Submitted by
wscook
a Weekend Warrior
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA Date Reviewed: October 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Comite
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
DIRT ROAD BIKES
Strengths:
Durable, GREAT product for the price; Stiff responsive suspension, ideal for large (6'4" ; 230 lb) riders. Stock tires provided excellent traction for intermediate skill trails. Rear shock wore out after 2+ yrs of primarily weekend riding (replaced with Fox Vanilla R Coil). Front Vanilla R forks handled exceptional abuse for over 2 yrs before replacing with Vanilla RLC upgrade.
Weaknesses:
Stock rims began experiencing spoke breakage after first yr. Upgraded to Mavic Crossmax ST rims. (No problem for 2+ yrs) The original attractive black/silver paint rubs off too easily along frame components. 2006 original setup weight is relatively heavy by comparison to newer bikes.
Internal bearings wore out almost annually - replaced with external bearings.
Similar Products Used:
N/A - Road biker for 8 yrs
Bike Setup:
Original Component Group: Mountain Mix
Brakeset: Hayes HFX-9 XC brakes, Hayes HFX-9 Hydraulic Disc front/Hayes HFX-9 Hydraulic rear levers
Shift Levers: SRAM X-7
Front Derailleur: SRAM X-Gen, top-pull/clamp-on 31.8mm
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X.7
Crankset: Truvativ Firex SX, 22/32/44 teeth; (Replaced with Shimano Deore XT)
Pedals: Shimano PD-M505 SPD
Bottom Bracket: Truvativ GXP, 113mm spindle
BB Shell Width: Unspecified
Rear Cogs: 9-speed, 11 - 32 teeth
Chain: Shimano CN-HG73, 1/2 x 3/32"
Seatpost: Truvativ XR Single Clamp, 27.2mm diameter
Saddle: WTB Laser V Comp
Handlebar: Truvativ LE OS (replaced w/ Titec Hellboy Carbon fiber)
Handlebar Extensions: None
Handlebar Stem: Truvativ XR
Headset: 1 1/8" integrated WTB Team
Bottom Line:
Outstanding product for price. Upgrades were to replace worn/abused components and reduce the overall weight.
Would upgrade to another brand or model but afraid I'd be disappointed after years of awesome performance of this Dakar XLT 1.0 !
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
carrot_top
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida, USA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Redback, Bermuda Triangle, Crime Scene (if im up for it)
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Lee's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Durable frame, Good geometry (for me anyway), built kinda on the bulky side so it will take a beating. More of an AM bike than an XC
Weaknesses:
a little on the heavy side (unless you buy lighter aftermarket parts), suffers a little on the uphills (atleast i think it does for me)....pivots a little creaky, but can be solved by greasing them a bit
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
2006 frame, 2006 Marz Z1 freeride fork, Azonic Outlaw wheelset, Shimano outboard BB w/ raceface DH cranks & bashguard, Hayes hydraulic brakes (stock), besides the tires, everything else is stock.
Bottom Line:
The bike is a good all around All Mountain/XC bike. Its got XC geometry, but its build heavy like an AM, so it will take a lot more. Great for techy trails and light hucking, but also can be used just as well for XC and wont feel like your pedaling a heavy FR/DH bike. Ive had this for 2 years now, and its been used for pretty much every type of trail short of lift-assisted DH trails and even light street (though i wouldnt reccomend it, i used it for that because its the only bike i have)....
The stock components are a little low end, but i only paid 1,300 for it so i wasnt expecting anything amazing.
So far what has been replaced is the:
1. Stock Manitou fork (it was crap anyway, bottomed out on everything short of a curb and none of the adjustments worked....now have a Marz Z1 freeride fork...kinda overboard, but its holding strong and the 20mm thru axle helps alot with the stiffness
2. Wheelset...stock one was some generic shimano AM type...it was actually pretty decent, but after spokes on the rear wheel kept breaking i opted for some Azonic Outlaws....great wheelset for the price (250$)...especially being DH rims
3. Crankset...internal BB with plastic ( o_O ) housing developed a cranck and creaked pretty bad. Replaced with Shimano outboard BB and raceface DH cranks. works great, very little creaking (at my weight, any BB would creak), and gives you a more stable feeling with the outboard BB.
so far thats all ive replaced....if anything else, i would suggest the brakes and shifters (the XT derrailer is ok tho...its just the shifters....they wear out pretty quickly and dont shift as quick and accurately as a decent XT shifter (their Deore)).....but if anything, ride they till they go first...at 230lbs the brakes still work ok for me, its just they fade pretty bad (but i dont do DH, so it doesent effect me much) and the adjustability isnt too good...
So if your looking for a decent XC/AM bike, but dont want to fork out the 3 - 4 G's for a high end Giant or Trek, this bike is what you want. Versatile, affordable, and durable. The only downside would be the stock components, though if you go one model up to the 2.0 or even 3.0, youll get much better parts, for a price still lower than much of the competition....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
abenz1980
a Weekend Warrior
from golden, co Date Reviewed: May 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
apex park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
craigslist
Strengths:
strong, durable butted frameset, worthy pedaler, inexpensive compared to many ,geometry feels very manageable between XC and all mountain slack.
Weaknesses:
a tad heavy, but not enough to sigh on the uphills. Mine is built at around 33pds.
I bought this bike on CL for 400$, which included fork!! This bike surpassed all my expectations for pedaling, descending, It truly doesn't feel heavy anymore considered my specialized was at 26 pds. I love this bike more and more each day. It rips though rock gardens like no other, but remains stiff through flowy trails. I think the pedaling platform could be a touch more efficient, but this is comparing it to a giant trance with a foxrp23. I believe a shock change would cure this. The only problem Im having is the Manitou Nixon Elite Infinite adjustment feature is not a great performing fork when lowered to 70-80mm. I normally climb this bike w/out touching this feature. And that said, it has no reflection on the bikes performance since it comes stock with different fork. I due tend to ride this build in technical trails mostly, because I fell like its more suitable for aggressive XC, not so much smooth singletrack. But, thats only because of the slack geometry. I have ridden this all over colorado front range, and slickrock in Moab, and I couldn't have been more pleased in this type of terrain. Buy this bike if your on a budget, but want excellent performance comparable to bikes 1000 Bucks or higher. The component selection will be wear your money is potentially spent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake Olsen
a Weekend Warrior
from Temecula, CA Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Good frame for the money. Tough and looks good.
Weaknesses:
The stock "integrated" headset is total garbage, it crapped out the first ride. The guys at JensonUSA hooked me up though, they replaced it/upgraded it for free, no questions asked.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bike Setup:
'05 Dakar,Fox Vanilla fork, Sram X-9 triggers and derailleur, Race Face cranks, SingleTrack wheels, Avid BB7 brakes, Azonic 31.8 strip bar, Thompson 70mm stem, Bontrager Earl saddle
Bottom Line:
I am 6'5" and 230lbs, and I am constantly throwing this thing down 4 foot drops, and over jumps and it does fine. Maybe the stock build sucks, but if its done right, this rig is great. Also, if you use this thing as a downhill rig, you have no idea of what a DH bike is like(MT)-- IT IS A TRAIL BIKE, and does an awesome job at what it is built for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Hdez
a Cross Country Rider
from Guanajuato, Mexico Date Reviewed: August 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sierra de Guanajuato (Santa Rosa)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Jensonusa.com
Strengths:
Strong Frame, Good componetry, Best Bang for the buck, nice handling, good acceleration for a 5" travel bike.
