Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 vs Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

136 facts in comparison

Based on 115 Reddit opinions. Pro 2Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 leads by 21 points.

115 opinions

Pro 2 leads by 21pts

Reddit's Pick

84%

B+

Based on

94 Redditors

Winner

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2

~$30

49 opinions

tldr; Reddit overwhelmingly recommends the Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2. With 89% positive sentiment across 94 mentions, this is a clear community favorite.

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63%

Based on

113 Redditors

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

~$26.99

66 opinions

tldr; The race bike. Lightweight, aero, pro-level.

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⚡COM

🔧FRA

📐FIT

⭐VER

⭐VAL

Points

Score by Category

Components

100%0%

Frame Quality

—100%

Fit & Sizing

0%100%

Versatility

100%—

Value

80%12%

Why is S-Works Tarmac SL8 better than Advanced Pro 2?

Race bike
Ultra light
Aero

Based on 207 Reddit opinions

Clear Winner

Reddit prefers the Pro 2Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2

Winning by 21 points (84% vs 63%)

Better price

Better value

Better tire clearance

High confidence (207 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 207 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Pro 2

8.4/10

94 mentions

Tarmac SL8

6.3/10

113 mentions

REPUTATION

Pro 210.0/10

Tarmac SL8N/A

COMFORT

Pro 210.0/10

Tarmac SL8N/A

SIMPLICITY

Pro 210.0/10

Tarmac SL8N/A

PRICE

Pro 25.7/10

Tarmac SL85.0/10

WEIGHT

Pro 210.0/10

Tarmac SL810.0/10

DESIGN

Pro 210.0/10

Tarmac SL8N/A

⚔️

Head to Head

Topic	Pro 2	Tarmac SL8
Reputation	100%	N/A
Comfort	100%	N/A
Simplicity	100%	N/A
Price	57%	50%
Weight	100%	100%
Design	100%	N/A
Components	100%	0%
Setup	100%	N/A
Value	80%	12%
Reliability	100%	N/A
Sportiness	100%	N/A
Tire Clearance	100%	50%
Speed	100%	50%
Future Proofing	100%	N/A
Handling	100%	N/A
Versatility	100%	N/A
Gearing	0%	0%
Brakes	0%	100%
Tires	0%	N/A
Climbing	100%	N/A
Stability	100%	N/A
Geometry	100%	N/A
Fit	0%	100%
Size	0%	N/A
Bottom Bracket	0%	N/A
Paint	100%	N/A
Wheelset	100%	N/A
Performance	100%	N/A
Frame	N/A	100%
Authenticity	N/A	0%
Stiffness	N/A	100%
Age	N/A	0%
Tech	N/A	0%
Maintenance	N/A	0%
Cost	N/A	0%
Suitability	N/A	0%
Riding Style	N/A	50%
Groupset	N/A	50%
Materials	N/A	0%
Aerodynamics	N/A	33%
Warranty	N/A	100%
Drivetrain	N/A	100%
Equipment	N/A	100%
Adjustability	N/A	0%
Build Quality	N/A	100%
Resale Value	N/A	100%
Paint Job	N/A	100%
Support	N/A	100%

Category Wins

Pro 2: 21|Tarmac SL8: 14

Head to Head

Pro 2: 21|Tarmac SL8: 14

ReputationPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

ComfortPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

SimplicityPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

PricePro 2

Pro 257%

Tarmac SL850%

Weight

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8100%

DesignPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

ComponentsPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL80%

SetupPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

ValuePro 2

Pro 280%

Tarmac SL812%

ReliabilityPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

SportinessPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

Tire ClearancePro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL850%

SpeedPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL850%

Future ProofingPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

HandlingPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

VersatilityPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

Gearing

Pro 20%

Tarmac SL80%

BrakesTarmac SL8

Pro 20%

Tarmac SL8100%

Tires

Pro 20%

Tarmac SL8N/A

ClimbingPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

StabilityPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

GeometryPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

FitTarmac SL8

Pro 20%

Tarmac SL8100%

Size

Pro 20%

Tarmac SL8N/A

Bottom Bracket

Pro 20%

Tarmac SL8N/A

PaintPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

WheelsetPro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

PerformancePro 2

Pro 2100%

Tarmac SL8N/A

FrameTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

Authenticity

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

StiffnessTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

Age

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

Tech

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

Maintenance

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

Cost

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

Suitability

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

Riding StyleTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL850%

GroupsetTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL850%

Materials

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

AerodynamicsTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL833%

WarrantyTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

DrivetrainTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

EquipmentTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

Adjustability

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL80%

Build QualityTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

Resale ValueTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

Paint JobTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

SupportTarmac SL8

Pro 2N/A

Tarmac SL8100%

Pro 2

84%

63%

Tarmac SL8

Pro 284%

Tarmac SL863%

Clear winner - Pro 2 leads by 21 points

Key Specs

Spec	Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2	Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8
Frame Material	Advanced-grade composite, disc	S-Works Tarmac SL8 FACT 12r Carbon
Fork Material	Advanced SL-grade composite, full-composite OverDrive Aero steerer, disc	—
Groupset	Shimano 105 2x12	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red eTap AXS (with power meter)
Brake Type	Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes	—
Tire Clearance	Up to 38mm	Up to 32mm

Key Highlights

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2Winner

Solid community reputation

Frequently recommended

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

🏆 Race bike

🪶 Ultra light

💨 Aero

💸 Very expensive

Some users report issues (25% negative)

