New to bikes!!! Need help choosing asap!!!
 

I'm looking to buy a bike ASAP!!! I've narrowed it down to 4 bikes. Can someone tell me which one I should get. The specs are the problem. I don't know what overall combo of components is best on each bike. Can someone that knows a lot about parts and function tell me which one to get and why? Thank you in advance!!!

Also, I don't need any advice on test riding and picking the one I like. I already know this. I need facts on what components are the best overall on each bike, and most importantly WHY. Plus, I can't test ride some of them because They don't have them in stock.

Here are the bikes (also if you have another suggestion please let me know and why):

In no particular order:

1. Trek 7.3 FX Disc ($780)

Frameset
Sizes 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25"
Frame FX Alpha Black Aluminum
Fork FX Alloy Disc w/tapered wall thickness, straight blades
Wheels
Wheels Alloy disc front hub, Shimano M475 disc rear hub; Bontrager Nebula disc 32-hole alloy rims
Tires Bontrager Race All Weather Hard-Case, 700x32c
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano EF60, 8-speed trigger
Front Derailleur Shimano M191
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Crank Shimano M361, 48/38/28 w/chainguard
Cassette SRAM PG-830 11-32, 8 speed
Pedals Nylon body w/alloy cage
Components
Saddle Bontrager H1
Seat Post Bontrager Nebula
Handlebars Bontrager Satellite Plus IsoZone OS, 25mm rise
Stem Bontrager SSR, 10 degree
Headset Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset Shimano M416 mechanical disc brakes w/Shimano EF60 levers




2. Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc ($730)

FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminium w/ smooth welding, w/ fender and rack braze-ons, forged drop outs w/ kickstand mount
REAR SHOCK ---
FORK SF11-NVX-DS-MLO, alloy lower, 28mm stanchion, coil spring, mech. LO
HEADSET Ahead, loose ball, Cr-Mo cups, 25.5mm stack
STEM Melt-forged alloy, 20 degree rise, 25.4mm clamp
HANDLEBARS Alloy riser bar, 25.4mm, 25mm rise, 8 degree back sweep, 6 degree up
GRIPS BG Contour, closed end, 132mm
FRONT BRAKE Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brake, dual piston
REAR BRAKE Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brake, dual piston
BRAKE LEVERS Hydraulic lever
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano FD-M191, 31.8mm clamp, top swing, dual pull
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera, 8-speed
SHIFT LEVERS Shimano, SL-M310, 8-speed rapid fire
CASSETTE SRAM 8-speed, 11-32t
CHAIN KMC Z8 w/ reusable Missing Link
CRANKSET SR SunTour Octalink spline, replaceable rings, w/composite anti-jump disc
CHAINRINGS 48 x 38 x 28T w/ chainguard
BOTTOM BRACKET Octalink spline 68mm
PEDALS Composite plastic body, loose ball w/ reflectors
RIMS Alloy double wall, pinned, disc, 32h
FRONT HUB Machined disc side flange and mount, sealed bearings, dual lock nuts w/ 19mm contact side
REAR HUB Machined disc mount & flanges, doubel sealed, ground race, dual lock nuts w/ 19mm contact side
SPOKES 2mm (14g) stainless
FRONT TIRE Specialized Borough XC Sport, 700x45c, 60TPI, wire bead
REAR TIRE Specialized Borough XC Sport, 700x45c, 60TPI, wire bead
INNER TUBES Schraeder valve
SADDLE Specialized XC, Body Geometry, 143mm width, front and rear bumpers
SEATPOST Alloy, 2-bolt head, 12.5mm offset, 27.2mm
SEAT BINDER Forged alloy
NOTES Chain stay protector, derailleur hanger, clear coat, owners manual




