Hybrid Bicycles - Coda Elite vs. Trek 7.6 vs. Specialized Sirrus Comp

I'd like a commuter bike that is as close to a road bike as possible. I would like to take 50 mile rides on it and also ride it four miles each way to work (and around town). I'm over 50 and don't like leaning over the handlebars of a typical road bike any more. I've narrowed down my choices to Coda Elite (which can be had for $500 right now at bicycleshack.com) or Trek 7.6 or Specialized Sirrus Comp (the latter two at $1000 or more from LBS). Since the price difference is so great, is worth getting the Coda Elite even though it's not from LBS? Anyone ridden the three? Help and thanks.

bicycleshack.com is a K.C. MO bike shop that carries Fuji. Are you sure about the link....and the $500? It would be a steal at that price.

bicycleshack.com is a K.C. MO bike shop that carries Fuji. Are you sure about the link....and the $500? It would be a steal at that price.

I agree and was puzzled by the price. But I emailed them and they confirmed it.

^^^Seriously? I really don't need another bike,but I'd def snatch up a Coda Elite for that price. Link? I can't find anything on their site.

I ride a 2009 Jamis Coda Comp and would think if you can get an Coda Elite for $500 you should grab it. I paid $670 delivered for my Comp from Bicycle Bananas. If that Coda Elite is a 2009 in closeout all the better as the Coda line had a slight component and price downgrade for 2010.

Bicycleshack.com appears to be a scam. Someone recently checked into it and their address is listed as being somewhere in Britain (yet they can fedex you a bike for $50 apparently), and the address is real, but the scooter shop that occupies that address has never heard of the website. Very fishy. Do they make you pay by Western Union? Their deals look awesome though. I mean a full LHT for $650?

There was some discussion of that dealer here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?665465-Jamis-Aurora-opinions&p=11175505&highlight=

so, yes, caution would appear to be warranted.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?665465-Jamis-Aurora-opinions&highlight=jamis+aurora+elite&p=11185706#post11185706




edit: whoops, looks like someone's faster at searching than I am.

Here's the full link: http://www.bikeshacksonline.com/product/JACE/Jamis-Coda-Elite.html?meta=GBASE&metacpg=JACE
Should I beware of this place?

OK, the Coda is a scam. Damn. Any recommendations on the Trek 7.6 vs. Specialized Sirrus Comp or Expert? Here are the prices at my local bike shop:

Pro model is $1899 but not available until mid-Sept. $100 off
Expert model is $1349 and mid-Sept.$75 off
Comp is in stock at Specialized now and $879 $50 off

Trek is $1099.

thanks,

Not saying the coda is a bad bike (haven't had one, so I don't know anything about it), just that you'll need to look elsewhere if you want to get one.

The Trek and Sirrus offerings both have Tiagra-level road gears. The Jamis, while quite sexy (and steel to boot), has Deore XT MTB gearing. If you want a flat-bar road bike then the first two are your choices - now go test ride them!

but isn't XT a similar level to Tiagra? or am I remembering wrongly?

DAMMIT. Frakking scammers.

XT is equal to Ultegra. My old Elite(size too small or I'd still have it) weighed 24lbs 4 oz,pretty light for steel + discs. With the tall gearing and lowered stem,it most def was a flat bar road bike.

You can get the 2009 Jamis Coda Elite for $800 delivered from Bicycle Bananas. I bought my 2009 Jamis Coda Comp from them and they are great for closeout bikes. All I had to do is put the seat, pedals and handlebars on and it was ready to ride. http://www.bicyclebananasstore.com/2009_Jamis_Coda_Elite_p/ja09_codaelite.htm (http://www.bicyclebananasstore.com/2009_Jamis_Coda_Elite_p/ja09_codaelite.htm)


The Trek and Sirrus offerings both have Tiagra-level road gears. The Jamis, while quite sexy (and steel to boot), has Deore XT MTB gearing. If you want a flat-bar road bike then the first two are your choices - now go test ride them!

Before you say the Jamis Coda Elite has mountain bike gearing you had better check the specs for the 2009. The crankset is 50/39/30 and cassette is 9-speed 11-32. Not even close to mountain bike gearing. It has a large gear range with a good top end and low gearing for hill climbing.

The Trek FX 7.6 and Specialized Sirrus Comp and Expert actually have more limited gearing at 50/39/30 and 11-26 or 28. The derailleurs also appear to be better on the 2009 Jamis Coda Elite (R453-A, a Deore XT equivalent, front and Deore XT rear) than either the Trek FX 7.6 (Deore front and Tiagra rear), or Specialized Sirrus Comp (Tiagra front and rear) or Expert (Tiagra front and 105 rear).

kclark84, I'd even think about the 2009 Jamis Coda Comp for $670 delivered and use what you have saved for accessories and a dinner or two out. That bike listed for $950.