Weaknesses:
Stock tires (i've found they pinch easily and dont handle so good), wheels should be better in this bike.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock, GT Avalanche 2.0 (rigid)
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I've found this bike addictive, it is one of those bikes that each time you ride you love it more!, after riding only rigids i've found, on this 5" travel rig, amazing control and handling on most decents which gives me a lot of confidence specially when riding fast technical trails. Also with Manitou SPV shock and fork i can ride for hours whithout the energy waste of beefier bikes. This is a bike for all mountain riders, not XC Competitive Racing, Freeride or Downhill!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Xott
a
from Denver, CO, USA Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Buffalo Creek
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$990.00
Purchased At:
Bicycleblowout.com
Strengths:
Frame, decent components, weight isnt bad
Weaknesses:
stock tires, shocks
Similar Products Used:
Trek Liquid Fuel
Bike Setup:
Stock, swapped tires
Bottom Line:
A GREAT bike for the money. Wayyy better than my last (Trek Fuel) as I gained an inch and a half of travel, and it just plain rides better. I spent $1400 on the Trek, and it did not feel half as sturdy or worth the value. When you buy the bike for the kind of riding you are doing, you're gonna be good to go. This isnt a DH bike, though it handles big roots & rocks goo, its a very nice AM & FR bike.
The XLT handles small to mid size drops no prob. Shox are a little testy in that its difficult to fine tune them, I plan on upg'in the shox next year. The manitou minute does not have a nice smooth feel to it, but its responsive enough that it has saved me from goin down in washy corners.
Ive raced it once, and the weight was too much to be really competitive on an XC course.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JC
a Weekend Warrior
from Pearl City, HI, USA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
RSummit
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa.com
Strengths:
Oversized downtube and square taper chainstays minimize flex. Geometry is made to descend at speed, yet still maintain control. Manitou 3-way shock is good value for the money and 5" of rear travel is just enough to allow you to jump that dirt ramp without bottoming out.
Weaknesses:
Not enough clearance between the legs (if you know what I mean). I'm 5'8" 165lbs. I have a 30" inseam. I thought the 15" frame would be perfect for me but the standover height is 29", just an inch short of cranging the jewels. 13" frame would have been too small for me.
Similar Products Used:
Proflex 856 with noleen coilover shocks
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi MX COMP w/ETA/TAS 80-120mm travel, Race Face crank, Ringle ZUZU pedals, Azonic Aggro 40mm length 31.6mm dia stem, Titec hellbent handlebar, Race Face DH seatpost, WTB Speed V seat, Avid disc brakes, Avid SD levers, WTB Weirwolf front tire 2.5" and Kenda Kharisma 2.1" rear tire, Mavic Crossride Wheels.
Bottom Line:
If you bought this bike fully built, it's great deal but you end up changing out parts that you don't like anyway, so save yourself the money and just build up the frame. With the right setup, you can customize the bike to fit your riding style. The trails we ride are combination of downhill, singletrack, rockgardens and ruts, with ramps built into the trail. The XLT 1.0 provides just enough travel and stiffness to tackle anything the trail has to offer. If you are going to go all out, huck 20 foot cliffs, and all that, save your money and buy a downhill/freeride specific bike. If you are looking for a cross-country/all mountain bike that can handle 2-5 foot drops and smaller dirt ramps, you can't go wrong with this bike. Again, getting the right components goes a long way in making this great bike even better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrew
a Downhiller
from missoula,mt Date Reviewed: April 17, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
missoula bicyle works
Strengths:
the Hayes HFX-9 HD are a vary nice break to ride and thay give you alot of power when needed
Weaknesses:
Where do I even start? Well let’s just get right to the point and say unless you are a 160lb strictly xc rider that wares his or her sissy pants everyday of there life then this bike is for you! But if you have any intention of riding off 1-2 foot drops think again! The frame is poorly designed and if you fully compress the rear shock the frame well bottom out on itself, and you do that enough well there goes the $1500 bike you just bought. From the start there was nothing but problems, first the forks blew the seal and had to be rebuilt, second the derailed hanger is made to just fall of and random either by breaking or the bolts holding it in well work there way loose no matter what you use to keep it on! If you go around any corners or wall ride at any speed the bike has so mush flex it seems it is ready to snap right from under you, you might have a problem with the bottom bracket seizing up, and unless you live on the east coast, you wont get any parts quicker than a two to three weeks. The paint just flakes off if touched the wrong way and the tires that come on it well only hold the trail if your not turning! The wheels are not meant to leave the pavement and if you want to hit some downhill trails, every corner you well hear the sweet sweet sound of the tires rubbing on the forks or frame because they have way to much flex. Thankyou and don’t buy this bike!
Similar Products Used:
kona dawg and kona coiler D
Bottom Line:
if you see this bike just run!!!!!!!! i wish i could give this bike negitive flamin chili's
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia Date Reviewed: April 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Manly Dam
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Strengths:
Level of components you get for the price is great.
Weaknesses:
Got issues with the rear derailer ........ the screws that keep the bracket in the rear swing arm have sheared twice, each on a different arm. The design of this part needs some working on??
Bottom Line:
Has anyone had a similar problem with this model bike? The bike otherwise is excellent with great parts, rides good and is fairly well balanced. Good price with level of components on bike. Need to know if mine is the lemon???
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Indiana Date Reviewed: April 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the next one
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Jenson (frame only)
Strengths:
solid, capable platform; geometry nearly spot-on for me. swinger works like a charm!!
Weaknesses:
integrated headset (and it's not all that bad so far) spv chamber slow leaks
Similar Products Used:
Motobecane x4b, weyless sp
Bike Setup:
nixon, race face, avid, stan's, x.9
Bottom Line:
this ride rocks! the frame/crank/bar interfaces are stiff & solid, no flex. swinger spv platform flat does its j.o.b.!(be better if the spv chamber would seal a bit better) i'll never roll a shim drivetrain again -- sram is the sh**! and now that my avids are broken in, stopping power is SCARY! would have preferred a standard headset, but oh well.... i DO think i shoulda bought the nixon air fork, though. the coil is too soft, have to replace. aaahhhhh, adrenalinebikes....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel H
a Cross Country Rider
from Guanajuato, mexico Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sierra de Guanajuato (mexico)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA
Strengths:
Maneuverability
Weaknesses:
None yet... I'll tell you when i find them.
Similar Products Used:
GT Avalanche 2.0 (not very similar)
Bike Setup:
Stock XLT 1.0 '05
Bottom Line:
I've been riding my XLT 1.0 for a week and one race!! I really like this bike, i was used to ride only hardtails so i've found a lot of control during descents on this rig. I'm looking forward to review the bike later when i get more miles on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from sydney, NSW Date Reviewed: March 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
royal national park temptation creek
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
fraysers
Strengths:
the build is very strong
Weaknesses:
does not help if you buy a bike from fraysers and let some school kid put it together
Similar Products Used:
first
Bike Setup:
fox vanilla shocks and float rear shock
Bottom Line:
this is a very solid bike and can just about handle any kind of terain. i have been riding my fathers 2005 dakar xlt and im loving it. so i decided to get one of my own. i bought the 2007 model that will be ready in a few days. (not from fraysers) but there are alot of little things wrong with it such as you buy a bike for close to $2000AU and they still put screws in it that rust..i recomend this bike for casual riders who like a bit of bushbashing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Jim Thorpe, PA Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bob's option
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
great price, medoicre components, solid frame w/ outstanding suspension front and rear.
