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Submitted by
garrett
a Cross Country Rider
from brooklyn, ny
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | fahnstalk | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | I bought the frame only (mine is a Reynolds 500-series steel - ball burnished) and built it up with spare parts. The usual steel suppleness, quick response, nice ride. | | Weaknesses: | none as of yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Dakota AL, Komodo, Dakar, Trek 7000, Klein Adroit, Santa Cruz Heckler & Superlight, Ibis Mojo, you name it... | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX-R, Titec Hellbent riser bar, Titec seapost, SRAM 9 shifters, Avid 5.0 brakes & levers, XTR front & SRAM 9 rear derailleurs, Caramba Sidewinder cranks w/ Ringle rings, Rolf Satellite wheelset, Michelin greenies, etc. | | Bottom Line: | A sweet steel bike built from frame up. I originally put a cromoly rigid fork on it and used the bike as a commuter, going over Brooklyn bridge to work. Combo of steel frame and steel rigid fork was enough absorb most roughness on NYC concrete, and was a quicker, suppler ride than my tricked-out aluminum XC hardtail with Manitou Black Elite and Cane Creek thudbuster. Too good a bike to ride in the city only, so I will be taking it on the trail soon. Poor man's Dragon, but does the job. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bridget D
a Cross Country Rider
from Cincinnati, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Biowheels | | Strengths: | Frame, Wheels, XT Parts | | Weaknesses: | Cranks, Saddle, Paint Job (Holy PAINTCHIPS!) - on both my Jamis bikes | | Bike Setup: | Cranks, Casette - upgraded to XT
Handlebar Titanium - flat
Skewers - Ellsworth (very sweet impulse buy!) | | Bottom Line: | After a year I still love this bike. I am considering buying yet another Jamis (full-suspension). The 2003 Dakota XC has a very cool paint job...wish the 2002 was silver/black too...but I can deal. This hardtail has been able to handle everything I have ridden on/over...gotta love steel!
The folks at Jamis are very cool...they ride/race lots and you can see it in the quality/design of their bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D-Donk
a Cross Country Rider
from somewhere
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | performance bike | | Strengths: | Steel frame is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Xt parts work great. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy cassette, unsealed headset, seat sucks giant donkey!! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant rainier, Jamis Dakota AL | | Bike Setup: | CT2 carbon bar, xt cranks,Lock-on grips, Selle Italia seat. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks for anyone who wants an intermediate-professional level bike at an awesome cost. I swithced the bars to the Easton CT2's and the seat to a selle italia flite gel-tho. If the cassette and cranks were XT and the headset was sealed(Canecreek or something) this bike would be the perfect bike short of XTR. Switching to discs tho- Not enough power. Still performs outstandingly-Beats anything at its price point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mountain biker
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | Great value, steel frame. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find a shop that carries 'em. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Privateer S | | Bike Setup: | Irrelavant. | | Bottom Line: | The guy that bought his bike on the other side of the stateline, maybe you just picked a wrong bike shop?
I used to have a Jamis Eclipse. Now I have a Quest, and the Dragon, both are great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Biggy
a
from Chicago,IL,USA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Rapid Transit | | Strengths: | Very light for a 21" bike. Steel frame holds up well with a 6'6" 230lbs biker. Solid specs with a few exceptions | | Weaknesses: | Why they decided to put a Deore Cassette on this bike boggles me! Upgraded the saddle/handlebars/cassette and dropped nearly a pound. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Y5, 9.8, Klein Attitude | | Bike Setup: | Stock/XT Cassette/Flight Ti Saddle/EX70 Bars | | Bottom Line: | Did quite a bit of research for my first venture to MTB after having to upgrade after my first road bike. Dakota XC is a great bike for the $$. I couldn't touch a bike made by Trek/Klein/etc... with these specs for less than $1900. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rocco
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney , Australia
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Brookvale Bike Factory | | Strengths: | Tubless Tyres, Chro-moly frame | | Weaknesses: | Paint work easy to chip, seat to hard, | | Bike Setup: | I replaced the seat with a gel filled type | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a dream to ride, you can ride for it hours and isn't too taxing on the body. This is a very responsive bike on hard packed surfaces and super fast, handels great I think the tubless Python tyres have alot to do with this. I was never really into those fancy looking over sized alloy frames, just as well because the ride quality on this bike is paramount!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hafeiz Jusoh
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MI USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Purchased At: | Wersells Bike Shop, Toledo | | Strengths: | tubeless tires & wheels, handlebar, stem, component group. | | Weaknesses: | paint job, fork, saddle, headset, stickers, . | | Similar Products Used: | Comparable Marin, Specialized, Giant, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with XT crankset. | | Bottom Line: | I had to cross the state line to buy this bike and I have to admit that I am slightly dissapointed with it. With 1500 bucks, I should have settled for a "better-built" Jamis Dakota XC or a Bianchi or Gunnar.
