Bottom line on the Dakota XC? It’s everything our top-shelf XC racing Dragon is…for half-the price. You get magical Reynolds air-hardened 631 steel welded up with the same famous Jamis race-pace geo. Toss in a Shimano Deore XT/LX drivetrain, Thomson seat post and Fizik Nisene saddle, to name a few, and you’ve got every editor’s choice for 2003 Hardtail of the Year.
Submitted by
Claudia
a Weekend Warrior
from Asheville, NC, USA Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Bio Wheels Asheville
Strengths:
This bike is great!! I upgraded to Avid mechanical discs and Mavic Crossland wheels. Also switched out the tires for Continental Vertical Pros. It's a fantastic climber and handles like a dream. Not as rough as you'd think on the downhills, and FAST! We have all kinds of trails here, and so far this bike has impressed me on all of them.I do miss full suspension sometimes, but I actually like this better. This bike is exactly what I wanted---it's fun and confidence-inspiring! The lower bb due to being a hardtail feels more stable. I'll upgrade the cranks, cogset, and brake pads when they wear out, but until then everything is good.
Weaknesses:
The only problem I've had is with the Manitou Skareb Elite fork. It wouldn't take air, so the guys at Bio-Wheels had to order a replacement cap assembly. Apparently this has happened before, because Manitou wasn't surprised by the problem and sent the replacement right away. The valve was sticky at first, but it's fine now. Also, like everyone says, the Avid pads howl like crazy sometimes.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Isis.
Bike Setup:
Manitou Skareb Elite fork, Avid mechanicals, XT derailleurs, LX cranks, Mavic Crossland UST wheels with Vertical Pro tires.
Bottom Line:
Get it if you can! It's a great bike, and it'll inspire you to ride further and enable you to ride better and faster. Jamis offers excellent value for the price. Also, the guys at Bio Wheels are nice, knowledgable, and all-round good folks, so shop there if you can! Buy it if you want a quick, quality hardtail. Don't buy it if you're a huckster. Four stars due to the upgrades and the fork problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mid-Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
Light weight steel
Weaknesses:
Trying it on was impossible, couldn't find a shop with it on the floor.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 930 (the only similarity is they are both bikes)
Bike Setup:
SRAM Attack, LX/XT, Marzocchi MX Comp, Mavic 221s, a little of this and that on the bars and posts.
Bottom Line:
Wanted a replacement for the trusty 96 Trek 930, wanted steel after being bucked off the few alu bikes I had tried, wanted to spend less than a grand, almost went with the Excile when someone turned me on to this frame on Ebay, read the reviews here and who could pass it up, bought it, built it up with a build kit on-line and its been everyting I could hope for, what a sweet bike, looks sweet, rides like a dream, climbs, flexes when it should and not when it shouldn't, buy it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Cissne
a Weekend Warrior
from Milwaukee, WI Date Reviewed: April 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
John Muir/ Santa Monica Mountians
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Custom Bicycle Sales
Strengths:
Weight!!!!! Componets Fits my body made for me
Weaknesses:
Don't care for the tubeless tires
Similar Products Used:
Various GT, rebound
Bike Setup:
Stock, Check web sight for details
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! On the test ride I blew a tire it wasn't seeded right. That didn't stop me. It practically road it self. Hardly any effort. On the trial this bike knows how to get up a hill. Shift low and sit down. Its natural to stand up when facing a step califonia hill to keep moving, however, you can lean back/ squat without the front end coming up. The bike is way!!!,light so you can carry it with ease, if the trial is too much. This bike can handel various types of riding. Street/ neghborhood, forest/one way wooded paths like in Wisconsin Or even up a hill and down a hill after hill after hill, till you get to the beach from the Vally to Malibu Beach. The best ride I've had. I Must say I haven't done extrem down hill, but this is well balanced bike. If you see one check it out. I didn't want to spend as much as I did but it was worth it. I ride A lot more now. Tell that jerk who stole my other bike thanks. I found something better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Newark, Delaware, USA Date Reviewed: March 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
many locals - fair hill, white clay, iron hill, middle run