Weaknesses:
Seatpost, overall pretty heavy, made in Taiwan, mediocre components
Similar Products Used:
Dakar Pro, Cannondale F900 SX
Bike Setup:
stock suspension, Mavic Crossmax, Thomson post, ODI grips
Bottom Line:
Great AM bike at a very reasonable price. I bought mine brand new, w/ warranty, in 2006 for $800 on eBay... deal was so good I was worried it might be a scam. So far, the biek has done well, as expected. The extra 1.5 inches of travel are noticeable and appreciated vs my old Dakar. The biek was shipped to me with the rear trianle already upgraded so I'm hoping I will not need to worry about frame failure as noted by some other riders. Brakes are solid but do fade a bit on long DH runs. Manitou SPV front and rear works great... Bike climbs well for a 32 pounder. The stock wheelset was junk, so I upgraded right away. If I was buying again, I would probably get the 2.0 or 3.0.... I will pugrade the drivetrain as it wears out... the only drivetrain component that's truly up to par is the XT rear derailleur. The seatpost is junk, couldn't stop creaking sounds from the clamp/post junction. It seemed destined to fail, so I replaced it with a Thomson. Stay away from single clamp posts in general. All that being said.... I am 95% satisfied with this bike, 100% when considering the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a
from nc Date Reviewed: December 14, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Bottom Line:
this is a follow up to my earlier review. for the second time now i have blown out the bearing on the seatstay. when the bearing blows out it basically ruins the seatstay because the aluminum becomes deformed, requiring that it be replaced. i think this happens because of the force put on the swingarm while cornering. and the fact that there is not much support on the swingarm supports this i think.. dont get me wrong here, this is just my theory. anyways will anyone else let me know if this happens to them. btw i am giving up on it and swapping the parts over to another frame. for this reason i am giving a lower overall rating
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kelcey
a Weekend Warrior
from Canyon, TX Date Reviewed: November 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Xtreme Sports
Strengths:
Bang for your buck. You get a very nice bike at a very reasonable price. Love the SRAM drivetrain, smooth and reliable. The WTB saddle is nice, I'll be getting WTB saddles from now on.
Weaknesses:
The stock WTB rims that come on this bike suck! I trashed both of them in no time and I don't do big drops. Weight, the buck had to stop somewhere as far as savings, at 32.5 lbs this is not a light bike.
Similar Products Used:
N/A
Bike Setup:
Standard equipment plus Mavic 717 Disc Wheels with XT Hubs running Stans.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2005 XLT. This a great all mountain bike for someone who is short on cash and still wants nice components for their money. I would highly reccomend this bike if you just want to get out, ride and maybe occasionally do something stupid :) This is a very fun bike. Don't expect it to be light, do expect to have to get new wheels at some point depending on your level of abuse. 5 chilis for value because you get alot of bike for your $$$. 4 chilis for overall because it does have some problems it could be lighter and they could have matched it with a better wheelset.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Sanford, ME USA Date Reviewed: November 3, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Bob's
Strengths:
Great componants at a affordable price. Great entry-level trail bike. Jamis is excellent at standing behind their products.
Weaknesses:
Poor/weak welds on rear triangle. Positioning of front brake mount.
Similar Products Used:
Rockys, DBR, and Iron Horse
Bike Setup:
Stock out of the box setup.
Bottom Line:
This review is on a 2004 Jamis XLT 1.0. The bike is an excellent entry-level trail bike. Use the bike for anything more and you are only fooling yourself. The bike did come into it's own after a 2 month break-in period, however getting through that 2 months was annoying at best. Front break mount wasn't alligned correctly and needed quite a bit of tweaking before the rotor would spin with only minimal rubbing. The headset had problems from day one and after making a few adjustments, it was finally replaced. The rebound adjustment on the Minute One fork fell apart during the first week of riding. Manitou was great at standing behind their product. On the first ride after getting the rebuilt fork, the lower arms of the rear triangle snaped. Jamis was also great at standing behind their product and upgraded my rear triangle with minimal down time. Bottom line; a great bike shop, bicyclebobs.com and great bike company willing to back up their product turned the negatives into positives.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a
from Clarksville, TN Date Reviewed: October 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Solid feel; Excellent travel (5"); Looks great!
Weaknesses:
I would prefer a standard headset as opposed to the internal setup on the XLT. With that said, I have had no problems with this one and "internal" is better than "integrated".
Similar Products Used:
This is my first full suspension bike.
Bike Setup:
Minute 1:00 Fork, Race Face bars and Atlas cranks, Thomsen seat post and X4 stem, Mavic 814 Rims, SRAM X9 drive train, Avid Juicy 7, etc.
Bottom Line:
I bought the '05 XLT frame when it was being closed out at Jenson after reading a lot of reviews. I figured I could either spend $2000 on a big name bike with a sub par spec or get this frame and build it with a killer spec for the same price.
The bike rocks! I'm 6'0, 200 lbs and the large model fits me perfect. The 5" of travel feels like so much more. Even after switching from a hardtail, this bike feels solid on the climbs and gives me so much more confidence on the descents. If you can get a hold of one of these frames, I wouldn't hesitate snatching it up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgecrest Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006
Favorite Trail:
everywhere!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1180.00
Purchased At:
Jenson USA
Strengths:
follow up review to my first a few down, now that i have about 500 miles on it. incredibly plush and stable. point and shoot on the descents. sloppy landings are a peice of cake on this thing too. it rules in rocks and mammoth-like terrain as well. it climbs like a mountain goat and descends like a DH bike.
Weaknesses:
not too much, sort of heafty, but i got in better shape. i have it down to around 32 pounds.
Similar Products Used:
05 Iron Horse Warrior Pro, KHS XC204, Santa Cruz Blur and Heckler, Trek Liquid and Fuel 80
Bike Setup:
this is the 2005 Dakar XLT (not the 1.0/2.0/3.0)
Bottom Line:
now that i have some miles on this bike, i can honestly say it's one of the best i've ridden. i can be super aggressive and the thing keeps right up w/ me. it will float over everything with ease. it is an extremely fun bike to ride. it is an awesome all-mountain bike. it's built for the ENTIRE mountain, untill the jumps and drops get over about 4 feet. go up, down, sideways, diagonal-wise. it has 100 miles on Mammoth Mountain alone. it performed superbly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Park City, Utah Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$840.00
Strengths:
Great Components for the price, I paid for mine used and it is still an awsome bike, I cant say that i dont love it.
Weaknesses:
The brakes are a little tricky, they also make alot of noise
Similar Products Used:
None this good
Bike Setup:
Fox float r fork, Fox float r shox, Sram x7, Truvative crankset, hayes 9 brakes, Huchensen Spyder,
Bottom Line:
Great value for the money, It is almost bomb proof and is very reliable. nice components and rock solid. The tires are a little weak but it dosent cost theat much for replacements. I crashed pretty hard going DH and the thing kept on going
Great Bike if you can get it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cash White
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Emma Long
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1450.00
Purchased At:
University Cycles
Strengths:
This bike is the perfect all around bike. I have been riding hardcore since 1987 when I won the NBL Texas state championship. (I was 11 years old and I had been a bicycle enthusiast since I was 8.) This Bike is the bomb! You can't beat it for less than $2500. The component selection on the 2006 is the best yet. I did have to change the stem on my 17-inch; I use a 120mm with a 5-degree rise. I am 6' even and the OEM felt cramped. Unless you are considering the 2.0 you can't beat this bike for under $2500.
Weaknesses:
Change the stem to fit your body!!!
Similar Products Used:
Kona-Dawg Delux, Specialized-Stumpjumper Expert, Santa Cruz-Heckler
Bike Setup:
Stock 2006 with a 120mm 5 degree rise stem.
