness as 12r, 10r frames are still very light and stiff, providing a high level of performance. FACT 10r carbon is used in all non S-Works models and is ideal for riders who want a balance of performance and value.
Giant Advanced Composite Carbon
Giant’s Advanced Composite Carbon is a proprietary carbon fiber technology used in constructing bicycle frames. It’s a high-quality composite material with carbon fibers embedded in a resin matrix.
Using Advanced Composite Carbon, Giant can design frames with specific performance characteristics tailored to different riding disciplines. The material offers excellent vibration-damping properties, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue on long rides. It also provides efficient power transfer, enabling riders to maximize their pedaling efficiency and accelerate easily.
The Giant Advanced Composite Carbon is available in standard and SL (Super Light) versions.
- Advanced SL represents the pinnacle of Giant’s carbon fiber engineering and construction. Advanced SL frames undergo additional optimization, utilizing a higher grade of carbon fiber and meticulous layup techniques. It’s found in Giant’s top-of-the-line bikes.
- Advanced is a step down from the top-tier Advanced SL carbon fiber, but it still offers an impressive balance of performance and value for money.
Frameset technologies and innovations
Specialized Roubaix and Giant Defy Advanced framesets incorporate advanced technologies to enhance their bikes’ performance and ride characteristics.
Here’s an overview of the technologies used in each bike model.
Specialized Roubaix
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| FACT carbon | Functional Advanced Composite Technology (FACT). A carbon fiber construction method that balances lightweight, stiffness, and compliance in Specialized bike frames. Available in two carbon grades; FACT 11r and 10r. A higher number indicates a higher grade of carbon. S-Works models use the FACT 11r carbon and Specialized Pro and Expert models use the FACT 10r carbon. |
| Future Shock | A suspension system designed for the Roubaix road bike to improve rider comfort and control by absorbing road shocks and vibrations, resulting in a smoother and more efficient ride. Located above the head tube, it offers up to 20mm of vertical travel to absorb road bumps and vibrations, enhancing rider comfort and reducing fatigue on rough terrains. |
| Rider-First Engineered™ | Rider-First Engineered™ is a design philosophy used by Specialized that ensures every frame size delivers the same predictable and responsive ride characteristics. This concept was first introduced with the 2015 Tarmac, and the idea has been incorporated into all models since. Instead of simply scaling frame sizes, Specialized takes into account that riders of different sizes have different weights, which are distributed differently. This means that each frame size experiences different forces. Therefore, each frame size is engineered independently with different carbon layups and tube dimensions, ensuring the optimal balance of rigidity, weight, and responsiveness for each size. In short, no matter what the frame size is, the ride quality and performance remain consistently excellent. |
| Win Tunnel | Specialized utilizes advanced tools and technologies to pursue aerodynamic excellence, such as the Win Tunnel, FreeFoil Shape Library, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Data Acquisition (DAQ) system. The goal is to optimize aerodynamic performance by conducting wind tunnel tests, developing new airfoil shapes, simulating fluid flow, and collecting real-world data to improve rider position and enhance overall performance. |
Giant Defy Advanced
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Advanced Composite Technology | Utilizes Giant’s High Performance Grade raw carbon material and Modified Monocoque Construction technique to create a custom frame material. This carbon composite offers a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, balancing lightweight performance and strength. |
| OverDrive 2 | Features advanced steerer tube technology with oversized headset bearings and a tapered steerer tube (1 1/2″ lower, 1 1/4″ upper). This design optimizes the front-end steering performance, resulting in superior steering stiffness, enhanced control, and precise handling. |
| Compact Road Design | Originating with the professional Team ONCE in the 1990s, Compact Road Design revolutionized high-performance road bikes. It involves a downward-sloping top tube, creating smaller front and rear triangles for a lighter, stiffer bike. The design also enables riders of all sizes to find a perfect fit and maintain optimal power transfer. |
Where to buy
Specialized shops
- Specialized online shops. Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States
- Specialized retailers. Use this tool to find your nearest Specialized retailers.
Giant retailers
- Giant retailers. Use this tool to find your nearest Giant retailers.
Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.
He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.