I'm also thinking about the Schwinn 411 IG5. Any thoughts?

I'm riding on almost completely flat terrain in Mesa/Phoenix AZ. It'll be all paved I think (I've checked out most of the path I'd take on my cruiser or a car) and most of it is on trails, not the road. It'll add one mile to take trails that much, but the few miles I've ridden on the 'road' road have convinced me to stay off it as much as I can.

The insight is here: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400863__400863

and there's another insight here (but I can't really tell the difference, components?): https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400863__400863

and the schwinn is here: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400604__400604

I like the schwinn because it has internal gears which i read requires less maintenance (i've ridden nothing but a huffy cruiser sporadically and a huffy when i was a kid) but performance does give lifetime free adjustments, so I don't think either of the insights would be too bad.

any input? Thanks

I had an older Insight 1 that I commuted on until it was recently stolen. I had added fenders, rack, and baskets to it and it made a good grocery/utility bike. I rode it 6 miles nearly every day for 3-4 years and had no real problems that weren't my fault..

I wouldn't take it on a rough path.. maybe a well packed dirt path with very few rocks for a short distance. If your path has too much area like that, take the road or get a mountain bike.

I don't really see a difference between the two Insights beside the color. The list price is the same but the sale price difference is significant so go for the cheaper one. IGH and disc brakes are nice, but in your climate aren't as beneficial as in places with lots of rain or snow. I'd test ride and see what feels good. The IGH bike looks heavier but that probably isn't too big of a deal on flat ground.

One drawback on all of them, none seem to have rack mounts. That could be a dealbreaker for a commuter.

Are you certain?

I ride a Diamondback edgewood every day. I added a rack, pannier, and fenders. As was stated earlier, I've experienced no problems that weren't self-inflicted. I've not had the best of luck when it comes to flat tires, but that's not an issue with the bike or tires themselves.

I had a diamondback Insight RS from performance. it came with rack and fenders. It was okay for commuting. Averaged 14 mph I took it back because the plastic fenders started rubbing on the wheel and after PB looked and it and it still was not fixed. I took it back to them 100% guaranty.

I took the money and bought a 12 Motobecane Fantom CX from BIKEDIRECT.com for more money and added a rack but it is faster (average 15-16 mph) and much more fun to ride.

Things may have changed since mine was made, but I had fenders and rack installed.

I see a kludged in substitution of an IGH in a vertical dropout frame ..
Q: you going to the Performance Bike retail Shop? and ride it home..

Or you relying on your own mechanical skills to assemble it from the Box?

I bought the Insight 2 last year from REI and assembled it myself. I also do all my own wrench turning and once set up and everything adjusted the bike has been problem free. I put around 1200 miles on the bike and wore out the tires so I just recently replaced them with Continental City Ride tires in 700 X 32. It's been a good bike and I'd put it up against any of the more popular brands in it's price range. My bike came with Alivio components which the Insight 3 now comes with. If you do your own mechanic work it's a great bike for the price and has held up to my abuse over paved and rough dirt and gravel and even a mishap where a stick flew up and lodged in the rear wheel and bent a spoke and slightly untrued the rim. I fixed both issues myself and can speak for the toughness of this bike.

My wife has one of these with alivio components. It's a women's version... We ride a lot and once our bikes fell off of a cheap bike rack going 80mph and here bike survived pretty good... The wheels where trashed but the frame is fine other than a dent... It's a nice solid and cheap bike... I like the frames, you can always upgrade the stuff you decide needs it. Hers has pannier rack mounts as well.
That's her bike with the replacement wheels... It's a few years old now so they may have changed...

Going by the pictures and the description on the Performance web site, there is no sign or mention of mounting locations on the DOs or the stays.

I really doesn't matter much what you ride. It's a commute and nothing more than a bike ride. Commuting will grow on you quickly, and your going to love it.

I ended up getting the Insight Sti-8. I found it on sale for $450 shipped (eBay still new, just 2012 and not 2013). The best I could do on the insight i mentioned above was $366, so for an extra $84 I figured internal gears would be nice. I put it together myself and added a seat post rack. Less weight than if it'd had rack mounts, but I'm only carrying my clothes on it anyways.

I'm dying because I can't ride it yet as I just got my tonsils out.......