xdjosh1980

Hi all, l just want some other opinions..... Thinking of upgrading from my beater bike. I've been looking at the Trek line and I am stuck between fx3 disc and the FX4...the caveat is that the FX4 is completely sold out so I would have to wait until at least mid June at the very earliest... And who the heck likes waiting for a new toy?

The big difference in the two are the upgraded components to tiagra, 2x10, and the lighter frame with different geometry. Both bikes fit me equally well.

Am I overestimating the importance of the upgraded components? Fx3 is around 800 and the FX4 is around 1200...so a 50% increase.

I ride three to four times a week as a workout and then on the weekends and such with the kids. I like speed. I am interested in the possibility of some commuting to work but this will mostly be on streets and bike paths.

Kapusta

If you like one enough to spend $400 more on it, then I would think it is also worth waiting a month for it.

I will say that in general, in that price range, you get a lot for an extra $400. If you can afford it, it is usually very well worth it if you plan to ride it a lot (which it sounds like you are).

xdjosh1980

Thanks. I think it's a pretty big jump in quality.

I had actually considered even going to FX5 or FX6...but some things I have read leave me hesitant on carbon. I'm a bigger guy, 6'2" and 275 lbs. Obviously much less expensive (and better for my health) to drop the added weight in my body, not the bike. But I have also read alot about the ride characteristics of carbon. My test rides have been relatively short so I have limited basis for comparison.

TakingMyTime

Check C/L. There are usually a ton of current FX models in very good condition for sale. It's one of those bikes that people buy expecting to take up the sport and then they just sit in their garages. Don't let the Aluminum/Carbon debate become an issue in your choice.

Also, check the specs. Some models have a triple up front and some only a double. Depending on your style you may want to take this into consideration.

bikecrate

If you really like the FX Sport 4, then I would wait. Tiagra is a really solid set. Has disk brakes, if that is important to you. It also is closer to a flat bar road bike and may be more in line with your need for speed.

livedarklions

I have a FX 3 and my Cross bike has Tiagra. There's a marginal difference in the shifting, but it's not huge. The FX 3 is a damn fast bike and I love it. I've never ridden a FX 4, so I might love it more, but I don't know about $400 more.

I don't know what the other poster is talking about--I never see FXs on CL, it's a really rideable bike, and I don't think they sit much.

TakingMyTime

Virtually every model level of an FX is for sale in the Los Angeles / Orange County area. There's something like 20 of them for sale right now.

I never said it wasn't "ridable". From my observations I'm guessing that a lot of people do buy them and lose interest quickly. I think the others buy one in their quest to begin cycling and after a short period of time they'd like more of a road bike configuration and decide to sell their FX and move on.

Don't get me wrong. I own a 7.4 and love it. But you can buy 7.2's off of C/L by the dozen.

livedarklions

Well, I guess I wouldn't call a 7.2 a "current" FX model.

I use my 2018 FX 3 as a flat bar road bike (I have 2 drop bar bikes as well), and have ridden it as far as 168 miles in a day. My understanding is they revamped the FX line a few years ago, so the bikes now have a somewhat different feel than the decimal point FXs. I'm skeptical that a lot of people lose interest in the newer models, and it's just not something I see on CL in my area at all.

Troul 

FX3, upgrade the seat, add-on your widgets, & invest in some maintenance tools.

xdjosh1980

So I guess this is really the kind of information I'm looking for is whether or not the upgraded frame, lighter weight, and Tiagra set up is worth the 400 increase over fx3

ColonelSanders

I just checked the specs on Trek's site(Australia) and what they are calling the 2020 year model of the FX3 has a major improvement on it(imho) over the 2019 FX3.


The 2020 FX3 comes with a 2x crank, a Shimano MT210, with a 46/30 chainring combo and the crank looks pretty nice.


You also get a 11-36 cassette, so a pretty good low gear.


The FX4 for 2020 does not appear to have had any change worth noting, over the 2019 model and it has higher gearing which may or may not suit you, as its crankset is a 48/34, with an 11-34 cassette.

xdjosh1980

that's very interesting and thank you so much for sharing as they don't have the 2020 models showing on their website here in the US

Do you happen to know if they stuck with the same gear set?

Would the gear set difference in their current 2019 configurations make a difference?

livedarklions

For me, no, but "worth it" is an individual value judgment.

I just saw the post about the new config on the 2020 FX 3. I would be put off by the 46t on the crank. 48t is as small as I can put up with because I want a pretty high high gear. It's things like that that make it impossible to tell someone whether something is worth the difference.

xdjosh1980

Yeah, I totally get that. I'm in analysis paralysis right now.

Thanks for the response!

livedarklions

The good news is you've narrowed it to two possibilities, and I think you really should do fine with either.

My dad likes to say that it's the low-consequence decisions that are the hardest to make.

Hope you enjoy the hell out of whichever bike you buy!

ColonelSanders

They went down from Alivio to Acera on the rear derailleur for 2020.

They also went for internal cable routing, QR on the front wheel instead of through axel and flat mount brakes for 2020.

Even though you live in the USA, you can choose "Australia" from the Country selector at the top right corner of the webpage.

You may not like the colour choice for 2020, so ......

Attached is a comparison, with the 2019 model on the left hand side.

Sialala

Is there really noticeable difference between Alivio and Acera?
Red color of 2020 is in my opinion one of its best features

ColonelSanders

I'm not sure about the difference between Alivio and Acera, but that red colour of the Trek is glorious and would make me get that over any other year's FX3.

ucfdad

I am also thinking of these with the added possibility of a Cannondale Quick 1 which has the Shimano 105 instead of the Tiagra. The Quick is $200.00 more than the GX Sport 4. Is the 105 worth $200 over the Tiagra?

Steelerfan14

Check with your LBS. I just picked up a 2019 Quick 1 for $1100. Was a no brainer for me

xdjosh1980

I ended up with a 2019 FX 6 - Love the HECK out of this bike! Got a pretty nice discount from the LBS as well as an extra % off some accessories.