Last fall I bought a Giant Revel 0 with full SRAM X5. It took a little while to get used to the shifters (I was used to older Shimano on my 15 year old MTB) but really liked the way it shifts. My wife has now more or less claimed that bike as her own, leaving me to look for a replacement.

One bike I'm looking at as a replacement is a 2013 Specialized Rock Hopper with an Acera/Alivio mix. Given he's trying to move out his Specialized stock, we can make a decent deal on the bike. I'm not a hard core mountain biker, so lower end stuff is fine (though something Deore or higher would be nice, but I figure if I went that route I could replace stuff as it breaks.) I'm also looking across town at a Trek X-Caliber 7. Going to test ride one tonight (they don't have one built up right now.) Both bikes spec out about the same. I really prefer the SRAM on the Giant but that appears to be a non issue and I really don't feel like swapping drive trains between bikes (though that is an option.)

Any thoughts between the Rock Hopper or Trek? Open to other suggestions, $700-$800 range. I'm not a hard core rider so lower level bikes/components are fine.

With Shimano, Deore is the sweet spot for mtn bikes and 105 is the sweet spot for most Race bikes.

IMHO, sweet spot means what satisfies most dedicated cyclists I've encountered throughout the years...

Rumor has it, that most Sram stuff is great regardless, and that the more recent Shimano stuff has improved.

I'd tend to avoid Tourney and anything below...

Yes.

I thought about this more after I posted the initial thread & maybe I'll edit or delete & repost. Nothing I'm looking at has SRAM so its more or less a non issue. Right now, I'm looking at two bikes: '13 Specialized RockHopper & Trek X-Caliber 7. Both spec about about the same but I can get the Specialized about $150 cheaper than the Trek. Plenty of opinions on the Trek but haven't found as much about the Specialized...

I'm partial to Trek and Giant.

Specialized activates my gag reflex!

Personally, I prefer Shimano over SRAM. I had Shimano Deore components on my old MTB (2010 GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc) and it never skipped a beat. It shifted crisp,and was just dead reliable. I think I have SRAM X7/X9 components on my current MTB and they've hiccuped a few times.

They both have their high points and low points. I'd be more likely to reach for the bike with the Shimano group, but I don't have anything against SRAM. My "standard" are the Shimano Deore group.

SRAM, most bike mechanics will always say SRAM over Shimano for mtb.

It just comes down to personal preference. X5 Sram matches up to Deore Shimano.

I have two bikes now, one is Sram and one is Shimano and both have more oddball style shifters on them. My Sram bike has gripshifts and my Shimano has dual control brakes, shift using the brake levers. Both work fine and both need tweaked every now and again.

Airborne Bicycles. Guardian 2.0
Are you up for ordering a bike online?

Deore is what it's always been: functional but mediocre. The front shifter and front der. in particular get the job done with a long throw at the lever, and a lot of noise at the front der. with a shift that takes it's own sweet time to complete.

At your price point, you don't have many options. Take what's there and upgrade when you can.