Which of these is best for me?

Hey everyone—first time poster, long‐time lurker! I’m 5’8″ with a 79 cm (31″) inseam and currently riding a 2009 Giant Defy 2 in size L. It’s just too big (I’m constantly over-reaching, saddle slammed, zero standover clearance), so I’m upgrading to a true medium.

Trek Alpha One 1.1 for $350, Giant Defy 5 M for $300, or Javelin Taurasi for $400 (OBO).

I’ve narrowed my choices to three used frames, all roughly 53–54 cm. My riding goals are steady 15–17 mph on 20–30 mi lakeside/road rides, with the ambition to push faster and farther. Did the MS150, 150 miles over two days and loved it. I’d love your opinions on which is most likely to fit and perform best for me:

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1. Trek Alpha One 1.1 (2015) – 54 cm – $350
   • Frame: 6061 alloy + carbon fork
   • Drivetrain: Shimano Claris 2×8 STI
   • Geo: 73° seat / 72° head, eTT ≈ 545 mm, standover ≈ 765 mm
   • Wheels/Weight: alloy rims, ~9.2 kg complete
   • Why it appeals: Sport-endurance geometry, carbon compliance up front, safe standover, wide 2×8 range, good mid-weight.

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1. Javelin Taurasi – 53 cm – $400
   • Frame: full carbon
   • Drivetrain: Shimano Ultegra 2×9
   • Geo: 73° seat / 72° head (Assisi spec), eTT ≈ 550 mm, standover ≈ 788 mm
   • Wheels/Weight: carbon, ~7.8 kg complete
   • Why it appeals: Lightest, race-leaning, high-end shifting—but very tight standover and aggressive fit.

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1. Giant Defy 5 (2014) – Medium (~53 cm) – $300
   • Frame: ALUXX alloy + carbon fork
   • Drivetrain: Shimano Claris/105 2×8
   • Geo: 73.5° seat / 72.5° head, eTT ≈ 545 mm, standover ≈ 777 mm
   • Wheels/Weight: alloy, ~10.5 kg complete
   • Why it appeals: Proven endurance fit, super comfortable on long rides, easy maintenance—at the expense of weight and fewer gears.

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My Fit Targets & What I’ve Measured
• Saddle height: ~697 mm BB→saddle (0.883×inseam)
• KOPS: 25–30 mm knee-over-spindle at 3 o’clock
• Reach: 635 mm (sternum→finger) → eTT + stem ≈ 635 mm
• Torso: 533 mm (hip→shoulder) → stack ≈ 550 mm for a 40° torso
• Standover: want ≤ 760 mm for 20–30 mm clearance

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Questions for the hive mind:
1. Fit: Which frame will be easiest to dial into my stack/reach/clearance targets?
2. Comfort vs. Performance: Would you sacrifice a bit of weight (Defy 5) for simpler maintenance, or go full-race carbon (Taurasi)?
3. Value: Which offers the best bang-for-buck and long-ride comfort at my level/speed goal?
4. Alternatives: Any other ~53–54 cm frames I should consider, new or used, that hit these fit/geo specs?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts—really appreciate any real-world feedback!