General Cycling Discussion - Gary Fisher Nirvana or Trek 7300?

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=citypath&bike=Nirvana

http://trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7300.jsp

LBS has offered these as similar rides - this will be my first bike - which would you get?

I know everybody has their other preferences, but just between these two, which is better (same price)?

My girl friend was looking at those bikes as well. Trek and Gary Fisher are the same company, so I think the quality of each frame would be very comparable. The components, while not the exact same, are also very comparable. In the end, I liked the paint job better on the Nirvana, so I'd get that one. My GF is still deciding :rolleyes:

I like the Nirvana, but I would compare it to the 7300FX rather than the 7300.
http://trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7300fx.jsp
I had narrowed down my choices to these two bikes (7300FX and Nirvana) 6 months ago, and went with the trek because I did not want the front suspension of the nirvana.
1500 miles later I have not regretted my choice! In the end it all comes down to what you prefer.... Take them for a spin around the block and determine which one fits your needs best. These are two really good starter bikes.

I have outgrown my 7300FX and am now looking for a road bike...

I owned a 7300FX too and regretted it.

Take your time. Unless you are signed up for a charity race you have all the time in the world. Don't feel any request or question you ask the bike shop is unreasonable. If they want your money they will accomodate you. If not, tell them to p1ss off.

My problem is this - the 7300 is on backorder and I can get the Gary Fisher in 3 days - he doesn't have either in stock - but does offer a 30 day money back guarantee. I had originally liked the 7300 - but since I can't get it anytime soon - I was wondering if the Nirvana would be as good or better.

This is my first bike since my Schwinn Predator back in '82 (still got it). I am training for a triathlon on August 21 (I know I should be getting a road bike - but that's a whole other story in itself - I'll get one next year).

So I guess Gary Fisher is okay?

do NOT buy a bike before you test ride it.

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=citypath&bike=Nirvana

http://trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/citybike/7300.jsp

LBS has offered these as similar rides - this will be my first bike - which would you get?

I know everybody has their other preferences, but just between these two, which is better (same price)?

Shimano drive train, baby! I'd go with the Fisher. I go for that polished aluminum and black look too.

Unless you have a specific reason not to get a road bike (rather than a perception that a road bike is too difficult to ride when getting back on wheels), you might check out the Trek 1000 (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/1000.jsp). It's about a hundred dollars more than the hybrid, which, granted, is a lot if you have to watch what you spend, but that hundred dollars is less than what you will spend later for a road bike to replace the hybrid. Whatever you choose, make sure you test ride all the bikes you are interested in.

I agree with Prosody. Go for the Trek 1000. Probably much better choice.

I dunno about everyone else but I wouldent get the fisher. I know a couple people with fishers and they are constantly having to get them fixed for various reasons. I have read some bad things about the on www.epinions.com . However thats just me and my experiences on this matter are limited, so if anyone would like to enlighten, I would apreciate this.

[QUOTE=Bart5657]I dunno about everyone else but I wouldent get the fisher. I know a couple people with fishers and they are constantly having to get them fixed for various reasons. I have read some bad things about the on www.epinions.com . However thats just me and my experiences on this matter are limited, so if anyone would like to enlighten, I would apreciate this.[/QUOTE

Our shop sells GF, Trek and Specialized, we dont really see one of more brand coming back than another. Fisher and Trek are the same company and many of their bikes are essentially identical, so Trek should in theory have just as many problems as GF if the bikes are the same, right? Don't here a lot negative about Trek though...

If you get serious about road riding, you'll be wanting a real road bike in about a year, at most...see NYCommuter above...I was in your situation 3 years ago. I purchased a Gary Fisher Utopia to get back into cycling after a long layoff. The bike suited me just fine for a while and I have used it on back roads and gravel rails-to-trails and it came through like a champ. However, I felt the need for speed and was soon lusting after a road bike, which I bought midway through last season and it was the best buy I've ever made. Now, I fly! Well, I fly fast enough for an old fat guy. Now, I use the Fisher for early spring rides before all the crap is cleaned off the streets, with my wife for slower rides, on the trainer in the winter, and on easy gravel and dirt trails. Bottom line - if you want to ride only on the paved stuff, go for a road bike even if you have to stretch your budget a bit. In the long run, you'll save money and go faster and farther. Good luck on your search.

Thanks for everybody's input - and yes, I know I really want a road bike - but I'm buying this bike to ride with the wife (she has a Trek 7100). Once I determine that I like cycling (and how could I not) - then I will buy a road bike (with a better budget). But I really think to ride with my wife I should be riding a hybrid like she is. My wife probably will never be more than a casual 3-6 mile rider - if she catches the bug, we will then buy more bikes (is that a bad thing - vbg).

My luck is running out - you can't find any 20" Gary Fisher Nirvana's or 7300's - so I think it'll probably be the 7200.

There are lots of bikes at this price point... did you try Giant, Cannondale or Specialized?

Bianchi!

Two LBS's in the local area - one carries Specialized, but they only seem to have one guy in there and he's high all the time. The other carries Trek, Fisher, Lemond, and Klein - so in order to buy local - that's the direction I'm looking.

I think your reasoning is sound. It's good to ride with the SU, just be sure not to drop her! She'll appreciate it and it's fun to ride together at a comfortable pace. When you're riding alone goahead and hammeras much as you want. When you find the hybrid holding you back speed-wise, it'll be time to look for a road bike. If your wife follows you and gets a road bike too, great. If not, who cares? It's great having 2 bikes for different purposes.....just don't have the mindset to limit yourself to JUST 2....