Bottom Line:
I feel like I got a bike worth $2500 for $1500, and I researched every brand for about 8 months before my purchase. Buy a new Jamis now, before they wake up!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
howard mitchell
a
from pittsburgh, pa, usa Date Reviewed: July 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
any single track
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
bike tek
Strengths:
2005 Jamis XLT. Great value. Fox vanilla R fork, Fox float R rear shock, Hayes hydraulic disc brakes.
Weaknesses:
None so far. I've read in bike magazines reviews that the bike is a little heavy but I have not noticed any problem with the weight.
Similar Products Used:
2003 KHS FXT Pro full suspension, 2004 Weyless SP full suspension
Bike Setup:
2005 Jamis XLT. Fox vanilla R fork, Fox float R rear shock, Hayes hydraulic disc brakes, SRAM X-7 front and rear derailleur
Bottom Line:
This bike is very good for the price. The Fox fork and shock sold me on the bike. This my first Jamis bike and so far I really like it. The bike can really soak up the hits. I don't do any big drops so I'm not sure how it would handle that but typical all mountain riding (rocky, rooty single track) the bike is very good. My last bike was a Weyless SP which was very nimble and fast but didn't seem to handle the rocky terrain as well as the Jamis XLT. I ride for recreation and fitness and for the price I don't think this bike can be beat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cameron
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Clarita, CA Date Reviewed: June 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Right now: Pig Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$345.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Strong frame, great shock, 5" travel, climbs like a goat drops like freaking dream. Great frame all around
Weaknesses:
None so far...
Similar Products Used:
Diamond Back, Specialized, GT
Bike Setup:
05 XLT, Fox Float R, Marzocchi, Shimano Cranks, SRAM everything else, egg beaters, AVID disc, Sun DH rims.
Bottom Line:
Love this bike!! I've noticed that most of the complaints about this bike are component centered. I put this bike together myself after buying the frame on ebay. I have not had a single problem as of yet with this bike. Rides like an absolute dream. Beefy, strong, can take anything I dish out. Just get the dang thing!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a
from nc Date Reviewed: June 9, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1050.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
performance for price
Weaknesses:
see below
Similar Products Used:
santa cruz heckler
Bike Setup:
stock 05
Bottom Line:
great bike. have alot of fun on it and it will pretty much handle what you throw at it. had some durability issues with bearings blowing out, requiring replacement of seatstays, but nothing serious with the frame. stock tires suck. bent chainring and seatpost but both were my fault. fork is kinda soft and would benefit greatly from a thru-axle. grips and seat uncomfortable. glad i bought it. will not upgrade frame though, will eventually trade frame and keep parts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Norco, La Date Reviewed: May 21, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Comite/Baton Rouge
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1470.00
Purchased At:
Dirt Road Bikes/Baton Rouge
Strengths:
Everything, nothing on this bike will need upgrading, it's built first class and sold too cheap. It will make a novice (like me) an intermediate, and an intermediate a pro. It will improve any riders riding.
Weaknesses:
Rear suspenion creaking and a little stiff, but it is brand new
Similar Products Used:
Kona Dawg, Gary Fisher Sugar 4, Trek ex6
Bike Setup:
Fox flaot R shock and fork, Sram x.7 shifters and derailleurs, WTB V speed, Firex SR hollow cranks,Hayes H9 hydraulic discs.
Bottom Line:
I started biking eight months ago on a hardtail with a thudbuster and having a blast but something felt wrong. I'm sixty years old and gained 35 lbs after I stop smoking last October, as I started riding more and longer, the bike didn't really seem to handle the larger roots and drops as well as I liked. I started seeing all of the fulll suspension rigs and everyone said to try one, you'll like it. Well I tell you, I just finished my first ten mile trail ride and never new it could be this much fun or this easy. This bike rocks! Like the guy told me, don't watch the trail for an easy line around the roots, just drive over them and I thought, yeah right. Well it worked, and I actually went off of a six foot drop for the first time and was nothing like my premium hard tail was. They should charge more money for this bicycle, $1500 is too little in comparison to everything else that I looked at and rode (and there were many). You cannot beat the deal on a Jamis XLT, the value is there!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgecrest Date Reviewed: May 6, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Blacks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1180.00
Purchased At:
Jensin USA
Strengths:
This bike rips. The Vanillas stick to the ground, the Float R shock is great. The slackish head angle of 68 degrees is great goin down, and still feels pretty quick in technical. Anyone who rides rocky areas will benefit from this bike.
Weaknesses:
A tad on the heavy side, but I still bought it, so I shouldn't complain. The top tube is a little tall, but I have a taller inseam of 33 inches so it all works.
Similar Products Used:
Iron Horse Warrior Pro
Bike Setup:
'05 Dakar XLT Anniversary
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. And for the price, the components are unbeatable. I got the last 19 inch model Jenson had, so I feel pretty lucky. Weight can be tamed by kevlar bead tires and a crank, and maybe Float forks if you want to spend the money, but then I would go ahead with the '06 XLT 1.0. You won't be dissappointed with this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Beltran
a Weekend Warrior
from Hollywood, Fl. Date Reviewed: April 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
markham park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1044.00
Purchased At:
Bell's
Strengths:
Seems well built, good components, looks good, rides great.
Weaknesses:
I don't know if I'll ever get to like the thumb-thumb shifters.
Similar Products Used:
Stumpjumper '99
Bike Setup:
2005 XLT anniv. Stock except for seat/post
Bottom Line:
This bike rides great. I have spent the last ten years riding hardtails, now I can't believe that I didn't buy a full sesser sooner. The front fork apparently is made from a solid chunk of butter 'cause its smoooooth. The frame seems solid as a rock but can also handle pretty good in the super tight single track down in South Florida. For the CLYDESDALES out there I do weigh 285 LBS and the bike doesn't seem to really care . Overall I think the bike looks and handles great and for what is in its price class (nothing really) its even better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JAMIE ROUSE
a Weekend Warrior
from NEW ZEALAND Date Reviewed: January 26, 2006
Favorite Trail:
MOUNT HUTT
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2699.00
Purchased At:
BICYCLE BUSINESS
Strengths:
SURLY TRAIL BIKE WITH SMOOTH TRAVEL THAT IS EASILY TUNABLE TO TERRAIN.SRAM WORKS WELL.
Weaknesses:
HAYES BRAKES REQUIRE CONSTANT TUNING. TYRES WERE AWFULL!!!!!! DANGEROUS! CHANGE THEM. SRAM FRONT DEURAILER WAS WEAK AND BROKE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. FOX FORKS LEAKED AFTER THREE MONTHS RIDING AND WERENT COVERED AFTER WARRANTY COSTING ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.BUMMED..
Similar Products Used:
MARIN B17, AVANTI MANIC W/ SUPER T'S
Bike Setup:
STOCK APART FROM HANSVENTURE TYRES 2.35'S AND KEYWIN CLIP IN DH PEDALS.
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE KICK ARSE, I ORIGIONALLY BROUGHT IT TO DO TRAIL RIDING BUT THAT QUICKLY CHANGED TO FREERIDE DOWNHILL RIDING. THIS BIKE HAS TAKEN CARNAGE AND STILL RIDES LIKE NEW. IF IT WAS GOING TO BREAK IT SHOULD HAVE LONG AGO. MY FREINDS KEEP WAITING FOR IT TO BREAK AS THE SIZE OF JUMPS AND DROPS INCREASE BUT IT IS A RUNNING JOKE THAT THE JAMIS TAKES IT HARD. IF YOU WANT TO DOWN HILL GET SOME THING ELSE BUT FOR ANYTHING ELSE THIS BIKE IS HARD TO BEAT I THINK. MINE IS AN XLT BY THE WAY NOT A 1.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe Quickness
a Cross Country Rider
from Florence, NJ Date Reviewed: November 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Whichever one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1050.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Good build, decent component spec, feels solid. Frame can be built to either a mighty sturdy XC rig or a silly-fast gravity sled. Such a good deal that my buddy, Poser Boy Alex, had to buy one too. Poser Boy likes his bike too.
