With suspension control in the rear by Fox’s lightweight RP3 shock with Jamis-optioned AVA (air volume adjust) canister, and in the front by the new, inertia valve-equipped, 130mm-travel Fox X fork. Mavic’s CrossMax XL Disc wheelset combines a wide range of air volume pressurization with tough-but lightweight durability. Shimano XTR derailleurs and XT Rapidfire-SL shifters provide cross-country credibility, with Hayes El Camino hydraulics on 7-inch front and 6-inch rear V-cut rotors for downhill backup.
Submitted by
shonan_surfer
a Weekend Warrior
from Tokyo Date Reviewed: February 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hinode
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
ebay (frame) Wheel w
Strengths:
Price, Components
Weaknesses:
Chainstay weak (2004). Broke mine three weeks ago. Replaced under warranty (Thank you Jamis! Excellent CS) in 10 days bottom bracket a little low but no real problems with the bike.
Similar Products Used:
None really. first FS Bike owned
Bike Setup:
Drop off Fork, DHX 5.0 Nevegal Tires on Single track rims. Hayes FX9 203mm front 185mm rear
Bottom Line:
Pretty nice bike. Will definitely look at Jamis again for my next purchase. Recommended. Great customer service
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zique
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anything backcountry!!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
local classifieds
Strengths:
Great climber...nothing better than the Fox set-up!! Great geometry.
Weaknesses:
chainstay problems
Similar Products Used:
Specialized XC pro
Bottom Line:
Best bike I've ever owned. Climb amazingly and bombs downhill all in the same bike! I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. I'm started to get a funny creaking sound which frightens me given the track history of the chainstay, but I can't see any breaks yet.(fingers crossed).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob Eno
a Cross Country Rider
from Aylett, VA, USA Date Reviewed: November 9, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Poor Farm, Belle Isle
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Richard's online
Strengths:
Sturdy, stable, smooth....sweet
Weaknesses:
Haven't found any in 6 months of riding
Similar Products Used:
'02 Jamis Dakar Expert, '03 Rocky Mountain Slayer
Bike Setup:
Bought the frame only and built it with parts from the RM: Float R 130, RP-3 w/AVA, WTB/X717, RF Deus, X.9 shifters-X.0 rear w/990 cass., Juicy 7, Answer carbon bars. Weighs 29.6 with ATAC XS carbon pedals and a pump. Feels more like 25.
Bottom Line:
I ride this bike exclusively on East Coast XC trails full of roots, rocks and short, steep hills, and can go mo-fastah than most of the guys riding true XC bikes. I'm over 50, and never finish a long ride with a sore back. The 5" travel lets me fly on the downhill sections, and yet there's no climbing penalty-almost feels like cheating. 32x34 climbs everything, without spinning or slipping. It could be a tad quicker steering in the really tight stuff, but seems to cut in better the faster you go. Makes it really easy to go fast, but also rewards the finesse freak. If you like XC with the occasional drop or big hit thrown in but don't like to take a beating, the XLT is perfect.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vic Muhat
a Weekend Warrior
from Everett Date Reviewed: October 7, 2007
Favorite Trail:
st.Edwards, tiger mountain, tapeworm
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
pedal dynamics
Strengths:
Best use for all mountain, best frame and rear shock u can lock the rear if u go uphill and adjust the rebound, it gives me a lot of confidence with this bike...the paint are the best also ... Its beautiful ....
Weaknesses:
NOne so far... if i will find any after a year of use and abused a will post here next year ...
Similar Products Used:
GT sazkar, univega alpina 5.5 and specialized enduro
Bike Setup:
2007 fox TALAS RLC,2007 XTR crankset,XTR f&r hubs, XTR f&r deraillure,XTR hydraulic f&r disc breaks, XTR dualcontrol lever and shifter, RaceFace Deuce xc seatpost & stem , WTB saddle, monkeylite carbon hamdalbars ,lizard skin grips and chainstay guard,Mavic ust rims, kenda tires rear and panaracer front, candy c pedals = SWEEET RIIIDE
Bottom Line:
although the frame is '05 model, still it handles better than newer ones i have tested... that frame itself is very affordable and still u get same result compare to the highly OVerated expensive mountainbike out there... the frame is beatiful No stickers that would easily come off after washing and the welding is state too... so get one yourself , dont dream of those expensive ones coz its just a waste of your money ...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunbury, Ohio,USA Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Davis WV
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Frame and Fox Talus at Rbikes.com
Strengths:
Solid, I'm 220 pounds and 6'3"and can land this bike from 4 foot high without a bottom out. It fits me like an old shoe. I've ridden for 20 years and never had a bike feel this natural. One bike does it all for me. It handles all the downhill and free ride a part timer like me can throw at it but is still great for a 30 mile xc ride on sundays.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, about 29 lbs. I'd be better off to lose 10 around the middle than to spend more on light parts. At my size the light components don't hold up. My nephew has the same bike and we built his about 2 or 3 lbs lighter and he has no issues. He weighs about 170.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn, Mongoose, canondale and GT full sus. bikes
Bike Setup:
Hayes disks, Manitou Minute 130 fork, Fox talus rear with lockout. XT shifters, derailuers, hubs, chain, cassette, rings, cranks and bottom bracket. sun rynolite wheels and crank brothers mallet or eggbeater pedals.
