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Jamis 1999 Dakota Hardtail Bike


  • Average Rating: 4.87/5
  • MSRP: $ 1099.95
  • # of Reviews: 15

Product Description

1999 Jamis Dakota, mountain bike, front suspension, Mountain Mix components, Answer Manitou SX-R, 2.75" travel fork


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Reviews 1 - 15 (15 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:3
Submitted by michael collins a Cross Country Rider from London

Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001

Strengths:    Great down hill handling and easy climber

Weaknesses:    Seat sheared through the Titec seat post
Rims (Mavic) bent


Bottom Line:   
OK so maybe bikes aren't built for 95kilo guys who are over 6foot 4, but no one told me that. I am told mavic may not honour the warantee on the rims as I have had to tune them to keep riding. I think the seatpost design is flawed and have bought another.

I paid over the odds but it is still a great bike. Not living in Tahoe so have not been able to get these issues fixed for free and thus cost blow out is annoying.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Tahoe rim trail, Pyrenees foothils

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $1300.00

Purchased At:   Back country La. tahoe



Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Kevin a from Greenville, SC - USA

Date Reviewed: November 10, 2000

Strengths:    This is a very balanced package. There are no obvious weak points, meaning, all parts are of a similar, high quality.
The front fork is great, once broken in, and the frame is very forgiving, yet quick to respond in the turns. The rear deraileur is quite accurate. The brakes are the best I have used. The rims are staying very true, even though they needed a few adjustments after the first few rides.
Good bike.


Weaknesses:    I have found no weaknesses,unless you consider tires that are tough to take off the rim a weakness. (Buy, and carry tire levers)

Bottom Line:   
I would not trade this bike for any other in this price range, or over this price range, within a couple hundred bucks. It has taken some beatings, and just keeps getting better - ultra reliable.
I dumped it down a steep hill after a wreck, and all it needed was a new deraileur cable (can't fix the dent in the frame).
Buy this bike if you ride hard and don't want as much jolting as an Aluminum bike. Don't buy this if you want something flashy. If you want a quality hardtail, buy this. This frame is of Bontrager quality, easily.
I give it five burning tacos, as compared to any bike under 1500 bucks.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $950.00

Purchased At:   Sunrift

Similar Products Used:   Trek 7000, Specialized Rockhopper A1 comp FS.

Bike Setup:   Stock, except short Onza bar ends.


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Erik a Weekend Warrior from Chicago, IL

Date Reviewed: May 16, 2000

Strengths:    Great stock bike. rims, shocks, renyolds 631 steel frame is awesome, light, flexible and strong!

Weaknesses:    tires

Bottom Line:   
This is a very good bike for the money. It rides very smooth and climbs easily. Once you properly dial in the shocks they work really well. Tires are ok. When they wear out I'll replace them with something better. They don't have the best traction, but they are fast. I had a major crash after a 15 foot jump in this thing and all that happened was I barley bent a break lever. This thing is made to ride hard. Will update this review after the summer & after I beat the hell out of it.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Similar Products Used:   hookooekoo

Bike Setup:   stock


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Rick A a Cross Country Rider from Asheville, NC

Date Reviewed: March 27, 2000

Strengths:    feel of reynolds 631 steel frame
time pedals
quality components


Weaknesses:    borderline weight if you count grams, though I don't notice it on the trail

Bottom Line:   
Excellent bike for the price. 631 steel frame is light enough and gives a much better ride than aluminum. Has held up well over the last year with minimal maintenance. Would definitely recommend this bike to anyone looking for a quality steel hardtail.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   north mills river

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Similar Products Used:   Klein Attitude comp, Stumpjumper

Bike Setup:   Stock - broke off XT rear der and replaced with LX


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Rob Day a Weekend Warrior from Narbville

Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000

Strengths:    Everything....
SX-R is awsome and plush...
LX/XT is great
Frame is plush and SWEET


Weaknesses:    none really...except the tires are impossible to take off

Bottom Line:   
This is an awsome ride.....it is smooth uphill and downhill
Shock is great now that it is broken in...frame is super plush in rocky areas...almost as quick acceleration as my
old aluminum ATX..but it handles much better and is MUCH FASTER. Stock brakes (avid arch rival 4) are amazing. Great bike. A tad heavy, so i suggest that you get a new wheelset and some lighter cockpit parts. Mine weighs a steady 25lbs from 26.5...WHAT A GREAT BIKE!!!!!

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Valley Green

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Similar Products Used:   ATX 860....XtC SE2....Jamis Exile

Bike Setup:   Stock, with EA70 bar and post...Syncros stem and Cateye cordless


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by psycho a Weekend Warrior from OR

Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999

Strengths:    
looks,components, ride


Weaknesses:    
changing tubes in tire


Bottom Line:   
i'm updating my review. i still love this bike.
i had a rigid b4 i got this, and it's a wonderful change. i had a hard time changing the tube after a pinch. if someone can give me helpful tips, i'd appreciate it. thanx. long live biking!

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
Hagg Lake

Duration Product Used:   
6 months

Similar Products Used:   
big sur, hookooekoo


Bike Setup:   
stock


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Akira Nishinouchi a Weekend Warrior from Osaka Japan

Date Reviewed: December 10, 1999

Strengths:    
Smooth pedaling
Less fatigue from long distance ride over 100km because of the skelton.


Weaknesses:    
Totally none.However, I was surprised at its cost in the USA. In Japan, it costs almost 2000$.


