[Joe_T]

I'm also a bike commuter (15 miles roundtrip) but I do XC style riding on weekends
I am new to FS bikes but have borrowed one on occasion and I must admit I know little about component quality. I did really enjoy a test ride of a fuel 90 large frame bike in a bike store yesterday (I'm 6'1, 195)

please help me decide which is the best deal?
cliff notes:
'03 trek fuel 80 $850
'03 trek fuel 90 $1199
'03 gary fisher sugar 3+ $999
'03 trek liquid 10 $1199

full details:

'03 trek fuel 80 $850

Frame ZR 9000 aluminum
Fork RockShox Pilot SL
Headset Steel
Rear Shock Fox Float
Rims/Wheels Bontrager Corvair
Hubs Front: aluminum; Rear: Shimano
Spokes 14g stainless-steel
Tires Bontrager Jones AC
Crankset Shimano M440
Chainwheel 44/32/22
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Cogs SRAM 7.0, 9-speed: 11-34
Shifters Shimano Deore
Handlebars Bontrager Crowbar Sport
Stem Bontrager Sport
Brake Levers Aluminum
Brakes Shimano 420, linear-pull
Pedals Shimano M515, clipless
Saddle Bontrager FS2000
Seat Post Bontrager Sport

or
2003 Gary Fisher sugar 3+ $999
Frame Platinum Series ZR9000 aluminum, Genesis Geometry
Fork RockShox Duke XC
Headset Direct connect
Rear Shock Fox Float R
Rims/Wheels Bontrager Select wheelset
Hubs See Rims/Wheels
Spokes See Rims/Wheels
Tires IRC Backcountry, 26 x 2.25
Crankset Bontrager Race
Chainwheel 22/32/44
Bottom Bracket ISIS splined
Chain Shimano
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore LX
Rear Derailleur Shimano XT
Rear Cogs SRAM 7.0, 9-speed: 11-32
Shifters Shimano Deore LX
Handlebars Bontrager Crowbar Sport
Tape/Grips Serfas dual-density
Stem Bontrager Select
Brake Levers Avid SD-5
Brakes Avid SD-3, linear-pull
Pedals Shimano M515 clipless
Saddle Titec Ithys Amore
Seat Post Bontrager Sport
Accessories & Extras Rear shock pump

or...
2003 trek fuel 90 $1199

FRAMESET:
FRAME: ZR 9000 Alloy. World Cup tested. Double butted seamless drawn tubing. Custom butted head tube. Bi-axial downtube. Triangulated Rocker Link. Disc-O disc brake mount. Cold forged replaceable derailleur hanger. Trek Pro Race geometry. Handmade in the USA.

FORK: RockShox Duke XC hydra air, HC2 damping, 30mm upper tubes, external rebound adjust, 80mm travel
REAR SHOCK: Fox Float R air spring, self-adjusting negative spring, rebound adjusting knob, Ni charged

WHEELS:
WHEELS: Bontrager Select: Durable welded rims, machined for smooth braking; OSB rear rim provides good stiffness for any size rider; Hi-Lo ATB rear hub design w/excellent spoke bracing angles for improved lateral wheel rigidity; Cro-Moly skewers; 780 g, 24h front/1045 g, 28h rear
TIRES: Bontrager Jones AC, folding, 26x49/54

COMPONENTS:
SADDLE: Bontrager FS 2000, Cro-Moly rails
SEATPOST: Bontrager Select
HANDLEBARS: Bontrager Crowbar Sport
STEM: Bontrager Select, 10°
HEADSET: AHS 1-1/8" alloy cups, semi cartridge, sealed

DRIVETRAIN:
SHIFTERS: Shimano Deore LX
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Deore LX
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Deore XT
CRANKSET: Bontrager Race 44/32/22
CASSETTE: SRAM 7.0 11-34, 9spd

OTHER:
BRAKESET: Avid SD3 linear pull
PEDALS: Shimano M515, clipless

or...
2003 trek liquid 10 $1199
FRAMESET:
FRAME: ZR 9000 Alloy. Double butted seamless drawn tubing. Custom butted head tube. Bi-axial downtube. Triangulated Rocker Link design. Black Magic composite seatstays. Liquid geometry adjusts to changing terrain. Handmade in the USA.
FORK: RockShox Psylo C, U-Turn, HC2 damping, travel gradients, 80/125mm travel
REAR SHOCK: Fox Talas R air spring, self-adjusting negative, travel adjust on shock, adjustable rebound

WHEELS:
WHEELS: Bontrager Select Disc: Machined rims welded for strength; OSB rear rim provides good stiffness for any size rider; Hi-Lo ATB rear hub design w/excellent spoke bracing angles for improved lateral wheel rigidity; Cro-Moly skewers; 780 g, 24h front/1045 g, 28h rear
TIRES: IRC TrailBear, folding, 26x2.25"

COMPONENTS:
SADDLE: Bontrager FS 2000
SEATPOST: Bontrager Sport
HANDLEBARS: Bontrager Crowbar Sport
STEM: Bontrager Sport, 15°
HEADSET: AHS 1-1/8" semi cartridge, sealed

DRIVETRAIN:
SHIFTERS: Shimano Deore
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Deore
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Deore LX
CRANKSET: Bontrager Race 44/32/22
CASSETTE: SRAM 7.0 11-34, 9spd

OTHER:
BRAKESET: Hayes HFX-9, hydraulic disc
PEDALS: Shimano M515, clipless

 

[bike_freak]

Alright firstly you have to decide.
The Gary fisher and the Treks will fit differently. So you should have a ride on them and decide which one fits 'you' best!
Next you will have to decide if you want a lighter, more efficient, racier bike(ie the Fuel or Sugar) or if you want a trail bike made for rougher/harder riding, not really going to be as light nor as efficient(the liguid or GF's Cake).
Once you have deicded that and narrowed down your choices, Go with the Best you can afford or want to afford.
Hope this helps

 

[Joe_T]

ok to make it even more complicated, found another LBS selling GF '04 closeouts...
I am leaning towards a fuel 90 (non disc brake) but these Cake bikes have me interested.

how do they compare? say on flatground? with the shock locked down out back it's basically a fuel? or? and with the suspension opened it's kind of a liquid or that's not fair to say?

Gary Fisher Cake 2
carbon rear, lightweight all-mountain frame
$1299 SALE ($1600 regular price)
17.5" MED, 19" LRG (email about add'l sizes)

Gary Fisher Cake 3
$1099 SALE ($1400 regular price)
17.5" MED, 19" LRG (email about add'l sizes)

Gary Fisher Cake 3 DLX
Hayes HFX-9 Disc brakes
$1399 SALE ($1600 regular price)
17.5" MED, 19" LRG (email about add'l sizes)

 

[Crash_FLMB]

I have a 2000 Sugar and it's been great. I've never ridden the Cake but I've seen one in person and it looked sweet. It's a single pivot so it won't be as efficient as the Fuel but it will be able to take more abuse. I've beat the crap out of my Sugar and she's still going strong. Of course, now she's just a racing bike and doesn't see a whole lot of action. But she's fun, super light (about 24 lbs.) and a fast racing bike.

That being said, I'd post your questions about the Cake in the Fisher forum. Lots of reviews and people to help you with the decision. Plus, since Trek and Fisher and basically the same company, you should be able to get all your answers there.

Hope this helps and good luck.