I could've sworn that Jamis sold me a "repainted" last year's frame. From the chipped paint, I notice the last year's color on it. I know this bikes have been selling like hotcakes for them, but Jamis should have had the courtesy to let the customers know if they are gonna sell them repainted frame. I don't really mind minor paint chip because you know..it's a mountain bike, but for 1500 bucks, Jamis should have done a better job painting it. Stickers were merely glued and they peeled away after a few rides. Plus, it's a steel. Without paint treatment, it's gonna rust.
Mine is a 15". I think the Manitou Mars Elite that comes with it is equipped with "soft" kit. I had to go to 150 psi(more than 100% of my body weight)to prevent it from bottoming out. I asked Jamis for a stiffer kit swap, but they refuse to do it. I would have to pay extra because it would be consider an upgrade, even though I barely used the fork when I called them. Now, the fork starts to sip oil thru the compression damping adjuster-knob. AND the steerer tube is cut too short; restricting stem swap or stem-height adjustment. Why don't they cut the steerer tube to accomodate 2 or 3 headset spacers??? Mine barely have enough space for one spacer. Finally, the handlebar grips just keep slipping around the handlebar.I had to use wires and hair gel to fix this problem. For crying out loud,I bought this bike to ride it, not to keep fixing it. Buying a bike without test-riding it is a SUPER-BIG mistake, guys. I had to rely on the reviews here because the bike shop doesn't carry this bike for daily display or demo. If only the bike was built well....
On the plus side, the bike does ride well. With the tubeless and steel frame, it feels like having an extra one-two inches of travel(especially on the rear). I was able to pedal through some sections that I was not able to with my previous bike. XT group performs well so far. I honestly think the bike could use a better headset and saddle. These are the only two things I would upgrade on this bike unless you want to go disc-brakes.
Overall, like I said even though the bike is not a total failure, I'm still dissapointed. Perhaps mine is just the black sheep in the group. I thought Jamis have a reputable customer service. Anyway, I was planning to buy a Jamis roadbike as well, but after buying this bike, I just won't risk it again. Happy riding. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Short
a Cross Country Rider
from Newark, DE
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Henry's Bikes, Pike Creek | | Strengths: | Goes low and fast in the corners. Grippy tire set-up. Climbs,climbs,climbs. Aggressive on techy stuff. Comfy to the end on epic rides. DUR-A-BLE. Light fast single-track skate, great on rock gardens. Hops like the bunny it is. Perfect if you a fast hardtail without dropping mega-cash. | | Weaknesses: | Good front shock but not my first choice (I'll upgrade when the Manitou gives up). V-brakes good but I wanted disc so I got them. Inadequate junk-slot on saddle but only noticeable on epics over 25 miles. Chain stay protection non-existent. Must protect chainstay...chip paint...expose steel...get rust...not good..otherwise, not a problem thus far, not a single one. | | Similar Products Used: | Tons. Been riding forever. I demo bikes whenever I travel and ride all over the good ole USA. Many bikes in basement on hooks ready to roll. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to Avid mechanical disc and wheels before accepting delivery from the shop. BEAUTIFUL, FLAWLESS, STRONG, low cost but high quality. | | Bottom Line: | Sweet, swoopy, fast, light (relatively speaking), good looks, good value, great frame material. I'm loving the tubeless and even if others don't cause I know they haven't tried it. Don't tell anyone it was a deal cause it looks and rides like a million. Bicycling Magazine nailed it when they called it the "Hard Tail of the Year". GO BUY ONE. I NEVER give fives or tens in ratings but this time I have to. THANKS JAMIS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bridget