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
bicycle bananas
Strengths:
light, strong, supple feel
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
thompson seat post, hutchison pythons, avid v brakes, time atac clipless pedals, lx crank, xt front and rear deraillers, rapid fire shifters, manitou scareb elite fork
Bottom Line:
As a true beginner mountain biker, I spent hours and hours researching a good entry level bike where I wouldn't have to upgrade in a year or two and would allow me to race if I got that far. I was told by my friend enthusiast to try to get a good ti or carbon fiber frame and build from there but that was going to be too expensive for me. An employee at a local bike shop had the big brother to the dakota xc - the dragon which he showed me. He sold me on the steel idea and I found the 2003 dakota xc on leftover in Nevada. So far, I'm very impressed. I've never had a bike like this so maybe I should've ridden a true entry level bike to know what I've got. After a few weeks on the trails though, I can tell that this is a sweet ride. First of all, it's pretty light. Mine comes in under 26 lbs. Second of all it's well equipped for the price - high end parts w/o sticker shock. Lastly, it just feels great and is allowing me to gain confidence each time out. I'm hooked on Jamis steel and more importantly, the sport.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Lubbock, Texas Date Reviewed: March 13, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1050.00
Purchased At:
Extreme Bicycles
Strengths:
Cro-moly steel frame, manitou skareb elite fork, XT components; easy to operate and work on. Steel frame leads to a silky smooth ride (even for me) and the fork smooths out the bumps. I have the fork pumped up to 150# with max compression and it is smooth like butter and does not bottom out (even with heavy rider >280 lbs)
Weaknesses:
LX crank; plan to upgrade to XT or XTR by end of the year
Similar Products Used:
Old diamondback ascent EX
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
this bike is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! It is fast, light, and handles great in dry or wet conditions. I've been out over some mild stuff with rocks, small roots, loose dirt, and mud and the bike went right through it. I'm very large at 285 lbs and the bike takes it with no problems. I had some small pinch flats on one run but that is to be expected with the tubless tires and my weight. The guys at Extreme bikes in Amarillo, Texas are great and very helpful. I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking into racing or XC.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Jones
a Racer
from Sacramento, CA USA Date Reviewed: December 15, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Granite Bay
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bicycle, Fair Oaks, CA
Strengths:
THIS BIKE ROCKS! As Jamis states, this bike has everything the Dragon has for half the price. With mostly Shimano XT components, Thomson Elite seatpost and Avid Single Digit 7 brakes, this bike is race worthy from the word GO! Fi’zi:k saddle is a comfortable, pleasant surprise. Lightweight steel hardtail frame for comfort, durability and long life. Lightweight.
Weaknesses:
This bike's "weaknesses" are strengths on other comparable bikes in this price range i.e. Shimano LX cranks, Avid SD7 rim brakes (not disc), Time ATAC Alium pedals (included).
Similar Products Used:
Thomson seat post, Shimano Ultegra and 105 components, Avid brakes, Mavic rims.
Bike Setup:
Stock with crankset and bottom bracket upgraded to Shimano XT. Pedals upgraded to Time ATAC carbon World Champion.
Bottom Line:
I researched steel hardtails for months and this bike was everything I wanted and then some. $1300 price included XT crank and BB, Time WC carbon pedal upgrades and Bell Influx helmet. I've yet to pay as Performance offers 12 months same-as-cash financing AND I received $130 back in Performance coupons. Also includes free, lifetime adjustments. AWESOME!
My first two races on this bike resulted in age-group podium appearances. A second place in age 30-39 Dirt Crit and a fourth place finish in 10-mile age 30-39 XC race. This bike definitly helped me achieve my awards.
One last thing. This bike is LIGHT, weighing in at only 24.25 lbs. and I can assure you it's accurate. I measured it at Performance. My steel cyclocross bike weighs that much and it doesn't even have front suspension!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trieu Le
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Date Reviewed: October 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Ourimbah, Yarramundi
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
The steel frame continues to get better as you ride.
