Hello guys. This is my first post and I need some feedback. I'm looking at the following bikes and have ridden them all. Cannondale Quick 6, Specialized Sirrus, Giant Escape 2 and Trek 7.2 FX. I genuinely like them all and they all feel very good. There isn't a lot of info out on the Cannondale like there is on the others, so I need some input. Do the specs on one of these stand out from the rest? Components, warranty or otherwise? Does one brand have more "cache" than the others? I'm real;ly looking for someting to help break the tie.

Buy the bike that you like the color most.

I've owned Specialized and Giant (not the bikes on your list) and they were ok. I bought a Cannondale in April after lusting after one for over 5 years. Comfortable ride and awesome bike.
Everyone has a Trek. Don't know why?

Have you considered other brands? How about Jamis or Raleigh?

Welcome to Bikeforums! The brands you listed are all first rate. Buy the bike that fits your physique. Branding is less important than fit or the quality of the components.

All pretty similar. Giant is the least expensive but offers pretty much the same specs as the others. Cannondale looks nice except for the 7 speed freewheel instead of the upgraded 8 speed freehub the others offer. But it has a cro moly fork, which, IMO should ride better than the hi tensile fork on the Trek or the aluminum fork on the Specialized or Giant.

In a nutshell, any of them should be fine, but I would advise you to consider getting at least 8 speed shifters on the Quick 5, or better yet 9 on the Escape 1, Sirrus Sport, or 7.4 FX.

Thanks very much, guys. I'm not sensitive to brand, just wondering if any of the brands listed stand out as far as quality of components, warranty or better resale value. Very good suggestions, MRT2. Thanks very much!

Usually, different bike shops have different brands, so if you pick the bike shop you like, that will limit the brands.

I've researched Raleigh and Jamis, but I haven't found any locally to look at or ride.

No.

The reason is that bike companies are really just marketing companies. They don't make anything any more. Some still design their own frames, but with the exception of Giant, nobody makes their own frames and forks. (Giant make bikes for almost everyone.)

Most bike companies have been reduced to design studios where the most thought goes into the color and decals on next year's model. And the ever important marketing plan. As for the rest, they simply choose off-the-shelf frames, forks, components, and parts, then have someone in China or Taiwan put them all in a box.

At the high end (above $7,000), things change, and the brands particpating in the market change, but at the low end where you and most of us look, that's the story.

That's not to say there aren't differences between models as MRT2 points out. But those are choices in selecting parts that get put into the box, not differences in design or quality of manufacture.

As for brand cachet, again, until you're into custom handbuilt territory or above $7,000 in mass-produced bikes, there ain't none.

This is why we emphasize fit, ride quality, and dealer interaction higher than brand name. Brand name alone does not ensure you'll get any of those things.

Great! Thank you.

Since they are all similar bikes, in quality and componentry - I echo a previous suggestion, go with a 9 spd for value, functionality, and resale. You always seem to get more for your dollar with Giant, because there is no middleman................

Plus, Giant makes some awesomely pretty bikes.................. and the 2015 Escape 1 is an awesome bike, at a friendly price...... might even find a 2014 cheap.

Not only that but there is a much greater difference among bike shops than there is among bike brands. Find the shop where you identify with the personnel, buy a brand they carry and you'll never go wrong.

Something to this. A good bike shop will be competent with the initial assembly of the bike (seems obvious but not all bike shops are created equal), will put you on the right sized frame and work with you to dial in the fit, get you properly accessorized at a fair price, and will be there for you to handle minor mechanical issues competently and cheerfully until you get up to speed at doing your own adjustments and even if you don't. And if you have a major problem, which might happen, will work quickly to handle any warranty issues with the manufacturer.

As far as brand cache, at the $500 price point, they all pretty much are the same. They are all pretty much sold exclusively at bike shops, so you are good there.

The thing that makes Jamis a little different is, their Coda line are Cro Moly steel frames, as opposed to the aluminum frames all the brands you mentioned have. There was a time when all the major brands made steel frames, but that was back in the 90s. I am partial to the ride of a good steel frame myself, but plenty of my cycling brethren love their aluminum bikes.

most bike factories are concentrated on the island of Taiwan .. ROC
or Mainland PRC, though some other SE Asian countries are getting the Work

those factories make multiple brands... the components are bought in bulk .. from other factories ..

at a given price the bikes of a given type will be more the same than different ..

cashe' of brand is for you to sort out.
Famed formerly Italian or Name purchased from a closed factory
or rights bought to name, buying out , then closing the factory and moving production to where it cost less
Is all part of how things work in the world.


the brand painted on the frame is another part of the contract made with the
factory shipping the boxed bike container full to the importer's distribution ware house.

Dealer attention to assembly details is a local issue.. so that is why Pick the dealer to buy from

is a good first choice ..

+1

Seriously, the bikes are NOT all alike except for the paint and decals. Different companies have different geometries built into their frames, so a Specialized hybrid in XL frame size is not going to feel exactly like a Cannondale hybrid in XL. Try the bikes on, ride them a little bit and decide which fits you best. When I bought my Cannondale Quick, I also rode a Specialized. The Specialized didn't feel as good to me as the Cannondale. The components and quality were fine; the "fit" of the Cannondale geometry for that model was the difference. For other people, it might be the opposite. We're all slightly different. Factor that bike fit in along with the perceived dealer experience. A good dealer technician can made a bike fit you; a good bike won't make a bad dealer good.

What size frame is the Specialized 54? Medium or large? I had a guy call me who has a 2009 Specialized Sirrus Sport with 25 miles on it. Says I won't know it from brand new. Also has quite a few extras such as Shimano M324 peddles, painted to match kickstand, computer, seat bag with flat fix kit, rear rack and a Blackburn mirror. Is there a lot of difference in the 2009 model and the curent model? I'm 5'10" by the way.

54 cm might fit you at 5'10". How much does he want for it?

He's asking $450 but I wouldn't want to pay that for a 2009 model. What are your thoughts?

Way too much. The bike sold for $600 or so new. Does it really have just 25 Miles on it? How would you know. It is a 5 year old bike. You can get a brand new bike for $450 with warranty and free service for a year or 2. Even a lightly used bike might need a tuneup after 5 years.

Every market is different, but I would offer maybe $200 if it fit and rode perfectly. Hybrids depreciate quickly.

Pretty much what I was thinking.

You don't buy the bike, pretty much any brand in the same type and price range, will be pretty much identical, with the exception of paint colour and graphics. You buy the bike shop instead, so the question of brand is moot.

1) Does the bike shop have reasonably quick service? If your bike is in the shop, is it a day or two or a week or more? How about in the high season?
2) Does the shop have reasonable service hours, are they there at 8am for a drop off, before work? Are they there for a pickup at 6:30 after work?
3) Does the shop have the accessories that you want, how about clothing sizes? A shop that stocks sizes XXS, XS, S, M is pretty much useless if you are an XL.
4) How about prices? While shops can't be as cheap as online, and a 10% or 20% premium is reasonable. A consistant 50% or 100% increased markup is not.
5) How about the staff, are they friendly and courteous? Are they as attentive to a rider with a $200 bike as they are to a rider with a $20,000 bike?

Brand is pretty much meaningless these days. Modern manufacturing makes differences between brand, as far as workmanship goes, irrelevant. What is relevant is fit and feel. That is pretty individual, and you need to determine it yourself by riding them.

+1 Shop the shop. I ride a Masi, because the shop I make my major purchases at sells those, Surley, Salsa and Haro. (Haro actually owns the Masi brand, and distributes them.)

+2