yashinon

Taking a look Specialized's site I noticed the MSRP for the Sirrus entry level is darn good. For people who want a decent bike, this is a quite a deal:

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi.../sirrus/106252

Grey.

That seems consistent with the MSRP of entry-level bikes from other manufacturers, though lately Specialized has dropped their prices across the board to make their Hybrid bikes more competitive in the market.

You'd be hard pressed to find a better looking bike for a ~$350 street price.

yashinon

Specialized has some sweet Spring specials. Getting a quality bike at that price is sweet!

prj71

Meh...Specialized drop prices on their entry level bikes, as did Trek, Giant and Cannondale.

Would rather see a price reduction on the higher priced models.

Doctor Morbius

The Roubaix models have some price decreases on some of their formerly $3000 and under bikes.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/roubaix

It's enough of a discount that I'd be really pissed if I'd bought one just prior to the reductions.

Grey.

They did. The Sirrus Elite Carbon dropped by $100 this season ($1500 to $1400) as did several other models.

Korina

But I'm looking at the Vita Sport Disc, which has not come down so much as a nickle. Grrr! Argh!

Wanderer

Do you really NEED the Vita Sport Disc? Not being smart, I just mean that it doesn't have to be womens specific, if it fits. MHO, the Sirrus Disc, at $475 is a heck of a buy. If you can deal with orange! Any parts can be upgraded, as they wear out. Disc brakes, even mechanical vs. hydros isn't bad, 8 spd vs 9, and you could argue which is the better fork.....

MRT2

I believe it is just a sale, though I don't see what the big deal is. $400 for an entry level bike is a good price. If you are buying your first bike, or replacing an old clunker, maybe worth putting Specialized on your short list. If I were in the market for an entry level hybrid, I would use the discount to get the slightly upgraded Sirrus Sport or Sirrus Disc for $475.

travbikeman

I just looked at your link for the Vita, it's currently showing a price of $0.00, you can't get lower unless they pay you to pick it up!

Doctor Morbius

Those are going to sell like hot cakes! They must make their profit through volume sales.

fietsbob

component pick has moved down the tiers? China Devalued the Yuan?

Korina

@Wanderer, to quote Perfect Tommy, 'You've got a point there.' The Sport was worth the extra $100 for the upgraded components, but is it worth $225?

What really drives me crazy is it won't stop raining long enough to go on test rides to see which of my four(!) options works best.

Wanderer

When it comes right down to it - nobody was ever sorry they bought the better one if they could afford it. The Sport disc is a nice bike at a nice price, and the Sirrus Disc is a nice bike at a better price.

Buy the one that trips your trigger, so you ride it!

Personally , I lust after the Comp Disc; but, my old Sirrus Comp is still too nice!

quicktrigger

FWIW, I have been riding a 2015 Sirrus Sport. Love the bike, but have been caught in the rain a couple times, and was not in love with the wet brakes. So came across a smoking deal on a Trek Allliant 7.2 with disc brakes, but it was WET WET WET and couldnt test ride it from the shop. Sale was two days ONLY, so bought it on a gamble, and because a friend wanted my Sirrus.
Finally get to ride the Trek, and it felt really sluggish, but it was windy, so wasnt certain it wasnt the wind. Few more rides, more wind, still sluggish. Finally this weekend, great weather, low wind, and a 23 mile ride on the Alliant that I had already been doing on my other bikes in the wind. Wanted to as fair as posible.
The result is the Alliant wiped my a$$ out, and Im sore for it. Took much longer too. Bike is a COLD MOLASSES SLUGGG! Its not just its ridiculously heavy at almost 30 pounds for a large, but rolling resistance is a killer. Going down a familar hill that I coast up to about 28 or 29 mph on the Sirrus got 23 to 24 on the Alliant, where the added weight should have increased the speed. I dont know the cause beyond the obvious tires and there is zero brake rub. All I know is that I have less than 100 miles on it, and Im probable going to sell it while its still like new.
In short IMHO the Sirrus is a FAR superior bike to the Allian 7.2. YMMV

MRT2

An expensive lesson. Don't understand why you didn't just look into upgrading brake pads, or even brakes on your Sirrus Sport rlkather than selling a bike you loved for a bike you never even test rode.

Lt Stonez

Wanderer- When it comes right down to it - nobody was ever sorry they bought the better one if they could afford it. The Sport disc is a nice bike at a nice price, and the Sirrus Disc is a nice bike at a better price.

+1

quicktrigger

Actually, there is more to the story than I typed last night. I was typing on a tablet (not fun), and I didn't want to go to too much detail and rant. I mainly wanted to characterise the difference in ride and performance for those that might be considering both. And the "lesson" is not nearly so expensive as you think.

