Submitted by
Kevin Adams
a Cross Country Rider
from Savannah Ga. USA
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2002
Strengths: Bike is very neutral. Great in the tights and also on downhills. Climbs as good as any hardtail when the shock is aired-up prperly
Weaknesses: I am yet to find any
Bottom Line:
This is the keeper. Plant to go disc when mass production drives the costs down some. You can't get a better XC/FS bike than this one. I actually bought a new Dakar team in '97. The frame got a small crack in late 2000 so I requested this one in return. Outfitted with all my XTR stuff from old bike (8 sp.) Great customer service from Jamis.
Favorite Trail: trail of tears - phenix city alabama
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: dealer in columbus ga.
Similar Products Used: none, tried a few different FS bikes
Bike Setup: Fox float shock w/dampener. All XTR. Has some white industries hubs/517's from my old bike. Rock Shock SID 100. Answer 2" Pro-taper. Thomson stem and post. Tioga XC tires. Few Ti bolts here and there. 25 lbs. even (light for 19" frame I thought)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kirk
a Cross Country Rider
from Franklin Ma USA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2001
Strengths: This bike is nimble, climbs well and is well balanced. The red paint looks great. No noticable bobbing from the suspension. It smooths out the roughest NE singletrack. The vanilla R is wonderful, easy to dial in and matches well with this frame.
Weaknesses: I seem to hit my rings, pedals, and BB on rocks more frequently than on my old hardtail. Might go to a 100mm fork which may alleviate some of this.
Bottom Line:
This bike was a big change from my old bike (Trek 8000, 8 sp, gripshift). I knew the FS would be a benefit going downhill, but had no idea how much better flats and bumpy climbs would be.
Every ride I take, I like this bike better. It is much quicker than the fuel I demo'ed, and is lighter to boot. I also noticed that the fuel hit the pedals/rings a lot. Small price to pay for Full Susp. Having the full XT kit is really nice everything is smooth, and the 9sp 34 cog is great.
There is about a 2lb difference between this and my old bike, but on the trail it is not noticible at all, this bike rides even lighter than it is. Very good climber, it is tough to get the rear tire to lose traction. I have been very surprised a number of times after making it up some loose climbs while friends on hardtails are walking due to spinouts.
I have no hesitation recommending this bike to anyone into XC riding.
Similar Products Used: Demo'ed the Fuel 90, Trek 8000--6yrs, various other HT's
Bike Setup: 2001 Pro Frame, Marzocchi Z2 Alloy fork, XT everything else- shifters, cranks, deraileurs, brakes, hubs (w Mavic 517's), Velociraptors.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
oyvind
a Cross Country Rider
from oslo, norway
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001
Strengths: -incredible looks! ( i fell in love immediately) -light weight -well balanced mix of good components -forks and shox work rally nice together -tire traction -avid brakes gives the rider cinfidence
Weaknesses: ...what shall i say? the UST tires let out a little air, you gotta pumpem up like every four/five days
Bottom Line:
I have put this baby thru som really nasty stuff, including sand, marsh, rooty forrest, loose gravel, rocky creek crossings, steep technical uphills, mid- and big size rocks, looserock descents, sticky mud, slippery slickrock, highspeed washboard turns...and more.
both me and the bike enjoyed it.
Ill put it simple: the Dakar Pro has made me a better a rider. This bike cost me a full months salary, and it was surely worth it. If you spend a lot of time on tricky&bumpy trails, this could be the bike for you
Favorite Trail: several trails, eastern&northern oslo forrest
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Similar Products Used: at least 30 full suspensioned bikes tried, from cheap to really classy stuff
Bike Setup: stock...why change parts on a bike that rocks you??
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Clemson, SC
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001
Strengths: Awesome components for the $$...great "balance" in that the components all complement one another...uniqueness, not a lot of them out there (at least in SC) so it gets noticed
Weaknesses: None that affect the ride...the Mavic Crossrocs have needed work (nipples wouldn't stay locked down)
Bottom Line:
The bike allows the average rider to feel like an exceptional rider and an exceptional rider to OWN anything he wants to take on...
There's a little pogo on the climbs but I can deal with that considering how the suspension really helps hold you on the ground...
I haven't had problems with tires holding air but the nipples on the rims had to be locktited down...I've really pushed the bike so your mileage may vary...
BEWARE of the size difference between a 19" and a 21"...I'm 6'3" and ride a 21" and it's a giant...the 19" felt like a tricycle though...make sure to test ride before you buy...
Submitted by
Reeves
a Weekend Warrior
from sunny CA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001
Strengths: Great bike, the component mix is super (XT and XTR). I really like the Mars fork, good performance and light wieght.
Weaknesses: I really haven't found any weaknesses. Although I wouldn't have specd. the tubless tires, I haven't had any problems. The saddle isn't the most comfortable, but that may just be me.
Bottom Line:
I've haven't had any problem with the tubless tires (knock on wood) that the other reviewer's have. So far mine hold air fine. This bike makes a great all around bike. It's not too heavy 25.5 lbs, and it doesn't have a noticed "bob" when you pedal uphill. In fact I can stay in the seat and climb about anything my legs can power me up. I got a super deal at $1550.00 of the classifieds.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Sugar, GT I-drive
Bike Setup: stock at this point.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Lisa Hurst
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada City, CA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001
Strengths: Whats not to love? The only thing holding me back now is me, not the bike. This bike can do anything.
Weaknesses: Tubeless tire goes soft, must pump up before each ride but it still beats carrying a tube around.
Bottom Line:
I feel like I got a lot of bike for the money. I would neve have guessed I'd end up with a Jamis,I mean, who are they? But, the good guys at the shop let me try it before I bought it and wow, was I hooked. I am not new to full squish so I was harder to impress. I thought the tires would never hold trail but I am a believer now, even in the moon dust we get around here. No washouts yet. I am getting chain suck once each ride, is it me or the bike? I've only had it 3 weeks and will submit another review at the end of summer. It is one quality ride.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz SL, Marin Mt. Vision, GT
Bike Setup: All stock: Answer, Hutchinson tubeless, XTR rear, XT cranks, Time ATAC, Thompson, Fox Float R, Manitou Super
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
todd sanders
a Weekend Warrior
from boise, idaho
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2001
Strengths: quick, nimble, firm, quality parts, reliable, enjoyable dakar pro
Weaknesses: manitou fork went away in less than 1 month, currently at dealer for warranty/repair, front tubless goes soft daily-unk why and dealer hasn't corrected yet
Bottom Line:
love the line, sold on the dakar! the expert was solid bike for 2 yrs, wanted to upgrade and lose some weight-looking forward to the tube/fork issue to be resolved and then back to the trail/race course. good stuff!
I have a 2001 Dakar Pro. It's my spare bike for when my SC is down (often enough to keep the extra bike around). I have a spare RP23 with lock out, etc. Any sense in putting in Read More »
