FRAME: 7005 aluminum all tubes with gusseted down tube and box-section stays, multiple linkage design with 90mm rear travel, Fox Float air-sprung shock, replaceable derailleur hanger, international disc brake mount.
Submitted by
derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale ,AZ
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2009
Strengths: sincerly none
Weaknesses: cheap aluminum,warranty sucks,pretty heavy, hard for climbs,worst bike ever own.
Bottom Line:
piece of s * * t,I just throw my money to the trash with this thing,bought it ´cause the brand was exotic,but I think a cheap mongoose will perform better,It cracked from the pipe tube in a little dirt down trail,don´t throw away your money!!
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Nomad, K2 razoraback, cannondale jekyll 1000
Bike Setup: left the krap as it comes...
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Submitted by
dunkotm
a Cross Country Rider
from Bemboka, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2008
Strengths: Nice suspension design. Frame looks a bit S C Supalightish (but faster).
Weaknesses: not much yet
Bottom Line:
To make this bike sing, you need to revalve the shock. I got Rp23 interals and the bike behaves like a much higher model. Laced it up with all my fave old bits from my old Enduro- the lighter wheelset is a bonus too.
The bike climbs well, is sharp on singletrack, is a handful on descents (sometimes like a HT it's soo loose), but a great trail bike all up.
If you get the chance to get a used one like me and have some spares to upgrade/lighten you'll get a ride which punches well above it's weight!
Bike Setup: not much stock. XT Drivetrain, 317 rims on XT hubs, revalved shock (a must!), mx comp (ETA) fork, etc
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Submitted by
Gregory Taets
a Cross Country Rider
from Colmberg, Bayern, Germany
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2008
Strengths: Good Price, Right Size, Relatively light for the price
Weaknesses: Anodized finish chips easily, a little on the heavy side
Bottom Line:
I bought this as a bare frame from Jenson, so I could do a budget build, with a cap of $2000 dollars for a complete bike. The Frame itself is under 5lbs. for a 19". That's a little heavy for just a frame, but with all the components on, it still weighed in under 30lbs. I am a Cross Country/Trail Rider and don't have too many big hills to deal with, so the weight isn't really an issue for me. The Anodized Red Paint on the frame chips off if you even look at it funny, but, It's a bike right? If it isn't sratched up, you aren't riding hard enough. I rode this bike setup to and from work everyday for the first three months I had it, as well as take it on the trails, and have had no problems as of yet. I believe that as a frame, this is a very good purchase, for the money.
Bike Setup: Race Face Stem, Handlebar, Steatpost, Crank; Shimano 2007 XT Shifters, both Deraillers; Chris King Headset; Sunline Grips and Seat; Hayes Stroker Trail V6 brakes, DT Swiss Rims (converted to tubless with Stans), Kenda Nevegal Tires (Of Coarse!)
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Submitted by
Sam Giltrap
a Racer
from Albury, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008
Strengths: hmmmmmm
Weaknesses: too many to mention
Bottom Line:
the bottom line is do not buy this bike. it is slow heavy the rear suspension is ridiculously inefficient the front fork (splice) is shocking i bottom mine out 90 % of trail riding and i weight about 75 kg the original brakes were crap, yea basically all components are crap on it. now we come to the frame, it is heavy which u would usually trade for strength but not in its case, i have just broken my second rear chain stay in exactly the same spot and i am a XC rider/racer i dont do drops basically over a foot most of the time i am scared it will break and today i broke it on a little ledge about a foot high bloody tiny and it snapped. i hate this bike it sucks and i would recomend noit to buy it.
Bike Setup: LX hydros (only thing worth anything on the bike) rest is crap
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Submitted by
Patrick Sarantis
a Weekend Warrior
from Citrus Heights, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Strengths: The bike is lightweight, predictable and maneuverable. The seat and wheels are great.
Weaknesses: I broke the frame on my second ride but i did buy it used and they are going to replace it. Neck is way to long, truvativ cranks did not hold up.
Bottom Line:
The bike really is good but don't ride it like you stole it.
Bike Setup: stock other than Shorter neck and better tires
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Submitted by
Tate Colbert
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwood, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2007
Strengths: cheap, easy to get into mountain biking on. Not Punishing like a hardtail, but not to complex for the average cro-magnon to figure out
Weaknesses: paint chips creak, although that was resloved by greasing the seatpost
Bottom Line:
good for the once or twice a week rider that isnt going to be reading the owners manual to get the most performance, just set it to your body weight minus 10 psi and ride the s*$t out of it
Submitted by
Marc Ruch
a Cross Country Rider
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2007
Strengths: Build, fork, rear shock, disk brakes, shifting
Weaknesses: Tires
Bottom Line:
This is my first full-suspension bike that I have bought. Besides trying my friend's Santa Cruz and Giant XTC, I normally ride a GT Outpost hardtail. I saw this bike at South Mountain and immediately wanted it. Compared to the K2 it kicked major. Of course, it's nothing next to the Santa Cruz or the Giant, but it's good enough for me. When I rode Bear Creek with it, it was like heaven. A good deal for the cross country rider who wants something that can handle some tough stuff. If you're going to do some jumps or serious downhill, think more expensive.
Bike Setup: Manatiou Super Splice Forks. Fox Float Shock.
