[PAMATRAIL]

My girlfriend want to get a new full suspension bike. Shes been riding a hardtail and now she want to get to comfortness of a fully. So the chances are these:

1) Get a $1700 Juliana Dxc (full deore plus XT rd, lx fd, mavic xm117 rims and rockshox Tora air and 5th element air shock and truvativ cockpit) BRAND NEW BIKE

2) 2004 Jamis Dakar frame, 2004 4'' Manitou Black, anything deore and XT rd, Fox 4'' Float R and mavic 717 rims and easton cockpit. $1300 BRAND NEW AVERYTHING (built by my own).

IM PRETTY SURE THE 2 OPTIONS WEIGHTS AROUND 29-30 POUNDS
WICH ONE IS THE BEST OPTION FOR MY GIRLFRIEND? IS THE FEMALE GEOMETRY WORTH IT?, THE BIKE FEELING IS MUCH BETTER IN THE JULIANA?:skep:

PLEASE GIRLS AND BOYS GIVE ME ALL YOU OPINIONS.
THANKS

pt: I have a SC Bullit that's why the Juliana was my first option until I got the Jamis deal.

 

[Astroguy]

Hmm, being a guy with a girlfriend I would make sure she likes the frame before you build/buy it. Last christmas, I got my girlfriend a womens specialized rockhopper. I measured her to make sure the frame was the correct size and everything. She didn't like it, ended up swapping for a men's cannondale. Have her sit on both rides if you can to make sure she'll like it before dropping $1500!

As far as option 1 or 2, I have a Jamis Dakar and although it is a good frame, the SC is probably the better choice. I have since learned that one should go for a bike with the best frame you can buy rather than shop by component spec. Why? Because we all know the components will be upgraded. I know I would have been better off going for that Deore spec'd Santa Cruz rather than my Deore XT spec'd Dakar because everything on my Dakar has since been replaced! The Dakar performs well, but is relatively heavy at 6.5 lbs. for the frame alone. Don't know what the Juliana weight is....but since it looks like it's based off of the SC Superlight it will come in at around a pound lighter in the frame alone.

Now I have to ask why not build her up a Juliana? I assume the Dakar frame deal you speak of is a frame for around $500 since that's a pretty common price. Over at Cambria Bike they have the Juliana frame and shock for $838....so you can build up a bike with the better Dakar component specs on the Juliana frame...all for about the same price as the pre-build Juliana you have in choice #1. Good luck!

 

[formica]

PLEASE GIRLS AND BOYS GIVE ME ALL YOU OPINIONS.

which one fits best, and which one does she like?

Go to our WL FAQ and you will find tons of thread about "what bike to buy the gf". I can tell you right now if for some reason she doesn't like it, or it doesn't fit, or doesn't feel right, you might as well flush your money down the toilet.

 

[craftygirl]

lol.. this is quite funny.. not all that long ago my boyfriend also faced the Jamis/ Juliana decision... unfortunately, being in Australia our options are much more limited and i didn't even really know what i was going to be getting..

in the end he got me a Jamis Dakar XLT 1.0.. from what he tells me, because i know very little about bikes, its quite a similar frame.. anyway, just to add another opinion i'm really happy with my bike and getting into riding a lot more because of it

although, as others have said it's really what your girlfriend likes that will ultimately make the decision

 

[Maida7]

I have a toilet! Give me your money! No questions asked!

 

[PAMATRAIL]

your right, she really likes the juliana way more than the dakar. For me the 2 of them are very similar but SC never failed me before.

thanks