That’s a great question @helpful-gigabyte-47939
If I am honest, I don’t know. 🤷
I haven’t tested enough bikes to come to the conclusion. My budget when I started looking for a bike was 10K. (max 15).
I wasn’t able to find anything that I liked riding at the standard places (BT-WINs at Decathlon and some hero cycles I tried at the local cycle place).
I got the Dual Sport 2 on the advice of a friend who I trust in these matters.
I actually went to get the Dual Sport 1 which is 10K cheaper than this - but they didn’t have it in my size. (I also did research and find out that Trek is generally considered to be in the top 3 cycle manufacturers - so that price was not outrageous for what I was purchasing).
In the end, I said screw it, I can afford it and it is really a joy to ride. There are no solutions - only trade offs 😊
When I came home and flipped through the manual, this is the second page which convinced me I had made a right decision. (attached)
I truly believe that these guys have my best intentions at heart and have not cut any corners.
My friend who strongly recommended this brand said that the components are top-notch, light weight and when you are starting to cycle and are fighting a lot of inertias (mentally & physically), it helps to have a machine which is fast, fun to ride and safe.
It is like going to Starbucks and having their outrageously priced coffees - but you know that if you don’t like it, the barista will happily make another one for you. No questions asked. And that’s how businesses should be I feel.