MTBnOH

I've taken 2/3 bikes I was considering on a test ride (Sirrus, Trek Fx - 7.2 & 7.3, not the Gary Fisher..yet)
I liked the Sirrus better than the Trek 7.2fx though)

First, let me say that all of these bikes are in similar price ranges (which is where i want to be .. $500 or less). Secondly, I know everyone will say "buy what you like/feels the best to you"....well, I can do my best at deciding this, but components, I have NO CLUE on what's good & what's not, so this is where I need your help.

I want a quick bike, reliable, used for fitness, bike paths & want a color that I actually like. I am selling my mountain bike for a hybrid/fitness bike (which is what i should've got in the first place).

2009 Specialized Sirrus..price was lowered to $499.99 this year, but now has Grip Shifts
Colors = Gloss White, Gloss Black & Blue
Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum frame, fully manipulated tubing, compact design, integrated headset, hourglass speedstays
Specialized Comp fork, A1 Premium Aluminum legs, Cr-Mo steerer
Body Geometry Comfort II grips, triple density gel
Shimano 8-speed drivetrain with Sora rear derailleur
Body Geometry Sonoma saddle
Alloy suspension seatpost

FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum, fully manipulated tubing, compact design, integrated headset, hourglass speedstays

REAR SHOCK N/A

FORK Specialized Comp, A1 Premium Aluminum legs, Cr-Mo steerer

HEADSET Specialized Mindset, 1 1/8" integrated threadless, sealed bearings, alloy 40mm cone

STEM Specialized 3D forged 6061 alloy, 31.8mm bar clamp

HANDLEBARS Specialized Event, A1 Premium Aluminum alloy, 580mm width, 31.8mm

TAPE/GRIPS Body Geometry Comfort II, triple density gel, alloy lock-on feature

FRONT BRAKE Cold-Forged 6061 alloy, 85mm linear pull w/ cartridge pads

REAR BRAKE Cold-Forged 6061 alloy, 85mm linear pull w/ cartridge pads

BRAKE LEVERS Shimano EF-50, EZ Fire, integrated w/ shift lever

FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano T301, 31.8 clamp, bottom pull

REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Sora, long cage

SHIFT LEVERS Shimano EF-50, EZ Fire

CASSETTE FREEWHEEL Shimano HG-50, 8-speed 12-25t

CHAIN KMC Z-51, 8-speed

CRANKSET Sugino XD, five arm, polished arms w/ chainguard

CHAINRINGS 48x38x28T

BOTTOM BRACKET Sport cartridge, square taper, 68 x 113mm

PEDALS Composite body, alloy cage w/ toe clips and straps

RIMS Alex S500, 700c, alloy double wall, machined sidewalls

FRONT HUB Specialized forged alloy, 32 hole, double sealed bearings, QR

REAR HUB Specialized forged alloy, 32 hole, double sealed bearings, QR

SPOKES Stainless 14g

FRONT TIRE Specialized All Condition, 700x28c, wire bead, 60TPI w/ Flak Jacket

REAR TIRE Specialized All Condition, 700x28c, wire bead, 60TPI w/ Flak Jacket

TUBES Specialized standard presta tube

SADDLE Specialized Sonoma, 155mm width

SEAT POST Alloy suspension, 27.2 w/ preload adjust

SEAT BINDER Specialized CNC, alloy, 31.8mm clamp

NOTES Chain stay protector, chain catcher, derailleur hanger, clear coat, owners manual



Gary Fisher Wingra $519.99
color = Metallic Black

Frame
Gold Series aluminum


Wheels
Alloy front hub/Shimano RM30 rear hub, Matrix 750 rims, 32h


Componentry
Shimano C102 front derailleur, Shimano Acera rear derailleur, Shimano EF50 shifters, Shimano M361 crank, Tektro V brakes | (Full Specs)


Suspension
Cromoly straight blade


MSRP
$519.99*


Sizes
SM (15.5") | MD (17.5") | LG (19") | XL (21") | XXL (22.5") | (Sizing)