Bottom Line:
I love the bike and the setup. After all the years of riding I have found the bike I'll stay with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wacks
a Weekend Warrior
from Philippines Date Reviewed: April 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Sta. Rosa
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Philipines
Strengths:
I built my bike from the frame up, so this is not a review for the stock whole bike from Jamis. Looks good, feels good, performs great! Climbs well, especially with the lock-out feature of Fox RP3 Shock. Confidence inspiring ride on technical trails, and especially on downhill! Turns the rider into a dare-devil on downhills! And the welds are great! The frame is light too!
Weaknesses:
Paint chips easy. I changed my brake from mechanical to hydraulic, and the finish of the rotor mount on the frame (rear) chipped off. Although i've had minor spills, but no scratches from those.
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS-G
Bike Setup:
Marzochi All Mountain 2 130mm Dual Air Fork, WTB Wheelset, Deore Front/Rear deraileurs/shifter, Hayes HFX-9 Hydraulic Disc Brake, Truvativ FireX Cranks and BB, FSA Stem / riser, Thomson seat post
Bottom Line:
Great frame for the price! I think it performs just as well as all the other more expensive frames. And the 5 inch rear travel makes it a good all around bike! Good for climbs, cross-country, all mountain, and downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randall Havinga
a Racer
from Lacrosse ,WI. USA Date Reviewed: March 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
The Dyer Maker
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Jensonusa.com
Strengths:
Overall an Excellent bike frame. This trail bike does it all ;XC,FR,climb,desend,race. Though I wouldn't go too BIG on the drop offs as it only has 5" of rear travel ,but I've been off a couple a 6'-8' drops an it handled it fine. It eats up narly rock gardens ,and tech sections. I've even DH raced it a few times ,and didn't do to bad compared to the guys riding 8" travel DH machines.
Weaknesses:
My biggest beef so far is the derailleur hanger. I've been through three of'm so far and jamis' warranty dept. customer service leaves somthing to be desired. Also charged me 25bux apiece for the derailleur hangers ,when You can order them from Jenson for 10bux.Plus I had to wait about three weeks for them(good thing I ordered three!) I'm callin BS on that jamis.
Similar Products Used:
trek liquid, trek fuel, etc.
Bike Setup:
I bought this as just a frame and built it up using my own parts/components. Fox vanilla rc2 fork ,fox rp3 rear shock ,Mavic 321 wheelset w/ specialized stout front hub(12mm axle) ,xt rear hub ,panaracer fire 2.4 FR tires(red),sram 990 casette ,07' x-9 rear deraileur ,x-9 shift pods ,sram front derailleur ,Hayes HFX-9 203mm front,185mm rear hd disc brakes ,07' Raceface Evolve xc crankset 2ring w/bashguard ,kore chaintensioner ,genaric black platform pedals repacked w/ceramic bearings and synthetic grease ,o/s Thomson stem 100mm,raceface xy seatpost ,sdg belair ti saddle ,raceface deus o/s handlebar ,Intense lock on grips ,WTB race zero stack headset.
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line is this is one hell of an all around bike! Only beef is the derailleur hanger sitch ,and have yet to break the chainstay which I'm suspecting may happen this riding season as I plan to DH race it. Overall this frame F'n rawks!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bryan Daugherty
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff, AZ Date Reviewed: February 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Elden
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$295.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
I got such a good deal, the fox RP3 AVA is awesome, pretty light for 5 inches of travel
Weaknesses:
the AVA is really hard to get set up right
Similar Products Used:
Kona Dawg
Bike Setup:
Minute 3, LX/XT drivetrain, WTB wierwolf 2.1
Bottom Line:
After moving west my hardtail had to go. This bike is everything I wanted and more, handles big drops, pedals smooth without too much bob (especially if you click the RP3 over to max propedal) It looks awesome in the powercoat flat black. Best 300 ive ever spent
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Joselyn
a Weekend Warrior
from London, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
Adventure Sports & Reynolds Cycle
Strengths:
Bullet-proof, confidence inspiring, climbs very well, beautiful looking bike, very good price
Weaknesses:
A little hard to get set-up. I found that if sag isn't exactly right the crank constantly hits roots, rocks etc.
Similar Products Used:
First FS, but tested Trek, Gary Fisher, Giant, Rocky
Bike Setup:
Stock frame w/ Fox TALUS plus Manitou Minute 2 fork, Avid BB7, Bontrager wheelset, XT front and rear with Deore pods, Truvativ crank-BB. Weight=32 lbs.
Bottom Line:
My first FS; I was a little apprehensive about climbing with a bike that is quite a bit heavier than my last hard-tail; but I'm happy to say that this climbs better than my last bike. Never spins out going up loose gravel or roots. Rides tons lighter than it actually is. This bike is confidence inspiring - just point it downhill and let'er rip. Not to forget that the frame is downright beautiful. LOVE THIS BIKE!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Lopez
a Downhiller
from Phoenix AZ, USA Date Reviewed: June 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
any one I can find.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Not too many trail bikes that can pedal as well as this one. looks good, feels good, great bike for the price.
Weaknesses:
tire guard on seat stay smacks cable housing bracett when rear suspencion bottoms out. steerings a little slow, but can be corrected with a shorter stem.
Similar Products Used:
Gary fisher cake, trek liquid, bla bla bla
Bike Setup:
Fox talas front and rear, mavic cross max sl, xtr full drive train, full fSA carbon componentry.
