With a 27-speed Shimano drivetrain and Hayes hydraulic disc brakes, the Durango 3.0 is aggressively well equipped. Gusseted 7005 aluminum tubing, S-bend stays and a replaceable derailleur hanger are high-end frame features that ensure strength, without the bone-jarring ride harshness of a cheap aluminum chassis.
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland Heights, Ohio Date Reviewed: August 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
porcupine at Holiday Valley, NY
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$589.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Boulevard, shaker hts., Ohio
Strengths:
Great components for the price. Solid frame and good breaks. Better deraillers than available on any other bike in its price range. Fork is solid.
Weaknesses:
It's a little heavy. Climbing with all that weight can be difficult. Cheap bolts, rust easily. Already broke a chain. Oh, and the tires do suck. Already swapped out the rear and will change the front soon. It has been a dry summer, so I can hold off.
Similar Products Used:
GT Avalanche 1.0
Bike Setup:
Standard factory components.
Bottom Line:
Best bike for the price, but I am wondering if I should have just spent more initially for a better bike. I am new to MTBiking and wasn't sure it was going to be for me. I now love it and will upgrade to a dual suspension with XTR or better components as soon as my wife gets a better paying job:) Perfect bike for the newbie, but if you love the sport, you'll quickly outgrow the bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Syracuse, NY Date Reviewed: June 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Highland Forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
Dewitt Sports in Dewitt, NY
Strengths:
This is for the SX, and not the sport SX. Great value for the money. Decent components, Deore Components all around are a good platform to start from. Very strong frame, good brake levers (Avid) and mechanicals (Hayes MX-1s). Great saddle (WTB Speed V comp). Nice paint job. A solid ride!!!
Weaknesses:
Tires-the Hutchinson Mosquito Air Lites that came on this bike are complete crap. I HATE these things, and I rarely hate anything. Anyways, see my review of the tires for a more detailed description.
Fork-Manitou Axel Comp is a good entry-level fork, and was definitely an upgrade from my 98 RST fork w/ 50mm of frankentravel. Even so, this fork was too light for my 250# of hard riding, even after trying heavier weight oil and extending the travel to 100mm.
Derailleurs-I've seen that it is not the initial performance that distinguishes between the different levels of Shimano products (Alivio, Acera, Deore, XT, etc) but the longevity in quality performance. After a half a season of hard riding, I see why my friends have switched to XT.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized HardRock
Bike Setup:
Swapped 'skeeters' for Kenda Kinetics and they work great! Also swapped jamis stem for a Ritchy 6" to put me more over the handlebars. Awaiting a larger Komodo FX frame to come in (19" versus the Durango @ 17") and a Noleen Mega Air Fork for my fat @$$. Will upgrade soon to XT derailleurs.
Bottom Line:
At $399, this bike was a steal when my '98 Aggressor finally bit it at the end of last riding season. The fork and the rear derailleur are the biggest disappointments, but will do for entry to intermediate riders who aren't clydes. The frame is solid as a rock-it's taken some hard, hard landings off of ledges I didn't see until too late, and still has held together. Bottom line-look to the Durango SX for value and performance. If you enjoy upgrading yourself (as I do) then buy this platform and upgrade from there. It is a great value for the money and will definitely get you there and back.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Roberts
a Cross Country Rider
from Nelson, New Zealand Date Reviewed: December 13, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At:
Stoke Cycles Nelson NZ
Strengths:
Every thing. Great bike and so easy to handle. Goes where you point it. Total value for your bucks. Nobrand comes close to this value.
Weaknesses:
Tyres it came with are not the best. Slipped and went out of shape in the rims. Have been replaced.
Similar Products Used:
Avanti Escape
Bike Setup:
Standard with bar ends and usual bits and pieces. Back tyre now is a panaracer fire xc pro now is the ultimate machine.
