My local bike shop also was trying to sell the 04 SX for the price of the 05, this year. I found another shop who had it for $480, so off to that shop I went. I had emailed the bike shop here about the discrepancy, and they just never responded at all. I totally thing the 04 was a better deal, for me anyway, since I didn't want shocks, etc. Otherwise, I'd have gone with a Specialized Sirrus, since i had one before and liked it (just no local dealers for that, and none on "clearance").