Bottom Line:
I can't really say anything about a stock 3.0 because I bought the frame and built it to my spec's from the ground up. I however, want to make clear to you that the components do not make the bike.. the frame makes the bike.. and man oh man. does this frame rock! I own a rediculous ammount of bikes and am constantly selling and getting new ones.. this bike is the only one that I can't seem to let go! Its definately a bike you want to take to a new trail, and your not sure if its going to be a straight endurance shot, or the most technical trail you've ever encountered. No fear! This bike can do it all. drop offs, uphill sprints, ripping steeps.. If you have this frame, you have the potential to make a great trail bike.. hands down. Componants can be switched, a great bike frame can not.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from Illesheim, Germany Date Reviewed: June 19, 2006
Favorite Trail:
anything that goes up and down
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
very very nimble bike. Take it anywhere you want. If it Looks great and it feels great, well it must be great. great cilmber. The welds. The welds are absolutly flawless!!!!!
Weaknesses:
Paint chips very easy. Low BB, somtimes to low.
Similar Products Used:
stumpjumper FSR,
Bike Setup:
stock but with monkey lite HB
Bottom Line:
Great bike. love the specs, especaly fpr the price. this is the 05 model and i got it a closeout price but I would have paid full price for it. went with the 05 because I just didnt like the paint job of the 06 model, Just think it looks like dodo. Love the crossmax xl wheels. love the fork shock isnt the greatest though, should have put the RP3 on it. when you lower the shock you reduce the travel and lower an already low BB. I get alot of turning pedal strikes with it. I can take this bike on a all day epic ride or a nice XC race( not the greatest race bike) but it gets its done. Even did a Super D race with it and it put on top of the podium. Iver even taken this baby for some Freeriding. only change I do then is I swap the pedals to some flatties (crankbros 5050x with my own mod) and i bump the pressure in the shock so not to bottum out so easy. Ive done a 12' road gap and was a little rough on the landing but nothing realy major. wont do it again though so high. So if your looking for a all around do everything bike for an outstanding price, this is the bike for you. 5 HOT SMOKING BABES, OOOPS I MEAN CHILLIES
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jutt
a Weekend Warrior
from Superior, CO Date Reviewed: May 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Community Ditch Trail- Thanks Boulder!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Beefy frame, $400 brand new, Fox Float R, climbs reall well for the weight (my build is appx 40lbs), all around good ride for XC-FR, looks nice and low-key
2005 Frame Review I've ridden this now about 5 times and I really like this frame so far. It climbs extremely well considering its 40lbs. Handles the DH without any problems. The Pike is the perfect fork for this frame. I'm running a 50mm stem and would recommend a 90-100mm for better climbing. The BB height is low and even with 170mm cranks I'm constantly banging the pedals on rocks while climbing but the low center of gravity is nice on the DH. Bottomline - You can buy 3 of these frames for the price of a SC Nomad frame, can't beat this frame for the price and performance!
I haven't broke the chainstay yet so for now I'm still happy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah Date Reviewed: May 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Moab
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
excellent 5" all mountain ride. lock out the rear shock and you have a hard tail going up, point it down hill, the dakar will take care of the rest!
Weaknesses:
bad paint, easily chips out. what the heck! it's mtn biking....!
built the bike from the frame up. value, performance, looks, this bike has it all period. hands down to Jamis!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Gold Coast, Qld, AUSTRALIA Date Reviewed: April 6, 2006
Favorite Trail:
NSF
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Very plush, great for aggressive riding styles in rougher conditions, yet light enough for use in enduro XC events.
Weaknesses:
Low BB on occasion causes pedal strike in rougher conditions - not a big concern though. On very steep uphills the front tends to get light - ETA on Marz AM1s helps by lowering the front but again reduces BB clearance even further.
Similar Products Used:
First FS bike owned but ridden various FS bikes and hardtails. Ellsworth ID most similar product tested.
Bike Setup:
SRAM X-9, Marz AM1's, Fox TALAS Pro, Mavic X3.01 (X819) with Maxxis high roller 2.1 rear, Specialized Adrenalin Pro 2.1 up front, Hollowtech II cranks, TITEC, WTB, Magura Julie brakes.
Bottom Line:
For someone who wants a bike that can be used for multiple riding styles, the Jamis is an excellent choice. Coupled with a decent fork, the Jamis climbs well, takes the rough stuff very well and on DH sections is a dream to ride due to the head angle. Set it up correctly and she will treat you well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis Franks
a
from Grand Rapids, MI Date Reviewed: April 2, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
RBikes
Strengths:
Excellent Fox Float TALAS set up suspension! 3", 4", 5" of travel, uphill, downhill, race marathon you name it.
Weaknesses:
None so far...
Similar Products Used:
Haro werx 5, IH MK III
Bike Setup:
Fox TALAS Fork, race faces', thomsons, wtb's, shimano xt's, Hope's
Bottom Line:
Built the bike for less than $1700. for the components, set up of this biken hands down for this one. price, performance, set up, this is the best mountain bike i've ever had!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel Hubbart
a Racer
from Fort Collins, CO, USA Date Reviewed: March 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
deer creek canyon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Jamis
Strengths:
5 inches of travel let you ride your ass off. The suspension is super smooth on hard rocky surfaces. For a 30 pound all mountain bike it is very durable, as I have a bad habit about breaking things.