3. Cannondale Quick CX 4 ($700)

FrameQuick CX Rigid, Optimized 6061 Alloy, SAVE, 1-1/8" Si headtube
Frame SizesS, M, L, X, J
ForkQuick CX Rigid
CrankShimano M-171 48/38/28
ChainKMC Z82 KMC Z82
RimsMaddux Disc X320
SpokesStainless Steel XD Black
TiresContinental Double Fighter 700x37c
PedalsWellgo, Platform type, Reinforced Resin
Bottom BracketTange Seiki Cartridge BB
Front DerailleurShimano Alivio
Rear DerailleurShimano Acera
ShiftersShimano Altus
HandlebarsCannondale C4 6061, 25mm rise, 600mm
StemCannondale C4 1.5" 3-D Forged
HeadsetTange Custom 1.5"
BrakesTektro Novela Mechanical Disc
BrakeleversCannondale CBL 8.0
Seat PostCannondale C4, Alloy
Wheel Size700c
Wheel RimsMaddux Disc X320
NipplesRed Nipples
Rear Shockn/a
SaddleCannondale Quick CX
GripsCannondale Cityscape Urban
Extras n/a



4. Giant Roam 1 ($600)
Frame
Sizes S, M, L, XL
Colors White/Red
Frame ALUXX-Grade Aluminum
Fork SR Suntour NEX 4610 w/ Lockout, 63mm Travel
Shock N/A
Components
Handlebar Giant Sport, Alloy 30mm rise 25.4
Stem Giant Sport, Alloy
Seatpost Giant Sport Alloy, 30.9
Saddle Giant X-Road Sport Men's
Pedals VP-992S Steel Cage
Drivetrain
Shifters SRAM X.5, Trigger
Front Derailleur Shimano Altus
Rear Derailleur SRAM X.5
Brakes Avid BB5 Disc
Brake Levers Tektro 3 Finger w/ Kraton Comfort Grip
Cassette SRAM PG830 11x32, 8-Speed
Chain KMC Z72NP
Crankset Shimano M361, 28/38/48
Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge
Wheels
Rims Giant Sport, Double Walled, Disc Specific, 700c
Hubs Alloy Sealed w/ QR, 32h
Spokes Stainless Steel
Tires Kenda Kwick, 700x40

At that pricepoint, and between those bikes, the decision should be based mostly on support from the shop -- how well do their mechs build and tune the bikes up before you take them home, does the shop take care of their customers, etc. I wouldn't be worried about specific components between those bikes. Fit and customer service should be the primary selling point of any of those bikes.

Generally Shimano's components line up like this:

Tourney < Altus < Acera < Alivio < Deore < Deore LX < Deore XT < XTR

The M191 front derailluer showing up on a couple of these bikes is probably about Altus level. With Shimano, higher numbers are better and occaissionaly they jump numbers across components groups of different years. M310 is around Acera level, I think. The EF60 is kind of a wild card because it doesn't follow their usual numbering scheme. I think it's Altus level. SRAM components aren't easy to map into this hierarchy, but I'd guess that X.5 is about Alivio or Acera quality. (I've never used X.5, so that's just a guess.)

For commuting, I'd probably prefer one with a rigid fork, but that's obviously your call.

Hydraulic brakes are almost always better than mechanical brakes, and none of the mechanical brakes here are anything special. The brakes on the Trek are probably the best of the mechanicals here.

The Deore rear derailleur on the Trek gives it a nice leg up, and that's definitely one of the most important pieces to have at a high level.

Overall, I guess I'd say the Trek has the best components, but I think the Giant is probably the best value, because its components aren't far behind the others.

Are you using this bike for commuting?
Do you really need a suspension fork or is it extra weight (fork is a bigger deal to replace than components if you don't like it, so look at that before components)?
Can you work on the bike yourself? Will you need the LBS down the road?
What are the most important things you need this bike to do (to suggest other bikes, how do we know what is similar enough to these four)?

Go with the Trek. They make great bikes, have a great warranty and the specs look pretty good. Definitely no suspension fork whatever you do. Don't forget to budget at least $500 for accessories and a good saddle, pedals, etc.

Just an FYI, cross-posting the same thread in multiple forums is not allowed per the forum guidelines.

Closing this thread as there is another thread in the Hybrid forum.