Color(s)
Metalic Black

Sizes SM (15.5") | MD (17.5") | LG (19") | XL (21") | XXL (22.5") (Sizing) Frame Gold Series aluminum Fork Cromoly straight blade w/CLIX Headset Aheadset Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed Pedals Nylon body, alloy cage Front Derailleur Shimano C102 Rear Derailleur Shimano Acera Shifters Shimano EF50, 8spd Cassette SRAM PG830 11-28T, 8spd Handlebar Bontrager SSR Riser, 25mm rise, 6d backsweep Stem Bontrager Approved, 15d Saddle Bontrager Select City Seatpost Bontrager SSR Wheels Alloy front hub/Shimano RM30 rear hub, Matrix 750 rims, 32h Tires Bontrager Satellite Plus 700x32c, 60 TPI Brakeset Tektro V, Shimano EF50 levers Crank Set Shimano M361, 48/38/28


can someone please help me out...which is the better overall components?

dwr1961

They seem pretty close to me... Don't see anything that would make me pick one over the other.

Sorry if that sounds like a non-answer...

Oh, I can't help it! Go with the bike that feels/fits the best. Honest, that's really what you need to do. The spec is pretty close on these. The Sirrus sounds like the lighter one if that helps at all.

MTBnOH

test drove the Wingra today.... EXTREMELY impressed by it. It has the trigger shifting, which is better than the Sirrus grip shift & it rode so much nicer imo....very stable, shifted cleaner than the Sirrus & actually looked better. I LOVED the color of the new '09 Wingra....Metallic Black ftw.

HandsomeRyan

Are these at different bike shops? Component-wise they are pretty comperable so I would buy from whichever shop you like better. Freindly, helpful LBS staff is every bit as important to the bike-buying process as which saddle is squishier or which tires are 3 grams lighter.

We expect you to post pics of the new bike whenever you decide which one you are getting.

Big M

I know the Sirrus rides great, but the if the Gary Fisher is pretty much as good and comes with trigger shifters, I'd get that.

The shifters are the biggest difference I see between the two.

dguest

I looked at the Sirrus when I was looking, I decided on the crosstrail because I ride more gravel trails and dirt trails than road at the present time. I know I was looking in the 600 to 750 range of bikes but All the sirruss I saw had trigger shifters.

Big M

From what I understand, the '08 had trigger shifters but the '09 Sirrus has grip shifters. Not sure off the top of my head about the Sirrus Pro or higher end models.

MTBnOH

yes, the 09's have grip shifts & are $90 bucks more.

no1mad 

To the OP- if you haven't picked yet, consider the Jamis Coda. Assuming of course that you have any available locally. If not, go with the G.F.

MTBnOH

I know GF is usually a Mtn Bike company....are their fitness/hyrbid bikes pretty good as well or should I go w/ a brand like Specialized?

HandsomeRyan

Brands don't really matter when you are looking at bicycles in the price range. All the major manufacterers are having these frames built in the same factories by the same workers and the quality is identical. The geometries may be a little different from one bike to the next but neither frame will be 'better' than the other.

You may be overthinking this- I know it's a lot of money but both options are good bikes.
Most people buy their first bike to figure out what they want from their next bike. Either bike will be a good ride and you can always upgrade components later as you figure out what will be important to your riding style (utility, speed, comfort, reliability, ect.).

hines drive

Get something with drop bars and brifters! Can't see any advantage (other than marketing) to a flat bar road bike!

HandsomeRyan

I can't see any advantage to dropped bars unless you are riding more than 25-30 miles at a time on a regular basis. Flat bars keep you in a more comfortable riding position and offer more and less expensive options for shifters and brakes. (trigger shifters > brifters)

hines drive

The number 1 advantage of drop bars is that they offer half a dozen hand positions as opposed to the single hand position offered by a straight bar.

I much prefer brifters overs mountain style trigger shifters (grip-shifters are flimsy and unreliable, in my experience,) but this is a matter of preference. Brifters definitely offer higher performance/quicker shifting, but most people aren't out there racing...

HandsomeRyan

If you are riding 30+ miles you probably need multiple hand positions but if your hands are getting sore/numb/whatever with flat bars on rides less than about 25 miles then your bike is not adjusted/sized correctly. If the majority of your riding is distance then drops/trekking bars are a must but for "around town" riding flats are more comforatble for most folks since you do a lot of stopping/starting and you have to be in the drops to efficiently utilize road style brakes.

billydonn

I was looking at a flat bar road bike (Sirrus mainly) but went instead with a road bike configuration (Sequoia) instead. You are absolutely right about more hand position choices... +1