Weaknesses:
Broke the chain stay, but I called Jamis (from my work) and they sent me a new swing arm is less than a week.
Similar Products Used:
Dakar sport, diamondback strike and xts moto.
Bike Setup:
Full XT, rhyno lite XL wheels, maxxis tires, minute fork.
Bottom Line:
In my opinion as a super D racer this is flat out the best rig for the job. 5 inches front and rear allows you to have fun on your training rides but still be competitive during races. Great job Jamis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eddie Fiola
a Weekend Warrior
from Fullerton, CA Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2400.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
this bike should be on all the bike categories in this section. this bad boy is an all around mtb. horst link or none, this bike does its job everytime. love this bike!
Weaknesses:
broke the chainstay! called jamis and send me the new '06 chainstay in a week. no complaints at all. good client svcs at jamis!
Similar Products Used:
had an intense 5.5 before. sold it due to money prob. nothin much of a diff bet the 2
Submitted by
tom chasse
a Weekend Warrior
from presque isle, me usa Date Reviewed: March 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Eric's around the mountain trail NHC
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$3300.00
Purchased At:
Mountain Enterprises
Strengths:
This bikes is a great value and really rocks on the downhills. I love it's point and shot attitude. I never feel uncomfortable with this bike no matter where I am riding.
Weaknesses:
This bike is a little heavy but not so much that it's a problem.
Similar Products Used:
I have owned a 2003 XLT 2.0 a 2004 XLT 3.0 and I own a turner 5 spot and a rocky mountain flow fs
Bike Setup:
The bike was built from a frame and it has xt hubs w/sun ryno lite rims, xtr rear derailleur, ft, xt hydro brakes and levers with deore shifter. race face crank, handlebars, stem, and seatpost. crane creek headset and xo seat.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. I have had many great rides and don't miss the HL that was on my 2003. It is very stable in the rough stuff and climbs extremely well given its 29 lb gurth. I like how very controlled it is in all conditions. It is a little long feeling in very tight technical sections but if you just power it through and never look back it works the best. Ride it with attitude and you will have the best results. I fly a little with it but it isn't really made for the big stuff. My son has one and has broken a swing are but Jamis was very fast to replace it and it was no problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Rush
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs Date Reviewed: February 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
RBikes
Strengths:
this bike rules! point it north or south, this bike will do the job, xc style, trail riding, down hilling any type of riding. love this bike!!!
Weaknesses:
none!
Similar Products Used:
i had an '03 titus moto x and got stolen. got the jamis for about 1/3 the price of the titus, can't beat that. i think it performs better than the titus.
Bike Setup:
fox float rlc, fox float talas rl, thomsons, eastons, raceface, wtb's, sram, hope, shimanos.....
Bottom Line:
can't beat this bike with other similar 5" frames out there, price, performance, looks, this bike has it all!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jichael Mordan
a Weekend Warrior
from denver Date Reviewed: February 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
apex,mt. falcon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
built up
Strengths:
very plush suspension. point it up or down, it will do the job right! wonderful bike!!!
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
santa cruz blur LT, yeti 575, iron horse MKIII
Bike Setup:
Fox Shox,Manitou Black,Thomson,Race Face,SRAM,Shimano,WTB,Easton,Avid,Crank Bros,Cateye
Bottom Line:
great all mountain, trail, xc mountain bike, you name it.....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Logan
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego Date Reviewed: January 31, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Northstar at Tahoe, anyone
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
The fox talas rlc is an amazing fork. it is smooth over the little bumps and doesn't flinch when it takes big drops. dispite the 5 inches of travel, the bike climbs very strong. the drivetrain is flawless. i don't think i have skipped a gear in the 6 monthes i have owned it. the juicy 7's are perfect. i have heard people cry about the noise. when it comes down to it, the brakes stop when you want.
Weaknesses:
NONE?
Similar Products Used:
Heckler was my other option. the components just can't touch the jamis
the bike can handle anything you throw at it. pay the extra money and enjoy not having to worry about a thing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent Shorter
a Weekend Warrior
from Palmerston North, New Zealand Date Reviewed: October 30, 2005
Favorite Trail:
K Loop
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3900.00
Purchased At:
Pedal Pushers
Strengths:
Light Weight (for the travel)& top components for the coin. Avid Juicy's are disc brake heaven & the Fox shox are great & offer heaps of adjustment options. The crank bros candys were a refreshing change from boring old SPD's.
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket great for railing rapid descents but i get a bit of pedal srike on tech rocky climbs. Stand over heights not the greatest. I'm a long bodied 5'10 & the Dakar frames run small so I went for the 19 inch. If I could do it again i'd go for the 17 & swap a longer stem.
The others are right on the tyres... I found them to be average. Ok on dry hard pack but terrified of anything wet.... I found the paint work a little fragile. It seems to chip & scratch easily.
Similar Products Used:
Spec FSR XC
Bike Setup:
Standard but I swapped the Spiders for Super Tacky 2.35 High Rollers. There's so many dials on this thing I've just found a level that works & have left it. I'm 88 kgs & run 70 psi in the front & just worked the old one third sag method when sitting on the bike for the back. Rebound 3 clicks off fast seems to work well for my fav trail.
