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Jamis Eureka

MSRP $
# of Reviews 20
Average Rating 4.65/5
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Submitted by Clydesdale racer a Cross Country Rider from Albuquerque, NM
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:La Luz
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $800.00
Purchased At:Campus Bicycle
Strengths:Frame!! This bike can handle my fat ass at 200+ with ease. I've taken the green hornet off some 5' jumps and continues to amaze me.
Weaknesses:The Hayes brakes wore out, but only after 7yrs of riding..pretty good
Similar Products Used:Specialized Stump Jumper, Marin Bear...something
Bike Setup:Deore comp
Hayes Brakes
Alex rims
Koski saddle post and handles
Bottom Line:Bottom line...if you can find this bike, get it. Even if it needs new components. I mean, come on...if a 2hundy can beat the crap out of the bike and continue to race, it has to be good
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jamie Lynch a Weekend Warrior from Conception Missouri
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $410.00
Purchased At:Ebay
Strengths:Great price, light, fun, oversized bars, great fork.
Weaknesses:so so Deore components. Hayes mechs.
Similar Products Used:Old GT.
Bike Setup:Sram X.9 shifters and rear derailleur, STOMP pedals, Lizard skins lock on grips, Race Face bashguard, everything else stock.
Bottom Line:Great cheap bike to get going on and start upgrading. I hear that it does not accept 8" rear brakes(not sure weather that is true or not)
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by chris matthews a Weekend Warrior from laytonsville
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2004
Favorite Trail:schaffer farms
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $700.00
Purchased At:performance bikes
Strengths:heavy duty frame, nice fork, good crank
Weaknesses:pedals, grips, derailers are a little crappy after abuse, wheels and tires
Bike Setup:new pedals, new seat, just small things
Bottom Line:i have beaten the crap out of this bike for a year now and it has served me well, deff a good buy! i love it, the bike is pretty much unbreakable except for a few small things that everyone replaces anyways, very good buy!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Nathan a Weekend Warrior from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:Light frame (also a weakness)
Dj2
Brakes work well (at first)
14" frame is great geometry
Frame is strong enough for light freeride and some trail
Weaknesses:although im not very hard on the bike (3' jumps, 5' drops and some urban/trials) some components have suffered
-The brakes seem mto be slowly losing power, the rims are crap as well as the tires that wear out very quick

For a light freeride/street bike u need to make some changes such as (check out my improved setup)..... wider handlebars, platform pedals, a seat with more give, bashring, and better rims, new tires and..... ya that's bout it
Similar Products Used:Friends bikes.... Kona Scrap, Norco Sasquatch and Fuji panic comp
Bike Setup:FRAME: 2003 Jamis Eureka
FORK: 2003 Marzocchi Dirt Jumper II130mm
HEADSET: Dia Compe SAS Aheadset, 1 1/8”
WHEELSET: Mavic X139 rims, 32H, w/ Shimano Deore front and rear hubs, WTB 14g stainless steel spokes.
TIRES: Hutchinson Scorpion, 26” x 2.3”, wire bead.
DERAILLEURS: Shimano Deore rear, Deore 31.8mm top swing/top pull front.
SHIFTERS: Shimano Deore, Rapidfire-SL, 27-speed.
CHAIN: Shimano HG-72.
FREEWHEEL: Shimano HG50-II 7.0, 9-speed, 11-32.
CRANKSET: Shimano w/ 22/32/38Blackspire SuperGod
BOTTOM BRACKET: TruVativ ISIS-Drive DH, 68 x 113mm.
PEDALS: Diamonback BMX platform
BRAKESET: Hayes HMX-1 cable-actuated disc brakes front and rear, Hayes HML-1 levers.
HANDLEBAR: Axiom Supercross 78mm rise 700mm length
STEM: Radical Artos DH 40mm 25.4"
GRIPS: WTB dual compound.
SEATPOST: Koski SportPost, 350mm x 27.2mm w/ alloy clamp and QR seatpin.
SADDLE: Supercycle
COLORS: Primal Grey
Bottom Line:Uses

