One of the first longer-travel, single-crown hardtails in the industry (way back in ’98), Komodo sets a standard only it can surpass. From the beefed-up-but-butted frame to the Marzocchi Z1 Freeride 130mm travel fork, to the Hayes hydraulic brakes, to the heavy duty TruVativ crank and 31.8 bar bore stem, to the big footprint Hutchinson 2.3 tires.
Submitted by
youngjumper
a Weekend Warrior
from spokane valley
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008
Strengths: well made frames i have a 1.0 and a 2.0 good shocks on both 1 has rst launch t7 and other has duro's duros are very soft and slow response the t7s are good coil shocks pretty bouncy very very responsive both are great shocks one th 2.0 has hydrolic disk brakes and other has regular disk brakes
Weaknesses: nothing really just that its a hard tail and the nicer ones deraileur is really bouncy and loud
Bottom Line:
its a great bike highly recomend it mine were on sale one from 859 to 650 and one from 750 to 570 2.0 is heavierstronger porbably better at drop offs 1.0 very light absoleute great jumper dont have to get much speed to clear big jumps
Submitted by
Kyle Asay
a Downhiller
from Lindon, Utah, U.S.
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2006
Strengths: I LOVE THIS BIKE. IT IS BUILT REALLY STRONG AND I LOVE THE WAY IT RIDES. THE WAY IT HITS 9 FOOT DROPS, AND TABLES, AND JUST RIDING EVERYWHERE IT RUNS REALLY GOOD.
Weaknesses: I HAVEN;T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY BIKE EXCEPT THE DISKS SQUEEK A LITTLE BIT BUT THEY WENT AWAY AFTER I RODE THE BIKE ON A COUPLE OF RIDES
Bottom Line:
IT IS A TIGHT BIKE GET IT IF YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by
Big C
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2006
Strengths: Couldn't beat the price. Frame is super beefy and looks cool. I like the geometry with the top tube sloping down and the long travel fork compatibility. I am 6'2" 215lbs and the 19in frame fits me pretty well with a more upright riding positon. The chainstays are formed to take a wider rear tire which make the hardtail a bit more comfortable through the rough. I am an all-mountain rider not extreme downhill or super cross country and this set-up has been great. It climbs like a goat, drops staircases without flinching, and gives confidence on winding single track.
Weaknesses: My only dissappointment was that you can only fit a 6 inch disc brake on the rear and not an 8 inch. The 8 inch disc touches the chainstay. But with a good 6 you wouldn't care. Oh yeah, rear is disc only if you care. This is the only reason I give a 4 out of 5 rating.
Bottom Line:
Please take this as a review of the Komodo frame only. I built by bike from scratch with parts I liked not what Jamis puts on their build. Basically designed for "free-riding", but I think this is a great all around frame for either XC or Downhill. If your like me and just like to ride in the mountains without labeling what you do you will like this frame.
Favorite Trail: pipeline, the backbone, and anything southern Ute
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At: frame from jenson usa
Similar Products Used: prototype Trek carbon fiber superlight y-bike with rock shox judy front and fox air rear
Bike Setup: Manitou Sherman flick plus fork with thru axle.110/150mm Big Earl front hub Hayes El Camino 8inch front 6inch rear SRAM X-9 shifters/rear derailleur/X-Gen front derailleur old Bontrager crowbar riser with ODI lock on grips Race Face evolve XC crank/SRAM 9spd cassette Cane Creek Thud Buster seat post Weirwolf 2.5 front and Moto Raptor 2.24 rear Shimano PD-M434 pedals
Strengths: Strong, Light weight, good looking, fast, easy to maintain.
Weaknesses: It looked so good someone had to steal it, took the lock and all!
Bottom Line:
For a fast paced, exciting ride, choose the 03 Jamis Komodo if you can find one. With a sloped top tube design, the frame can take you as quickly as you want to go through your favorite trail. Rocky or smooth, matched with the right fork and rider, and trail can be considered accessible.
Submitted by
mike oliver
a Racer
from old lyme, ct
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2004
Strengths: VERY STRONG GOOD ALL AROUND BIKE GET THIS I HAVE RACED IT CROSS COUNTRY AND DHOWNHILL AND HAVE 6 TOP TENS EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO
Weaknesses: THE REAR DERAILLEUR HANGERS BREAK EASILY(I HAVE GONE THROUGH 5 IN 1 YEAR...BUT MOST OF THEM ARE DUE TO MY CRAPPY LX DERAILLEUR, IT WAS BENT...JUST RECENTLY GOT THE NEW 2004 XT)
Bottom Line:
GREAT ALL AROUND BIKE, IF U WANT A BIKE THAT CAN DO IT ALL THIS IS THE ONE. I THRASHED THIS THINK AT KILLINGTON AND GOT 2ND PLACE INT HE BEDINNER DH) ....ALL THE OTHER BIKES IN MY CLASS WERE DH
ONE FINAL WORD WHY DID JAMIS STOP MAKING THIS BIKE??????
Submitted by
Brendan Dee
a Cross Country Rider
from Providence RI
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2004
Strengths: Frame, wheelset
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome, too bad Jamis killed it in '04. I don't freeride, it's more like tech XC with 2 - 4 foot drops in the loops I ride. The frame is so light I really think I could slap on some light wheels and a lighter cassette and it would be a great XC racer. I love how easily the front end comes off the ground, even with a 110 stem. That said I can still climb up a wall with this bike. This bike made me way more confident riding drops and learning to wheelie drop again (after a bad wreck and surgery two years ago). Bottom line is it's a super stable HT great for anything short of competitive XC racing (in stock build).
