Dropped from the line three years ago by the bean counters, Exile is back because it makes too much sense. All the other ATB’s in this price range are made with straight-gauge, harsh-riding aluminum. Not this bike. We’ve trickled down the fast-but-resilient riding attributes of our Dragon and Dakota bikes with
a Reynolds double butted chromoly steel frame.
Submitted by
JimmyD_NZ
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2009
Strengths: True to itself. It sets out to be an XC machine and does it with grace and aplomb. I've ridden everything from Ti to carbon, Alloy, Steel and anything else you can name. this is a wonderfully graceful bike that lets you go fater than you ever thought possible on an SS.
Weaknesses: A bit too heavy for a real racer.
Bottom Line:
BUY one, ride it, love it and don't let your mates borrow it.
Bike Setup: RockShox Team forks with remote lockout, custom SS wheelset, RaceFace SS cranks, Easton EC90 seatpont, Easton SL low riser bar, Race Face 90mm 0 rise stem, cane creek headset, Ti saddle, Time Carbon pedals
This frame is butter! No need for full suspension and a 40lbs bike when there is modern steel tubing out there. This absorbs much of the vibrations as you go along. Aluminum is garbage and feels like crap off road. You really need full suspension if your dealing with alum. and then you get a heavy, dippy bike. Go steel and try to find a frame like the Exile. With the right components it beats a Stumpjumper by leaps and bounds. Besides the green and buff paint make this bike look really timeless and classic. As with many stock bikes, buy this just for the frame and get some decent components for it.
Bike Setup: 2003 Jamis Exile steel frame, XT rear der., deore front der. stock brakes, Judy SL fork, LX cranks, old San Marco Saddle, Forte carbon seatpost, Crank Bros Candy pedals.
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Submitted by
SKRX
a Cross Country Rider
from C Falls, MT
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2007
Strengths: What a great package for the price. The frame alone is almost worth the price of the bike. Great crankset, bars, and stem-no nned for upgrades there. LIGHT! 26.25 lbs.
Weaknesses: Manitou Axel Elite fork is a throw-away. Hutchinson Mosquito tires can go in the trash right next to the fork, the Avid SD-3 brakes, and the horrible cheapo SRAM cassette. Seatpost slips.
Bottom Line:
I was lucky enough to find one of these recently on EBay brand new in the box. Picked it up dirt cheap, stripped the cheap components off and re-sold them on EBay, and upgraded the heck out of it. I guess this review is more for the frame, crankset, bars, and stem, because those are the only components I kept. After selling off the old components, I essentially had paid about $200 for the awesome cro-moly Jamis frame, with the crankset, bars, and stem as a bonus.
The frame performs great, without the harsh ride of aluminum, but it puts the power to the ground just as efficiently. I previously rode a Klein, so I know all about the jarring ride, but awesome power transfer, of aluminum. The Truvativ crankset works great-no need to upgrade it. Same for the bars and stem, which are as light as you can get without going carbon. I might eventually get a set of riser bars just because I'm getting older and my neck can't take the abuse it once could. The frame geometry works well, although I would prefer a touch more fork rake and another inch of top tube length. The steep head tube angle makes the steering a bit jerky at times, but its not a huge problem.
All in all, this is an amazing bike for the price. If you find one, its well worth buying it for the frame and upgrading. I now have a bike equivalent to (if not better than) a 2007 Jamis Dragon Pro, for about 60% of the price. With the new fork and other upgrades, its down to about 24 lbs, too. I'll keep this one for years, nice work Jamis! 5 for value, 4 overall due to the crappy stock fork, brakes, tires, and seatpost clamp.
Similar Products Used: 1996 Klein Pulse Comp XT/LX, 1991 Raliegh Peak rigid fork full XT (before Raliegh sucked).
Bike Setup: Jamis Exile steel frame, upgraded to XT. Avid SD-7 rim brakes. Manitou R7 Super Lockout fork. Mavic 517/XT wheels. Lots of Titec stuff. Eggbeater SL pedals.
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Submitted by
Nathan Crowell
a Cross Country Rider
from Folsom, California, USA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2006
Strengths: It's fast, light, the shifting and braking is extremely responsive. It handles like a road bike, but can take the worst offroad beatings imaginable. I put some touring tires on and now it can go anywhere.