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy, if you're into the whole weight thing. Manufactured overseas. Crappy stock tires.
Similar Products Used:
Hardtail trailbikes.
Bike Setup:
Fox Vanilla R fork and Float R shock; Hayes hydro disc stoppers and levers; Truvativ Hussfelt cranks, XR single bolt seatpost, 4 bolt stem, 31.8 riser bar; WTB saddle and disc-specific rims. Everything's stock so far except Panaracer Fire XC 2.1 tires, ODI grips, Zuzu pedals, Lizard Skins shock cover and the bell.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2005 Dakar XLT, the 20th anniversary edition. Size small, 15 inch. This is one helluva trailbike, especially on a cost/spec basis. Sure, you can find lighter bikes on the market but you'll be hard pressed to get one as capable as this right out of the box. Coming off of a 28-29 lb hardtail, the 32-33 lb weight of this bike hasn't adversely affected my riding at all. To the contrary, it's enhanced it by virtue of the fine suspension performance and qualty parts spec. Although none of the stock components are on the highest or lightest end of their manufacturer's spectrums, they're all perfectly respectable and functional pieces that come together to make a perfectly respectable and functional package. It climbs as ferociously as your legs can go and descends like a butter-smooth dream. Just stay centered, keep your wits about you and the bike takes care of the rest. It's stiff, very smooth and nearly silent. I had to put a bell on the bars because I've been scaring hikers and bikers by flying up on them on this thing. Not intentionally, mind you. It's simply allowed me to go faster than I've ever gone before. It handles log jumps, tight twisty singletrack, fast sweeping descents and rocky bomber downhills with the same good natured enthusiasm. Then you get to climb back up without busting a lung in the granny gear and do it all over again. The rear wheel tracks brilliantly over roots and rocks while ascending. Makes you feel like you're getting a boost. Racerboys and weight weenies may frown on the heft of it while going up but I can't complain about a couple extra pounds on the frame until I shed weight from my own midsection first. Jamis did a very nice job with the graphics, they're understated and very classy. A welcome departure from racing stripes and funky colors. The cheapo stuck-on head badge came off right away, but so what. It's plastic and was bound to fall/break off eventually. Better in my garage now than in the woods later. One significant nit to pick is the Hutchinson 2.3 tires that came on the bike didn't hold an edge in the corners worth a damn. Washouts everywhere. After three rides worth of fearing for my life every time I leaned over, I switched them out for an old reliable pair of Panaracer 2.1 Fire XC tires. Trading lower volume for better grip was a no brainer, especially with 4-5 plush inches of travel to smooth things out. I'll probably put a pair of light DH tires with aggressive side knobs on it eventually. Another less significant nit is that the welds aren't the prettiest I've ever seen. Not a big deal at all, especially for this price, but it's an observation. I got a neoprene shock cover to keep the Fox Float R shock clean on another post's recommendation and it's doing the job so far. All in all, this is a smooth operator operating correctly. Damn fine FS bike for an unbelievably reasonable price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike See
a Weekend Warrior
from Roseville,CA Date Reviewed: October 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$860.00
Purchased At:
copelands
Strengths:
Took it out on its first ride today.Performed great very well built bike.Shifts great handles well.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Bike Setup:
05 Jamis Dakar XLT,Fox Vanilla R fork,Fox Float R shock,Hutchinson Spyder tires,WTB wheel set,Sram X7 shifters and derailers,Truvativ Bars and Crankset,Hayes Hydraulic Disc brakes
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price.Shifting is perfect and the Fox suspension works like a dream.The build set on this bike is second to none for this price range would definetley recomend this bike to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington, Vermont, USA Date Reviewed: August 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Kingdom Trails, Burke, VT
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1366.00
Purchased At:
Alpine shop
Strengths:
Great Parts Spec for the price, frame is built to take a beating
Weaknesses:
but at 33.4 lbs it's a heavy bike by most standards
Similar Products Used:
Liquid 55, Cake 2, Reign 2
Bike Setup:
2005 Dakar XLT 19" frame, Stock for now
Bottom Line:
I was surprised to see a bike in the $1500 category that had such a good parts setup. The Vanilla Rs on front and rear work great, the sram X-7s (rapid fire style) are a big difference from the grip shift style that sram is known for...Overall the bike is very well balanced and rides well both in extremely wet and unpredictable conditions and is fast enough when it is dry...my only gripe is that we weighed it on an offial scale used for weighing wild game for the state of VT and found it to be 33.4 lbs...not a big deal unless you like to climb like me, but a lighter bike would be "nicer" to climb with.
Wouldn't want to race with this bike,it's a lot different than riding my King kickapua but it;s great for just hitting the trails and riding at a slower than race pace...certainly has been ridden all day long on really technical stuff and has held up well.
I would recommend that if you want to spend less than $1500 on a free ride bike go with this.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric W
a Cross Country Rider
from Henderson Nv. Date Reviewed: June 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bootleg Canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Copeland's Sports.
Strengths:
Good customer service from Jamis. This is calling them yourself, and not relying on the LBS.
Weaknesses:
After almost 1 year of service ( almost to the day !) the swing-arm broke at the rear, brake side, dropout. Also; see reviews below for more info.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSRs.
Bike Setup:
At this point; its all swapped out, except for the front frame, handle bar, controls on the bar, seatpost, fork and front deraileur.
Bottom Line:
I don't normaly do follow up reviews, but this bike has a long story to tell. First off, I'd like to give Jamis credit for sending me a new swingarm to replace the one that broke within a week. I have found, that Jamis and others in the bike industry, are very good about sending parts to the owner, once they talk to the person and figure out that he/she knows whats going on and is a good mechanic. This has been a great plus to me, especialy here in southern Nevada, where its sometimes hard to find a good mechanic, ( at least one that deals in Jamis.) I also give Jamis credit for admitting to known problems with my Dakar when I called them, when the local Jamis dealers where denying litteraly everything as " normal " or " myfault ". I think Jamis should find another wheel-spoke supplier, besides WTB. I would also prefer another brand of crank and bottom bracket besides Truvativ, but the old beast has kind of grown on me after 2500 plus miles of riding. It sort of has character, like an old beat up truck. I also have to take into account, the fact that Bootlegs "XC" courses, are kind of hard on a bike, although that isn't an excuse for everything thats happened over the last year. I have been told by more than one visiting rider, that Bootleg's XC courses, resemble downhill runs in other parts of the country. In fact, the locals jokingly call Bootleg's XC courses. " Downhill, cross country ". Plus; I am beginning to wonder if I just got a "lemon". Jamis' honesty and very good service to my front door, has made it nessesary for me to upgrade my overall rating to 3.75 stars.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Wellborn
a Weekend Warrior
from Brevard Date Reviewed: April 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bennett's Gap
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Backcountry Outdoors
Strengths:
Lots of good parts for the money; good performance
Weaknesses:
Hayes disc brakes; seatpost clamp; tires; a bit heavy
Similar Products Used:
none really
Bike Setup:
Stock 15" with Sram X-9 rear der. and grip shifts; Kenda Blue Groove/Nevegal 2.35
Bottom Line:
Overall I have liked this bike very much. I had a lot of problems early on with the seatpost not staying in place, but I changed the quick-release and it solved the problem. The Hayes disc brakes have also been a disapointment as they make noise and don't stop as well as had expected. The Hutchison tires that came with the bike didn't work well on the wet, rocky, and rooty trails I ride, and the Kenda's have been great. I like the suspension and the whole bike feels good going downhill and its not too bad climbing either. I would definately recomend this bike especially if like me, this is your first full suspension bike and you're on a budget. One more note, if you get a small, you have to have a Camelbak 'cause the waterbottle cage won't fit between the frame and shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
doug shryock
a
from whitefish, mt, usa Date Reviewed: March 24, 2005
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
glacier cyclery, whitefish mt
Strengths:
Plush 5 inches of travel, fox vanilla fork(very plush), comfortable riding position, durability
Weaknesses:
hayes brakes are strong but do rub often. A little portly and slow on climbs
Similar Products Used:
kona dawg, k2 razerback
Bike Setup:
fox vanilla RL fork and vanilla RL coil shock in the rear. pretty much stock exept for kenda 2.6 DH tires.
