Advice Please - Equilibrium vs. Domane (warranty replacement)

bristolmotorspeedway

I've a dilemma in ordering a new bike, which is a replacement for my 2015 Genesis Equilibrium Stainless Steel - which was a 105-equipped, rim-braked model.

Genesis is replacing it under warranty due to corrosion appearing and I have two options. Any Genesis bike priced at £2k retail or a credit with my retailer, which means I could get another brand bike priced at £1450 or so. They are also a Trek and Focus dealer, so these options open up.

I have narrowed the choices to two or three, but I am struggling to see which is the 'better' option between another Equilibrium and a Domane.

The Equilibrium would be the 2017 Equilibrium Disc 30, nicely specced with ultegra and hydraulic Shimano RS785 with RS685 shifters:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/roa ... um-disc-30

The Domane, I suspect I could get the new S5, which is 105 spec and rim brakes:
http://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes ... 41800-2017

I don't really want to add any extra money into the replacement bike, either will be a nice refresh from my stainless steel bike which I was very happy with. I do have a bit of a hankering for a carbon bike, but the Domanes at my price level are not particularly light (S5 is 8.8kg vs the Equilibrium's 10kg).

Has anyone ridden both Equilibrium and sub £2k Domane - is there a noticeable comfort difference?

My cycling is mainly solo, 20-50 mile rides with the odd longer day planned (my longest ride ever was 115 miles last year).

Thoughts?

mamil314

Well, if you've had enough of rusting Stainless Steel, go with carbon option. Comfort is more about fit and good tyres, anyways.

bristolmotorspeedway

Thanks mamil314, yeah I agree with your point on fit and tyres. I think I am finding the choice extra tricky as I am (having to) compare a £2k steel bike with a much cheaper carbon bike. If the prices, and therefore spec, were more in-line I would perhaps choose carbon more easily.

alan_sherman

Replacing the whole bike? Not just the frame? Sad to hear about corrosion on Stainless though.

How about the Z2? Genesis Carbon road bike, 105 kit.http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/roa ... ro/zero-z2

Or the Datam 20 or 10:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adv ... m/datum-20

bristolmotorspeedway

alan sherman wrote:

Replacing the whole bike? Not just the frame? Sad to hear about corrosion on Stainless though.

How about the Z2? Genesis Carbon road bike, 105 kit.http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/roa ... ro/zero-z2

Or the Datam 20 or 10:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adv ... m/datum-20

The Datum - I wasn't keen on the colours. Shallow I know, but the blue in particular I just do not like :-)

The Zero, I thought this might be too stiff and racy for my 44-year old needs. But I've now glanced through reviews of previous models and maybe this would be good....cheers for the prompt...