Submitted by
jonswan5
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Cod, MA.
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2011
Strengths: Super light strength to weight ratio. 853 steel is top notch, stiff side to side action when driving cranks, soft all around feel, (as good as or better than titanium)
Weaknesses: Umm marketing? ... none
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike you can ride all around, it takes a massive beating, jumps, drops, downhill, rough riding. It can climb like an aluminum monster, and it is as plush as the $4,000 titanium jewel. You will never need another bike unless you are exclusively riding downhill or you are riding dirt jumps only.
Similar Products Used: without 853 Kona hot. fat chance, litespeed non-suspension frames, any high end hardtail (non-aluminum)
Bike Setup: I was a bike shop manager for 6 years and when I moved on in my life I built this from parts on ebay.
Jamis 2001 853 steel Dragon frame (with disk embosses)
Rock Shox sid 1997
Race Face Next LP sid blue with matching Bottom Bracket(tapered)
Rolf Dolomite wheelset
Cane Creek 110 headset 2010
FSA FR200 stem
syncros seatpost
Panaracer fire xc pro kevlar 2.1 tires
ODI lock-on grips
medium comfort seat (iron horse)
FSA skewers
Looking into carbon riser bars
Full XTR shifters, levers, v-brakes, rear der., front der., cassette, and a dura-ace chain. all 9-speed
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Submitted by
Don Washburn
a Weekend Warrior
from Phx,AZ
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003
Strengths: Steel frame (say no More) FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY STING LIKE AN IRS AUDIT with no hope in site
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
May I never own another bike but the jamis Dragon "
Bike Setup: Hand built mavic 221(f)&521(r)DT141514Lxhubsf&r,XT everywherever else,XT177.5(yes I said177.5)cranksarms,8speed(thumbshiftXT), Mantou(xvert(AIR),thompson seatpost,Carb/fiber handlebars,XT clipless peds,Yadda,Yadda.
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Submitted by
mtn chick
a Cross Country Rider
from connecticut
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Strengths: um. everything. this bike is a dream.
Weaknesses: don't think i could find one if i tried.
Bottom Line:
this bike is amazing. got it down to 21 pounds by changing out the components listed above, and considering that i'm a 115 pound rider, this has alowed me to be increadably light on the trail and more agressive (not that the stock 23 pounds really weighs me down at all). this bike climbs like an absolute deamon, i swear it grows feet out the sides and just plows up steps over roots and so on. the combination of light a light frame, superior components that make shifting and handingling with confidence a reality, one word: "Steel". and the fact that this is probably the best hardtail outthere. this bike is a classic
Similar Products Used: dakota xc, cannondale F500, F700, Fisher stumpjumper
Bike Setup: changed fork out to a sid xc, answer handlebar, lp seat stem and bar ends, avid mag v-breaks, azonic stem, fizik saddle,
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from east coast
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001
Strengths: great steel frame,nice smooth ride, very responsive, great color (RED).The set up I've done on this bike makes it a blast.
Weaknesses: None yet!!
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks,,,,The Jamis stock team issue bike is a rocket ship and a great deal. but I wanted somthing different. I wanted a wet weather steel racer that is still light enough!! Think I did it,and love it! What a ride, and thumbs up for the XT hydr. brakes. Nice modulation,,and great power.
Similar Products Used: Rocky mtn. Altitude T.O., Rocky Element race, Barracuda A2V
Bike Setup: This is the ticket,total custom,wheels- American Clasic disk hubs laced to Mavic 317 disk hoops with titainium spokes, XT components including XT hydr. disk brakes,thompson elite stem, c2 bar, race face xy post, terry fly saddle, time attac peddals, green light tubes, pannarace trailblaster tires
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Submitted by
Sven
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2001
Strengths: Everything is just about perfect.
Weaknesses: The UST tyres leak just a little, just check pressures before riding. The stock grips rotate on the bars and would give blisters. Either buy something else or safety-wire the grips to the bars.
Bottom Line:
XTR everything, MARS Super fork, Mavic UST wheels, Hutchinson Python tyres, steel frame and understated aesthetics. Jamis has a winner with carefully chosen components, reasonable price.
The bike is stable, fits me perfectly, rides like a dream. I'd be interested to see how Jamis beats this because I think it's impossible.
If it wasn't 110 degress here I might actually be able to ride it.