Bottom Line:
This is an update from my last review posted in 2003. I have read a lot of reviews about people breaking the frames. I have had no such trouble. I am 6'3 195lbs and ride very hard. It has seen the worst moab can throw at it and regularly sees four to five foot drops with no problems. It is a little heavy to be a stong climber and I bought the smaller frame because I knew I was going to be jumping and downhilling it so climbing does suffer. But it is an absolute blast on the downhills and I have had absolutly zero problems with it. overall I am very satisfied. One thing I noticed made a huge difference in performance was switching out the stock tires which are crap. The kendas have made all the difference in the ride and handling.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chilinvilin
a
from Nor Cal Date Reviewed: March 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Folsom
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
price to component value, suspension
Weaknesses:
seat colar allows post to slip, front deore derailer was not what was spec,d on there website.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock except for the front derailer wich was replaced with the xt one that was supposed to have come on the bike.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money. Had some shifting problems that were resolved by the upgrade in front derailer. Also had a problem with the minute one fork, the seals on the dampener blew out due to the fact that the springs were not set up for a big boy like me. The problem was fixed and all has been great since.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Staffan Flodin
a
from Australia Date Reviewed: January 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
red hill, Sydney
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
brookvale bike factory
Strengths:
Good components, Manitou Minute fork and SPV rear suspension is good. XT derailleur and Hayes hydraulic brakes are all good.
Weaknesses:
Build quality. The left rear chain stay snapped after 6 months from relatively light to medium use. That is quite poor from a bike that is sold as a "real" bike.
The bike is quite nice riding as long as it held together (6 months).
Similar Products Used:
Nop, this is my first MTB
Bike Setup:
As purchased.
Bottom Line:
Price does not matter when the build quality is so poor the chain stay snaps after a few months. I am only 65kg and have not jumped or put any particular stress on the bike. Now, I wonder how long it will take to get it fixed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric W.
a Cross Country Rider
from Henderson Nv. Date Reviewed: January 22, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Bootleg Canyon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Copelands Sports.
Strengths:
Components for the money...I suppose.
Weaknesses:
1. The bootom bracket failed in only three months and wouldn't be replaced under warranty. 2. The chainrings shifted great for about three weeks and then the shift ramps wore off of them causing bad shifting in the front. 3. The first two problems resulted in my halfing to buy a new Shimano crankset at $ 160.00 after only halving the bike for 3 months ( 500 miles ). 4. The Hayes brake levers are machined wrong at the clamping area, resulting in the need for excessive torque on the clamping screws to keep the levers in place. 5. The Manitou Minute fork is stiction prone in dry dusty enviroments like here in Nevada, no matter how much I wipe it down and lube it between rides. 6. After 6 months of ownership, I have discovered that the "latest greatest braking technology" is going to cost me about $200.00 a year to maintain. 7. The pivot bearings are not equipped with the proper spacing, so some of them are " pinched " when the pivot screws are tightned. This is causing the bolts at the bottom of the "bellcrank" to loosen and sometimes break, because the bellcrank is turning on the spacers inside of it, instead of the sealed bearings at the top of the seatstays. 8. The wheels suck, they go out of true every ride because of the cheap spokes. If they had used good spokes, the wheels would have been okay. 9. After all the repairs and upgrades that have been neccessary, I can no longer consider the bike a good value, even the frame has turned out to have problems.
Similar Products Used:
5 years on Specialized FSRs.
Bike Setup:
Do to component failures its not stock.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up reveiw. This bike shows how untrusworthy magazine reveiws are. I only ride XC and have never used more than 4.5 inches of travel ( out of 5 inches ) and yet this bike has been a problem from about week three. My initial reveiw was good ( see below ), because at the time, I was only having problems with the chainrings and thought that would be an easy to fix with some high quality rings. The local Jamis dealer won't even talk to Jamis about warrantying anything, even though some of the problems (like the Hayes lever prolems ) are manufacturing defects. I had a Stumpjumper with 2000 miles on it that was a better all around bike, and more reliable, even though it had V Brakes and only 3.5 inches travel. Normaly I would say you are buying a frame with a budget bike, but the Jamis Dakar XLT's frame has some design issues, like the spacing problem with the bushings and bearings. The cartridge bearings at the point where the seatstays attach to the bellcrank don't even turn. The only reason the suspension moves, is because there is a redundent set of composite bearings in the swinglink itself. The cartridge bearings in that location are for all intensive perposes just acting as spacers instead of bearings. I've been taking care of my own bikes for years and have never had these kinds of prolems with other bikes I've owned, even with thousands of miles on them.
Spend a little more and get a good bike from a reputable company like Specialized, GT, Trek ect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Herring
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristow, VA USA Date Reviewed: January 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Elizabeth Furnace
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Price. Good compliment of components. Looks good and feels solid.
Weaknesses:
Wieght. Tires. Deore Hubs.
Similar Products Used:
First FSR. KHS Crest SoftTail.
Bike Setup:
Stock 15" plus XT front derailer, IRC TrailBear 2.25's, WTB Rocket V Stealth Team saddle.
Bottom Line:
This was a great purchase. I've enjoyed every minute of everyride so far. I just purchased a racing wheelset for the spring (Mavic X317 XT Disc) with Fire XC Pro's. I'm looking at getting a 100mm stem for racing as well to help out on the climbs. So far it's been a great trail bike and I'm hoping it can double as a sport class racing bike with the new wheelset. As a beginner rider this past spring downhills were very tough for me to overcome. Now with the XLT 1.0 I have all the confidence in the world. This bike makes me a better rider. I wanted to mention that I had to deal with a gentleman named Steven at Jamis for some issues with my build and he was great. He got me a new crankset and new front derailer, he even hooked me up with a Jamis Jersey and shorts for my trouble. Bottom line it's been a blast so far, and I can't wait for the weather to warm up again for some more riding and racing. If your looking for a great trail bike with potential this is a great value and a great bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Downhiller
from Los Alamos, NM, USA Date Reviewed: December 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Pajarito Downhill Course
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
NM Bike & Sport
Strengths:
Great setup for your money, nice all around fork and rear suspension, hydraulic discs (mechs alwasy bug me), sweet paint job, solid rims
Weaknesses:
They come with those stupid reflectors on them.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper, Specialized Enduro, Specialized BigHit SPEC, Kona Coiler Dee-Lux, Kona Stinky Primo
Bike Setup:
Stock, swithced out the plastic pedals for platforms
Bottom Line:
This bike is killer!!! I'm a low budget downhiller and freerider, and the Dakar XLT is the way to go. It is a great bike, and it covers all that I do with ease. I freeride around town, and occasionally my dad drags me on XC rides. This bike stands up to 10 foot drops while being light enough to pedal up and down and all around. I like the fork and rear suspension. So far, I have not bottomed out on either. The paint job is really cool. If you're looking at this bike, buy it, You'll love it! If you are switching from hardtail to full suspension, it makes all the difference, believe me. This bike will cater to all of your needs: XC and freeride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rufustopheles
a Weekend Warrior
from Connecticut Date Reviewed: December 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Case Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Pig Iron Sports
Strengths:
This bike is a bargain hunter special: If you can't affor 2 bikes and you're looking for an XC bike that can go anywhere or a DH bike that can climb this bike is for you.