Weaknesses: The Deore rear derailleur is a bit tempermental and takes a while to break in. until then, expect a lot of fine tuning.
Bottom Line:
This is the second best mountain bike you can possibly get your hands on for under $1000.
Bike Setup: deore front/rear derailleurs and hubs, TruVativ crank, bontrager stem, manitou fork, rim brakes by avid.
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Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Clemson, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2006
Strengths: STEEL FRAME! Deore Components, Truvativ Fire X
Weaknesses: No Disc Brakes
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike for around $1000 new. Used, I would have paid $500 for this bike despite it being three years old. This bike is reliable, comfortable, and good-looking. Jamis has made the perfect bike
Bike Setup: Everything stock except bar ends Singletrack
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
luke
a Weekend Warrior
from port townsend, wa
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2004
Strengths: Frame, Shifters, Derailuers
Weaknesses: Shock, Stock Rubbers
Bottom Line:
Great BIke, RIdes smooth, takes abuse well. Tires are thin and get many flats (easy to fix). Also, shock is little cheap, but what do you expect for the price. Tis IS the BEST hard tail for the Money. A bike that is worth upgrading the components they skimped on to give you a good price. Would recommend for people like me who want to get a LITTLE more aggressive in their trial riding but don't want to go hucking off 20' cliffs!
Similar Products Used: Giant Iguana, Gary Fisher Mariln
Bike Setup: Stock right now
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Submitted by
michael
a Weekend Warrior
from yreka, ca
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2004
Strengths: prise, i got it on a last year model close out. weight, 26 pounds, other bike was 39 pounds. quality, steel frame has been laid down on the same trails my aluminum did not get up from.
Weaknesses: tires, more flats than i have ever seen. pedles, not a fan of toe clips, easy fix.
Bottom Line:
this bike is great. the price of a beginer. strong enough to be used hard for many years. no reason to buy another bike unless you are looking for full suspension.
Bike Setup: stock, changed to platform pedals, installed a pump.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Monument
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004
Strengths: Strong frame, XT components, great V-brakes
Weaknesses: Manitou Elite stock shock, Wilderness tires. Took to Moab 3 weeks after I purchased it. Tires were basically bald after riding the whole loop of Slickrock, plastic cap broke on Manitou shock first day. No shop in town could replace it so had to use an older Manitou cap that didn't have the dampener. (Not fun for Porcupine rim) The spokes came loose by the end of the trip (the shop in Denver's fault not Jamis)
Bottom Line:
Big guys this is a great bike once you get it setup correctly. I'm 6'2" 235lb, I've only ridden on the new heavier springs a few times (been snowboarding this winter) but it is a night and day difference. I will be checking out the heavier springs this year and updating you if I have good luck with them. Otherwise I may have to invest in a heavier shock all together. The steel frame takes a lickin and keeps on tickin! If you have an few extra ben's look for full suspension.
Purchased At: Perfomance Bike , Arapahoe Rd Denver
Similar Products Used: test rode several different bikes but nothing long term
Bike Setup: Mythos XC tires, Performance Forte Team ATB Pedal Performance Bike in Colo Springs hooked up the bike with a complete overhaul and installed a heavy spring set in the shock (big difference)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Renton, Washington State
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004
Strengths: Great package. This is an alloy steel frame hardtail with very good single track manners and a very nice ride on the road (which we all do from time to time). Weighs about 1/3lb more that comperable aluminum frame bikes. So you notice nothing when riding. Nice Deore components throughout for this price point.
Weaknesses: Tires are light good traction but get inner tube punctures easily (a little too thin).
Bottom Line:
Wasn't too sure about the steel frame but since I've had a chance to put it in mud,rocks,roots and on the road etc. I'm pretty impressed! I don't get the jarring feeling like an aluminum frame yet the power transf to the rear wheel is all there. The Jamis rep told me the frame is same geom. as their high priced spread and it's got a life time guarantee. I'll probably update to disc brake in the near future as I see a lot of mud here in Washington. Normally priced at $700 I got a great deal at $500. Good for riding hard on the weekends or with the wife& kids. Shop around before you buy....
Bike Setup: Rock Stock - Manatou comp fully adj. fork 80 mm travel. Rapid fire shifters, Mavic rims, 9 speed Scram cluster, Deore front and rear derailers, richey components to round out the package.
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