Help - Hybrid bike
 

Totally new to biking. Want to get a hybrid type bike mostly for road and occasionally off-road but nothing serious. Narrowed down between Gary fisher Kaitai (2006), Gary Fisher Nirvana S or Trek 7.3 FX Disk. Please advice. Thanks.

Looked at Jamis yet too?

Have you ridden them both?
Do you have a good LBS?

Besides Jamis there are others also like:
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=7&itemid=274
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030....sp?model=11305

Yes there are few LBS's in my area. No I have not ridden any of the above mikes.

Are you recommending Raleigh over GF and Trek? I could not find a Jamis hybrid though. I'm just confused at the moment.

sorry, I meant "bikes"

My advice is get a 29'er with a decent fork that you can lock out. That way you get the best of both worlds.

http://fisherbikes.com/bikes/series....ies=trail-29er

My suggestion is to go out and test ride some of these bicycles. My choice was to buy a Giant Cypress after many test rides.

Recently, I purchased a 7.3 FX and the ride seems harsh compared to my Giant. Many people on this forum like and recommend the FX series. Buy test riding you can get a feel for each bike.

I have a GT Nomad and am very pleased

This is good advice. Pictures, reviews, component lists and others' recommendations help but the bike has to feel good to you.

I have been eyeing the Gary fisher Dual Sport bikes myself (very cool!). Im going to have to get a used bike for now but Im probably going to be saving up for one of them. I think the urban ones look cool to, but Im not always on smooth ground, I need something that will ride over the ruff stuff.

Its really to bad the bike(s) websites don't let tell you how heavy the bikes are.:(

Bike weights vary by frame size. Component weights vary too, then people whine if it isn't exact.

One thing I like about the Dual Sports are that they have the 29" tires and the "Genesis Geometry". Click the link to the Fisher Bikes website and see the video clips of why the 29ers and the Genesis Geom is so cool. Get one of the Dual Sports, Im saving my money for one!

http://fisherbikes.com/fisher101/

Thanks FishOn. Have you tried one of the Dual Sport? None of the LBS in my area carries dual sport bikes. I want a bike that performs well on road and can handle off road (typical trails) as well.

The make of bike doesnt matter. Choose the best bike shop, knowledgable mechanics, helpful in swapping out parts, able to swap saddles after purchase.

Bingo. In this day of overseas manufacture, there isn't much to differentiate one brand from another. They are all the same and are made in the same factories with the same parts. I'm not a bike shop user myself but the advice above sure makes sense to me for a beginner.

No I haven't yet. Didn't you say you were thinking of getting a Gary fisher Kaitai? The kaitai is one of he dual sports. According to the website that sounds like one that would do the job.

Do not buy a hybrid even if your life depends on it .... because it does not.

Look at a cross bike .... better machines