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Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2007
Strengths: Strong frame, crashed into trees a few times and a few other type of crashs here and there. The Frame hasn't showed any damage frame them. Light, I bought just the frame and added my own components to it
Weaknesses: Could use a stronger paint job
Bottom Line:
Best buy for what i bought at. Nice smooth ride on it. It is a nice XC bike.
Bike Setup: all LX drive train, LX rapid fire, avid brakes; BB5 Front and BB7 in the rear. Fox vanilla rear shock upgrading soon and a Judy forks in the front.
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Submitted by
Jesse
a Weekend Warrior
from Havertown, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007
Strengths: Terrific aftermarket lockout-capable Fox Float RPL, custom bike buildup with mostly older but all brand new high-end parts.
Weaknesses: looks cheaper compared to '05 Dakar XC Expert and '05 Dakar XC Pro.
Bottom Line:
This was a custom buildup this past month using BRAND NEW older parts, with the exception of the Fox shock, the Thomson parts, bar grips, bar ends, and the handlebar, which are all 2007 parts. The bright red 2005 frame (15") was a GREAT CHEAP way for me to get into dual suspension riding and my parts selection has certainly made this bike WAY BETTER THAN A STOCK 2005, which has much worse parts on it.
DO NOT BUY THIS BIKE LEFTOVER STOCK!!!! Just buy the frame and do a custom buildup, especially with the rear shock. The Fox Vanilla unit that was specified by Jamis in '05 was JUNK and a Fox Float RP3 or RPL can be found brand new ('06 or '07) on the internet for a good price.
Bike Setup: Salsa Pro Moto carbon handlebar, XTR 952 crank, shifters, brake levers, XTR 953 fr. & rr derailleurs, XTR 953 cassette, Dura-Ace/XTR CN-7701 chain, Thomson Elite seatpost & handlebar stem, ST-Lite bar ends with Yeti grips, Manitou Black Comp 120mm with lockout, Rolf Dolomite Disc wheelset, Avid BB7 disc brakes, Fox Float RPL rear air suspension.
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Submitted by
bill
a Downhiller
from castle rock CO
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2007
Strengths: fox vannila rear shock
Weaknesses: every thing else i am a freerider this bike is terrible its heavy and weak i warped the wheels bottomed out both shocks and broke the fork this bike is lame the fork now leaks oil the brakes only the rear brake works and its like ridin a tamborine everything rattles including your teeth
Bottom Line:
i would recommend this bike to some one who does very light ridin once in a while but not to free riders it can barely handle a 2 foot drop very disapponted
Bike Setup: 2001 darkar sport rockshox judy and fox vannilla odi grips azonic pedals wtb seat huchitson tires deore duraillers
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Submitted by
Scott Simpson
a Cross Country Rider
from Albury NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2007
Strengths: Reliable rims, nice finishing kit and running gear, comfortable.
Weaknesses: poor brakes, very poor forks, weak frame (mine cracked in half at chain stay), no adjustments on rear shock, poor tyres, heavy and a slow bike.
Bottom Line:
A poor choice of bike to race or do much on at all. Everything will creak and deteriorate and you will need to make appropriate adjustments at large cost to have a reasonable bike.
Similar Products Used: Giant XTC's (great relaible bikes)
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2007
Strengths: Decent handling, brakes
Weaknesses: Fork, paint, linkage creaky, wheels
Bottom Line:
Great starting FS bike for the $$. Not any one component of the bike is fantastic, but it functions well as an overall package in this price point. Have leaking problems with the Manitou fork, and got rid of the wheelset after broken spokes and truing problems for a Mavic set (awesome wheels). The Mavics are overkill, they're going on my next bike. Overall I am happy with this bike, no frame breakage problems, good purchase for a first FS bike. I've had it for 2 years and have beat on it multiple times weekly, being 6'3" 210lbs it takes it well. I ride the 21" frame. My next bike may be the Jamis XAM 1.0. Now I realize I need more travel and this time I can afford more bike. 3 chilis for overall rating because of fork and wheel problems, but I would buy again.
Similar Products Used: my old rigid (okay so that's not similar)
Bike Setup: stock + Mavic Crosstrail and Michelin Mountain AT
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Submitted by
Gabe Rodriguez
a Downhiller
from Pomona Cal. Usa
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2007
Strengths: The frame is not to to heavy... i have the 05 model. the frame is nice and rigid on the climbs but still nimble on the dh.
Weaknesses: i have not had any complaints other than the rear shock seems a bit hard at times.
Bottom Line:
being my first XC bike it seems like its a hell of a bike. the DHing gets really scary sometimes because the 19 inch frame kinda has you stretched out a little but its nothing that cant be fixed without a shorter stem. all in all a great bike for the price. take the time to build one on your own and with just a little more than a shops price you can build a hell of a bike.
Bike Setup: I started out with the frame and built it myself. full XT drive train, Manitou Minute forks, Kenda 2.35 on speedisc wheelset.
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Submitted by
trap
a Cross Country Rider
from victoria
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2006
Strengths: Good price, good lx running gear,
Weaknesses: splice shock too soft for x/c, too heavy for x/c,rear shock no adjustments
Bottom Line:
Really good bike for the average person who wants to hit the trails but just too heavy for X/C but with upgrades can be made much better such as brakes, tpc lockout on front shock, bars etc and either new frame(jamis XCR pro) or new rear shock with adjustments. this is my first FS bike and have raced it but more of a downhill X/c race would suit but it was very easy to ride the distance (55km) Very good first FS bike and would recomend to anyone wanting one because of price and reliability