a Racer
from Cincinnati, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Biowheels Workshop-Cincinnati Ohio | | Strengths: | The steel frame is great - I am very glad that I made the which from aluminum to steel. The geometry is also great for a female rider. The components have all been working well for me so far...There are few minor, inexpensive things to that I will/have probably swaped. | | Weaknesses: | The saddle isn't so hot. I would have taken it off even if it was comfortable because I prefer all black saddles. | | Similar Products Used: | Scott Elite (7005 hardtail frame) | | Bike Setup: | Stock...replaced the saddle with a women's saddle. | | Bottom Line: | An excellent bike for women and an excellent bike on tight trails. It is also an excellent bike for the money!
I am glad I had the chance to read other reviews on this site it further re-enforced my decision buy this bike and I am glad that I did...I can't stop riding it! It is too much fun! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Norris
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hall Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1380.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bicycles | | Strengths: | Tubeless tires are great. Riding with lower pressure gives you more control and better grip on rocks, and no chance for pinch flats. Steel frame also gives it a very smooth feel, very little vibration on rocky downhills. | | Weaknesses: | Cranks are about the only thing that isn't high end on this bike. I upgraded mine to XT for $30, and now pretty much everything on this bike is XT and rides great. Haven't found any other weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried Specialized M4 Comp, and Gary Fischer Big Sur. | | Bike Setup: | 21 inch frame (sounds big but it fits me), XT cranks added | | Bottom Line: | This is the smoothest ride you are going to find for its price range. I joined team performace and got 10% back in gift certs to make the price 10% lower. If you are looking for a great bike w/great components, this one beats the competition. The Manitou Mars Elite shock is a good improvement over last year's model. I like is quite a bit better than the shocks they are putting on similar bikes in this range (Black, Bomber, etc.). You aren't going to find a lighter steel bike, my 21" weighed in at 25 lbs, about the same as the 19" M4 comp I tried. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Falmouth, MA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1275.00 | | Strengths: | smoooth steel ride, light (25 lbs), climbs like a goat on crack, well spec'd: XT shifters, derailleurs and bb, Thomson post, Ritchey pro stem, Mars Elite fork, Mavic tubeless rims, Hutchinson tires, Time pedals, Avid levers and brakes | | Weaknesses: | low-end saddle and headset, heavy cassette | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Big Sur, Specialized M4 | | Bike Setup: | stock, except for a new WTB Laser saddle and XT cassette | | Bottom Line: | This bike is fantastic. A little more than I wanted to spend, but worth it. Faced with replacing my steel Bridgestone MB2, I was unimpressed with the aluminum hardtail offerings. Both the M4 and Big Sur have too many house brand or cheap components, and the ride blows. With this bike, after long, pounding rides, I feel fine - the only pain is in my quads, not my ass, back, or arms.
I was skeptical of the tubeless rims/tires, but they ride incredibly well. Run with low pressure and climb over anything without getting bounced off your line by rocks, roots, etc. The components all work well together - the Mars Elite fork absorbs anything I give it, and everything else runs perfectly. I put on a firmer saddle, and replaced the heavy HG50 cassette with an XT.
