Originally Posted by
Aburguy
Thanks. A few shops I went to today suggested that our area has enough paths and trails that the shocks would be an advantage but stressed the ability to lock them out is nice. I have yet to be to a Giant dealer yet, all I have seen is Kona, Raleigh and specialized. The specialized and Kona both seemed very nice but were a tad more than the Trek DS1.
A couple of quick points.
1.
You need to compare model to model, not brand to brand. I own a Trek and a Salsa. 98% of the time, I prefer the Salsa because it is better suited for the rides I do. My wife owns a Trek hybrid and a Jamis road bike. She mostly rides the Jamis because it is both a better bike and a better bike for the riding she does. My son used to own a Trek mountain bike but now rides a Kona. It is a better bike in just about every way, as it should be for what we paid for it.
2.
In the US, Trek and Specialized are marketed as premium brands, meaning that at a given price point, you pay $50 to $100 more for a comparable Trek or Specialized than you will other brands.
3. In general, major brands make comparable products at each price point.
4. Stay away from entry level bikes with suspension forks. The bike might be nicely built, but the fork will suck. If you really need a bike with a suspension fork, up your budget by at least a few hundred. For most riding on pavement or groomed surfaces, a hybrid with a steel, carbon fiber, or aluminum fork will be fine.