stevenlsmith87

Not to spam the forum, but I did not know if the original place I posed this question was the best place....so I am posting it here as well and thats it.

I recently got back into biking and purchased a Trek DS 8.2 from my LBS. My wife has been wanting a bike for a few months and like a good husband I am going to get her one for her B-Day. She says she is fine with a cheap bike from sprawl mart, but I want her to have something decent. I am wondering anyones opinion on a few bikes I am looking at. I am looking at the Trek Neko ($510), Trek FX 7.2 ($510), or the Specialized Ariel ($580--I found another LBS that carries Specialized). I like the idea of her having front suspension to go with me if I wanted to hit up a light trail, but most likely it will mainly be paved roads, paved trails, or hard packed trails. BTW.....My wife is 5'10 if this helps dictate the bike.

Thoughts? Questions for me?

Thanks Guys,
Steven

ahsposo 

May I offer a bit of posting advice?

To save us the time of copying and pasting your bike choices into a google box providing links (I'll bet you've been to Trek and Specialized sites) to have a quick peek at what you are looking at you could provide them in your post.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...al_sport/neko/

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...x/7_2_fx_wsd/#

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...se/ariel/ariel

I'm not a big fan of front suspension for anything but rough trail riding, personally.

Of these bikes the FX 7.2 would be my choice, easily.

stevenlsmith87

Thanks for the links....that had slipped my mind!

Steven

fietsbob

have you visited a Bike shop and tried on Bikes for size? . the legs are what fits the size, Standover..
the reach is what fits the Upper Body..

as Women are often more leg, less torso, Proportionally, they are often too stretched out on Men's frames .

now there are Women's specific frame geometries, and in the case of Terry, for example,
a company Specializing in Women's Bikes.

stevenlsmith87

I have the 19.5 Trek DS 8.2 and it fit her fine with standover height. The only thing I noticed was she might have been a little stretched out reaching for the handles....well...more than me. She said she wasn't feeling stretched at all, but it looked a little like that. I would love to take her to get fitted at a shop, but that kinda ruins the surprise for the birthday. I am know that the local shop here has a 14 day return policy so I am going to try and work out something with them that once she gets the bike that we can head there and have her get fitted....and if we have to exchange it for a different bike/frame size we will.

Retro Grouch 

Good move but it might not be good enough.

I noticed your bike is a (something 8.2) and the bikes you are considering for your wife are (something) 7.2. Unless you are satisfied that your family is complete, you need to get your wife a bike that's at least as nice as yours.

fietsbob

Get out the tape measure and take dimensions off her Bike and then take the measurements with you.

The stretched out by how much is of course subjective ..

but a seat to bars measurement will give you a number to shave down a Bit.

I'm Liking My IGH bikes More than the Derailleur ones Now Myself..

Indexing is trying to approach the gearing so simple you dont have to think about it, Goal.

An Internal geared hub had a 103 year head start.

kbhenze

My 2 pennies Do not buy her a bike. Give her a card with a note saying you will take her to the LBS so she can pick out a bike. This way she will get the bike she wants and not one you think she wants. Then the shop can fit her there. You will be better off.

flatlander_48

Bike for Wife?

That may not be a good trade...

jtaylor2

Those two bikes are equivalent price and quality wise. The are different lines. The 8.2 DS is a front suspension dual sport bike and the 7.2 FX is a no suspension fitness bike. The retail price is within $10.00 of each other.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...x/7_2_fx_wsd/#
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...eries/8_2_ds/#

I'm not expert enough to give advice, but the advice given to me was not to get suspension unless you are going to need it for off road riding. I took that advise and have been happy with the decision.

Jim

TiBikeGuy

Be sure to include bike helmet, gloves, shorts, lights and locks to your budget. And if she is using it to ride to the stores to buy stuff, may have to fix on rear rack and panniers.

GeorgePaul

Good advice.

stevenlsmith87

yeah....i thought about that, but it all depends on what bike we are talking about...

I have a feeling I am going to slightly regret that choice on the DS down the road. I got it with the thought of doing some light trail work, but now that I own the bike....reality is I may do that once....twice with this bike because I would rather have an actual mountain bike to take off road. The DS for me will become my family bike when we ride. I just know that when we have to limb some hills with it I will be cursing the non locking suspension lol.

imi

Haha! I read the title and thought you were going to swap the wife for a new bike!

Artkansas 

+1, Though I might suggest that you go to the LBS before-hand and scope out the bikes that you think she might enjoy and that are within budget. That way, upon arriving with her, you look knowledgeable, and can provide a starting point for her shopping. Win, win.

Artkansas 

I dunno. I got a Specialized Hard Rock of hers in the divorce. I'm pleased.

stevenlsmith87

Talking bikes with her I and just shopping around we stopped at the LBS and she really liked the Trek FX 7.2.....think we found our winner. I am leaning on exchanging my DS for an FX as well then just saving up for a used/decent priced MTB that I will take on the trails. Still torn on the suspension of the DS and if I am going to like it for riding mainly on roads...I am afraid its going to suck a lot of my energy when trying to climb a hill.

wahoonc

Been there made the wrong choice. Bought my bride a very nice GT Slipstream in 2000, fast forward 5 years, bride "wins" a vintage Raleigh Colt 3 speed, now she has 3 Raleighs and the GT has been sold down the road. She barely rode it, did not like having to mess with the gears, the Raleigh Colt got ridden more in the first 3 months than the GT did in 5 years.

Aaron

ahsposo 

The 7.2 is a nice bike. Y'all have fun.