SPV front and rear makes for great pedaling on a long travel suspension bike, hydraulic disk brakes make the XLT 1.0 sure footed, and the frame is the same as the XLT 2.0 and 3.0 (swap out the wheelset and get a sub 30 pounder). The XLT is a great value for the price and will make you a better, more confident rider instantly.
I clean descents I used to crash on, climb some rocky stuff that used to stop me and rode for almost 4 hours in the rain the other day on singletrack without ever feeling like I was out of control.
Weaknesses:
Minor items: Handlebar is two nautical miles wide, seatpost collar allowed slip -- had to be cranked down hard. Hutchinson Spiders may not be good for sandy conditions (however they are great on wet rocky, root-infested New England singletrack). Minute 1 fork is infinitely adjustable but does not appear to have a lockout option, didn't seem to matter though, the fork doesn't bob unless you're off the seat mashing the pedals.
Purists may claim the bike is heavy, but most of us can save more weight by working on the belly...
Similar Products Used:
Tested the Dakar XC Expert, Trek Fuel and a GT I-drive.
Bike Setup:
Stock: Manitou Minute 1.0, Manitou SPV, Hayes disks, mix of Shimano Deore/XT, Mavic XM117 disc wheelset, mostly Truvativ component fills.
Bottom Line:
Jamis makes a solid bike at a very good value. Why spend 2G's when you get a great bike AND save $500 -- take the family on a vacation or something (with the bike, of course).
My wife is gonna kill me when she sees the CC bill next month but y'know what? I'll never look back at my hardtail. I rode my hardtail into the ground over 10 years and I'm confident I'm gonna do the same thing with this Jamis.
The XLT is an all day, big hit monster that doesn't feel like an old waterbed when you pedal. I tested a couple of XC bikes and I really do not feel like I gave up any performance with the XLT -- I did gain a *lot* of control on the singletrack and about 15 mph descending fire roads. Wahoo!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rob tonkinson
a Cross Country Rider
from hixson, TN, USA Date Reviewed: November 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Fort Mountain, GA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Suck Creek Cycle
Strengths:
It takes everything I ride and it climbs too. It had better components, and more travel for bike weight than other bikes in my price range.
Weaknesses:
The hayes brakes broke but Hayes was cool and fixed them fast. The seat post slips. I don't like manitou suspension forks; the swinger 3 rocks though.
Similar Products Used:
Haro xtreme, Giant VT2
Bike Setup:
I replaced the minute one fork with a Marzochi FR-1 bomber with ETA. ETA is an on the fly adjustment that allows you to shorten the travel from 130mm to 90mm, tightens up travel, so you can stand up and pedal without any front fork bobbing. My bike shop didn't charge extra for the fork replacement and now I have what is probably a much better fork. I have had bad luck with manitou products; I broke two manitou front forks in a year and a half. I was worried about the rear shock but once you get the settings right it is awsome. I also replaced the tires with Continental Gravity tires which definitly live up to their name. Seat was disapointing.
Bottom Line:
THis bike has the best components for the price. I guess its a little heavy but it weighs almost fifteen pounds less than my previous bike so I'm cruisin now. I don't know how the manitou minute one is but I don't care because I love my bomber. I like this bike and would definitly buy it again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Condor Conderino
a Cross Country Rider
from Chester, Ct, USA Date Reviewed: November 11, 2004
Favorite Trail:
cockaponset
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
brakes, fork, frame, deore xt, seat
Weaknesses:
weight
Similar Products Used:
specialized stumpjumper pro, motobecane 700xc
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
awsome! I got it brand new on ebay for 900 and it was definitly worth it. Its a great all-mountain bike and is also good for xc when the travel is brought down to 100 mm. The traction from the tires is great and i love the manitou minutes. great value even at msrp.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross Country Rider
from PA Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Laurel Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Greensburg Cyclery
Strengths:
SPV technology, price, xt/deore components, Hayes hydraulic disc brakes, suspension bearings at pivot points, suspension design changes seem stronger than past years
Weaknesses:
single bolt seatpost slips (replaced it), tires are fine on dry trails/rocks but bad on wet, xt shifters would be nice
Similar Products Used:
replacing a 2000 Dakar Expert that I raced for 4 seasons, hardtails before that
Bike Setup:
replace the seatpost with a Thompson dual clamp, may put my Panaracers on soon, put my 959 pedals on but stock pedals worked fine, jury is still out on the seat
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money and the SPV suspension works just like they said it would. I can ride through rocks and stuff I couldn't before. Good bike for long cross county rides. Maybe a little heavy for racing but I plan to do it anyway. The flashy color is a bit much but it grow on you. All in all I am very happy with the bike and would recommend Jamis to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Newcastle, NSW Australia Date Reviewed: October 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Still Glenrock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Melbourne Cycles
Strengths:
Top gear used, shimano, truvative, manitou, sealed bearings, Hayes hydraulic 8" brakes etc.
Stacks of predictable travel, very little bob - I have even got out of trouble occasionally by peddaling out of the seat - this is with default "SPV" settings.
Great Geometry, climbs well (amazing with shock wound down at front) and decends well without touching the seat height.
20-30mm of sag front and back - it feels great.
Weaknesses:
Given the price I cannot begin to fault this bike. I suppose I should have upgraded to lx gear levers. Does not fit standard tow bar bike rack however Thule make products to fit where the bike stands on its wheels on the tow bar rack.
Similar Products Used:
1 hour ride on Giant VT. I think the giant was a little more burly but the Jamis is already pretty bomb proof.
Bike Setup:
Standard 21 inch. I am 196cm tall (6'5") and weigh 90kg. The vendour said the spring in the front shock was good for 100kg or 90kg for a really hard rider. I am used to much less supple suspension (chromo hard tail from '95 with a '97 model 100mm RST shock) but am fast getting used to the Jamis, I think it is set up right for me - I also don't have the seat all the way up for any reason.
Bottom Line:
Great gear. I am totally impressed - it is a much better bike than I had hoped for. I have already done stuff on it that I thought was going to end in dirt, blood and pain without any trouble at all. Recommended.
Anyone looking for a bike for weekend work and some unserious but pleasantly competitive racing would be hard pressed to do better.
It is also great to do some bigger decents and be more comfortable than people with much more expensive (and lighter and harder) XC racing rigs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shawn Mangan
a Weekend Warrior
from Spring Hill, fl, United States Date Reviewed: August 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
a friendly Jamis dealer
Strengths:
The 1.0 is a well rounded package, great components, nice tight geometry and the spv dampening is top notch. Awesome brakes! Once the spv is tuned right this sucker pedals like no long travel bike I have ever riden.
