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Can you tell me which of these 3 bikes is best?

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Can you tell me which of these 3 bikes is best?

Old 07-24-10, 10:56 AM
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Can you tell me which of these 3 bikes is best?

I'm looking for a bike to ride half road, half trail (not hard-core mountain biking though), so I guess that's called a hybrid bike.

I live in Portland, Oregon so we have quite a few bike shops & REI if anyone has better suggestions for $600 or less.

Anyway here are 3 choices I was looking at:

Trek 7.3 FX
Sizes 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25"
Frame FX Alpha Black Aluminum
Fork FX Alloy w/tapered wall thickness, straight blades, Clix dropouts
Wheels
Wheels Alloy front hub, Shimano RM30 rear hub; Bontrager Nebula, alloy 32-hole rims
Tires Bontrager Race Lite Hard-Case, 700x32c
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano EF60 trigger, 8 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano M191
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Crank Shimano M361 48/38/28 w/chainguard
Cassette Shimano HG40 11-32, 8 speed
Pedals Nylon body w/alloy cage
Components
Saddle Bontrager H1
Seat Post Bontrager Nebula
Handlebars Bontrager SSR, 25mm rise
Stem Bontrager SSR, 10 degree
Headset Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset Avid SD-3 w/Shimano EF60 levers


Giant Roam 1
Size S, M, L, XL
Color White/Red
Frame ALUXX Grade Aluminum
Fork SR Suntour NEX 4610 w/ Lock-out, 63mm Travel
Handlebar Giant Sport Alloy 30mm rise 25.4
Stem Giant Sport Alloy
Seatpost Giant Sport Alloy, 30.9
Saddle Giant X-Road Sport Men's
Pedals VP-992S Steel Cage
Shifters SRAM X.5, Trigger
Front Derailleur Shimano Altus
Rear Derailleur SRAM X.5
Brakes Avid BB5 Disc
Brake Levers Tektro 3-Finger w /Kraton Comfort Grip
Cassette SRAM PG830 11x32, 8-speed
Chain KMC Z72NP
Cranks Shimano M361, 28/38/48
Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge
Rims Giant Sport, Double Walled, Disc Specific, 700c
Hubs Alloy Sealed w/ QR, 32h
Spokes Stainless Steel
Tires Kenda Kwick, 700x40


Giant Roam 2
Size S, M, L, XL
Color Silver/Black
Frame ALUXX Grade Aluminum
Fork SR Suntour NEX 4610 63mm Travel
Handlebar Giant Sport Alloy 30mm rise 25.4
Stem Giant Sport Alloy
Seatpost Giant Sport Alloy, 30.9
Saddle Giant X-Road Sport Men's
Pedals VP-992S Steel Cage
Shifters SRAM X.4, Trigger
Front Derailleur Shimano M 191
Rear Derailleur SRAM X.4
Brakes Avid Direct-Pull
Brake Levers Tektro 3-Finger w /Kraton Comfort Grip
Cassette SRAM PG830 11x32, 8-speed
Chain KMC Z72NP
Cranks SR XCT-V2, 28/38/48
Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge
Rims Giant Sport, Double Walled, 700c
Hubs Alloy Sealed, 32h w/ QR
Spokes Stainless Steel
Tires Kenda Kwick, 700x40

Last edited by MacAttack; 07-24-10 at 11:04 AM.
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Old 07-24-10, 11:02 AM
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I think the standard answer is try out all three and get the one you like best.
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Old 07-24-10, 11:08 AM
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I'll definitely go check a few out first, but I would like a little knowledge about what I'm looking at first.
I always obsess over details before buying stuff; bad habit, but that's just how I am.
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Old 07-24-10, 11:23 AM
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Features vs. quality.

When you have budget restrictions it doesn't make sense to me to blow part of your budget on features like a suspension fork that really doesn't do much. I notice that the Trek has a Shimano rear hub vs. a no-name hub. At this level one can argue the quality differences between shimano and SRAM. I lean toward Shimano, probably because I have more experience with it.
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Old 07-24-10, 02:55 PM
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I have always liked Giant, they seem to provide the best value for the dollar. Caveat...I haven't bought a Giant bike since the early 90's, but they still seem to be a good value. Ride them and see which one you prefer. FWIW red is always a good color choice.

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Old 07-24-10, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Features vs. quality.

When you have budget restrictions it doesn't make sense to me to blow part of your budget on features like a suspension fork that really doesn't do much.
I agree. Maybe it is just me, but I just don't like suspension forks for the sort of riding I do, which is a mix of urban roads, urban trails, suburban roads, and country roads. It strikes me as an annoying trend to take all the weight savings from switching from steel to aluminum frames and put it back with a suspension fork.
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