I have a 2002 Specialized Sirrus, the cheaper $500 version. I'm happy with it. It was first my recreational weekend bike. Now that I have a road bike, it has become my main commuter bike. It came with seat post suspension. However, I replaced that with a regular seatpost and I took the grips off and put bar ends on it and some handlebar tape. The second choice of hand positions has worked better for me than the grips. I've also replaced the original 700x28 tires with 700x25c Armadillos. I don't ride much off road, but I do fine on some of the rougher roads in this area and on the occasional few hundred feet or so across bricks, dirt, gravel or grass as long as I'm not trying to go through it too fast.