Weaknesses:
None.. as I upgraded the wheels to Cross MAX XL and Hayes Mag disc brakes
Bike Setup:
Mavic Cross Max wheels, Hayes Mag disc brakes, Time pedals, Thomson Seat Post, XT gear set.... Easton Bar, Ritchey Pro Stem.... sweet.
Bottom Line:
After another 3 months of ownership and riding around the Oaks, Yarramundi, Ourimbah and other courses, this bike continues to get better.
Light and fluid for the XC rides, upgraded wheels and brakes are awesome, with huge stopping power now. Cross Max rims are bullet proof.
Great bike all round.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: August 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Melbourne Bicycle Centre
Strengths:
Light weight, good component set
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Merida Slick Rock
Bike Setup:
Standard with Chris King Headset, Thomson Stem and Eggbeater pedals
Bottom Line:
Got the bike last week and did a four hour race on the weekend. This bike absolutely rocks, I was able to hammer the downhills and the uphills were a breeze (at least for the first three hours!!). The component set worked perfectly throughout the event. The bike felt stiff yet rode corrugations and rocks with minor impact on my body so that I feel much better after the event than I used to.
Overall I believe that this bike would have to be the best bike for the money possible.
Obviously this is only my initial views, I will update the review after I have been riding the bike for a few months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adyn
a
from Michigan Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003
Favorite Trail:
rocky ridge county park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
nice light smooth handling crosscountry bike. Probably not the right bike for you if your riding on really rough terrain. you'd prob. wanna think more along the lines of going for a full suspension bike if riding super rough terrian is your style of riding. really decent components from top to bottom.(XT shifters)(Shimano LX crank arms)(Avid single digit 7 brakes)( Thompson seat post) (Koski seat )(Time pedals)( Hutchinson Python tubeless tires)to much good stuff to mention.
Bottom Line:
great bike for the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trieu Le
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Oaks, Milperra
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Bike Barn
Strengths:
Steel frame is light weight and responsive, excellent feel on single trails. Like they say "steel is real". Absolutley amazing climber. Every component is top notch! Excellent overall ride and feel. After riding a steel frame.... I would steer clear of alloy frames.
Weaknesses:
Stickers are not that nice, seems like a last minute job. First couple of rides I knocked the wheels around abit and they needed to be trued again.
Similar Products Used:
Felt 650-Alloy Frame, Alivio gear set.
Bike Setup:
Stock for now. XT derailleurs, XT shifters, LX crank and BB, Mavic Crossroc UST wheelsets, Cane Creek headset, Avid speed dial 5 levers and Single digit 7 brakes, Thompson Elite seat post, Hutchinson Python tubeless tires, Time Alium pedals, Manitou Skareb Elite shocks, Fi'zik seat. Ritchey bar ends coming soon...
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! Overall value for money is outstanding. This is the best bike I could buy with my money and other bikes with similar components are asking a fair whack more then this one! Skareb Elite shocks absorb bumps well and the steel frame compliments the ride even more. Adjustable shocks help set up the ride for all kinds of terrain. XT gear set works wonders. The only thing this bike could have done better on is, if it came with some discs brakes... but nevertheless the Avid 7's have the stopping power you need and saves on the weight as well. Make this bike your second bike as you won't appreciate it if this was your first MTB. It is the best bike if your looking for a steel frame to do XC riding, value for money is 5 chilli's and overall rating is 5 as well!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason
a Racer
from Elkridge, MD Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Patapsco, McKeldin
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Liberty Bike Shop
Strengths:
Amazing climber. Very light weight. Responds very quickly and flows through single track like it's riding on a rail.
Weaknesses:
None so far on the bike. The stickers on the Manitou Elite fork are junk and started pealing off within the first week.
Similar Products Used:
Old school stuff - 1996 Mtn Tek Extreme - steel frame weighed as much as my grandma's Buick. No suspension, except for my arms and my spinal column.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for the following: swapped out the tubeless tires for Panaracer Fire XC Pro's with tubes. Added a Power-link to the chain for easier cleaning. Added platform pedals with PowerGrip straps.
