Awesome bike for the money (AUS$995), lively & comfortable ride from the Reynolds 525 tubing, great entry-level fork(plush, doesn't bottom out easily), component selection is ridiculously good for the cash - full Deore with Titec, Sun & Avid thrown in. Much better ride with 2.1 inch Mythos tyres - the Michelin 1.9s were harsh & unpredictable. Had an early issue with the Titec seatpost slipping down the seat tube & getting scratched even though the quick-release was mega-tight. Bought a Tioga cro-mo seatpost, filed down the seat tube edges & put the Titec on another bike...sorted. I suppose I could also complain about the rear wheel going out of true - but as the bike half-fell off a towbar mounted bike carrier & we were doing 180 km/h at the time with the bike bouncing off the road...
Weaknesses: finish scratches easily, seat looks as though its going to unravel at the seams after 6 months of riding (most every day)
Bottom Line:
I dont want to be another person posting a message saying how weak the bike is because this broke when i crashed it hard, or that broke when i landed a 6 foot jump... but I could say it is tough enough to fly thru a 3 foot trench and matching 2x6 barricade on the other side, with damage amounting to a slightly skewed rear rim. I took a beating, but thats unimportant.
it has a smooth ride, a little more so i thought than a rockhopper or agressor around the same price, and the fork is better than a Jett on the comparable rockhopper's. Deore components give me no complaints, but I am considering putting an LX crank on there, as well as time atac pedals.
everything else works fine for me, though i have had it in the shop numerous times for an unknown BB/crank problem. seems fine now after BB replacement and a lot of tweaking. tires are fine for me after running them down a bit, and do give much better grip than when new. Stock brakes were probably fine, but i put an arch rival on the back for a little more squeeze, and might do the same for the front.
I got this bike because i wanted something nice, and i got just that. I got it also because the price was the lowest out of the rockhopper's & agressor's in town ($515 with a couple upgrades before tax), but now im glad i got it. everyone and their mother has a specialized, but i have seen one Jamis in my life before this bike. Im no downhiller, but then again if you were you should step up and buy a jamis Komodo or intense M1 (or you could always dream). overall, a great bike for the bucks.
Similar Products Used: Novara Aspen (ooooh yeah, doin' it old skool REI style)
a bike thats cheap & tough as nails. who knows what novara has done to them since the 91-92 model year though...
Bike Setup: Stock except Avid Arch Rival 40 brake in back, LX shifters, 50%50 deore/lx rear DeR.
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Submitted by
Deb
a Cross Country Rider
from upstate NY
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2001
Strengths: Excellent steel frame for the money. Hollowtech cranks are cool looking and low-profile. 9-speed drivetrain was totally dialed in out of the box. Not lightweight, but rides light. With its chrome, red and black scheme, this bike is a looker.
Weaknesses: Low end Sun rims (ZJ18) were out of true. Heavy handlebar and stem were the first things to be replaced. The Manitou Magnum fork has recently been seriously discounted to $109. Still, it's an OK fork.
Bottom Line:
A Reynolds 529 frame, a silky smooth drivetrain, powerful Avid brakes, good looks. This is more bike for the buck than I've ever gotten.
Similar Products Used: Own 3 other mountain bikes, including a custom Fat.
Bike Setup: I'm small - 5-2. Who needs all this travel? My Exile is an 11 inch model. Try finding a stock 11-inch steel bike these days. The breed is extinct. I ditched the riser bar and went with a flat bar. For $17 I bought the soft bumper kit from Manitou.
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Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Grove City, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001
Strengths: DURABILITY Value Components
Weaknesses: Weight
Bottom Line:
This was my first buy for a mountain bike after having made the transition from road biking to mountain biking. I have not been disappointed. I am not what you would say "easy" on equipment and this bike just takes and takes all that you give it and then asks "Is that all you got, wimp?". After numerous endos and altercations with trees, logs, stones, etc., the bike has not once been out of commission. The ride is superb. After comparison rides on other aluminum bikes, steel is superior for ride quality. You pay a weight penalty for it but when you go for long rides your body will appreciate the forgiving nature of steel. One phrase sums up this bike, "STEEL is REAL".
Bike Setup: Stock (except tires - Panaracer Fire XC Pro)
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Submitted by
Thad
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City Ut
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000
Strengths: Steel. Lively feel. Decent weight. Comfortable bike.
Weaknesses: A little Flexy in the bottom bracket area.