If you want a light hardtail with quality ride and components for under $1300, get this bike. You'll be hard pressed to find a comparably equipped bike in this price range,
particularly one with a steel frame. If you want full-suspension, at least test this bike, you'll be surprised by the quality of the ride. (And there is no full-suspension bike with these components at anywhere near this price.)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffrey Cedeno
a Cross Country Rider
from Meriden, NH
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | around corbon park, baby! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1640.00 | | Purchased At: | Claremont Cyclesport, NH | | Strengths: | amazing price (for the factory setup). the frame is insanely stiff laterally yet delivers 6 easy hours of riding on your body. SO much better than my old trek 8500! | | Weaknesses: | Not a fan of the stem, seatpost, or saddle. How can a 150 pound rider break all of these parts within 6 months? | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8500, Specialized FSR, Schwinn Homegrown, Giant team ride | | Bike Setup: | XTR crankset upgrade, Marzocchi Marathon fork upgrade (included in the 1640), Time ATAC carbon pedals, plus $100 for an azonic 100mm downhill stem and some carbon bar ends. looking to replace the broken saddle and post with an USE alien aluminum and a WTB laser | | Bottom Line: | So I ride my equipment hard. Very hard. I've busted through more bottom brackets and cranksets than I care to count on my old Trek 8500, plus an XT wheelset, XT brakes, seats, posts, stems, bars, but who's counting? I bought the Jamis based on one test ride (don't ask me where I found someone else who owns it cause they're impossible to find) that just blew me away.
Where this bike shines over the Trek is in ride quality. The lateral stiffness in the bottom bracket area is AMAZING. I get less than half an inch of flex compared with the two and a half I got on the old ride. We're talking a bike where you can lever with all your strength against the bar and peddals and spin up in less time than you could possibly imagine. This is only helped by the clever weight savings at the rims from having no tubes in the wheelset. I drool when I think of how the Dragon must ride..
All of this stiffness and simple spin up leads to a climbing machine. I don't know how Jamis did this one up, but when you're in the saddle you will have all of your desired traction on ANY uphill, no matter how steep. Get your legs in shape though, or work on your weight shifts, cause it's much tougher to find that sweet spot when you stand.
I can't testify to how the Mars works on descents, since I never rode the fork on a trail, but the handling I get with the 80mm Marathon is amazing. Big hits, small hits, drop offs, razor sharp switchbacks, on the fly lockout, I love it all. Lesson one on why weight shaving isn't everything: oil is superior.
As for the parts the bike does ship with, I can say it's a huge improvement over anything else out there. What fool at every major manufacturer thought it would be ok to switch out Shimano cranksets for house garbage? After blowing out four taperlock XT bottom brackets, the XT crank they went on, and destroying an ISIS interface to boot, I'm glad to see Jamis is using the LX, a very respectable part to be sure. The wheels are even better. I have never ridden anything that spins up this quick in the woods before. Sure, it's not my now retired road sprinter, but the handling and ride quality you get from the tubeless will make you shed tears of joy. The brakes are truly Avid all the way, no more XT freezeups after one season for me! The drivetrain parts are all solid performers, though the shifting on nine speed will never be as smooth as my old eight speed parts, no matter what people say.
So my only gripes with the bike comes from little things here and there.
The factory bolt holding my seat rails in place decided it would be more fun to automatically loosen for the first 15 rides or so that I went on, requiring a retighten every mile or so before it broke in half, resulting in a grueling hour long stand to get back to my car. This wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that my replacement bolt snapped with no warning last ride, this time resulting in a saddle that is broken in two places and a missing seat clamp. These both happened on FLATS, not on big hits. Not cool.
Problem two comes with my beautiful, lovely, miracle Mavic tubeless wheels. Buy them. Pay the money for them. They just come out of true more than a good set of XTs with a 517 rim. I'm not talking anything serious here, but 20 rides after the initial spoke stretch was pulled back to true they are a hair off again. Not much to gripe about, but I rode my XTs for 4 years before blowing them up without ever truing them once.
Last little snippet was the factory stem. It just wasn't stiff enough. Granted, after years of cranking out sprints in races and a bit too much rock climbing I use more arm than the average rider, but more factories should consider sticking stiff stems on their rides. They put on those lazy-boy riser bars these days to make handling 'easier', so why not go all the way and give us stems that can take the strain a wide bar puts on them?
