adam5

I have three bikes that I'm looking at.

The Trek Cobia has a SRAM X5 real derailer, and a Deore front with Avid Elixer hydraulic brakes and a Rockshox Recon Silver single air (100mm) fork and will run me $1129.

Trek Bicycle

A Cannondale SL2 Trail has the same brakes, SRAM X5 front a rear, and the same fork, but 80mm travel. It will run $1199.

TRAIL SL 2 - Trail SL - Hardtail - Mountain - Bikes - 2013

I also looked at a Scott Aspect 910, which has a Shimano XT rear and Deore fron derailers, with the Shimano hydraulic brakes, and a Rockshox XC32 single air fork. It will run $1350.

SCOTT Aspect 910 Bike - SCOTT Sports


The Scott will stretch my budget to it's max.

Local shops have the Trek and Cannondale in stock, but the Scott will have to be ordered, as they don't have my size in stock.

Suggestions???

ColinL

Did you test ride the bikes that are in stock?

PatrickGSR94

Been seeing lots of bad reviews for the Elixir 9 brakes. I test-rode a Trek with Shimano XT hydro discs and those felt really nice. Have not personally tried a bike with Elixir 9 brakes, though.

adam5

I rode all three (the Scott was a Med not a L).

The Trek and Scott felt better to me than the Cannondale.

I don't think that I'm going to shell out the extra money for the Scott. I think I'm better off spending the extra $200 on accessories and adding a remote fork lock to the Trek.

As far as brakes, the Elixers felt fine to me riding in a hilly neighborhood on a test ride.

ColinL

People either love or hate Avid hydraulic brakes. Those that hate them usually do so because of maintenance and reliability issues, which you wouldn't notice on a test ride.

The XT brakes are super powerful and have good modulation, but the lever engages slowly on every bike I've ridden with them. There's a good 1/2" of creep.

Dannihilator

Despite the lower end drivetrain on the cobia, the cobia has a better fork, so I would get the cobia.

Ldosorio

I did the same research recently and here are my conclusions:
1. Cobia and SL2 are basically the same: Same Drivetrain and Fork. Both with Hydraulic Brakes.
2. I like the Cannondale look and also that later you can move to lefty suspension without problem, the 2013 frame is based on Flash 2012 design that is quite good.
3. From Cobia, well, its geometry fits better on me.
I am planning to buy the Cobia or the X-Caliber on March 2013.

adam5

I brought my Cobia home Sunday, thanks to a great girlfriend. She paid $250 towards the bike and bought me a Saris Bike Porter 2 rack as an early Valentines Day Gift, and got me a pair of riding shorts.

I am off work tomorrow and the weather forecast is calling for 65 and mostly sunny. It sounds like a perfect day for its maiden ride.

Zephyr11

Good choice. I was going to second Dan on the better fork thing. You'll notice that over the better drivetrain.

Daspydyr 

Does your girlfriend have a sister?

dminor 

^^ Shouldn't you be inquiring about a grandmother?