Bottom Line:
My Bike weighs 24 pounds and its a 21" frame. The bike feels good under power but a little too flexy in the bb. I have only had the bike built for a few days but I am very happy with it. I bought the frame new for 150. I use the bike as a commuter and it works great. It is comfortable enought for my one hr commute, and it wouldn't break the bank if it gets stolen. I have only had full suspension for the last couple years so I wanted a frame that would be compliant and the Jamis was a nice suprise. It has a much nicer feel than any of the Cannondale Hardtails including the Caad 5 frame. I can only talk about the frame because I have never even seen a stock exile. I have ridden a Manitou Magnum fork and have no complaints. The spring was a bit soft for me but the ride was plush. The core of any bike you buy is made up of these two components. The rest is replacable. With that in mind, I would recomendt this bike to anyone. With the right components, and a smaller frame, you could get the bike down to around 22 pounds, and if that isn't light enough to race I don't know what is.
Similar Products Used: 95 Schwinn Moab. 97 Cannondale f1000.
Bike Setup: 99' Exile frame. 99'Manitou SXR. Coda Expert brakes, cranks and Hubs laced to Mavic 225 rims. Aheadset AL with a Kore lite 3 stem. EA70 bar. LX shifters and fr der. XT rear.
Strengths: -Reynolds steel frame!(superior ride quality) -Excellent geometry -Some high-quality parts--Avid,Titec -Full Deore,plus the cranks(GOOD CRANKS!) -Decent Manitou Magnum fork -It's a looker! -A entry-level bike that leaves you feeling rich
Weaknesses: -Some entry level cost-cutting(rims,saddle,few other VERY minor quibbles) -Hard to find around here -A bit more expensive than my Rockhopper(but considering the Jamis' list of good parts,it is a better value) -I DON'T HAVE ONE!!
Bottom Line:
So,how does this bike compare to my Rockhopper? Let's see:
1.Frame-Jamis' Reynolds steel v.s Specialized's A1 alum: The A1 is very stiff and responsive,but the Jamis has the edge in ride without really trading off anything.You feel the difference after a long ride.Both have good mud clearance-a necessity up here in the North country. Advantage:Jamis(steel is my personal preference) 2.Components-C'mon,there's no contest here.Even though the bikes share the same fork(pretty good)and deraillers(also pretty good)the Jamis beats the Specialized's house-brand garbage with some real quality parts.The Avids on the Jamis were a nice surprise.But probably the best component on the Jamis was the Deore hollowtech crank.The difference between this item and the Specialized Forearm crank was night and day.The Deore shifted SO much smoother and was stiff compared to the noodly Forearm.The chainrings were also better-quality on the Deore.The crank alone made the Deore drivetrain feel WAY more polished. Advantage:Jamis,by a huge margin 3.Availability-Specialized is an established company,and thus its products can be found practically everywhere.Jamis,long the unsung hero,is only starting to become popular among the Northeast's shops.My friend bought his bike all the way out in the Cape Cod region.That's a pretty long trek,but he still got a fairly good deal. Advantage:Specialized,by a large margin 4.Price-With plenty of dickering and searching,you can find either bike on the cheap.The Jamis' base MSRP is a bit higher,but by about only $70.The Specialized is less expensive,and thus wins a narrow edge. Advantage:Specialized,by a tiny margin 5.Ability-This is close.Both are well-balanced,with good cornering,descending,and climbing abilities.The Specialized feels a little lighter,the Jamis rides better.Call it a draw. Advantage:Tie 6.Value-With a few upgrades(wheels,saddle,pedals,maybe the fork,etc),both bikes can be set up for trouble-free rides.The Jamis requires fewer upgrades and has better parts,plus an awesome-feeling steel frame,but you pay a little more.The Specialized is very sensibly priced and also has a primo frame,but loses quite a bit in the way of componentry.Both bikes are very good,but the Jamis is that much better in that you don't have to upgrade every damn thing on the bike.It's pretty good out of the box.
WINNER:Jamis Exile.Bottom line,this is the sweetest entry level hardtail you can buy.I think I'm going to hit up my friend for another ride...
But don't take my word for it.Consider both bikes before you buy.As for me,I give it 4 chilis for value,5 overall.
Weaknesses: Pedals, but better to pick your own. I'm still getting used to the saddle, it has seams and stitching at the contact points, in order to add the red trim.
Bottom Line:
I realize aluminum is the trend now, but it seems much better suited to full suspension bikes. The Exile's Reynolds frame feels great. It is a comfortable, fun and good-looking bike at a value price. There are so few bikes in chromoly at this price point that if the Exile didn't exist I would have been forced to spend much more money.