Bike Setup: Not stock exactly, more of a trail bike s/u for technical riding and drops of 4 feet or less. Psylo, Firex crankset, Easton carbon bar, Race Face Prodigy Stem 110, Avid discs, stock XT hubs on F219s, EA 50 post, XT fr & rear der., Deaore shifters, Motoraptors 2.4, SDG Bel Air saddle.
Strengths: Marzocchi Z1 Freeride, Thompson seatpost, 31.8 bar/stem, full XT, Mavic F219's, Hayes hydrolic disks, Kinesis
Weaknesses: Why did Jamis stop making it for '04? Must not have sold enough.
Bottom Line:
This bike packs some nice stuff for the money. Jamis designed a pretty slick frame and gave it a killer color. The frame is light and still is strong. I love the feel of this bike. The bar/stem combo is amazingly stiff and is the best riding bar/stem combo I ever rode. Jamis really doesn't offer any freeride bikes except for this and the Eureka as an entry level freeride. They down spec'd the Eureka (crappier fork) for '04 and named it the Komodo FX while keeping what looks to be the Eureka frame. I thought they had a really cool bike going the '03 Komodo. It definately filled a void in their line-up. Going on, the Marzocchi Z1 Freeride is a killer fork. While not as easily adjustable as the Fox, I think it feels better than the Fox. The only thing I had to do was swap the springs in the fork for the heaviest ones Marzocchi makes which helped with my bottoming out on drops. It was a very easy switch and Marzocchi tech was really great help when I needed help. XT is always great stuff. Cannot complain about that stuff. It is usually found on a solid performing bike and this thing definately is. The Komodo is not the best freeride bike out there, but it is built to be a solid, reliable bike that can take some crap. The frame is pretty sweet. It is not no bombproof overbuilt hunk of metal. It was built strong yet light. I am very happy with my Komodo. I know I made this review a little late, but if anyone finds one left over and wants a nice big-hit hardtail, I'd grab it while you can.
Bike Setup: Totally stock except for ODI Intense lock on grips, Odyssey pedals, Marzocchi integrated front fender and stiffer springs in the fork.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jakob
a Cross Country Rider
from Lubbock
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004
Strengths: light tough frame
Weaknesses: top tube too short for tall guys
Bottom Line:
Wicked fast on downhill for a hardtail, good climber with the ETA option. The frame was cheap enough I could pick up all the good gear. For the price and weight you can pick up nearly equal dual suspension bikes, but they none are as cool. All in all the most fun you can have on the trail for less then 2 grand.
Bike Setup: full xt, mavic UST, maxxis high rollers, marzocchi Z1 fr, maxm bar
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Burt, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2003
Strengths: Great Bike overall, love the way it jumps, drops, and wheelies.
Weaknesses: The middle of the tubes is a little weak, i had blow to the side, and it dinged up the tube on me a little, but since it is triple butted it shouldn't be any problem, the marzocchis gave me a problem but they are in teh shop now being waranteed so as long as that goes alright, that won't be a complaint. Oh yea the Hutchisons SUCK!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
Great bike, I couldn't of asked for any better, setup real nice right from the factory, other than the tires. I love the way it is so forgiving when you come of a jump a little crooked, you can drop anything at all and it takes it. It is nice and light, so blasting though the single track is just as fun as the urban assult.
Similar Products Used: None, though it feels more like a dirtbike, the way it sits you up strait, and the handle bars are tight, this is what I am more used to riding.
Bike Setup: XT Everything, Kevlar Michelin Tubes and tires, Mosh Platforms, Marzocchi Z1 FR
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
vincenzo pichichero
a Cross Country Rider
from Pisa, Tuscany, ITALY
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003
Strengths: good strength, good components.
Weaknesses: the price, too high.
Bottom Line:
It's a good bike, to use for xcountry and downhill. Unfortunately here in Bogotà can't use it properly, I will when I'll be back in Italy. Light, strong and fast. The choice of the saddle could be improve with a WTB one.
Submitted by
Stuart Bunton
a Downhiller
from LA , CA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003
Strengths: Light , stiff and really cheap . Fun angles . Quite good looking .
Weaknesses: Durability ??? HAve to run a lot of seat post if you want correct leg extension . Stiff - not very forgiving to the body on long rides .
Bottom Line:
My full suspension freeride bike clocks in at about 43 lbs now and it's no fun to ride on longer rides , but I did'nt want to give up the feel of my freeride rig . I built the bike up from " spare " and scavenged parts . The bike is super fun , it makes old easy trails challenging again and it's still light enough to go on an epic ride without a massive effort . I feel like a kid on a bmx again , very snappy out of tight singletrack switchbacks . An extra dose of caution must be taken on the rough stuff that I would normally just float over . The frame is so cheap that I really don't worry about bashing it up and buying another if it breaks . All in all I'm way more stoked than I ever thought I would be . Buy the way it's great as a dirt jump/ urban assult tool too .
whats up guys,
Im looking ot make my Jamis Komodo a 1x9. Im in the process of a complete overhaul so Im buying all new parts. I know I need a chain retention system on the front, Read More »
Im looking for a new set of wheels. I know the front for mine is 20mm. What about the rear? Is it 135mm ? I need a standard QR for the rear ( that isnt 9mm is it? ) Read More »
As far as I know...this was only made for one year. I'd like to find another one. The Team model was red and black, but the color isn't important to me. I got rid of mine to get a Read More »
Looking to get a bike for some small dirt jumping and trail riding and I've been looking at the 09 GT Chucker and the 08 Jamis Komodo 1.0. The GT is $400 and the Jamis is $350. T Read More »
Is this bike any good for the DJ's/street. aggressive trail riding?
I am looking at a '10 Jamis Komodo II for the DJ's/street and still be able to aggressively pedal the trails. Read More »