Bottom Line:
The XLT 3 is a great bike thats very well spec'ed. My fav ridings mainly agressive gravity assisted free riding with a few medium drops & jumps thrown in on most rides. So far its handled anything I can dish out with no problems! The descent is plush & the bike is very nimble & predictable at speed. The Dakar gets me to the top better than anything else i've owned too & I've never locked the forks or rear shock! Sometimes I wind down the front for long climbs. Dropping the back angle of the rear Talas on the fly is a great feature & really helps the bike rail high speed corners.
This is the bike if you wanna get to the bottom first & not be the last to the top. Seriously it handles three riding styles pretty well. You could enter this in the odd XC race if you changed the tyres to something a little lighter or take it on an all day back country epic & feel ok later. Its even going to hold its own in a novice DH race if you that way inclined!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JAMES HOYLE
a
from SANTA ROSA, CA Date Reviewed: July 21, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Follow up to my last posting dated June 9, '05 regarding a broken chainstay.
Bottom Line:
Jamis came through in a timely manner with a replacement swingarm as promised. The new swingarm arrived in about a week and a half. The new swingarm is redesigned with larger and differently shaped tubes, as well as an additional brace ahead of the drop outs. It looks much beefier, but weighs the same as the old one that broke. Very happy with the quick response to my emails and the quick shipment of the replacement part.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Hoyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, Ca. Date Reviewed: June 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mid Mountain loop, Park City, UT
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Follow up to my review posted 5/5 of this year. Bike has performed flawlessly with only routine maintanence, that is, until last Sunday 6/5.
Weaknesses:
Drive-side chainstay broke at the weld between the main pivot forging and the chainstay tube. Of course, it broke right in the middle of a sixteen mile loop. I was able to continue to ride the bike out on flat and downhill sections, just couldn't pedal with any force or the wheel would cock to the left and drag on the inside of the chainstay. Spent a lot of time running next to the bike while my buddies looked back and laughed as they pedalled away!
Bottom Line:
Jamis warranty guy 'Dave' has been very responsive to my emails, and voice mails. He claims that the part has been redesigned and that it will be forthcoming to my Jamis dealer for replacement. Will update story as it develops - stay tuned. XLT owners, check your chainstays for bends/cracks/deformity so you don't get stuck out on an epic ride with a broken rear triangle!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis Solomon
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Vail Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Performance, price, weight and of course Components only equals to a winning product.
Weaknesses:
none to my needs for speed buddy, see below:)
Similar Products Used:
K2,GIANT NRS2,JAMIS DAKAR SPORT
Bike Setup:
Swap to WTB speed V, other than that STOCK
Bottom Line:
This is my first 5" travel bike, not to mention my first review on any of my bikes and I got nothing but good things to say about this product. Unlike my other bikes this monster gives me so much confidence downhill with out sacrificing the climbing. I recently ridden this bike at the Xterra Duathlon here in Califorina and was very amazed how well this bike handled (climbs and decends) Bottom line for a ALL MOUNTAIN...this bike is NO JOKE. Highly Recommend
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James Hoyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, Ca. USA Date Reviewed: May 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
mid-mountain loop, Park City
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Stout frame and rear triangle, ball-bearing pivots. Soaks up hits (fast 2-3 foot drops) really well, eats high-speed, rocky descents for breakfast. Avid Juicys are noticeably better than Hayes hydrualics I have used, both in power and modulation.
Weaknesses:
Low bottom bracket makes pedaling in rocky terrain (where I live) a little sketchy. Increasing shock and fork pressures alleviates some of the problem, but then you lose the plush ride. Hutchinson tires were lousy everywhere. Switched to WTB Weirwolfs - good good!
Lose the freeride bar/stem, seat/seatpost combos (unless you are a clydesdale) and drop a couple of pounds (yes two pounds!) off the weight. I switched to an Easton carbon bar/alu stem, and Easton carbon seatpost/Perfomance leather/ti saddle. WTB 2.1 Weirwolf tires. I weigh 170 lbs. and run 34 psi front and 40 psi rear for tire pressures. Fork is set at 70 psi and rear shock at 125 psi.
Bottom Line:
The build kit on this bike is superb. Selectively changing certain items as noted make the bike that much sweeter. Suspension adjustablity is nice, but once it was dialed in I have pretty much left it alone. I always run 5 inches of travel. The climbs where I live are relatively short so I never drop the front. Don't believe the advertising hype about a 27 pound 5 x 5. My medium frame weighed stock at almost 32 pounds! Current weight is 29 pounds 10 ounces with the carbon components, and heavy (but bombproof) WTB Weirwolfs with two scoops (4 ozs.)of Stan's sealant in each tire. So the bike can be even lighter yet if you are willing to risk weight vs. reliability.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joshua
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2599.00
Purchased At:
www.bicycleblowout.com
Strengths:
The suspension setup on this bike is perfect....very plush. The components you get for your money are great. The geometry of the bike is perfect for the trails...climbs well and decends well. This thing climbs much better then my enduro and decends as well (well maybe almost as well). Juicy brakes rock. I disagree with the below review, tires are great.
Weaknesses:
Saddle does smell pretty bad. Other then that, nothing.
Similar Products Used:
Spec. Enduro, Fisher Cake
Bike Setup:
Stock...except for Crank Bros peddles.
