[Lowkey1505]

I'm buying a bike soon, I'm goin to get into freeriding, was thinking about buying a 2009 jamis parker 1 from jensonusa.com

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI272B08-Jamis+Parker+I+Bike+09.aspx?sc=FRGL

Looks like a good deal but I wanted to know if there was any upgrades I should consider to make it a better freeride bike or what your opinions were of this bike for freeriding. Thanks guys.

 

[b-kul]

just getting into the sport? tight budget? if you have fast flowy, smooth trails id go for it.

 

[Lowkey1505]

Yeah just getting into the sport, always rode bikes growin up but havent really rode for 8 years or so, just got my taxes back but didnt wanna spend it all on a bike lol, was trying to stay around that price range. I want a bike I can jump and take of drops. I was also considering the airborne marauder

http://www.giantnerd.com/airborne-marauder-mountain-bike-all-mountain.html

I just want to get a bike I can grow with. I have 40 acres of timberland on a mountain side in my back yard, literaly.

 

[b-kul]

out of the two id go for the parker.

 

[Lowkey1505]

Cool, thanks man.

 

[62kona]

I would personally get a used bike. If your just learning freeride your going to crash and the bike will get beat up. Might as well get a better equipped bike for the same price that is already a bit scratched up already.

 

[BigSteve in CO]

I'd get the Jamis, and plan on getting a different bike next year. The bike looks beefy enough to stand up to a year's abuse, and then you'll have a better idea of what you want.

The 4" of rear travel is pretty small, but you can make it work for that price.

 

[Lunchbox362]

Parker is a great bike.

Some people's chainstays break in 08, but Jamis has it covered now, so don't let that affect your decision, most people who bring it up are biased against jamis anyways.

 

[Moosey]

i have a porter (4.5" rear travel, same style bike as parker) and it has taught me to be a lot smoother than i was on a 9" travel DH bike. I havent ridden my DH biek since, but i have a feeling i will be a lot smoother on it when i get it built up because of my porter. I'd go parker. 4" is small, but dont let it limit you. the bike is designed to go big, so go big.

 

[SlickShoe671]

There is a reason Jamis stopped making gravity bikes.

 

[sodak]

There is a reason Jamis stopped making gravity bikes.

Care to elaborate on that comment?

 

[Lowkey1505]

Thanks for the input guys, but I'm havin a hard time looking past the airborne maruader mostly because of the price, besides being a single pivot it doesnt seem like a bad bike. It seems like something I could ride for awhile to build my skills then upgrade the shocks and brakes later on down the road, I am new to this and trying to learn so am I wrong in my reasoning there?

 

[b-kul]

There is a reason Jamis stopped making gravity bikes.

ummm no. you can still get a bam frame set. the parker and xam were discountinued as new bikes are in prototype phase.

 

[Evo.]

There is a reason Jamis stopped making gravity bikes.

Let me guess, you are also someone who hates Kona but has never ridden one?

 

[C S]

Some people's chainstays break in 08, but Jamis has it covered now, so don't let that affect your decision, most people who bring it up are biased against jamis anyways.

Agreed, that's why I'm not going to make a recommendation in this case I personally broke 3 Jamis frames and every BAM I have seen has broken. Literally. 5 broken frames over two seasons. However, these were all 08s. Will I ever ride another Jamis? Hell no. But does that mean all Jamis bikes are bad? No.

 

[SlickShoe671]

Let me guess, you are also someone who hates Kona but has never ridden one?

Your so cool...

I had a 2008 Parker. I loved the bike but the chain stay $hit the bed on me twice. People always say they fixed it in later years but there isn't any evidence that they did anything to reinforce it. No additional gussets, no added material. If you can find a picture showing the difference of the two Ill eat my words. But good luck with that.

Also the build quality wasn't on the same level as other brands I have owned (Specialized, Scott, Mongoose and Giant).

Im no Jamis hater. My wife had a Jamis XC bike that worked great. I just think if they would have put as much effort into the gravity line, as they do in their road line, they would be top level bikes.

 

[SlickShoe671]

ummm no. you can still get a bam frame set. the parker and xam were discountinued as new bikes are in prototype phase.

I stand corrected. I look forward to seeing the new Parker. :thumbsup:

 

[b-kul]

Your so cool...

I had a 2008 Parker. I loved the bike but the chain stay $hit the bed on me twice. People always say they fixed it in later years but there isn't any evidence that they did anything to reinforce it. No additional gussets, no added material. If you can find a picture showing the difference of the two Ill eat my words. But good luck with that.

Also the build quality wasn't on the same level as other brands I have owned (Specialized, Scott, Mongoose and Giant).

Im no Jamis hater. My wife had a Jamis XC bike that worked great. I just think if they would have put as much effort into the gravity line, as they do in their road line, they would be top level bikes.

i dont think it was the design, it was the weld. on the 09s and 10s it seemed to be fixed.

 

[Lunchbox362]

i dont think it was the design, it was the weld. on the 09s and 10s it seemed to be fixed.

Truth.

 

[2wheelrevolution]

I have that Parker. Made a few upgrades, but that bike is a steal is at that price. It's very versatile for 100mm in the rear.