Hey all!

I'm interested in buying a Trek FX bike since I had one a few years ago and loved it. I'm a newbie biker so not at all an expert, looking to go on some short and medium length rides (up to 50km but who knows, maybe more), mainly for fun and fitness. I'm attracted to hybrids because of the more upright position being much more comfortable for me. The option has come up to buy a used Trek FX 7.4 (with disc brakes) that's a couple years old and looks to be in very good condition/hasn't been ridden much. I'm struggling whether I should go with that or buy a new model lower down the series for a similar price.

I'm also between sizes on the Trek sizing chart, 175cm (roughly 82cm inseam if that helps), not sure whether it would be better to get the smaller or larger frame? I'm heading into a bike shop today to try to see what they think so please let me know if there's anything in particular I should be feeling for when trying both sizes. Is it just a matter of which one I feel more comfortable on?

So which would you go for?
What's the current equivalent in the lineup of the FX 7.4?
Are there any significant differences between FX1 and FX2 worth going up for?
Are there other brands that I shouldn't be ignoring in my search? I just have a bit of emotional attachment towards that bike since I previously owned one and have fond memories.

Thanks so much!

The current Trek FX 1 and FX 2 are speced below the couple of year old 7.4. The FX 1 is a 7 speed drivetrain while the 2 is an 8 speed. The 7.4 is a 9 speed. Neither the FX 1 or the FX 2 have disc brakes. I would get the used 7.4 or go up to the new FX 3. It has disc brakes and a carbon fork, I believe.

Sizing charts are at best estimates. You need to actually get on a bike and ride it to know for sure, as people of the same height might be proportioned differently. Some people have longer torsos, some longer legs or longer arms. And this affects how the bike will feel when riding. And fit matters. For years, I rode a bike that was too small because my legs are short relative to my torso. (if my legs were proportional to my torso, I would be around 5'11", but since they are not, I am 5'8"). So I found I need a larger bike for reach, and have to live with less standover than I might otherwise prefer.

Second, brands. Yes, you are ignoring all the brands except for Trek, and you really shouldn't. It isn't that Trek is bad. They are a solid choice, and the size of the company and dealer network is probably the best in North America. (and that does mean you should have no problem selling your bike in a few years if you wanted to) But they aren't the only brand on the market by a long shot and at the level you are looking at, just about every brand has a product that competes favorably with the FX line. examples include the Giant Escape line, the Specialized Sirrus, the Jamis Coda, the Cannondale Quick, the Kona Dew, the Fairdale Weekender, and no doubt, at least a dozen other quality products that I failed to mention. Most bikes retailing for $400 to $700 are spec'd at a handful of factories in Taiwan and China anyway. And the components on these bikes are similar if not identical. It is likely that if the plant was making frames for Trek, also made frames for other brands.

Finally, if you are actually looking to do rides of 50 km (30 miles) or more, you might want to consider a true road bike. I know some newbies are afraid of road bikes, but if you actually plan to ride some distance, drop bars are far better suited for it than are flat bars. There are people who do long rides with flat bars, but worth considering stretching your budget and just getting a road bike.

wear condition of a used bike is unknown, ..

I like Ergon grips on my flat bar bikes, Trekking bars are a common European choice.. I have 2 bikes with those..

Road bikes are another forum section ...

cross/gravel bikes are like road bikes that have a wider tire , like a drop bar hybrid.. but not exactly..





....

I looked at a FX 2 today and it did have disc brakes-mechanical discs, but still discs. I would get the 3 because of the hydraulic brakes and the carbon fork.

I got an old Trek FX 7.2 for my wife and have upgraded some parts (probably from 2012). Any suggestion of price range this bikes are going on used markets?