I had to decide between the Gary FIsher Kaitai and the slightly more expensive Trek 7.5 FX. The Kaitai is definitely a more commuter friendly bike due to it's disk brakes and suspension, and as a result, you get a much smoother and more comfortable ride. But these added perks come at a cost -- you get a lot more weight. Ultimately, I decided on the Trek 7.5, but the Kaitai is a lot of bike for a very reasonable price.

My first impression was that these bikes looked very similar. Well, as it turns out, Trek owns Gary Fisher, so you're going to get the same build quality and warranty. What it boils down to is a matter of preference and lifestyle. If you need some added suspension and extra seat comfort, but weight and a little extra speed doesn't matter much, then the Kaitai is excellent. Additionally, the disk brakes will give you a little better traction in the rain. But overall, the bikes are pretty similar. In fact, you can even lock the suspension to make it more like the Trek, which gives you a slightly harder right (honestly it was hard to tell on the road), and a little extra speed. But if you're looking to keep up with friends on road bikes, but still need a bike that commutes everyday, you should get the Trek 7.5 FX. I found that the derailer on the kaitai isn't nearly as good either, but you aren't paying as much so that's somewhat expected.

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