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Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 vs Specialized Aethos 2 Pro - SRAM Force AXS

Both are endurance bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.

The short answer

For a typical all-round rider the Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 comes out ahead (80% against 77%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.

Giant

Defy Advanced SL 1

80% for a typical rider

£7,199 at Brand website
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Specialized

Aethos 2 Pro - SRAM Force AXS

77% for a typical rider

£7,249 at Brand website
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What actually separates them

Price
The Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 is £50 cheaper — £7,199 against £7,249.
Weight
The Specialized Aethos 2 Pro - SRAM Force AXS is 0.7kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
Tyre clearance
The Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 takes 40mm tyres against 35mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.
Climbing gear
The Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 has the easier bottom gear (25 gear inches against 29), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
Mudguards
Only the Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 takes mudguards, which decides whether it can be your winter bike.

Side by side

Spec Defy Advanced SL 1 Aethos 2 Pro - SRAM Force AXS
Price £7,199 £7,249
Weight 7.4 kg 6.7 kg
Frame carbon carbon
Groupset SRAM Force AXS E1 12-speed SRAM Force AXS E1 2x12 electronic
Stack / reach 1.50 1.48
Tyre clearance 40 mm 35 mm
Lowest gear 25 in 29 in
Mudguard mounts Yes No
Comfort 64 47
Speed 68 83
Climbing 86 85
Value 0 0

Neither might be the right answer

This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.

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