Thisguy

So I had my mind set on buying a Trek 7.3 in about a week or so. I have ridden one and liked it a lot. However, today, for the very first I saw a Sirrius Sport. I didn't get to ride it but I talk to the owner who was in love with it. I visited/called my local bike stores however none carried them and would have to order it. I think the new Sirrius' are more attractive then the Trek 7.3, as well as being cheaper, but I want to try one out before I purchase the 7.3, or have them order it. What do you guys think of the two bikes? Anyone have any experience with both of them? Should I just say screw it and just buy the trek, or wait till I find a Sirrus since I am not in a rush to buy a bike?

EsoxLucius

If you are not in a rush then consider test riding a Jamis Coda and Coda Sport as well. Just might turn you that direction.

https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/review...ORT.jpg?id=271

https://app.xtremelocator.com/visitor...71000dad79db08

no1mad 

If I bought every bike that I liked, I'd be both divorced and penniless. Inquire about the Sirrus if you want, but odds are if you did get that instead of the Trek, you'll still find something else that will catch your eye.

CbadRider

I had a Trek FX 7500 and now have a base model Sirrus. They are very similar bikes. The Sirrus seems a bit lighter and more nimble, but the Trek seemed to shift a bit smoother.

The only reason I got rid of the Trek is because it was too small for me (newbie purchasing mistake).

If you're really interested in the Sirrus, try one out before you buy the Trek.

Thisguy

Thanks... I really want to however I can not find any in my area.

The Coda seems cool but a little out of my price range, and the closest dealer is 18 miles from my house. Is it worth the trek out there?

Bethany

LOL. I had looked at both Trek and the Sirrus bikes last night. I ended up with the Sirrus because I liked the rugged look and ride to it. I have to agree, it's lighter and more nimble. If you need stability from a heavier frame and easier shifting, the Trek is the way to go. When I looked up the 7.3 price online, I paid more for my Sirrus. Do you have the price right?

Closest LBS is 20 miles and the next ones in Lincoln are 80. My LBS said to try out the Sirrus for a couple of days and see what I think. I've only put 5 miles on it, but it did pretty good on hills and had a nice ride when going down. I don't think I like the tires that come with bike though so if I keep it, I'll change them out.

Thisguy

What model Sirius did you get? MSRP on the Specialized website is $550 for the Sport Model. Then the Elite is $700 with the carbon fork. My LBS has the 7.3 at $619. I don't really need a heavier frame, thats why I liked the Sirrus. The shifting is not good on it?

wcHHMiB6

Instead of the 7.3, I would definitely go with the Trek 7.5 FX.

Thisguy

I would LOVE to get the 7.5 but that is just way too out of my budget.

common man

i would rather go with the trek 7.2 fx. it is just as functional as the 7.3 fx in my experience. same frame. components work well. i love trek. great customer service / dealer support and great bikes. i like the 35 mm tires which are cushier and smoother.

Bethany

LOL. You had me worried for a second on price. I took a look at my reciept and realized mine is a Sirrus Comp. I paid 929. You were looking at the Sirrus Sport which runs about 550. If you have a Felt dealer nearby, you could check out their X-City bikes and do some comparisons. I did take a look at the X-City 6 when I was there. I don't know how good of a bike it is, but I liked how it rode. I just live too far away to get it serviced when needed so I didn't buy it. I'm also a newbie to cycling so I can't offer the best advice like most of the people here. All I can say is go with your gut feeling.

Thisguy

No there is no felt dealer near me. I think I want to throw the Trek Fast City Manona in the pic. But again I can not find one. Any one have any experience with one?

jgjulio

I have the Trek 7.3 and if I had to do it over I would get the Sirrus.
But the important thing is comfort and sizing. Lots of LBS down south a bit that have the Sirrus in stock.
Bike Palace in San Pedro.
Surf City Bike in Huntington Beach
Just to mention some.

Thisguy

Thanks for the heads up. Why would you get the Sirrus instead?

dpark

They're both very nice bikes, and they're very similar. I think a couple of the components on the Trek are slightly higher end (shifters/brakes, maybe the derailleurs) but it's very minimal. Overall, the Sirrus is slightly more road-oriented. It has slightly narrower tires and road cassette. It's also the nicer-looking of the two in my opinion.

