Which endurance bike is the best: An expert guide

Mar 4, 2024 8 min

Which endurance bike is the best: An expert guide

Giant Defy vs. Specialized Roubaix vs. Canyon Endurace

The endurance scene has had an exciting September: three models were newly released last month, each brought to you by none other than the three giants of the bike industry: Canyon, Giant, and Specialized.

Each bike combines the latest technical innovations and tinkering from the three manufacturers, but which one suits you best? The Giant Defy Advanced SL0, the Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL8, or the new Canyon Endurace CFR? Shirin has closely examined the three models in our latest YouTube video and compared them to help you choose the right one. And we do it, too, in this blog post.

1. Geometry

Short Endurance 1x1 in advance: Endurance bikes are designed for long days in the saddle, combining high speed and comfort in equal measure. In theory, at least.

The new Roubaix, Endurace, and Defy Advanced are designed for fast riding but at different comfort levels. The Giant Defy manages the best balance between sportiness and comfort and offers a comfortable seating position without sacrificing speed and aerodynamics.

"The Roubaix suggests a sporty riding style and emphasizes performance, while the Canyon Endurace will still offer a comfortable riding position even on the longest rides." Anja Benson @buycycle

All three frames are carbon best balance between sportiness and comfort is a bit lighter. Speaking of weight...

2. Weight

The gold medal here definitely goes to Giant: With a frame weight of just 715 g, it is the lightest of the three models. How did Giant manage that? Quite simply, by staying true to their motto: Improving without complicating.

"The frame of the new Defy Advanced is kept minimalist, mounts for water bottles or mudguards are seamlessly integrated, and the design is sleek and streamlined." - Alice Huot @buycycle

In second place with a 734 g frame weight lands the Roubaix SL8. This is heavier than the Defy mainly due to the special Future Shock technology, which is integrated into the handlebars and offers numerous mounting options on the frame. This almost leads us to suspect an exceptionally light Gravel bike here...

The Canyon Endurace CFR is only another 4 g heavier and thus brings 738 g to the scale. A bit more weight, of course, but you also get a smart built-in storage compartment in the top tube, which we will discuss in more detail later.

3. Groupsets

All three bikes are equipped with high-end components, no question. On the Giant Defy Advanced SL0, you shift with an SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed system and the Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL 8.

On the Canyon Endurace CFR, on the other hand, you have the choice between a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed, an SRAM Red, and even the very first fully electronic Super Record groupset from Campagnolo, which is an absolute highlight in our eyes.

4. Comfort

Back to the essence: How comfortable are the three bikes? Each bike uses its genius features to stay comfortable, even on the longest rides. First off, here are the handlebar designs:

Specialized sets a new standard here with the Future Shock technology, a spring integrated into the front end that absorbs shocks during rough rides.

"The version 3.0 is now even more adaptable and offers the option to choose between a soft, medium or hard internal spring" - Anja Benson @buycycle

While the Future Shock technology provides compliance in the front, the Aftershock technology takes care of the rear. The drop clamp provides the Pavé seatpost with increased deflection potential to the rear and allows the direction and extent of the deflection to be precisely controlled. This provides optimal shock absorption without unwanted bobbing in the saddle.

The only drawback to this impressive feature? Unfortunately, there is no seamless cable routing on the Roubaix due to the Future Shock technology. But that's about it.

Canyon, meanwhile, provides more comfort with a customizable aero cockpit. The handlebar can be slimmer by up to 40 mm, and its height can also be reduced by up to 15 mm. So it's up to you whether you want to increase aerodynamics and speed with a narrow and low position or ride with a broad and high setup for more comfort.

"Regarding aerodynamics, Canyon has equipped the Endurace with seamless cable routing, improving the bike's elegant overall appearance." - Alice Huot @buycycle

For even more comfort, the patented carbon Seatpost in leaf spring design reacts flexibly to the ground and makes even the bumpiest trails pleasant thanks to 20 mm of suspension.

However, the highlight of the new model is the top tube storage compartment integrated into the frame, which offers enough space for spare parts or snacks. The tool bag effortlessly fits a Canyon 3-in-1 mini tool, a CO2 cartridge, and tire levers, and you know us well enough to know how much we always encourage you to have these items on every ride.

Back to comfort: Giant has also tweaked something on the Seatpost to increase comfort. The clever design of the new D-Fuse technology significantly reduces any vibration and provides a slight flex of up to 7 mm.

The same technology has also been integrated into the handlebar, whose D-shaped design aims to improve compliance to the ground on the one hand while increasing stiffness for sprints or climbing sessions. Last but not least, the shift cables and hydraulic hoses are led under the stem for extra aerodynamics and a sleeker design.

5. Wheels & tires

The current trend in the industry seems to be equipping, endurance bikes with one or the other gravel features, and this is also noticeable in the tire clearances of the three bikes that are discussed here. With the Canyon Endurace CFR you get 35 mm, with the Giant Defy Advanced SL 0 38 mm and with the new Roubaix a whole 40 mm of tire clearance.

All three are thus also suitable for rougher and Endurance-foreign terrain as soon as you change the wheelsets. These are pretty nice on all three models, even in the standard versions: The Canyon is equipped with DT Swiss ERC 1100 Dicut wheels with 30 mm tires the Giant comes with CADEX 36 Disc Carbon wheels and 32mm tubeless tires, and on the Specialized we've got Roval Terra CLX II wheels and 32 mm tires.

6. Price

The cheapest of the three is the Canyon Endurace CFR, whose price starts at 9,499 euros, depending on the version. But it is worth spending 500 euros more cause then you get the Endurance CFR WRL, including the electronic Super Record group.

"The Endurace is followed by the Giant Defy SL 0 for €11,999 and the Specialized Roubaix SL 8 closes the list with the highest price of €14,000." - Anja Benson @buycycle

However, all manufacturers also offer somewhat cheaper versions of the models, which have less sophisticated components.

7. Summary

So far, so good: But which of these bikes suits you best? If you want to break speed records, the Canyon Endurace CFR is perfect. Its adjustable cockpit perfectly transitions from an aggressive road bike to a more forgiving endurance bike. And thanks to the storage space in the top tube, you'll be ready for any emergency on the track.

The Giant Defy is the perfect companion for true marathon riders who sit in the saddle for a long time and seek an ideal balance between comfort and speed. The D-Fuse technology and the lightweight frame offer you precisely that. Reaching for the Roubaix is best if you want to keep your options open in gravel terrains.

The high tire clearance and the revolutionary shock technology make the new Roubaix a versatile bike, which performs both on tarmac and off-road, even bikepacking is possible thanks to the numerous mounting options.

These bikes offer exceptionally low weight, innovative features, and ideal comfort. These features can also be found in the older models, and you can find them safely, quickly, and easily (and much cheaper) on buycycle.com.

Among the endurance bikes, you will indeed find the perfect one for you. Or you can get the right seed money for your brand new bike by listing your old bike for sale on buycyle!

For questions about the right Endurance bike you can always reach out to our team, and for everything else around the topic of bikes it's best to stick around on the blog a little longer. For now, though, we wish you, as always, Happy browsing and cycling!

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