Specialized Sirrus

I'll say from several years working on bikes, each brands higher end hybrids are great, and I would take the FX4 disc or Specialized Sirrus any day. I also really like the 'adventure' bike segment with bikes like the Salsa Journeyman Sora. Some more expensive bikes require more expensive repair parts.

I had a 2012 Specialized Sirrus Comp (now stolen), which was excellent, but I’d love to get something a tad more upright (like a normal hybrid bike, rather than a fitness bike like the sirrus) and with any other comfort improvements (less stiff frame? I’m not sure what I’m looking for here. Not anything major like shocks, but I’m going to put a softer seat on it anyway).

Look at Trek FX, Giant Escape, Cannondale Quick, Specialized Sirrus, etc. If you have the budget, try to get the next model up from base that does away with the 7-speed freewheel in favor of an 8-speed cassette. MTBs are pigs on the road, road bikes are the most efficient (and *never* have a flatbar), hybrids are sorta in-between, but excel at nothing other than having the best utility for dollar.

Probably what you're looking for is a road-oriented hybrid like a Specialized Sirrus, Kona Dew, trek fx 3, Giant Escape, or something equivalent. Your local shop will deal in a few different brands and may have used stock from many other brands. Take your time and listen to the people in the shop is my best advice. they're very trustworthy in my experience.

The more money you spend the better the components I'm a fan of the Specialized sirrus range after having a 2.0 it's good for roads as well as light gravel trails and tracks. They also do a 6.0 full carbon bike but it's well over your budget. The 4.0 would be good and the front fork is carbon so is the frame and the parts are high quality.

After shitty days at work that laptop bag can feel like a bag of brick on the hills. I also spent more time messing with the chain than I ever have with my Trek FX. There were a couple times where my chain would pop off on my commute. Maybe that’s all fixed stepping up to a State bicycles, but I was wrong thinking a single speed would be less maintenance that a Specialized Sirrus or similar.