Bottom Line:
Great value for money and I am glad now to spend a bit more to get a bike which is able to take alot more than I expected. If you are looking for a great entry bike or a bike that is good for cross country then here it is.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from oregon Date Reviewed: August 30, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$539.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
everything. ever. but especially the hayes discs--really, for the price, i don't think i'd go any other way. they work nicely and aren't jerky or anything. beautiful.
Weaknesses:
let's see... not enough adhesive on the little logo dealy on the headtube excessive reflectorization frisbee thingy behind cassette is hard to get off ...yeah, that's about all i've got.
Similar Products Used:
jamis exile, giant iguana disc
Bike Setup:
all stock so far
Bottom Line:
what a fun bike. i bought it because it looked like a great deal, but now i love it because it's got an amazing ride too. if you're looking for a great bike that won't break the bank, this is most definitely the bike you're looking for. i mean, even the parts most cheap bikes really skimp on are not too shabby (saddle, wheels, etc.). i would say even the crankset, which got some pretty bad reviews, is decent. granted, at 145 lbs i'm probably not going to get a whole lot of flex out of a cheap crankset, but still, it's not bad at all.
anyway, buy this bike now. trust me, it will love you long time or something.
p.s: i'm definitely an aluminum fan, but if you're more of a steel person, i would say get the jamis exile: it's about the same price and nearly as well-equiped but it's got a reynolds 520 steel frame on it. fun fun fun.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Some Dude
a
from NJ Date Reviewed: June 28, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$580.00
Strengths:
Great bike for the price.
Weaknesses:
Frame a bit short for car racks. Brakes squeak after wear in still. Hates going up paved hills.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper, Fisher Tassajara
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Looking for a bike to get started on without blowing a lot of cash. This seemed to fit the bill. So far so good. It took everything I threw at it on my first trip out like a champ. Found the seat to be a great balance of comfort and size. Easy to grab a hold of with your legs while standing up. Weight seems about perfect for keeping control of the bike. Heard complaints about the fork, but for an entry-level one I really have no gripes, didn't bottom out on me. It's a sub-$600 bike, what do you want? Can be a bit of a chore on pavement, but that's not what I bought it for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richie
a Weekend Warrior
from Bogotá, Colombia Date Reviewed: May 14, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
local dealer
Strengths:
Good look Better geometry my old smith Factory´s Guarantie
Weaknesses:
Quality paint
Similar Products Used:
Smith performance series 13"
Bike Setup:
R/S DUKE XC '02 100 mm, RITCHEY STEM, HANDLEBAR, HEADSET, SEAT POST, GRIPS,WTB SPEED SADDLE, AVID DISK 185mm FRONT/ HAYES 160mm REAR, RHINO LITE RIMS, XT CASETTE & FD, LX SHIFTERS & RD, KENDA TIRES
Bottom Line:
THE CHANGE I DID IN JANUARY FOR THESE FRAME WAS GREAT. (17IN). MY PERFORMANCE IMPROVES A LOT, SPECIALLY BETTER CLIMBING BUT DESCENDING IS A LITTLE SLOWER THAN THE OLD SMITH. THE BIG THING BOTHERS ME IS THE QUALITY PAINT. tHE FRAME IS FULL OF SCRATCHES EVERYWHERE JUST A LITTLE TOUCH THE PAINT BLOWS, IN DUST. OTHERWISE, I'M HAPPY WITH MY DESITION
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Koben
a Weekend Warrior
from Pembrok Pines Fl, US Date Reviewed: February 15, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Deep Forest
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Active cycle
Strengths:
Cost,brakes
Weaknesses:
Tires, Seat post
Similar Products Used:
Specialized
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Great bike. This bike has taken everything I have thrown at it. I plan on replacing stem, seat post and tires to at least 2.2 width. If you are just getting into the sport this bike is perfect. Shop around you can get a really good deal. If you are a experienced rider perhaps you should look at some of jamis's other rides. I plan on buying a Dakar frame and moving parts over onto it which would make it a Dakar sport. Trails have gotten more technical
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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