Bottom Line:
For a trail bike, it doesn't get better then this bike. The setup you get for this price, plus the Jamis name is a great deal if you ask me. I have an Enduor as well and I must say, I like the enduro a lot, but not nearly as much as this bad boy. Need I say more then I already have?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sundog
a Racer
from Buena Vista, Colorado Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
West of Never
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycle, Boulder
Strengths:
Rock solid frame.
Weaknesses:
Age (see below).
Similar Products Used:
K2, Intense Tracer, Titus Racer-X
Bike Setup:
Stock, as far as I remember.
Bottom Line:
Ok, I admit it - I do not own this bike. I just wanted to give credit where it is due. I bought a Jamis Team Dakar in 1993 and rode it for 11 years. What is unusual about this bike is that it went off the roof of my car at 70 mph, landed on the wheels, flipped end-end several times, and never cracked. Four years later I still raced it. To give even more credit to this manufacturer, I must tell you that I have cracked three other company frames in the last five years. Only the Jamis frame was retired with honors. By the way, K2, Intense, and Titus all stood by their warrantees, but each lasted less than one year. Yeah, I'm big.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Malden, MA USA Date Reviewed: March 3, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2650.00
Purchased At:
www.bicycleblowout.com
Strengths:
The fact that it's a Jamis and the components!! I mean, come on!!
Weaknesses:
My only complaints are the Hutchinson tires....they really do suck and the saddle...I just can't get comfortable on it for long periods of time.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I test rode a Jamis a few years ago, and I absolutely fell in love. I just never thought that I'd actually own one. I came across a few extra bucks and low and behold, I know own one. Unfortunately I haven't been able to hit any trails yet, but I've done street riding here in lovely snowy Massachusetts where at the moment, it's tougher to tell which is deeper....the snow or the potholes!! The 2005 XLT 3.0 has performed beautifully...Jamis really pulled out all the stops for the 20th anniversary edition. I'll try to post more after I get to hit the trails on April 15th.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Brigandi
a Cross Country Rider
from Havertown, Pa Date Reviewed: December 24, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
biketopia www.biketopia.net
Strengths:
The Strengths are evident in this bike. Look at the suspension for one, then look at Jamis, their philosophy concerning design, function and versatility, this bike looks fast just sitting there it REEKS of fun long rides where the downhills are endless and the singletrack is wicked.
Weaknesses:
Top tube could be a little longer
Similar Products Used:
Considering that I won a bike shop, I get to ride and test aot of different bikes. I purchased this bike because it's basically the same geometry as my old steel Yeti. I've ridden a slew of different designs starting in the early 1990's.
Bike Setup:
X.0 shifters and rear Derailer, XT front derailer, stock Cross Max XL wheels, I change tires like most people change their underwear. YETI ARC stem, and YETI F1 Flat bars. I tried the riser bar thing and did nothing but fall over, at slower speeds. Egg beaters, Thomson laid back seatpost
Bottom Line:
If you are cosidering buying a new full suspension bike, take this bike seriously it is definately a player. I plan on using it as a cross country bike to do marathon racing and local sport class terror-fest weekend racing when I can pry myself away from the shop.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CLint
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisvegas, Australia Date Reviewed: November 4, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great tunability for all conditions. Nice feel and a great look, Very Stiff frame. Awesome Spec
Weaknesses:
Fork rake maybe a little to slack. But on the other hand, point it down hill and wait for your mates at the bottom.
Similar Products Used:
Giant VT2
Bike Setup:
Standard apart from Thomson Post, Stem. Azonice Double Wall Bars. Kenda Kinetics 2.22. Shermann FireFly's 130mm SPV
Bottom Line:
Great bike, Havent seen another one on a trail at all here in Australia
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill De Haan
a Weekend Warrior
from Milford, MI Date Reviewed: September 17, 2004
Hutch' Scorpion tires are oddly a bit sketchy in snow and light sand. Grip like the devil in gravel, clay, normal dirt, wet roots, etc.
Similar Products Used:
Many top of the line XC and All-Mountain bikes.
Bike Setup:
Still factory-stock except for replacement of Time ATAC Pedals with Crank Bros Candy Pedals on day one, ditto for Stans No-Flats juice in the UST tires, and a Cat Eye Enduro computer.
Bottom Line:
I ride single track in Michigan, and make annual pilgrimages for the really fine singletrack in Colorado and Utah. I dreamed of my transition to a full suspension bike and researched it for a long long time. Bottom line - I made a great choice. Here's why -
I'm a 5'10", 220 lbs guy who rides hard, likes to take every sane drop that comes along, blast through rock gardens, scramble up rooty hillsides, and roll through choice downhill sections at speeds that make my normal sized riding buddies consider wetting themselves. I'm not a nut case, wacko wild rider, but I am an athlete who enjoys puching myself. Though I can leave my buds on the downhills, I am quite accustomed to paying a price on the climbs. My new Jamis has helped considerably to even that score however.
The Dakar XLT 3.0 comes stock with what I think is arguably the best suspension system in it's class. With my size and strength I worried a great deal about ol' "BOB". Just like prior reviewers said, it's not a problem on the XLT 3.0. The only time I even consider locking out the rear Fox shock is on the sprint down the road back from the trail end to the parking lot. I suppose if a rider wanted to tighten up the dimensions a bit on really tight/technical single track, being able to reduce the travel of the rear shock would come in more handy than it does for me. At 220 lbs I use an amazing amount of the 5 inches of travel! OK, all of it.