So, the skivvy on this bike in the end is a solid reccommendation for the price. If you're looking for something to ride hard and fast, all day long, make the sacrifice and drive 3 hours to a shop that stocks it. You'll laugh at all those who switched over to full suspension for comfort when you dust them on that last uphill on the 6 hour rides, while the aluminum junkies are suffering from fatigue in the back. Just think, for the $2400 you'd pay for a full supsension bike that comes with this same parts spec as the Dakota you could get a Dragon with the full XTR package. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | These do not exist here! | | Strengths: | Steel Hardtail at a great price.
Phenomenal component group for the money.
All XT, Mavic Tubeless Wheels.
My dream bike, exactly what I was looking for. | | Weaknesses: | There is not a single shop within 200 miles of Boston that stocks this bike, so you can't really buy one in New England unless you want to order it and hope for the best. All the regional Jamis dealers stock only bikes under $500. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, FSR Comp, Giant NRS2 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike was exactly what I was looking for when I decided to retire the old Mongoose and step up to a 'real' mountain bike. Everything on the bike was perfect...except that this bike does not exist.
The big hit here goes to the manufacturer. I called every single dealer within 200 miles, and not one had these in stock. Most of the shops consider this to be a 'high end' bike, as they specialize in bikes in the $300-500 range. The manufacturer(I spoke to the sales rep several times, and he didn't seem to think there was anything unusaul about this) told me that they had 3 bikes in the West Coast warehouse, that was their entire inventory for the Dakota XC, and that I could order one through a dealer.
So, sadly, I bought something else, after 2 months of searching and finally resigning myself to the reality that I would have to buy the bike sight unseen, then deal with a bike shop that sells cheap bikes for support.
Jamis really needs to work on their distribution system. I envy those of you who got your hands on one of these bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Giantschwinn
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | I tell you then I'll have to kill you | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Wow, how nice the steel rides. The ride quality is much better than my Giant XTC SE1. Almost like a full suspension bike because the tubeless wheels pick up the small bumps. Do every thing well from single track descent to fire road climbs. | | Weaknesses: | None. As with all steel frame you have to worry about rust. I clean my bike after every ride and definitely won't take this bike out when wet. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant XTC SE1, Giant XTC NRS1, Fuji Thrill, Gary Fisher Sugar 3. | | Bike Setup: | Stock...trust me there is nothing to upgrade, almost all XT drive train, Thomson saddle and Avid brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Wow, what a bike. My money well spent. The welding is careful and delicate. You wouldn't expect it but this is a very well made Taiwanese frame. A pretty light bike at 24.5 lbs. Dakota XC is no hype...it's real. Thinking about going full suspension? You have got to try this bike. If you live on the west coast you can order it thru Performance Bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Pollock
a Weekend Warrior
from Gold Coast, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Daisy Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle World Southport | | Strengths: | All round good spec
Supple steel
Tubeless tyres are great | | Weaknesses: | Seat got ditched - too soft
That lovely and extremely light Answer Taper bar got ditched in favour of some more freeride inspired Zoom riser.
A bit of weight hidden in the frame. Buy the next one up if you can, save 500 grams.
| | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale F600, Norco Nitro, Giant NRS | | Bike Setup: | As standard, save the seat (now a Serfas ARC) and the bars. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. Very supple in the rough stuff. Nimble enough to make tight single track your favourite place in the world. Now with the risers it's showing it's style on my first few attempts at jumps and some downhill action on the weekends.
Climbing (before the risers - less so now) is one of this bike's shining strengths. While the front tyres of the riders around you are hunting their own lines you will be peddling an effortless straight line.
As mentioned before, it's very fast on single track. I can attack corners, brake in harder and later, much better than ever before.
Going downhill I float across rocks that previously pinch-flatted me nearly every time. Its the tubless tyres and the supple steel frame. The difference is magical.
