As a previous member suggested, whatever you pick out ask about getting a closeout price on a 2014 model. I have been agonizing over a bike choice for weeks now. I was down to a Trek CrossRip LTD, Felt V85, Trek DS 8.6 and a Trek 7.4 Disc. I was focused on a Disc brake set up as I almost killed myself last year up in the Mountains on a ride when there was still some slush on the road and my wheels and brakes got wet and I was going down a long windy run to the river....scared the HJ out of me as my brakes were almost gone. After riding all of them, I gave up on the drop bar because of my back and that left the 7.4 disc and the DS 8.6....test rode both of them. The 7.4 felt lighter and had more road oriented tires (my sirrus has 23s on it), but I did ride a little on a more bumpy dirt road and the DS with its switchable shock was sweet and kind to my back. It also was more upright (stock) and felt better to ride. When it came time to buy one...I saw that the 2014 8.5 was only $800 and there weren't significant differences in running gear (yes it was a little better, but the stuff on the 8.5 was all quality gear) the only difference that I could see in the two year groups were the integrated sensor slot on the 2015 and the tubless rim set up on the wheels. I have always run puncture liners in my tires and will go down in size to treaded 28s anyways, so I decided to save the $500 and go with the 2014.