Stock - XC , very light freeride/street
Small Upgrades - XC, light freeride/street
Huge Upgrades - Heavy Freeride/street (frame will snap tho)

the main reason i bought the Jamis Eureka was for the fork and geometry, if i get more into biking ill likely get new rims, tires and than eventually a stronger frame (DMR, 243, Norco......) but i doubt it,... good fun bike (and at 1100 canadian it was a sweet buy for me)

Stock - 4value - 3overall
With my upgrades - 5value - 4overall
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Steve a Downhiller from Dublin, OH
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2004
Favorite Trail:any with jumps and drops
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $850.00
Purchased At:bike warehouse
Strengths:Dirt jumper 2, great for eating up 3 to 6 foot drops. handle bars, good width and big and beefy. brakes will stop you in anything and as fast as you need. The frame is pretty good. The rims are good for light freeriding and cross country riding. It comes with tires that have some width to them, 2.3, but that is about as big as you can go.
Weaknesses:Frame comes in some what uneven sizes, (12, 14, 17, 19, 21?). The hubs (deores are weak, I have broke both of them twice). The pedals you can't keep your feet on. There is no rock ring. Only can put about 2.35 on the frame. Derailers are a little weak sometimes.
Similar Products Used:Specialized P2, Giant AC1, other cross country hardtails and a Gary Fisher Sugar
Bike Setup:Primo Tenderizers, dirt jumping seat with flag pole seat post, 22, 32, rock ring.
Bottom Line:This bike is hard to beat for what comes on it. It can handle what most people want to do on a hardtail and I have done more on it than what I did on the AC, which is built up for downhill.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by zack jamieson a Racer from toronto, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:winston churchill dirt jumps, downhill
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $1400.00
Purchased At:let it ride
Strengths:this bike has amazing components it's really light and the dj2 seal the deal. hayes discs stop you in a heart beat and the rims are good for at least 6'-7' drops considering their for xc and after two years of racing sx,dh,slome and riding dirt jumps this bike holds together and only has some scrapes from me falling
Weaknesses:the frame is built to much like a xc frame (but thats minor) the pedals are small for xc. no bash guard!!
Similar Products Used:norco bigfoot (but the jamis is better)
Bike Setup:still stock and if this doesn't say something then i don't know what does
Bottom Line:this bike is an overall amazing bike. it will take any terain or type of riding you do. with one or two replacements this bike will be killer plus this bike looks good when you urban ride through the crowds. if you are concidering a new hardtail then i highly advise that you get the eureka. this is a great bike for any and all riders, this is my favorite bike and it kicks ass.
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Nathan a Weekend Warrior from Penetang, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:Georgian Cycle
Strengths:I list the strenghts and weaknesses according to my height/weight, 5'5" 120lbs

-The 14" frame is great (ligth, strong, maneuverable)
-The DJ2 fork is by far the most impressive component (perfect stiffness and 130mm travel is great)
-The Stem, BB and Cranks are TruVativ Hussefelt
-Hayes 6" discs brakes
-Good handlebar setup
-Tires and rims are o.k.
Weaknesses:-The bike does not come with a bashguard
-The pedals are a joke
-The cable routing runs over the top tube
-The seat is brutal and brakes my a$$
Similar Products Used:Tested an 04 Kona Stuff
Owned a pitiful Wal-Mart bike
Bike Setup:Stock except for...
-Alloy platform pedals
-Chainstay Protector

I am going to buy a bashguard when my chainring breaks and I might get a new seat
Bottom Line:GREAT BIKE

Good frame, great fork, good components

Great value (you don't waste money on brand name gimmicks)