Bottom Line:   
In Japan, Professional rider named Takuma Dan uses Jamis. So this bike is rather common in this country. I rode this bike more than 2700km for this one year. I still do not tire of it.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
Kouya mountain

Duration Product Used:   
1 Year

Similar Products Used:   
GT Avalanche Le




Overall Rating:5
Submitted by psycho a Weekend Warrior from portland,or

Date Reviewed: October 30, 1999

Strengths:    
xt drivetrain
looks
handling abilities
strength


Weaknesses:    
haven't found any yet


Bottom Line:   
i love this bike!! it handles perfectly on the trails. it zooms up the climbs alot better than my last rigid bike. i got it for 850. i shopped around a ton, and this was by far the best deal. i strongly recommend it to whoever is reading this. c-u on the trail

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
Hagg Lake

Duration Product Used:   
3 months

Similar Products Used:   
hookooekoo
big sur


Bike Setup:   
stock


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Matthew R Hunt a Cross-Country Rider from Plattsburgh NY

Date Reviewed: September 16, 1999

Strengths:    
how it was made
the comp.
and the price


Weaknesses:    
there is only on weekness I found is top of the shock hits the bottom of the fram it turned all the way but that is minor


Bottom Line:   
all I have to say is SMOOTH!! I am a bike racer and have been for 4 years now and this is by far one of the best bikes I have owned. It is very fast and can handle the speed on the trails.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   
less than 1 month

Similar Products Used:   
Zigornot (Gary Fischer)
Speclized M2pro


Bike Setup:   
stock


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by JB a Cross-Country Rider from NY

Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999

Strengths:    
-SX-R Manatou fork
-Divetrain (lx/xt) great for the money
-titec stuff
-GREAT FRAME
-Everything


Weaknesses:    
After looking over the entire bike I can't think of anything that is weak for the price range.


Bottom Line:   
I know you've heard it before but this is an excellent bike for the price. Love the drivetrain, the fork and the frame, I was shocked when I found that this bike had these components with the price I had to pay, unbeatable. A must have, if you are going for a bike in the thousand dollar range, search no more this bike is what you want. This bad boy get five flaming chili thingers.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
It's all good

Duration Product Used:   
less than 1 month

Similar Products Used:   
A few decent bikes in the price range.




Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Greg L. a Cross-Country Rider from San Jose, CA

Date Reviewed: August 11, 1999

Strengths:    
Full LX (w/ XT Rear Derr)
Titec Stem & Bars
Manitou SX-R Shock
Avid Arch Rival 4.0 V-Brakes
Light Reynolds 631 Steel Frame (As light as aluminum, without the stiffness, plus it's twice as strong!!!)


Weaknesses:    
Titec Seatpost... A pain in the rear to adjust


Bottom Line:   
An Awesome Bike!!!! Handles the best out of any bike I tried, the light steel frame is awesome. Components are great, wheel are great (Sun Sub IV). The whole bike is awesome... definitely worth the money. I tear everything up with that bike. This bike should have been bike of the year... the Giant Xtc is pretty bad. The frame on the Xtc is really weak, the downtube is like aluminum can, it flexes in you fingers.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   
3 months

Similar Products Used:   
Giant Xtc SE1
Giant Xtc SE2
Specialized FSR & FSR Comp
Specialized Stumpjumper M2


Bike Setup:   
Stock


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Rob Day a Weekend Warrior from PA

Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999

Strengths:    
reynolds 631
sx-r
time pedals
xt stuff


Weaknesses:    
none


Bottom Line:   
cool bike....great deal

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
valley green

Duration Product Used:   
tested or demo'ed only

Similar Products Used:   
atx 860
fisher
xtc se2


Bike Setup:   
stock w/ easton bar


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Matt Schreiber a Weekend Warrior from Grand Haven, Michigan

Date Reviewed: May 16, 1999

Strengths:    
The ride was amazing, the way it handled it felt like a $2000 bike and it just has awesome components for the money. I am a big guy and the suspension stayed stiff even over the big jumps. It handled my 260 pound frame well.


Bottom Line:   
A great bike for the money and with a much smoother ride than the aluminum hard tails. Sweet bike!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   
tested or demo'ed only

Similar Products Used:   
GT Pantera
GT Avalanche
Cannondale F-1000 +2000
Schwinn Homegrown




Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Don a Weekend Warrior from PA

Date Reviewed: April 29, 1999

Strengths:    
frame weight
Shock
rear derailuer
titec components
EVERYTHING


Weaknesses:    
NONE


Bottom Line:   
amazing bike..great handling...great shock..light simply incredible for the price.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
probably valley green somewhere

Duration Product Used:   
6 months

Similar Products Used:   
Jamis exile [not bad for begginers]
cannondale f1000
giant Xtc se1 [PHAT]


Bike Setup:   
stock w/ front XT derailuer


Overall Rating:4
Submitted by Dangbert Doodleneck a weekend warrior from Canberra

Date Reviewed: December 26, 1998

Bottom Line:   


Maybe it's the long wheelbase. Maybe it's the tight head angle. Maybe it's the low bottom bracket. I don't know what the reason is but I do know the result: this is one sweet handling bike. Especially when you get the SX R adjusted correctly and get used to the feel of the compression and rebound. It feels very predicatble and solid - not jittery like an Alu bike. One complaint is that the Sun Sub IV rims came a couple of mm out of true after just a couple of small 1-foot dropoffs. (But that might be because because they were built badly.) If you want a high-end chromoly hardtale for medium dollars, I recommend it.

Expand full review >>




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