One thing to note is that the Sirrus has an 12-25 cassette while the FX has an 11-32. The 11 vs 12 on the high end is probably a wash, but on the low end, that 32 is a significant help going up steep inclines. You pay for it with bigger gaps between gears, though. Edit: This isn't true. I'm not sure what I was looking at when I saw this.

I got the 7.3 FX. It was slightly cheaper at my local store, and more importantly it was a better fit for me. I would prefer the look and tires of the Sirrus, though.

If you like the FX and can't test ride the Sirrus, then buy the FX. The differences aren't that large, and it's probably a better idea to go with what you know you like than to risk buying something that you *might* like more (or might not). I'd recommend finding a way to test the Sirrus if you're really interested, though, so you don't regret it in a week.

EsoxLucius

?, the 2011 Jamis Coda is the same price as the 2011 Specialized Sirrus Sport. 18 miles ain't much of a drive in LA is it?

Thisguy

I see you posting a lot about the coda. What makes it so special? As for the drive Id at least go see it twice before I buy It (One to get the general feel and test ride, then compare it to the trek again, and then again to buy it). So 18 miles turns into 72 miles (36 miles round trip x2 at least).

Exit3

I admire the guy for trying to promote the Coda as often as I see his posts. I guess they stick in my mind more due to the large Coda shot at the bottom. I have to admit, it has allowed me to ponder if a Coda Sport is right for me. The blue for 2011 looks real sweet, and the price is nice. I guess he loves his bike and wants to give a shout out the be heard over the much more common, but still impressive, FX and Sirrus crowd. I say Bravo CodaMan!

EsoxLucius

72 miles in the LA area? My nephew drives about that everyday from and to his apartment in Manhattan Beach.

Yeah, I'm a Jamis proponent. I also have Giant bikes and used to have Schwinn, Raleigh and Trek. All I ask is you give a Jamis Coda a try. If you can spring a little extra for the Coda Sport that would be worth consideration as well. A steel frame is something you should experience.

jgjulio

Don't get me wrong - I like my Trek 7.3. I did change the gearing and the shifters and the brakes.
Mine is more like the 7.5 now.
I like the Sirius because it is more like a road bike.
I still recommend you buy what you have tried out. I will not buy a bike without sitting on it and riding around.
The geometry of the bike is the most important interaction with your body.
Components can be changed - the frame can not.

Greyhoundsrock

I bought the trek 7.3 a year ago and have been very happy with it. The tires alone were a selling point for me. While I know how to change a flat, I am not good at it. I will not jinx myself but suffice it to say that I just got around to purchasing a couple spare tubes for a upcoming weeklong ride. Those tires have 3000 miles on them and are going strong. I did need a new chain and cassette though but that was owner not lubing chain often enough error. Good luck with your purchase.

Thisguy

I must admit your love of your bike does make me interested in it. My whole thing about the mileage is I have a great trek and specialized dealership 1 mile from my house, heck I even went to school with of the mechanics/ salesman. They even have free tune ups for the first two years. If I ever have a problem with my bike or adivce I ride down drop off my bike and walk home. Very convienent even on my busiest days. I won't be able to say that for a shop that would take me at least 40 mins to get there (I don't live close to freeways)

EsoxLucius

That certainly is worth a lot. But so is getting the bike you want.

ddimick

I bought a 2010 Sirrus Sport just about a year ago from PV Bikes. It felt more "right" than the Trek 7.3FX. I realize that's very subjective, but in the end you buy the one that feels the best. 2,000 miles later I still think it was the right bike for me at that time. There have been some problems.

The headset bearing race needs replacement - steering indexing (my fault).
The front hub bearings need to be replaced (not my fault).
The chain needed replacement (normal wear and tear - I climb a lot of hills).
The non-locking ergo grips simply would not stay put where I wanted them and needed replacement (Ergon GC3s are the answer but Specialized ought to be ashamed).

Exit3

not to get things even more confused but what about the Jamis Allegro line? I don't see much discussion about them on here, but there seems to be a model for whatever price range you're looking for. I always wondered where the Codas fit vs. the Allegro. I guess it's you could use them the same, just a choice of aluminum or steel.