Narrowed it down to two!
 

My quest in purchasing a hybrid is almost complete. I have it narrowed down to the GIANT Escape 3 (2015) and the Trek 7.0 FX (2014). I have test ridden both and like them both! I am pretty sure there is not a bad choice, but I want to make the best choice!

My thoughts thus far in weighing the pros and cons of each bike: The Shimano components on the Trek seem to be a little higher up in the hierarchy, but I am not particularly a fan of the 2014 color. I know the trek has an aluminum fork while the GIANT has a high-tensile steel fork, but both forks appear to have their advantages (light weight vs. more stable ride). I am a bit nervous about purchasing the Trek and then having a 2015 model released soon after, especially if I end up liking the appearance of the 2015 better than the 2014. Does anyone know when Trek will release their 2015 FX line? I also like that cabling is internally routed on the GIANT, while the Trek does not. I have also heard that you get more bike for your money with GIANT because the brand name recognition in the USA is not quite as good as Trek's.

Opinions on these two bikes? Any advice/wisdom before purchasing is welcome!

-Accel

What are you using the bike for. Does one make you Jones better than the other....

I intend to use the bike for commuting and longer leisure rides. I'm a student. I was surprised how much I liked the GIANT when I saw it! It's a beautiful bike. I don't want to buy just based on looks though.

I'd you try them both? Why a hybrid? Have you tried other styles, if you are gonna use it for other purposes like exercising or longer distances then the hybrid might nut be what you need....test ride many different ones before you buy.

^^^ Since when is a Hybrid not good for exercising??? And you can certainly ride a Hybrid over some very long distances.

To the OP - I tried the equivalent Giant Escape and ended up with the Trek. Nothing at all wrong with the Giant, it just didn't feel as good to me on the road. You have taken both for a ride and that didn't help you pick a winner - I'm not sure anyone can help you split the difference.

I'd be cautious of relying too much on generalizations like "You get more bike with Giant". Think of what you like best and least about each bike then weigh how much those factors mean to you, as opposed to anybody else. For example, if internal cable routing really floats your boat, by all means go that route. Or if the aesthetics of one appeal more than the other. Which bike has you casting more backward glances as you walk away from it?

They look the same on paper, except for the benefit of the Giant fork. Componentry is almost identical.

If they ride the same to you, buy the one you fall in love with. I agree with you, I like the looks of the Giant, and it will ride better. On top of that, it's cheaper.

The paint scheme of the 2015 Giant Escape 3 is very nice.

If the bikes feel the same to you, then I would be going for the Giant Escape 3.

http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/...psb511d379.jpg

^^^ That's a really nice blue.

Point taken, I was going by my personal experience...I bought a Quick 5 and after a month I wasn't getting wat I expected out of it's i traded for a CAAD and my exercising got a lot better and could cover way more distance in shorter time....

Thanks for the advice! Got it. I think I will test ride the Giant one more time, just to make sure. I test rode the Giant before test riding the Trek. Now that I tried both, I will go back to the Giant and focus in on how it compares.

I have definitely been leaning towards the Giant. One of my concerns in regard to the Componentry is the shifters. The Giant has Tourney while the Trek has Altus. Is that a big deal?

That's not a big deal at all. They are so similar in everything , even quality of frames, that they could be brother/sister. my money would go t Giant - if only for looks alone. They are extremely close to each other.

I am with you that they are so close it really comes down to subjective preferences as opposed to any objective determination that one is fundamentally "better".

I just purchased a Giant Escape 1 and I really like it. It feels very responsive to every pedal stroke. I made some adjustments such as: shortening the handlebar so that my hands are no further apart than my shoulders; going with a smooth tread 28 tire instead of the 32 or 35 that comes with it; lowering the handlebar; adding toe clips; and moving the seat up and back. Without those adjustments, the bike would be kinda lame. I ride this bike in the 16-18 mph range most of the time and it encourages me to pedal fast and hard. Good luck with your decision.

Giant best bang for the buck, imo. I have ridden the Roam 3 quite a bit.

Wow, I really appreciate all the advice I am getting. I'm also really pleased that most seem very satisfied by their Giant hybrid.

Were these adjustments you made immediately after purchasing? Or did you realize you needed to make them after riding for a bit?

Great! Glad to hear it! I am curious to know if you (and others) would still think the Giant is the better deal, if the Trek was only about $380 (which makes the price difference between the two only $40)? I still prefer the Giant's appearance but I know I shouldn't just buy based on looks.

Go with disc brakes...You will save big in a long run, and also stopping performance should be much better. Didn't check Trek or Giant website, but I'm sure they have higher trim with disc brakes.

Not sure if disc brakes are in my budget... but I will look into it!

I've about thrown myself over the bars with the stock brakes on an Escape. Lifted the rear wheel a few times. Don't worry about the brakes.

The only possible change would be to step up to the Escape 2. Slightly better components and an alloy front fork. Is it worth the extra 100? Not sure. But the internal cable routing is a great idea. I wish I had it on mine.

If you like the Giant, go for it.

My concern about investing the extra $100 for the Escape 2 is bike theft. As a student, I think staying on the lower end of the hybrid lines is the best choice for me right now.

I don't think a bike thief would target one over the other. Around here, the only bike I know of that has been stolen was a $50 huffy. You can get a rider on your homeowner or renters insurance fairly cheap for full replacement value.

I didn't know you could do that! Thanks! I had heard that some people preferred the steel fork because they thought it provided greater stability while riding. Thoughts?

I'm not sure that you would be spared from a bike thief, just by going to a $100 cheaper bike, but you may be denying yourself a bike that suits you better.

If you get something like the top D-Locks/U-Locks from Abus or Kryptonite, a bike thief is going to need an angle grinder to be able to steal your bike, and will have to spend quite a while making one hell of a racket and fireworks show from sparks, to get it.

I suspect that literally all of the bikes stolen from Universities, have had mediocre to middling bike locks on them.