Awesome!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Matt a Weekend Warrior from Lower Gwynedd PA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:Jim Thorpe and Green Lane
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $699.00
Purchased At:Performance Bicycles
Strengths:Good Breaks, Beefy frame, Plush Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 2 forks, wide 2.3 tires and a shimano Deore Drivetrain. Good truvativ cranks. Pretty nice seat. Bike is very versatile and can be used for all different types of riding, cross-country, dirt jumping, freeride, urban, and downhill
Weaknesses:Sucky pedals
Similar Products Used:Trek 2400 front suspension
Bike Setup:everything is stock. gonna get some azonic pedals and maybe a race face bash ring
Bottom Line:This a great all-arround bike that can be used for many different types of riding , dirt jumping, uban, freeride, downhill, and cross-country. Has GREAT DIRT JUMPER 2 forks. Dual hayes 6inch mechanical disks are a plus and are very responsive. The Shimano Deore Drivetrain is great too. You really get great components for your money. $700 for this bike is a great deal. This is just a great bike!
Only 28lbs
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Erek lewis a Downhiller from lansdale,pa,usa
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:wissahickon
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:performance bike shop
Strengths:the frame,fork,cranks
Weaknesses:the wheels bend after a couple of small 2'-4' drops and the seat sucks,the seat post, and the casette was bent from the factory, the rear hub was also bent but I stuck with it, and the breaks suck, and also the pedals are the worst in the world.
Similar Products Used:komodo
Bike Setup:freeride
Bottom Line:this bike is great for a novice rider like mt self, but I have become better and I am changing a lot of the components, I have put a WTB power V DH, richey seat post, azonic chubby PDW riser and azonic shorty stem whit 28.6 clamp radius, and rad accesories BMX pedals, along with avid mechanical disc brakes, soon to be 8" rotors
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Steve a Weekend Warrior from Dublin
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:Any where
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $850.00
Purchased At:Bike Warehouse
Strengths:The frame is a beast. The breaks can stop you any time, in any condition. The Dirt Jumper Fork is amazing. It can handle 5 and 6 foot drops.
Weaknesses:The 17 inch frame is a little to cross country like and takes away from dirt jumping and street riding. Needs a good set of platform pedals, like primos!
Similar Products Used:Walmart Special
Bike Setup:Stock
Bottom Line:If you want to go big and don't have that much money this is your bike. I can ride this on the cross country trail and then down the downhill, and it eats up both. I can out run the hard core cross country riders and beat the downhillers. I can't see myself with any other bike.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Rook a Weekend Warrior from The Great White North
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2003
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $1000.00
Strengths:Good Geometry, solid frame, the brakes are alright, sturdy fork, the Truvative parts are pretty strong great seat, fairly light
Weaknesses:XC rims and tires are a joke, pedals are crap, If your LBS sells them their will be allot of them on the trail (not really a weakness I guess) the fork would be cooler if it was the 20mm DJ II
Similar Products Used:First real Mountain bike of my own but I demoed all sorts
Bike Setup:17inch Stock except added rock ring 521 rear rim WTB weirwolf tires front and rear
Bottom Line:I am 6" around 175lbs I bought the bike to learn some skills before going to a big full squish bike but now I am hooked on the versatility of hardtails so my next ride will be a pimped out hardtail of some sort.

This is a perfect bike for anyone getting into the freeride side of things who is still gonna wanna ride urban and dirtjumping and even some trail riding.

Save yourself a little more than the cost of the bike so you can swap out the rims, tires, pedals and add a rock ring
Oh yeah if your new to this kinda stuff don't skimp on some good shin pads Full face gloves and maybee some elbow pads.

IN summary

Great bike with a few cheese parts to cut cost.