This bike is perfect for anyone who does not intend to get highly serious about the sport; those riders should probably spend a little more if they can. Alternatively, one could start with the stock Exile and upgrade components along the way. The frame will not disappoint.
Submitted by
keith
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000
Strengths: cheap,536.00 on sale,lightweight,great feel of steel.ok components for the price.it looks awesome with the polished finish.
Weaknesses: tires,too many gears
Bottom Line:
as soon as I bought this bike I converted it to a single speed.It is a great handling bike,right out of the box.at 700.00 it is a good deal,but shop around I got mine for cheap$$$
i reviewed this bike when i bought it several months ago and let me tell you something; i have pounded the $hit out of this thing since then and it still rides like a champ! i've ridden it in two races, averaged about 125 miles per week on it since march, i've had some gnar crashes, and my jamis still calls me in the middle of the night wanting more. as parts break i replace them with the good shizit so slowly but surely this will become a highend machine, but for the MSRP; there is not a better bike anywhere. the way the frame rides is incredible! five flamin' dead babies from me!
Bike Setup: stock with spinergy spox wheels, raceface cranks/rings/ profile stiffy stem, shimano clipless pedals
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Submitted by
JEREMY KANE
a Weekend Warrior
from BEND, OR USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000
Strengths: GREAT FORK, GREAT FRAME, GREAT COMPONENT PACKAGE
Weaknesses: DON'T KNOW OF ANY YET
Bottom Line:
YOU GET A REYNOLDS STEEL FRAME, GREAT FORK, TITEC BAR, STEM, AND SEATPOST, AND AN ALL DEORE PACKAGE. THIS BIKE FOR THE TIME I RODE IT FELT GREAT. THE FORK FELT GREAT AND I WASN'T TOO SURE ABOUT THE MANITOU MAGNUM FORK, BUT IT FELT PLUSH. I AM PICKING THIS BIKE UP THIS WEEKEND AT CENTURY CYCLES FOR 699.00. NO OTHER BIKES THAT I TESTED(POSTED ABOVE) CAME CLOSE TO THE JAMIS. I THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO BUY A HARDTAIL AND DON'T HAVE A GRAND TO SPEND, DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THE JAMIS EXILE. GREAT JOB JAMISL
Similar Products Used: SCHWINN MOAB 3, KONA CINDERCONE, TREK 6500, RALIEGH M600
Bike Setup: STOCK
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2000
Strengths: Fork, Avid brakes, Deore components, value for money
Weaknesses: Grips, rims
Bottom Line:
This bike was perfect for me. At $Aus1199 it was much better value than anything else I came across. Some may shy away from chromoly, but I've been most impressed with the frames ride. The Avid brakes are plush, powerful, and have a very nice feel. The Titec stem, bar and post is a bonus, and the bike has Deore everything. The Manitou Magnum forks, for their price, are awesome, and I prefer them to Jetts and RST 281/381s. They have plenty of travel, and I have not yet managed to bottom them out. The rims are average, and have gone out of true somewhat. This may be my next upgrade. Also, the metal finish seems to scratch easily, at least more so than a few of my friends bikes. Still, in red, metal and black, the bike looks pretty cool. This bike is ideal if you are getting into mountain biking, but don't want to spend a fortune. I've taken it cross country, downhill, and over some technical singletrack, and it laps it all up. There is plenty of scope to upgrade. A good value bike. Good work Jamis!
Similar Products Used: GT Timberline, Mongoose, Avanti, Jamis Eureka
Bike Setup: Stock, with new grips
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Submitted by
Leo Kowalski
a
from Bend, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2000
Strengths: frame, component package for the price, how well it handles underneath a bigger guy like me
Weaknesses: wheels
Bottom Line:
When I bought this bike I spent less than I did four years ago on what was at the time a similarly equipped GT Ricochet. Although the GT is a killer ride (because of the upgrades I've made) the Jamis kicks the crap out of it. I'm a bigger guy and I really like the way this bike handles, it responds really well for me on tight singletrack. this bike is totally upgradeable and my plans include a new set of wheels once i have the money. i spent $699.00 and wasn't able to find another bike close in price with titec/deore everything and a more forgiving steel frame. plus it's got disc brake mounts on the frame and fork. this is pretty cool ride that people of many skill levels could really enjoy, kudos to jamis for spending their money on their bikes and not a motorcycle division.