Weaknesses:
factory tires sucked...replaced them after first ride with something more aggressive. I work on a small volcanic Island in the south atlantic...its fairly dry terrain here with alot of loose granular stuff and ash...almost broke myself when it washed out on a rather hairy drop...If you pick up this bike... do yourself a favor and put better tires on before you go out to play.
Similar Products Used:
2000 specialized rockhopper fsr
Bike Setup:
stock with the exception of a easton 90mm stem, better pedals and tires
Bottom Line:
This is a kick ass ride for the cost, so far aside of normal break in adjustments all I have done is tune the supension, adjust and check the brakes and ride the crap out of it...It takes everything I can dish out without breakin a sweat. I did spec the bike out with different pedals than the factory offering so I skipped any possible issues with those. Im 5'9" and about 155lbs so Im not a big guy but the supension is so tuneable its unreal and the 17" frame has a good sweet spot for hoppin stairs or steep drops. The brakes are easy to adjust and the modulation is also very good. I kick myself for not getting this bike sooner! the only other thing I would change aside of tires would be to go to a 8" rotor up front for more braking snot...the factory one is decent, but an 8" rotor would give all the front braking power you could ever need.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WILSON
a Cross Country Rider
from WHITEFISH,MT. USA Date Reviewed: August 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
pig trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
GLACIER CYCLERY
Strengths:
So far I've found this to be an great ride for the price paid. Solid components throughout. SPV suspension front/rear is absolutely great and has eaten up virtually evrything I've thrown at it with very few exceptions. An overall great buy for those looking for a good x-country/intro. downhill ride. My only bike except for my old Kona hardtail so the XLT so far has given me what I was looking for. hayes disc brakes are great.
Weaknesses:
Rims. Tires--the scorpions are all right just not great. Recommend a tire with bigger tread for gravel/steep descents would be a lot better. pedals-- The Shimano 505 pretty much suck in my view. Sure they're easy to get in and out and work fairly well for intermmediate trail rides but it stops there. Platform pedals are the way to go for riders looking at steep, technical single-track/terrain parks XT rear derail.---might as well go LX since that first gnarly root is gonna blow up the XT pretty much the same.
Similar Products Used:
demo rode full-suspenson Kona
Bike Setup:
stock from factory except for pedals--tore off the 505's after week one and threw on a pair of Crank Brothers Mallet c's which give the best of both worlds--platform/clipless entry with great mud shearing.
Bottom Line:
Overall this is a great bike that keeps up with my bros downhill 7x5 while still able to ride very closely to a x-country bike. It weighs a bit more than x-country bikes out there but for the suspension/components group you get at the price paid this is an excellent choice for those who want two bikes (x-country & downhill) but can only afford one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric W.
a Cross Country Rider
from Henderson NV. Date Reviewed: July 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Bootleg Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Strong frame and great components for the money. Good climbing and handling qualities. Nice paint job that is resistant to rock chips. My 19 inch framed bike is only 31 lbs. The suspension works great on all but the smallest impacts.
Weaknesses:
The Mavic XM 117 rims make me suspicious, this bike should have Sun Rhynos,Sun Single Tracks or Mavic 321s ect. The SPV suspension is a little harsh on rock imbeded hardpack. Not the big hit kind of rocks but the small 1 inch diameter kind. Another words, it kind of vibrates. Hutchinson Scorpians have almost no knob height.
Similar Products Used:
Its my first long travel bike, but I've ridden Specialized Stumpjumper FSRs for 5 years.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Maxis tires.
Bottom Line:
A great buy for the money. This bike handles well and has very good components ( except the rims ). There are a lot of rocks around Bootleg Canyon, so I run the SPV pressures near minimum and I wish the fork had a preload adjust rather than the Rapid Travel Wind Down. I can't ever see myself running in less than the 130 mm setting when the bike climbs so well, plus you need all of the bottom bracket height you can get around here, because of the rocks. To make a long story short, I think Jamis should spec the Manitou Minute Two on this bike. Its a killer bike that rides like a short travel xc bike, until you hit a big bump, then the Manitou suspension soaks it up... Its smooooooth! I had a small problem with the fork at first, but Manitou was very quick to send me a replacement damper cartridge to fix it. I was really impressed, the new part was in my mail box in three working days after I made the first call. Many thanks, to Bobby at Manitou! The Dakar 1.0 pedals as good, if not better than My 2003 Stumpjumper did and takes the bigger hits as well. I think I'm going to love this bike in the long run. Four flaming chilis over all ( I can't get past the rims, even at this price point ) this bike deserves a wider rim to make it more capable with wider tires ( 2.3 and larger ).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt broehl
a
from federal way , wa Date Reviewed: April 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
dont have one
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1550.00
Purchased At:
phils south side cyclery
Strengths:
Great suspension and its a well balance bike with great componets for the money and great brakes.
Weaknesses:
the weaknesses are the brake cable stay suck. the tires could be a little better.
Similar Products Used:
test rode coiler but i was more impressed with the jamis.
Bike Setup:
the bike set up is good and is well equiped for the money
Bottom Line:
You cant get a better bike for the money. i have sold 4 of them at my work. i got it for cost but for someone who walks in and wants to buy it we sell it for 1550. i am a young kid and put it through some abusive hours.no major problem yet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Muddy Trail
a Weekend Warrior
from Tacoma, Wa Date Reviewed: April 18, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$1550.00
Purchased At:
Performace
Strengths:
Plush suspension, the brakes
Weaknesses:
Shop doesn't have my size
Similar Products Used:
FSR's and GT's
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Only bounce around the shop, but very plush and no 'bob' while seated. I could feel the extra four pounds that this bike weighs over my bike, but the extra comfort will more than make up for it. Would like a little beefier tires. The seat was a pleasant surprise: very comfortable. The disk brakes will be a lifesaver in the Washington rain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Downhiller
from NC Date Reviewed: March 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Ahything on 181
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1440.00
Purchased At:
Carolina Bikeworks
Strengths:
Great value for what you get. Hayes hydr disc brakes, Manitou SPV suspension front and rear, WTB saddle.
Weaknesses:
Factory tires. XT rear and a Deore front.
Similar Products Used:
Giant VT2, Kona Bear Dee-Lux
Bike Setup:
Stock for now.
Bottom Line:
Had recently gotten ride of my Bear for an 04 Stinky. Although a great bike, I was still looking for something with a more resonable weight and at least 4" of travel to use on days when the descents aren't bad and climbing is needed.
Kona's have been good to me, but since the XLT's were released last year I've been thinking about getting one. The shop had the 1.0 and 2.0 built. Since just spending about the same amount on the Stinky a month ago, the extra $500 for the 2.0 just didn't seem worth it to me right now.
I spent two solid days riding a mixture of trails. Some more suited for the Stinky, but I was curious as to how far I could take this bike. No complaints what so ever in either the climbing or descending abilities of the bike. It took everything I could throw at it.
I read the reviews about the tires and wasn't certain if I should trade them out right away or give them a try. Well I made it through two days of roots, rocks, jumps, and drops and not a single torn side wall or flat. That doesn't meen its a great tire, because I soon found out, their not. In loose gravel or any sandy soil they push all over the place, which doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence when that's most of what you ride. I did hit some leftover mud and they did shed well and had good grip. I'll keep them for winter tires I guess. Not certain what I'll try this round.
The only thing I would like to have seen done differently was the front and rear der. XT rear and Deore front. I would have prefered both been LX, but oh well, I'll get over it.
I'm very happy so far, but will report back in a few months once I've gotten new tires and had more chances to ride other trails. For the money, I'm not certain you could get anything short of an 02 or 03 closeout for a better deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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