Speaking about travel, I also lockout the front forks (Fox ought to win a Nobel Prize for these beauties) on longer road rides/races. I've never locked them out on a trail however. No need to. I do often reduce the fork travel, while on the fly, from 125mm to 80mm. This is a huge help on steep climbs. On my new XLT 3.0, I regularly outclimb my smaller hardtail riding buddies (especially on rough trails - hardtailers hate it when you pass them on the rough stuff).
I crack up to think this bike got any negative press on braking. The Avid Juicy Brakes are awesome! Trust me, I know. I'm a 220 lb engineer who knows F=ma, and bringing my carcus under control QUICKLY used to be scarey. There's a dandy 4-5 foot drop about a mile below the summit of Porcupine Rim (Moab) that snuck up on a dude in front of me this spring. He locked up his brakes, and endo'd smack in the middle. I grabbed brakes HARD and before I could ask God to look after my wife/kids and tell 'em I love 'em, those brakes modulated flawlessley. Another BAD train wreck avoided. Avid's workmanship is awesome as well. They're actually pretty!
The Mavic CrossMax wheel set seems bullet proof to me - picture my mass comming down off a fair drop at speed and then listen while I tell you I haven't had to true the wheels yet! And Stan's the man when it comes to flat proofing tubeless tires. (zero flats, tire pressures at 42 lbs)
The annodized finish is quite sexy, yet masculine too. Scratches don't seem to happen as often and if they do they're usually invisible.
The bike feels plush and very very comfortable. If you want that flat/nose down feel of a hot XC racing bike you'll need to tweek the fitting on the XLT 3.0 to get that. The 3.0 is built to be a all-mountain (maybe even a fair freeride bike for a smaller guy than me) so you'll be a bit more upright than that. And like a previous reviewer said, use the quick release seat clamp to drop the seat 2-3 inches and you absolutely won't believe how much control and security you'll feel rippin the downhills!
Buy this bike if you're not made of money, but want to ride like you are. Jamis Dakar XLT 3.0 = Great Performance + Value
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA USA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Anything That Looks Scary
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Jamis
Strengths:
Componenants Componenants Componenants!! Fox TALAS really is as super adjustable as they come. Avid Juicy Sevens have some decent trailside adjustability. Has anyone mentioned DOWNHILL PERFECTION WOW!! AWESOME downhill geometry!! Lightweight for a 5" travel bike (28lbs no joke). Fox TALAS Shox in the rear adds a cool advantage (by reducing the rear suspension travel it chieves a tighter geometry for single track and cross country).
Weaknesses:
Although a light weight for such a category as this, the geometry is less dialed in for cross country as I had hoped, making climbs a tad more sluggish. Low bottom bracket/pedal clearance. Not alot of attention to detail on the frame construction, though the design holds its own.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight -- GT Avalanche (when they were good) -- Giant VT 2 -- Santa Cruz Heckler
Bike Setup:
Sotck except for Easton Monkey Lites risers and Crank Bros Mallet C pedals.
Bottom Line:
As a bike shop employee, I could have chosen between the VT line, the Heckler lineup, or any of the Kona's, but I got this one above them all. Truthfully though, I would have probably purchased the Heckler if Santa Cruz would have actually responded to my dozen calls. But no looking back now.
Giant VT 1: Crossmax SLs on a 5" travel bike? Are you kidding me? Better attention to frame design and especially construction, but they sunk all their money into that and left a lesser componenant package. Also, the VT design is so specific that you can't change the fork or rear shock without completely voiding the warranty. What's that all about? It is definately an agressive cross country bike, but sadly no more than cross country.
The XLT blows the lid off of cross country bikes turned enduro. While Giant is slowly introducing the training wheels to the future enduro rider and giving the riders what they think they want, Jamis is already supplying the goods. Jamis is saying ENDURO IS ALREADY HERE. Its partly cross country, but its got bigger kahunas than it shows. Hiding in the bike somewhere is a brain that severed its connection to the nervous system. While it does loose some of that cross country vigor, it supplies ten fold to the freeride arena. This makes it the bike for me. Cross country is awesome, but at some point the bike holds you back from either the speed or the trail that is necessary to take it to the next level. I just got back from a trip to Big Bear in SoCal where we rode the chair lifts to do some crazy downhill. When you lower the seat to the floor is when you realize that the lower bottom bracket just bought you a better ticket to fast technical downhills and jumping by drastically lowering your center of gravity like the Heckler (what the VT can't even come close to). I'm 6ft with a torso of a person 6"2' so it feels slightly cramped when the seatpost is up and ready for cross country, but once I lower the seat, even in small increments, I am right at home. THIS THING WILL TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE!! Cross country rating versus other 5": 6.5 out of 10 Freeride rating versus other 5": 11 out of 10 Hucking rating versus other 5": 9 out of 10
Overall, it gets the job done on cross country at the average rating, but you just might write home to Mom about your way downhill. Just don't let your wife know that the XLT 30.0 has a shorter skirt and sexier legs than she does.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grease Monkey
a Racer
from Arkansas Date Reviewed: May 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Monster-T, Advanced Trig & Zig-Zag
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bike City
Bottom Line:
After receiving the first one with the dented down tube, I received a second one with an ovalized seat tube, but all is good now because I received the third one on Wednesday of last week, no problems. Just noticed today the pivot bolt at the front end of the seat stays worked itself loose, so watch out for that. Being that this is a bike review, I guess I shouldn't say anything about the tires, but I have to agree with all the negative reviews for them, they suck offroad (ok for freeriding though). Anyhow, WOW great bike! Mine came with CrankBrothers Candy C pedals instead of Time Atac as listed on their website.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grease Monkey
