... How To Fit Giant Defy Road Fenders?

[AndyBSG]

Pick up some mudguards at the weekend for my Defy and got the official Giant ones as I've read that finding ones to fit the Defy is a pain because of the limited clearance.

Tried fitting them over the weekend and just had a complete mare and could not work out how they go on(there's zero instructions).

On the front for example it seems to attach to the same bracket as the brake block which was fairly easy. Then there is a threaded eyelet near the bottom of the fork which it seems the supporting brackets attach to. Got one on 'OK'ish' but the other just would not screw through.

Think it may be a dodgy paint job which has covered the thread so may have to tap it out but don't want to do that until i'm sure that's really the problem!

When I look at the back bracket I can't see how it attaches to the bike? there's no screws on the rear bracket so it seems like it may actually attach to the quick release wheel spindles but that doesn't make sense because then it would come off each time I remove the wheel?

So, is there a standard method for fitting guards most road bikes? If so, anyone got a Youtube link?

If not, I'll post some pics when I get home

EDIT: Here are the fenders, picture actually shows me a fair bit but still can't work out how the rear fender bracket attaches at the bottom!

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/gea ... 592/54780/

[Dynamite_funk]

As far as I'm aware it doesn't actually attach. You use the rubber stopper and that rests on the seat tube

[Brucey]

you should have eyes on or near the dropouts, like this;



with most defy models

cheers

[foxyrider]

Which model Defy have you got? Up to 2 have all the eyelets and mount points but above that you may need P clips. You should have a threaded mount on the rear of the seat tube near your front mech clamp that the front of that guard bolts to.

It does sound like its just paint in the front fork eyelet - it should easily tap out. Our mechanics fit loads of these, not justy to Defy's but also stuff like Dolce's that have similar fit issues.

[AndyBSG]

Cheers for the pic Brucey, that helped.

I was looking for eyes on the edge of the dropout but after looking at your pic and going back to my bike at lunch I found out they're actually embedded in the dropouts themselves and are cunningly disguised by a little white plastic bung.

Will have another stab at putting them on at the weekend when I can nick/borrow my dads set of tappers

[AndyBSG]

.... and the saga of fitting these fenders continues!

After a long and sweaty ride yesterday I decided to try and fit them again based on Brucey's picture at the same time as I repaired a puncture and gave the bike a good clean.

Being a MAN I decided to do this in the cold and wind still wearing my sweat soaked lycra which slowly turned to ice water

Anyway, front one went on fine then the back one was mounted on the brake blocks and the arms fitted with no problem.

Only one simple thing left to do, fasten the end of the fender to the bike frame down near the very bottom about half way between the seat and the pedals. There's a nice little slot on the fender, a screw and a spacer. On the bike there's a little rubber bung inserted into the hole which is clearly designed for this purpose so I try to pull it out.

It won't budge, so I get some pliers and give it a yank All that does is tear the head off and I then spend the next 10 minutes trying to dig bits of this rubber bung out with no joy.

At this point hypothermia was setting in so I've left it ready for another attempt tonight. Only way I can really think of to get the rubber bung out is to either try and use a corkscrew on it)but I think that may be too big) or try to just drill a while in the middle of it so it can be pulled out?

[giant-in-a-trance]

Hi all
first post here and ive joined the site after finding this thread in a search.

i have a 2012 large defy4 and have just fitted the giant defy mudguards, however the the slot that screws in to the seat tube in about an inch to high, any chance one of you with these fitted could post a pic of where you have connected the main bracket to at the caliper, ive got mine here

is it in the right place?

[AndyBSG]

Not sure if it's the right place but it's the same place I've fitted mine and not had any problems with it!

Seen quite a few people saying that the slot which attaches to the seat post isn't positioned correctly but mine went in fine.

Is the 2012 Defy 4 the white one with red lettering or white with black lettering? I've got a white Defy 4 myself but think mines the 2013 so not sure if any pictures I post will have the seat post fitting in the same place but i'll post some pics anyway over the weekend.

[Brucey]

because the seat stays are angled differently on the various frame sizes, is it not the case that the mudguard (and/or the braze-on location on the seat tube) must vary with frame size? Hence the same mudguard might fit a 'medium' OK but not a 'large'.

cheers

[aebal]

Hi
Giant-in a trance, sorry to change the post but is that rust on your Defy? I have just bought a brand new Defy 2 and is this something I should keep an eye on. Once again I am sorry to change the subject but I am worried. sorry
tony

[AndyBSG]

because the seat stays are angled differently on the various frame sizes, is it not the case that the mudguard (and/or the braze-on location on the seat tube) must vary with frame size? Hence the same mudguard might fit a 'medium' OK but not a 'large'.

cheers

That could be it.

The mudguards only come in one size and the hole for the seat post fixing is actually a big long slot but I think mine ended up fitting right down near the bottom so I guess a slightly bigger frame would see it come down past the range of the slot.

Have to say that I wasn't overly impressed with the Fenders. It's a pain because the clearance on the Defy is so small that only a few fenders will fit it meaning most people will probably end up going with the official Giant one.

The actual fender itself is a pretty brittle plastic and because it's so narrow where the fittings go I can see the plastic either side soon snapping.

Mine have only been on a few weeks and already have one crack running through them which was caused when I had to make a very tight turn and the tip of my toe caught it as I cycled.

They'll probably last through the winter but I'm not expecting them to be around next winter!

[giant-in-a-trance]

Aebal-yes thats rust on the brake caliper but nothing to worry about as on this model is the cheaper tektro brakes which will not be on your model, I use it in all weather so the road salt gets in there. I have just ordered an ultegra 6800 groupset+wheels to go on it but may wait till spring before I fit it as I dont want to ruin it in the winter.

Mine is a large with black writing on white. I may drill the mudguard to fit it to the seat tube but didnt seem to cause any problems on todays ride so may leave it as it is.

[aebal]

Hi
Giant-in-a trance, thanks for your reply, once again sorry to interfere with your thread.
Tony

[NigelkStone]

Hi just a note...I have the same Defy (black with white writing) in a large frame and had exactly the same problem with fitting the rear fender; so drilled a new hole to facilitate fixing and appears to have solved the issue...thanks for the posts ALL - would have been lost without them

[giant-in-a-trance]

Nigel- that had crossed my mind to drill a hole as having unsecured its slapping about on to the seat tube every time i hit a bump, (which is often). Bike certainly comes home a lot cleaner with mudguards on.