Bottom Line:
This bike is well worth the price. The components are first rate (mostly XT, LX crank, Avid Single Digit 7 brakes) and the fork works great. I'm a 190 lb. rider and I've got the Manitou Elite pumped to 150 lbs. It responds quickly and precisely without ever bottoming out. This bike is an incredible climber due to it's light weight (24.25 lbs) and forgiving frame. It is also very fast on the downhill stuff, greatly raising your level of confidence. I swapped out the tubeless tires for a set of Panaracer Fire XC Pro's with tubes. They work great and have crazy amounts of grip in all conditions. Steel is the way to go. 5 flamin' chili's.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
AA
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Red Green
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Strengths:
Unbelievable climber, wonderful fork, frame absoarbs everything while providing wonderful feedback, good component set, love the Skareb fork.
Weaknesses:
Brakes bleed in the wet, tubless tires heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Caldera
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
The perfect bike, offers dualie performance in a wonderful climbing steel frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Geoff
a Cross Country Rider
from Richland, MI, USA Date Reviewed: May 8, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Bartlett Wash, Moab, Utah
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$776.00
Purchased At:
Proform
Strengths:
Light weight, Steel Frame (I will not ride Aluminum hard tails), No weak components.
Weaknesses:
Cheap looking stickers used in frame graphics and on Manitou shock, Shock has a slow air leak, Stock medium springs in fork are too soft for 200lbs.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Moab 1 Cro-moly, Gary Fisher Tassajara(the reason I won't ride Aluminum)
Bike Setup:
Stock for now. XT derailleurs, XT shifters, LX crank and BB, Mavic Crossroc UST wheelsets, Cane Creek headset, Avid speed dial 5 levers and Single digit 7 brakes, Thompson elite seat post, Hutchinson Python tubeless tires, Time Alium pedals
Bottom Line:
This is one of the best riding and stock spec'd bikes I have found. The components are fitting for the price range (about $1400 retail), and the build quality is second to none. The Skareb elite fork is excellent for creating a light front end even if it does need heavier springs and a little air once in a while. I have put about 100 miles on this bike since I got it two weeks ago and haven't been happier on a bike. The main reasons I chose the Dakota XC are the way it fits me and because it is one of the few hard tails still built out of steel. And, even though it is steel it is lighter than many of my friends aluminum hardtails. This bike has seen everything from Michigan mud to Moab Slickrock in the last two weeks and has performed flawlessly. I give it five chile's for value(even if I paid $1400) because of the strong components and an over all rating of five since it performs just so darn well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeremy Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Petoskey Michigan Date Reviewed: February 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
North Country
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
Its very light weight. I love it. Now I know why they say "Steel is Real". Stiff yet complyant in all the right places. Rack and Fender mounts. I love the bright Orange paint job!!
The best steel XC bike for the money. If your going to get steel get the Ritchey drop outs. Jamis does steel the way it should be done. I bought the frame from a mail order and built it up myself with a little help with the head set. It would have ben cheeper to buy the bike already built but there is nothing like your own costom bilt. The only thing better than this is the Dragon with full XTR! I would recomend this bike to anyone who is serious about XC. This bike will out climb any full suspention bike, I would race it if I had the chance. If you want ti but can't aford it this is the next best thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marc
a
from Fairfax, Virginia Date Reviewed: January 26, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
There's no crap components. You get what you pay for - answer taperlite bar, thompson seatpost, ritchey pro stem, lx/xt drivetrain - it's good all around
Weaknesses:
it's got a crap aheadset. i think i'm gonna switch it out w/a king or something. i don't like the saddle too much either...but that's a personal preference thing.
Bike Setup:
carbon/kevlar bar ends, new saddle, and hopefully a new headset soon
Bottom Line:
it's an awesome bike for the price. a dealer might be hard to find though, which kind of sucks. it's steel too, which is awesome, i love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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