Originally Posted by
Scooty Puff Jr
I like the FX3 over the VFR5 for a couple reasons, the FX3 is lighter, has a carbon fork which is lighter and much more forgiving over bumps, it also come with better derailleurs. Weight is really a big thing to be looking at with the type of riding you will be doing, and a couple pounds makes a big difference.
Lighter is nice, but isn't going to make a whole lot of difference in your riding. The FX2 tips the scale at 25.60 lbs. The Norco might be a few hundred grams heavier due to the disc brakes, but I doubt a couple of pounds.
Carbon fork is nice, but again, unless you're constantly riding over rough asphalt it isn't going to make a whole lot of difference in the riding, and even then the difference is so subtle that most people aren't going to be able to tell the difference. What will make a bigger difference in the ride quality is the size and pressure of tires you run. You might feel the Trek is softer due to the 35mm tires compared to the 32mm on the Norco.
Regarding disc brakes, OP said he doesn't ride in the wet, but sometimes it can't be avoided, and if you've ever used disc brakes under wet conditions compared to rim brakes you'd be amazed how well they work. This difference should not be so quickly dismiss as a non-issue. It would make your ride a lot more versatile, and perhaps even hold its value better if you ever want to sell as this is what the industry is trending toward right now.
Just some food for thought.