Its hard to rate because after the parts are swapped out its all 4's but stock its 3 so I will just go with that
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Justin a Weekend Warrior from Edmonton, AB
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $700.00
Purchased At:Bike and Board
Strengths:price,1500 can,dj2 fork, reasonable brakes, good component setup, very stiff frame, s-bend chain and seat stays
Weaknesses:tires, wheels, cannot run more than a 6" in the rear, cannot run a 24" wheel
Similar Products Used:GT xc bike
Bike Setup:stock xcept for an envy bash guard
Bottom Line:Such an amazing bike its hard to explain. The geometry of the bike is much different than the picture shows. That frame must be at least a 20". Tires wear really fast when doin street but thats barely a weakness. Overall one of the best urban/singletrack/trials bikes around. Buy it!!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Andrew a Weekend Warrior from Amherst MA USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:Amethis brook ,misty bottom, street
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:Valley Bikes
Strengths:Very sturdy frame, cool colors, awsem fork (dj2's ROCK!!), great handel bar set-up, crankset, drivtrain, and brakes
Weaknesses:tires wear out fast when street riding and pedals are annoying because their half flat and half clip in but you can take the clip in out really easily
Similar Products Used:none
Bike Setup:All stock!!!!!
Bottom Line:This is a great freeride/trail bike that is very versitile. You can take it anywhere and it will perform really well in all kinds of conditions. It's fun to jump and really light. It is a great price too for all you are getting.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Richard a Weekend Warrior from Charlottesville, Va, USA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2003
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $699.00
Purchased At:Performance Bike Shop
Strengths:Everything is heavy duty, I weigh in around 208lbs so I need something that is going to hold up. This bike definitly fits the bill.
Weaknesses:Stock pedals are pretty lame, but I know they have to cut somewhere to keep the price down
Similar Products Used:1996 Cannondale Killer V (ridgid on both ends)
Bike Setup:Everything is stock except for my Shimano 535 (i think) platfom pedals from my old bike.
Bottom Line:I have never owned any type of suspension before. The fork on this bike is unbeleivable. The jumping that I have done so far has not begin to test what this fork can handle. Its a little bit of a chore to get the air pressure right, but I can deal with that. After this bike I will never ride with out disc brakes again. Out for a pretty muddy ride yesterday and they worked flawlessly. I even put a set of BMX pedals on it and lowered the seat and tried some mild trials moves, pogoing in a circle, front wheel endos and slow controled wheelies, all I can say is awesome. This bike was made for me!! I would recommend to anyone that wants a durable fun bike!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Hobo a Weekend Warrior from Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:Jumps by the creek
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $720.00
Purchased At:Performance
Strengths:The frame is well built and can take anything you can dish out. The specs are great for trials, dirt jumping, free riding and urban. The fork is stiff which makes it great for big drops. To top it all off it has some sweet mech. discs. For the price its and extremely sweet offer that no one should pass up.
Weaknesses:The tires on this bike wear out really fast and aren't very good at all. The rims also suck and get flat spots really easily. If you are doing and log jumping or anything that could hurt the chain rings then exchange the third one for a bash ring/ chain guide (MRP). Shifter cables run on the top of the tube too.
Similar Products Used:Specialized P1, P2, P3. Kona Scrap.
Bike Setup:DJ2, Hayes HMX1 disc's with 6" roters, truvativ hussefelt cranks and BB. Azonic Hot seat, lock ons, Sun Ringle Zuzu pedals, Sun Mammoth DH rims, Sun Ringle abbah disc hubs and MRP long range patrol (LRP) Chain Guide/ Bashring system.
Bottom Line:One of the GREATEST bikes out there for its price and what it can do. The GREATEST bike i've ever owned and can take some of the biggest hits you can dish out. 100% worth the price and is GREAT for urban, dirt jumping, freeriding and trials.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by erek lewis a Downhiller from lansdale,pa,usa
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:wissahickon
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:performance bike shop
Strengths:There isn't much that this bike can't do - everything on this bike is awesome. I haven't had many problems with it so far but I also haven't been able to beat it up as much as I want, either .