a Racer
from Arkansas Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004
I'm the mechanic at the LBS and have been waiting for this bike to become availble since November, and was finally able to place my order in February. I received it last friday, it included a free golfball sized dent on the right side of the downtube (bummer). I was beginning to wonder if the warranty department was going to get back in touch with me, I just finally left them a message saying I would be doing a chargeback by then end of this week if they hadn't gotten intouch with me. Well they called today (thursday) and said they'd ship another one monday. Other than the dent, it looks like a great bike, I pretty much assembled the whole bike, but didn't put the pedals on, so I didn't even ride it. Just can't wait until I receive the other one. I'll try to post again after I receive it and put some miles on it (road and off-road). Gotta give this bike a five for a great value and also 5 overall, I mean c'mon what a cool bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Bersuder
a Weekend Warrior
from Arabi, Louisiana, USA Date Reviewed: April 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Comite, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
The Pedal Shop, Gretna, Louisiana
Strengths:
All of the components that the bike comes with are top notch. Fox fork and rear shock combination is awesome. Really improved my confidence level knowing that I have five inches of travel both front and rear to soak up the big bumps and smooth out the big drops. The Avid disk brakes perform very well.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
This is the first full suspension bike that I've owned. My other bike is a 2000 Trek 4900 hardtail which has been extensively modified.
Bike Setup:
Stock setup with the exception of the addition of a Cateye Enduro 2 cycle computer, a Cateye EL300 headlight, and Stan's No Tubes sealant in the tires.
Bottom Line:
This is a followup to the review that I posted in January. I was finally able to get some time off from work and managed to get the bike off road for the first time this past weekend. All I can say is that this bike is awesome. It performed flawlessly. I rode the Comite trail in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which is not that technical, but enough for me to gauge how the bike performed. The combination of the Fox Talas RLC fork and the Fox Talas RL rear shock gives this bike a very plush ride. The pro pedal shock keeps the bike rigid in the climbs, but soaks up all of the bumps in the downhills. The Avid Juicy Seven disk brakes worked better than I'd hoped for. Very light pressure on the levers is all it takes to guide the bike smoothly through turns and the downhill sections. The XT hollowtech II crank performed very well and is very solid. The Time Atac pedals are really nice. Very easy to clip into and you can unclip fast if you have to. The XT shifters were very fluid and I was able to shift smoothly even on slight inclines where my old shifters on my other bike would have made a lot of noise and maybe not have shifted. The seat was very comfortable. I rode approximately 19 miles and didn't have any discomfort. The Mavic Crossmax wheels performed well. I did a couple of three to four foot jumps and the wheels are as true as ever. Also there were no problems with the frame or chainstay. There were reports of 2003 models suffering broken chainstays. The only problem I can think of are the tires. The Hutchinson Scorpions that the bike comes with don't track too well in loose, sandy soil. I had the bike almost slide out from under me a couple of times in turns and I wasn't even going that fast. Overall this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Excellent value for the price. I can't be the only one out there who has one of these incredible machines. Let's hear from you. I would be interested to know a few other peoples opinions on the bike. I hope to be able to ride a few more technical trails to really gauge how the bike performs. So far so good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel Bersuder
a Weekend Warrior
from Arabi, Louisiana, USA Date Reviewed: January 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Comite, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
The Pedal Shop, Gretna, Louisiana
Strengths:
New Fox Talas RL rear shock with Pro Pedal is awesome. Bike feels like a hardtail when you are on flat, smooth ground even when you crank hard on the pedals. Even while hitting small bumps the bike still handles like a hardtail. There was no bob at all in the rear end that I could detect. The shock can be locked out but to me there is really no need to lock it out as the Pro Pedal only lets the shock flex when there is a significant force applied to it. The Avid Juicy 7 hydraulic disc brake system works great. Bike stops on a dime. I saw some postings that said Jamis improved the rear suspension while sacrificing braking ability and I can to tell you that it is just not true. Brakes are flawless. The Time Atac Alium pedals work great. Easy to clip into and unclip. The Fi'zi:k Plateau seat that is included with the bike is very comfortable.
Weaknesses:
None that I can see so far.
Similar Products Used:
This is the first full suspension bike that I've owned. My other bike is a 2000 Trek 4900 hardtail which has been extensively modified.
Bike Setup:
The Dakar is fully stock right now except for the addition of a Cateye Enduro 2 cycle computer and a Cateye EL300 head light. I've only had the bike since 1/22/04. At this point I see no point in changing out any of the components.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is that I've only been able to ride the bike once since I've gotten it and that was a 12 mile ride on the street. I haven't been able to get it off rode yet as I have to drive between 1 to 2 hrs to get to a trail in the New Orleans area. I hope to get it off rode very soon. So my review is based on riding it on the street only. The bike feels incredibly solid and at this point I would recommend it to anyone looking for a full suspension bike. Incredible value for the components that are included with the bike. When I get it off rode I will post a follow up to my review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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