Topic Battles

Pro 2: 3|Tied: 0|Tarmac SL8: 2

⚡Components

Pro 2 wins

Pro 2

100%

Tarmac SL8

🔧Frame Quality

Tarmac SL8 wins

Pro 2

—

Tarmac SL8

100%

📐Fit & Sizing

Tarmac SL8 wins

Pro 2

Tarmac SL8

100%

⭐Versatility

Pro 2 wins

Pro 2

100%

Tarmac SL8

—

⭐Value

Pro 2 wins

Pro 2

80%

Tarmac SL8

12%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2

Best Praise

+4 pts

“Giant Defy Advanced will take 38mm tyres. That's an endurance road frame. If you need more clearance then the Revolt can do double duty. Have a spare wheelset - I ran 28mm GP5000s on the road wheels and 38mm GravelKing SK on the gravel wheels. Until this model year the two bikes were identical at the front end geometry wise.”

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Top Criticism

+2 pts

“I think the last year the Defy 2 had rim brakes was 2015. It’s overpriced by about £150”

r/whichbike

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3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

Best Praise

+6 pts

“My god, a lot of low ballers here. Someone said that’s a 1000$ bike. Hahahahahaha. Anyway, that’s close to 2k$ value. Regardless if it’s “old”, it’s still a modern frame, S-Works at that and it has Di2. ”

r/whichbike

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Top Criticism

+5 pts

“This is a bike from the mid late 2000s, hard to say exactly which year. Even as an S-Works, this is an old ass triathlon bike and is worth nowhere near $1200. Seller must have a great dealer. I concur with the other poster, around $300 is probably reasonable.”

r/whichbike

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3 more quotes available below

Sentiment Over Time

Pro 2

Tarmac SL8

📈Historical Price Data

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2

All-time low: $27.04(2025-02)

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

All-time low!

Which is Better?

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 Wins

84%

63%

SL8

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 leads by 21 points based on 207 Reddit opinions.

Why Pro 2Winner

Better Value for Money (80% vs 12%)

Why Tarmac SL8

🏆 Race bike
🪶 Ultra light

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

47%Positive

Positive

47%

Neutral

48%

Negative

Based on 94 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

34%Positive

Positive

34%

Neutral

41%

Negative

25%

Based on 113 Reddit opinions

Specification Comparison

Spec	Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2	Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8
Frame Material	Advanced-grade composite, disc	S-Works Tarmac SL8 FACT 12r Carbon
Fork Material	Advanced SL-grade composite, full-composite OverDrive Aero steerer, disc	—
Groupset	Shimano 105 2x12	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red eTap AXS (with power meter)
Brake Type	Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes	—
Tire Clearance	Up to 38mm	Up to 32mm
Wheelset	Giant SLR 2 36 Carbon Disc WheelSystem	Roval Rapide CLX II tubeless-ready
Brand	Easybikeparts	XOTORQ
Manufacturer	Easybikeparts	XOTORQ
Color	Silver	Various
Weight	0.110231131 pounds	Approximately 6.62 kg (14.6 lbs) for a complete bike (size 52cm, Dura-Ace Di2 build)
Bottom Bracket	—	Threaded BB
Cockpit	—	Roval Rapide Cockpit (integrated bar/stem)
Height	—	Frame sizes vary; tire clearance up to 32mm

Feature Checklist

Pro 2: 1|Tarmac SL8: 3

Feature	Pro 2	Tarmac SL8
Easy to install with minimal downtime
Race bike
Ultra light
Very expensive
Made from durable materials for long-lasting performance
【Material Premium】: This bike water bottle cage is built to last. The sturdy construction not only withstands daily wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting performance for intense cycling adventures, but also maintains a sleek appearance. It's a solid option for anyone who wants to stay hydrated while cycling. Enhance your riding experience with our bike cup holder
Perfect Fit for Giant Defy Series: Specifically designed to seamlessly replace headset bearings in the Giant Defy models, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance.
【Lightweight & Practical】: This bike drink holder is so light that you can't even feel its weight while driving. The ideal bottle holder for your bicycle. What's mor, the dirt is easy to remove and the smooth surface design will not leave scratch on your cup

Features extracted from Reddit highlights and enrichment data

⚔️Head to Head

Metric	Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2	Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8
Reddit Score	84%	63%
Mentions	94	113
Sentiment	+ 44- 5	+ 38- 28

Where to Buy

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2

Price unavailableCheck prices

All-time low was $27.04 on 2025-02

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

Price unavailableCheck prices

All-time low price!

Prices may vary. We may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2Check prices Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8Check prices

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 or Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8?

Based on 207 Reddit comments, Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 is the preferred choice with 84% positive sentiment vs Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8's 63%. Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 leads by 21 percentage points.

Should I buy Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 or Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8?

If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 has stronger approval ratings (84% vs 63%). However, Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.

What do Redditors love about Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2?

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 has 94 mentions on Reddit with 84% positive sentiment. Users consistently recommend it based on real ownership experiences.

What do Redditors say about Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8?

Reddit users highlight: Race bike. Ultra light. Aero. With 113 mentions and 63% approval, it remains a popular alternative.

How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?

This comparison analyzed 207 Reddit comments: 94 about Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 and 113 about Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8. Data was sourced from Which Bike community discussions.

How accurate are these ratings?

Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.

Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?

Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

115 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/26/2026

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