Hybrid Bicycles - 2010 Specialized Sirrus vs 2011 Specialized Sirrus

I'm looking to get a hybrid bike mainly for fitness riding on roads and bike tracks. So I went to a local bike shop today to look at the 2010 Specialized Sirrus model with a small frame since I'm a pretty short guy at about 5'6'', and when I stood over it it was a bit snug in the crotch. The guy told me I should get an extra small frame since it was a snug fit. The problem is they didn't have a 2010 XS model, so he told me he could get a 2011 model shipped to them and they'd put it together for me. After the shipping charge and tax, I'd be paying just shy of $500 for the 2011 model.

I compared the bikes on BikePedia and it seems like the 2011 is somewhat of a downgrade with respect to the 2010 model. I don't really know much about bikes since this will be my first of this type, but is the 2011 model worth the $500 or would I be better off looking for something comparable to the Sirrus? Thanks for any suggestions!

I'm looking to get a hybrid bike mainly for fitness riding on roads and bike tracks. So I went to a local bike shop today to look at the 2010 Specialized Sirrus model with a small frame since I'm a pretty short guy at about 5'6'', and when I stood over it it was a bit snug in the crotch. The guy told me I should get an extra small frame since it was a snug fit. The problem is they didn't have a 2010 XS model, so he told me he could get a 2011 model shipped to them and they'd put it together for me. After the shipping charge and tax, I'd be paying just shy of $500 for the 2011 model.

I compared the bikes on BikePedia and it seems like the 2011 is somewhat of a downgrade with respect to the 2010 model. I don't really know much about bikes since this will be my first of this type, but is the 2011 model worth the $500 or would I be better off looking for something comparable to the Sirrus? Thanks for any suggestions!

IMO, bike fitting has little to do with whether the standover is a snug, or less than snug, fit to your crotch. It is a much more involved process that takes into account several critical dimensions and other factors. A lot of it is dependent on your own physical dimensions, with inseam being only one. There are many good articles on bike fit on the Net and in the Bike Forums. I would suggest doing a search to get more information. Any LBS that goes strictly by "crotch fit" is not helping you much and is just trying to make a sale above all else.

FWIW, a $500 difference between a 2010 model and 2011 is a HUGE diffrence at the Sirrus price level. I would guess that they are not the same model of Sirrus, eg., "Pro" vs "Comp" vs "Sport" and all that kind of thing. The comparison can only be meaningful if they are the same.

FWIW, a $500 difference between a 2010 model and 2011 is a HUGE diffrence at the Sirrus price level. I would guess that they are not the same model of Sirrus, eg., "Pro" vs "Comp" vs "Sport" and all that kind of thing. The comparison can only be meaningful if they are the same.
I think the OP is saying the price of the bike is ~$500... not the difference between the two.

Yes, the 2011 model is indeed downgraded somewhat. Therefore, if the 2010 model you looked at is a good fit (despite being snug while straddling it), then I would see what kind of price LBS would be willing to let it go for. It's still a new bike and for the same price offers more for the money.

There certainly is more to fitting a bicycle than crotch clearance. It isn't clear from the OP's statements that the shop is ignoring the other items just that they are saying the lack of crotch clearance makes this frame size a no-go. The usual recommendation is to have an inch or more. You can safely go less if you are willing but if the clearance is zero or negative I doubt you would be happy with that bike in the long run. Ultimately it is the OP's call, if the frame they have in stock seems "comfortable" when you straddle it with both feet flat on the ground then the other fitting adjustments to suit you can probably be made. If there is any "interference" when you do that you could ask the shop if they can locate a 2010 XS that could be shipped to them from a distributor or another dealer and you could look around at other Specialized dealers yourself to see if they have the XS in stock.

It sounds like the 2010 is a little nicer than the 2011 which is unsurprising. Upwards price pressures on many products have continued and even intensified through the recession. Lack of customers has forced manufacturers to hold the line on prices but ultimately they either have to raise them or "dumb down" the products a little or both. If your only option is $500 for a 2011 then you should look around at some other $500 bikes to see if anyone is more interested in market share than profits. There might be better equipped bikes at that price. On the other hand I would imagine that the 2011 Sirrus is a good value for its price too even if it is not the best that you can do component wise. Getting a bike that you really like is ultimately more important than squeezing every penny out of component upgrades on a bike you are less happy with overall. The cheapest name brand components are pretty good these days after all.