Weaknesses:When I got it the rear hub was bent so I replaced the wheels. The pedals are the worst part of the bike not realy bad I just didn't like them. The brake levers almost fell apart, so I got Topo levers. I replaced stock components with Topo Terra disc wheels and Time Atac pedals.
Similar Products Used:Jamis,komodo
Bike Setup:DJ2 fork, Richey bars and seatpost,Hussefelt stem and cranks,Time pedals,Topo wheels,Shimano Deore front derailer,Hays discs,and MTB seat.
Bottom Line:This bike is my first freeride bike and I plan to have more like it. This bike is the best bike for the money in my eyes. I plan to do more to it as time goes on but for now I will have fun with what I have.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Derrick a Downhiller from middlebury vermont usa
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:midd urban, belden falls
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $950.00
Purchased At:alpine shop
Strengths:fork, bars, stem, cranks, pretty light for a freeride.
Weaknesses:rear brake stopped working. rear wheel is ready to fold and tires suck
Similar Products Used:bruiser, dakar xlt, 6700 and so on
Bike Setup:dj2, hussefelt cranks and stem, ritchey bar, race face bash ring, unknown chain guide, high roller 2.5 in front, bling bling 2.35 rear.
Bottom Line:i love this bike. i hate the wheels pedals and tires that came stock. i have done almost 9 foot drops on this and it takes it. very strong bike. i love it.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by DYLAN ******** a Downhiller from S.A (australia)
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:kangarilla/belair.a-pex
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $1000.00
Purchased At:(aust) B.E
Strengths:a brilliant set up!!! the forkes are very plush and the bike is short which is good for jumping.
Weaknesses:the thread on the crank which holds the pedal comes out if you tighten the pedels too much. the tyres are too soft and suck!!!
Bike Setup:my bike is so far standard, i have put on plastic tubing and fluffy velcro dots to stop the cables rubbing off the paint
Bottom Line:this bike is a great all rounder, and is good for turning quickly and tightly.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Will a Weekend Warrior from Maryland
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:dirt jump park by the creek
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:performance bikes
Strengths:The geometry on this frame is sweet for dirt jumping, trials, freeriding and urban applications. The dj2 that comes with it is stiff at first, but then again when doing ten-foot drops its awesome. The hayes disk brakes make this bike way worth it!
Weaknesses:The name sucks and the brake and shifter cables run on the top of the top tube. Tires are horrible! Switch em' quick
Similar Products Used:Specialized p2
Bike Setup:dj2, hayes hmx1s w/ 8" front rotor, truvativ hussefelt crank with a bashring and chainguide, deore components, azonic loveseat. IRC kujo dh tires 2.65 in.
Bottom Line:Greatest bike ever, even though I have now upgraded many components. This bike survives the biggest hits. Make sure to buy the fourteen inch frame if u are doing freeriding, the seventeen is totally different. Disregard the picture, the fourteen inch is much different.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by adam a Weekend Warrior from montgomery county, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:wissahickon park
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:awwbs
Strengths:everything! this bike is amasing. the specs and frame are better than that of bikes twice as much! the geometry is spot on for my type of riding. im gonna use it for fr, urban, trials, mtx so its gonna get around. the fork is plush. SSVF damping on dj2 is spot on. this bike is so secure and steers with such precision. the frame looks much cooler and urban oriented than it does on the pic on this page.
Weaknesses:the name could be cooler, but ohh well haha its worth it!
Similar Products Used:norco 125 demoed, bruizer demoed, kona scab demoed
Bike Setup:17 inch frame, hussfelt stem, ritchey bars, lockon grips, deore shifters, hayes mech brakes, dj2 fork, hussfelt crank and bb, azonic aframe pedals, d521 wheels, scorpion 2.3 tires, xt rear derailuer....all stock and awesome
Bottom Line:get this bike if u want a great bike for any to all of these... freeride, urban, dj, ds, street trials, trail riding. i use it for all of those and its great,these bikes are dream specced and the frame is very well built. they are extremely hard to find considering how crazy a deal it is. if ur lucky enough to find one not sold...pounce on that deal. -amen
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5






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