giant vs trek

moommoom

hi

im looking at buying a mountain bike or hybrid bike.

the shops iv looked at stock trek and giant?

any opinions of which is the best brand for bikes out of these two brands?

for mountain bikes and hybrid bikes are these two brands the same for quality and durability or one better than the other?

so which is better for mountain and hybrid bikes?

giant or trek?


thanks

531Aussie

I no mountain biker, but you've had no responses, so here's my half-ass effort

I wouldn't imagine there would be any difference in the frames, unless you start to compare suspension systems -- so it would come down to components.....

BUT, i'd get the Trek because 1 in 3 bikes I see out on the road are Giants ..There's just TOO many of them!!!

cyclist2

personaly i wouldnt ride a hybride for MTBing becase the centre of gravity is too high for rough terrian, a 26in is great for 'in the bush' riding

AzzaC

IT depends what you are after. Giant offer more value for your hard earned moula. IMHO though, Trek make a better bike.

If you are after a bike 'for keeps' (i.e. for 5+ years) then pick the bike with the best frame and fork.

HTH

__________________
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06 Giant TCR1

jamesc

IMHO I reckon the Giant's represent the best value for your money, and I know that Giant at one stage manufactured Trek frames for them. I am not sure if this is still the case.

When they are running out last season's bikes, I reckon the savings are better than can be obtained on a Trek.

I am somewhat bias having owned a Giant hybrid and now a road bike. If you want to go off road get a decent mountain bike with good componentry, such as Deore or above.

James

artemidorus

Trek enjoy a market premium at least in part through being associated with Lance Armstrong. Many of their frames are made in the Giant factory, although they have gone to some lengths to prevent this from becoming widely known.
All Giant frames are made in the place that does the best mass-production frames these days (not Italy or the US, but Taiwan) and I can't remember the last time I heard someone whinge about the quality of a Giant bike. They'll whinge about their ubiquity, of course. People, however, love to whinge about poor quality of Trek bikes; I don't think that such whinging is merited, it may just be because they are more expensive than, but no better than, other mass production brands.
So, in brief: Giant is better value, Trek has slightly better snob value.
Go for fit, frame quality and good looks over brand.

Feideaux

Previous discussion on this forum has suggested that there is little actual difference between the two, seeing as Giant actually manufacture Trek bikes. For more on this topic, see this thread http://www.cyclingforums.com/t29820...ory-taiwan.html.

If you are going to get a 'hybrid,' may I suggest getting one without a suspension fork as

• at the lower price range it's going to be a piece of crap that will impede the function of the bicycle rather than facilitate it (heavy, rudimentary spring media, stoneage damping, flexy, unresponsive, poor bushings, etc)
• money not spent on the fork gets spread around the rest of the bike in the form of a better quality groupset, wheelset, controls, frame, etc. In essence, you'll be buying a better bike for less. The same rule applies for disc brakes
• you'll go faster with a rigid, plus, it's old school and will never need repairing.

Try having a look at the range of Felt and Avanti hybrid ( or commuter ) bikes. They are really nice.

F.

__________________
"The Ventoux, thrusting abundantly skywards, is a god of Evil to whom sacrifice must be paid. A true Moloch, a despot of cyclists, it never pardons the weak and exacts an unjust tribute of suffering." - Roland Barthes

artemidorus

If you'll be riding only on the road, you should get a flat-bar road bike instead of the things now called hybrids, which, in my opinion, combine the worst of all worlds.

Rod_C

I bought a Trek 7200FX hybrid earlier this year and have done around 1500K's on it without any problems.

I looked at the Giants in the same price range and the Trek seemed a better all round package. The Giants seemed to be a more upright "comfort" style.

As mentioned above, if you want to go mountain biking, buy a MTB not a hybrid.
If you are only going to ride on the roads buy a flat bar road bike.

My intended use was a mixture of bike paths (sealed and gravel), rail trails and road so the hybrid fitted my needs. It's faster than a MTB, but can handle more gravel than a road bike.

Of course now that I find I'm bike commuting more, so I may need a flat bar road bike as well .

Rod.