It's hard to see where they cut corners on this bike, as all the spec is first rate. (That makes it kind of hard when replacing stuff, like getting risers. You can't go putting inferior quality stuff on!)
I'm too much in love with this bike to give it anything other than 5 flaming chilis. I'd take it to bed with me if my girlfriend didn't object.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
crashwild
a Racer
from Scranton,PA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Cedar Bike | | Strengths: | Im a definite clydesdale and so far have no major complaints. Frame is solid as a rock in the bb area no flex feel at all. solid componentry for the money, decked out in xt and avid gear. Excellent build for the buck. | | Weaknesses: | In fast, tight turns the frame feels "whippy" (not a smooth flower). I would have chpped in the extra 20 bucks for a XT or better crank, the LX flexes noticably in sprints and climbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized M4 Pro, Rocky Mountain Blizzard | | Bike Setup: | SD 7 Brakes, LX Crank, XT shifters and levers, Crossroc Tubeless | | Bottom Line: | Excellent for the cash flow. Great for us 200lb+ riders. Great bike for fast, hard, smooth riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julie
a Weekend Warrior
from Roanoke VA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere in the woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Strengths: | Great frame. The steel ride is incredable. Tubless tires, XT shifters, XT derailuers, Atac pedals, the list goes on! | | Weaknesses: | None discovered yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Jamis Dakota AL, Specialized Rockhopper | | Bike Setup: | stock, If the LX cranks ever wear out (but I can't see that happening) I'll probably upgrade to XT. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a die hard hardtail lady, but was getting tired of being beaten to death by aluminum. Tried the suspension seatpost thing, that didn't work. But now I've found the answer. This bike rides super smooth. I'm not sure how Jamis put this kind of specs and quality together at this price. I even got connected to a shop that cut $300.00 off the list price. Life is great! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Bishop
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami,Fl.Usa
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | none | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Strengths: | Cromoly frame,Manitou Mars elite fork,Crossroc wheelset, XT shifters/derailleurs,thomson seatpost. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy HG50 cassette, headset.
Tires are not the same color as shown in the catalog. | | Bottom Line: | Is my first cromoly bicycle, it sure handles a lot better than aluminum frames without any sacrifice in weight. The bike is very comfortable and with a very agile geometry for climbing. The balance between the frame and the fork is superb. A well tuned fork with the correct air pressure gives you the best sensation and control in any trail.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from VA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere quiet | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | mtbr classifieds | | Strengths: | The combination of steel frame and Mavic tubeless tires make this bike ride super smooth. Great components for the money, Mars Elite fork, XT loaded, etc. | | Weaknesses: | none yet, I wouldn't have spec'ed the tubeless tires, but so far no problems. I think I'm actually starting to like them. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Jamis Dakota XC, Jamis Dakota AL, Specialized Rockhopper Comp, and Scwinn Maob 1 | | Bike Setup: | totally stock so far, I may switch the seat out for one of the junk saver seats. | | Bottom Line: | I had a 2001 Dakota XC and thought it was the cat'w meow, but Jamis has done it again. Their bikes just seem to get better every year. This bike blew away anything in it's price range (I only paid $1100.00)! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Shirk's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Value | | Weaknesses: | None for the price and purpose | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Moab1, Giant XTC1, Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | Flipped stem over for a flatter feel and ditched the seat for my trust selle san marco Era | | Bottom Line: | The bike is butter smooth, and the Mars Elite for is leaps and bounds better than the Judy fork I had previosly been using, every thing on the bike is top notch, and the frame is smooth as can be. Check out the specs and you wont believe how much the bike costs, its a killer value. Any aspiring XC racer would love this bike, but there are much better freeride or all mountain bikes out there, but if your on a budget this bike even works as a pretty great all mountain bike, the phrase that most sums this bike up is...No compromises...Tubeless wheels and all namebrand parts on a good frame for under 1300 bucks can't be beat | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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