Looking only at the components, I think Giant gives you a lot for your money. I also think there's more to a bike than the component spec sheet, especially in this mid-range level, where the differences in the components are relatively small. Unless you're competing or putting hundreds of miles a week on a bike, there isn't a whole lot of difference between the mid-level components. That's not to say that I think Tourney and Deore are equivalents, but I think Altus vs. Acera is splitting hairs.

To me, the two most important factors to focus on are fit and appearance. Fit cannot be changed, at least not without buying more parts. If a less expensive bike doesn't fit as well as a more expensive bike, you either have to just put up with it or spend money in parts like stems and saddles to change the fit. If you do too much of that, the price difference starts to go away. You also can't change color or style very easily (at least not being able to make it look good).

If one brand fits exactly the same as another, and you like the colors and styles an equal amount, then sure, a case could be made to buy the less expensive one. I do not advocate shopping by component list as the primary factor, though, and I think the importance of component spec is sometimes inflated. Factors like fit and appearance will likely play a much larger role in ownership satisfaction than whether the rear derailleur is an Acera or an Alivio.

Cheers!

Does Giant offer lifetime warranty on their frames?

Yes

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/_uplo...nty-Policy.pdf

Cheers
TRJB

In that case, I would pick it over a Trek if they are comparable in terms of components and fit.

I know my initial post was for a hybrid, but with all the advice I've been getting it sounds like a hardtail is more what I'm looking for whether it's still a hybrid or closer to a mountain bike. I still don't know all the terminology too well.

Sounds like if I'm going new Giant is my best option, but I'll still peruse the CL ads for a while!

In general, there's so much value with used bikes. If you can find the style and fit you want, you'll likely pay half or less compared to what the first guy paid. The '97 Trek 850 mountain bike I picked up for my daughter about a month ago was in the local CL's "Free" section. Seriously. I called the guy 4 hours after he posted it, just knowing it was gone. He still had it. It needed two tires (the original Big Kahunas were rotted, unfortunately) and two tubes. I've changed some parts around among a few of my bikes, and she's got a nice set of EF51 shifters on it and a set of Avid Single Digit 5 brakes, and the thing rides like a new bike. It's 20 years old! Free! Just needed some tires/tubes/TLC (the other parts I put on were of my choosing; it didn't NEED them).

Best of luck in your search!

^^Second that advice on the used bikes. You might have to be less picky on what you settle on, but in general as @hokiefyd says, there's a lot of good value.

Now is the time, people are clearing out their garages with spring cleaning and getting rid of bikes they are replacing new. If you wait too long, then the pickings will be a lot slimmer until end of season when people get rid of stuff before winter.

I got really lucky last year with mine... I wanted a Giant Roam 0 or Roam 1, and was trying to factory order a new one in August/September because all of the 2016's were sold out, and none of the 2017's were in stock yet. Due to a comedy of errors on both Giant's factory and the LBS, the deal went south in October, so I decided to put it off until this spring.

Then just by luck, I found a 1 year old literally like-new Roam 1 in exactly the size I needed (large), no less than 1 block away from where I live for sale on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's List).

The bike was selling new for $989 CAD, I paid $400 for it, like I said, virtually new condition.

Not often you find the exact model you want, and quite often when you do, it's the wrong size. In this case I got lucky with both, and made out aces with the price too.

Best of luck!
TRJB

PS- also watch out for stolen bikes if you are buying new. At the same time I was looking for the Roam, I found a really nice Trek DS8.3, also 1 year old. Something about the seller seemed fishy to me though, looking at the pictures of his household in the background, and his other items for sale... he had about a half dozen $1000-$2000 bikes for sale, and the photos showed a very dingy environment. I was leery about someone like that having so many high end bikes to sell, and he also had a bunch of X-box units, gold jewlery, etc.

I asked for the serial number and he was dumb enough to provide it to me, I looked it up on the police database and it came back "STOLEN". So I didn't buy it obviously.

If I had, likely the first time I took it into a shop, when they logged the serial number into their service database, it would have flagged to them too, and they would have probably turned it over to the police and I would be out the $ I paid for it.

So just be careful if you are buying used. You never know. The gal I bought my Roam from gave me the original store receipt for it along with the purchase. That made me feel much more secure.

Cheers
TRJB

Great deal. That is, about to the percentage point, the deal I got on my bike. New MSRP was $650, and I paid the guy $250 cash. He bought it new in 2015, parked it in his garage, and decided to move it out in the summer of '16. I just happened to be the first guy who called on the ad. I wasn't even looking for a bike with suspension, either (I've bored you with this story before I think). It's my size, the color combo on it is gorgeous, and I knew I had to have it. Like you, I bought it at a 60% discount, for what is TRULY like new.

PTzach, if you really are interested in buying used, the right deal will come around. I still remember the high I felt driving home, knowing I just figuratively STOLE the bike in the back of my truck.

Thanks for all your help! I've really appreciated the advice. I'll hold out for a CL bike for a couple weeks, and if I have no luck probably pull the trigger on a Roam. Feel free to share any more words of wisdom for this noob 😁

One more question...any specific forums I should follow on here that would help me become more knowledgeable with all this stuff? Or good resources you all have used?

How is this offer on CL? From looking it up seems like it's a great deal, especially with the extras...thoughts?

Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29

That is probably a decent deal (though it's certainly not a hybrid!).

I understand that mountain bikes in particular depreciate in value pretty quickly, as there's always that "next best thing" on the current model bike, and ownership tends to be short-lived, at least with a certain set of folks. With a bike this new, there's probably not a whole lot that could be wrong with it mechanically. I would check to make sure the wheels spin true, the brakes and shifters work, etc. Otherwise, it's more or less just finding something that appeals to you and that fits. The larger your Craigslist market, the more choice you generally have. Also, the more often you check Craigslist with some pre-set filters and searches, the more likely it is that you'll find a good deal before someone else.

If you want that Specialized mountain bike, I'm sure it's a fair deal. It looks to be just over half of MSRP, which is probably fair. It definitely doesn't have hybrid geometry, though, and the guys in the mountain bike forum here might be better able to give you an assessment of what the value of that bike is.

You could not go wrong with a Trek DS as your first hybrid bike. Belt drive, sealed bearings, comfy and super versatile. It can do everything from neighborhood strolls with the the kids to 50 mile (or more) fitness rides.

These bikes are great in the winter too. After a dirty ride, just hose them down, dry off and they are ready to go... The only problem though is that they aren't cheap and if you ever get a flat tire, removing the wheel on a belt drive on the side of the road can be a challenge.

I just bought a DS 2 for $599 plus tax and love it.

Interesting. Do enlighten us all, please: which Trek DS (dual sport) bike comes with belt drive, and "sealed bearings"? It doesn't seem to be on that moronic website you cited.

Ds2