Ken

I think the OP is saying the price of the bike is ~$500... not the difference between the two.

Yes, the 2011 model is indeed downgraded somewhat. Therefore, if the 2010 model you looked at is a good fit (despite being snug while straddling it), then I would see what kind of price LBS would be willing to let it go for. It's still a new bike and for the same price offers more for the money.

Ah yes ... I read it again and see the error of my ways. For some reason I was seeing $500 "more" instead of just a $500 total price.

Thanks for all the replies so far!


There certainly is more to fitting a bicycle than crotch clearance. It isn't clear from the OP's statements that the shop is ignoring the other items just that they are saying the lack of crotch clearance makes this frame size a no-go. The usual recommendation is to have an inch or more. You can safely go less if you are willing but if the clearance is zero or negative I doubt you would be happy with that bike in the long run. Ultimately it is the OP's call, if the frame they have in stock seems "comfortable" when you straddle it with both feet flat on the ground then the other fitting adjustments to suit you can probably be made. If there is any "interference" when you do that you could ask the shop if they can locate a 2010 XS that could be shipped to them from a distributor or another dealer and you could look around at other Specialized dealers yourself to see if they have the XS in stock.

To give a little more detail, it was just a lack of clearance that made the guy helping me suggest an XS frame. He asked me to stand over the bike and try and lift the bike up a little bit. I told him I wouldn't be able to lift it at all without feeling really uncomfortable, so that's when he told me I would need an XS frame. He checked their inventory and found that they or their other surrounding stores in the area did not have any XS in stock and wouldn't be getting anymore, so that's when he recommended that I could have a 2011 model shipped to them to put together for me.


I think the OP is saying the price of the bike is ~$500... not the difference between the two.

Yes, the 2011 model is indeed downgraded somewhat. Therefore, if the 2010 model you looked at is a good fit (despite being snug while straddling it), then I would see what kind of price LBS would be willing to let it go for. It's still a new bike and for the same price offers more for the money.

Yeah you are correct about what I was meaning by the price. I was quoted at just under $500 for the 2011 model, and the 2010 model was priced at $499, which I was going to try and get a bit knocked off that.

Thanks again for the replies about the 2011 model being downgraded a bit. I'm going to look around a bit more for some bikes in the $400-$500 dollar range that are comparable to the Sirrus. Hopefully I can find a good deal somewhere!

Regarding the downgrade issue, unlike the auto industry which tends to bring out a model and each subsequent year adds a little more...

The bike industry tends to do the opposite. First year they come out with a really nice bike, lets say with a full gruppo. Next year they whittle off a little, perhaps use Tektro brakes instead of Shimano, or pull out the 105 bottom bracket and sneak in a Sora. Repeat each year.

So last years bike is quite likely to be a better bike than this years.

YUp. Performance hybrids are a significant market segment.

Basically comfort road bikes with flat as opposed to drop bars. The Sirrus' geometry is identical to Specialized's Secteur, apart from the bars.

The Sirrus' geometry is identical to Specialized's Secteur, apart from the bars.

Hmmmm ... not really.
It is true that the 2011 Sirrus Pro is, literally, a Roubaix SL2 frame with flat-bar Apex group-set, but as to the Secteur and alloy (or alloy/carbon) Sirrus, the geometries are very different -- as they should be. Leaving aside rear-centre (which is substantially longer on the Sirrus, longer even than in 2010), t/t length and other variables are subtly adjusted on the Sirrus for flat-bars.
Similiarly, my 2010 Sirrus Comp bears a superficial resemblance to a Roubaix/Secteur, but again the whole thing is 'adjusted' to work better with flat-bars/intended use of the bike. That is one of things I like about the Sirrus line.

According to the Specialized official that bike in small has a 745mm or 29.3" standover height. What's your inseam? Remember that shoes will give you some extra clearance. You'd have to have a 28" or 29" inseam to be touching on that bike. Guys tend to think that if the TT just touches their junk it's going to be uncomfortable.

i have a 2010 sirrus in small i to am 5'6" my junk also rubs the toptube this has not been a problem for me at all. i would go with the 2010small for a few reasons
1.its 8 speeds instead of seven
2.the 2011xs is not much shorter in stand over height but everything else is smaller also
so your reach might be different also (hope that makes sense)
3.i like the flat black paint versus the shiny stuff (personal opinion)

the standover heights changed in 2011 because they went to a longer steel fork instead of the aluminum one on the 2010 so be sure to ride both to make sure they are comfortable