HUGE difference

05 ship with SRAM x.7
03 is Shimano Deore

05 ships with Sole Hydro Disc brakes
03 ships with with Mechanicals discs (Though nice ones ... Avid)

05 ships with Truvativ cranks with Gigapipe bottom bracket
03 ships with generic Giant cranks (garbage) with generic bottom bracket

05 lower top tube for more clearence
03 higher top tube

05 Hutchinson Bulldogs
03 Hutchinson Scorpions (TOTAL junk)

05 Sun Rynolite RIMS (SCHWING!!!!!)
03 Weinmann ZAC (????)

05 Formula 32H hubs
03 Generic Shimano Hubs

05 Marzochi (SCHWING!!!) EXR fork
03 Manitou Axle Super (???)

05 Easton stem and handlebars
03 Generic stem and handlebars


2005 http://www.giantbicycle.com/us/030.0...sp?model=11037
2003 http://www.giantbicycle.com/us/030.0...03&model=10635

On the balance, I'd have to say that the 2005 model is better equipped. The SRAM fittings are WAY better than the Shimano offerings at Deore level (you get ESP 1:1 which is easier to keep in tune. Though, not sure about Hayes So1e brakes vs the venerable Avid Mechs).

What I AM sure of is that the 2003 is 2 year old stock and the bike shop should be selling it at or near wholesale. You can get a better 05 Rainier for $800 (MSRP $850) EASY!!! And I'd wager that you could dicker a shop down to $780 for the 05 Rainier.

Hell, at my local shop they're knocking $50 off $300 bikes from last years inventory. That 2 year old Rainier should have cost $700 at the most, realistically $200 under current MSRP is an appropriate price for two year old inventory (especially when it comes with a piece of crap crank/bottom bracket combo).

I would suggest that you find a better price on a similarly equipped bike elsewhere. Than RETURN your Giant Rainier. Hopefully he'll offer you a lower price OR equipment upgrades. At the minimum, he should rip that POS crank/bottom bracket and replace it with a Deore minimum (I'd ask for LX). Those tires also have to go. They are COMPLETE garbage that only operate at a merely functional level when your riding on perfectly groomed dirt trails.

Suggest one of the following replacement tires:
Hutchinson Python
Hutchinson Mosquito
Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Panaracer Cinder
IRC Mythos
Kenda Karma (only if you're a light rider)
WTB Velociraptor
WTB Weirwolf
WTB Mutano Raptor

Those are the tires I can think of quickly that are "well regarded". The Scorpions are a joke, I know because I got them on my 2004 Giant Yukon. I quickly replaced them with older Fire XC Pros. I'm now riding Cinders.



Those are the one's that I can think of off the top of my head that are well regarded.