As far as the Sirrus goes, love the ride and performance, but I think the bike is probable just a bit big for me, and frankly I think I got a lemon. Been lots of small little issues with the bike in the almost 18 months I have owned it. I have very much enjoyed riding it, but creaking bottom bracket among other things, has just turned me off. I've taken it to a LBS shop twice for the BB creak. I don't think there is a design issue, just a bad draw. My Allez has been absolutely trouble free in comparison. Also, I wanted disc brakes on the hybrid. Have two other bikes with disc brakes, and I prefer those to rim brakes.

So I bought the Alliant because I had about 24 hours to make up my mind for a GREAT deal, and being aimed at the same market, performance would be expected to be very similar and it has disc brakes. Well the brakes are fine, but the performance sucks IMHO. But for someone not coming for a Sirrus or road bike, then you won't know the difference. It's still a good commuter, or family ride bike, just not for me. As for causes of poor performance, my guess is that Trek REALLY cut corners on wheels and hubs, and that is the rolling issue, but that is expensive to fix. Too expensive. Plus, I don't like the drivetrain. Again, expensive to fix. Just not worth throwing the money after with uncertain results. My personal feeling is that it's an expensive Wal Mart/Target bike, but allot of people love Trek, and I didn't want to come off as just hating on Trek. However, because I got such a great deal on it, I should be able to sell it for very nearly for what I paid for it. That was part of the consideration when I decided to gamble.

For now, I will stick with my road and mountain bikes. I will probable buy another higher level Sirrus later in the year, as I do very much like the Sirrus. I like to vary my riding style/type, as it helps to keep me from getting bored with cycling.

Grey.

The 7.2 Allant is a city bike with 35mm tires and a steel fork, compared to the Sirrus Sport which has narrower tires and an aluminium fork. The Allant is a nice bike, but a clear downgrade from what you had.

You know what they say about deals that look too good.

quicktrigger

Fair enough.

I knew about the steel fork, and tire size before hand. I knew there would be some penalty there. Just like when I got the Gator Skins for the Sirrus because I was tired of getting flats. But the heavier weight should have been an asset on the the downhill, that I would expect to balance the slightly wider tire (Alliant are 35mm while Sirrus is 32 mm). Just did not expect to be much more like riding a mountain bike with fat snobby tires than a hybrid.

quicktrigger

BTW, how are you liking your FX? The same deal I bought the Alliant, I convinced a friend that a 7.2 FX was a good bike for what she wanted to do. She is loving that bike.

Wanderer

Don't get me wrong on this, as I love both of my bikes. Buttttt, If I had to have only one, it would be the Crosstrail, somewhat citified, with fenders, rack, Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 35&40, over the Sirrus. Yeah, the Sirrus is citified too! I like racks and fenders, to make my bikes more "All Condition" riders.

The Crosstrail is just a better do it all bike and more comfortable, whereas the Sirrus is more fun, and easier to ride faster.

I replaced OEM All Condition Armadillo tires, 28mm, 115PSI, on the Sirrus - with Specialized All Condition Armadillo Elite 30mm, 100 PSI, tires because I got a smoking deal one afternoon - but it was a mistake - the OEMs were faster tires, even though the 30s were a touch more comfortable.

If you are lusting after a Sirrus or Vita, you won't go wrong - they are GREAT bikes, and lots of fun to ride.

Buy the best you can afford, you won't be sorry! JUST MAKE SURE YOU CHECK BACK IN TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU DID!

Grey.

It all adds up, imo. The geometry could be slightly different on the Allant making you more upright (and creating more wind resistance) or a half-dozen other things.

The 7.3 that I have is comparable to the performance of your Sport and I haven't had any issues with it at all. It's a good match for my fitness level and I figure i'll upgrade my bike when I upgrade my body.

Still love the matte black.

quicktrigger

FWIW, I was expecting the Alliant to be a FX 7.2 with disc brakes. Shop said as much, and online said the same. So I was expecting FX 7.2 performance. The 2016 7.2 my friend bought looked to be same geometry with the same tires. Makes me wonder how the 2016 FX would compare to your 2015 in performance.

Glad you are loving your bike and matte black.

MRT2

This is why I am an advocate for small, incremental improvements in one's current bike rather than small, incremental improvements in a new bike purchase. If the N + 1 bug hits you, go with something completely different.

I window shop plenty, and have been tempted. And to make a sale, the bike salesman tells me what I that new bike X is just like my current bike except a couple lbs lighter, or with a more modern drivetrain, or carbon fork, or disc brakes, or better wheels. My inclination right now is to continue to make slight mods to my current bike until it is so out of date that I cannot replace worn components. And since I just updated my wife's 1978 Peugeot UO8 with new wheels and drivetrain components, I shouldn't have a problem updating my current frame for at least another 25 years.