I've just gone through this decision (buying a flat-barred bike that's as close to a roadbike as possible), and ended up with the 2010 Sirrus Comp, which I love.
Didn't look at the Jamis, but did test the 7.6FX, Sirrus Comp, and also Giant Rapid 1. Came down to the latter two (both carried by my LBS), Sirrus just fit me better than the Giant.
FWIW, in my view the Giant is the most 'road bike' like of the three I tried, then the Sirrus (close), followed by the Trek.
I'd say they're all very good bikes -- choice should come down to fit, and price of course to some extent. Component differences? Meh! They wear out; they all work well these days at or above a certain level (e.g. Tiagra [or Deore]) -- not determinative in my view (ymmv).

Before you say the Jamis Coda Elite has mountain bike gearing you had better check the specs for the 2009. The crankset is 50/39/30 and cassette is 9-speed 11-32. Not even close to mountain bike gearing. It has a large gear range with a good top end and low gearing for hill climbing.
Be that as it may, Deore XT is listed under Shimano's MTB (http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/mountain/deore_xt.html) offerings where as Tiagra components are definitely for road bikes (http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/road/tiagra.html). The Coda Elite bike that I looked at on the OP's behalf is the 2010 version (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/10_codaelite_spec.html); it has a 48/36/26 crankset and a 11-32 cassette which, IMHO, are MTB gears. I suppose one could argue that both the 2009 and 2010 gearing is more suited for trekking (i.e. like a touring bike) but nevertheless, Deore are MTB components.

I know this was not one of you narrowed down choices but check out a Giant FCR1 if you can find one. They replaced it with the Rapid line for 2010 so they may be similar. I have a Trek 7.9FX, a Trek 7.5FX and the Giant FCR1. Of the three, the Giant FCR1is the most like a road bike and has the best road gearing. It is also the fastest of the three, at least when I'm on them. It is also the only one with real compact road gearing. Its weight is very, very close to the the 7.9FX which is around 20 lbs I believe.

Be that as it may, Deore XT is listed under Shimano's MTB (http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/mountain/deore_xt.html) offerings where as Tiagra components are definitely for road bikes (http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/road/tiagra.html). The Coda Elite bike that I looked at on the OP's behalf is the 2010 version (http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/10_codaelite_spec.html); it has a 48/36/26 crankset and a 11-32 cassette which, IMHO, are MTB gears. I suppose one could argue that both the 2009 and 2010 gearing is more suited for trekking (i.e. like a touring bike) but nevertheless, Deore are MTB components.

Shimano mountain bike drive train components are a little heavier and more durable than their road bike components. The Deore XT mountain bike components are considered to be equivalent (Level 4) to Ultegra road bike components. Tiagra (Level 2), Deore (Level 2), and 105 (Level 3) are lesser components. According to your assertion the OP shouldn't consider the Trek FX 7.6 because it uses a mountain bike front derailleur and shifter. All I was doing was defending the gearing of the 2009 Jamis Coda Elite and Comp as having an equivalent top end as the others while having the versatility of lower gearing. I think it is insignificant whether components are for mountain bikes or road bikes if the gearing is similar, other than the mountain bike components being more durable. The fact is the 2009 Jamis Coda Elite and Comp have gearing as much like a road bike as the mentioned Trek and Specialized, and use better quality components.

To EsoxLucius: Point taken; no offense intended or taken. To the OP: Make sure you test ride the hell out of all your choices, but be prepared; no matter which bike you choose you will always ask yourself, "what if?"

Thanks, you bring up a good point about the 2010 Jamis Coda line. For some reason they switched from a 50/39/30 crank to the 48/36/26 crank you cited and kept the 11-32 9-speed cassette. I don't know why they felt they needed to lower the gears on what is marketed as a commuting flatbar road bike. They also changed the frame sizing, degraded some components and upgraded others, and lowered the price. That's why I was recommending the 2009 Jamis Coda line in closeout. I suppose they have reasons like availablility and advantageous purchasing for changing components from year to year.

I suppose they have reasons like availablility and advantageous purchasing for changing components from year to year.

Indeed, yes, pennies per unit matter. The cost of various components vs. other components factors in significantly. If they think it will not degrade the marketability of the bike, or the performance to a lesser extent, then they will go with the most cost effective approach. It is afterall, a cut throat and highly competitive business. As an aside, since you were talking about gearing, and this is just one example, the average bike consumer is completely clueless about gear ratios ... as are many experienced riders for that matter. That is not meant to be a dig, it's just a fact of life well understood by the manufacturers. It is a no brainer for the companies to fudge this stuff in the interest of profits. If they can get a deal on a production batch at slightly different specs they will go for it unless it is really detrimental to the bike. Can't really blame them at all. But remember, we are always talking price points here. The higher up the food chain in quality and price there is less urge to compromise. It's all part of the big picture, especially if one wants a variety of choices in the market place, and especially if a company wants to remain in business.