Jamis

[jp10jp]

Hi All,
I am sniffing around for a possible new MTB ride. My 99 Trek 7000 hardtail is a fine animal. I upgraded the crank, cassett and bottom bracket, but I gotta itch for a full suspension bike.

I am considering amoung others the Jamis Dakar XC. I can afford more $$ but that one looks pretty good, is slightly lighter than my Trek HT.

I have ridden for ~1yr and am pretty good for old f**t (60), weigh 170 and luv the ditches, mud, climbs, small hits on downlills, all sorts of technical (with care).

I will appreciate anyone with Jamis experience commenting on this one or really on any Jamis bike.


Gracias all,
JP

[IcemanSS454]

Last year at this time I was riding a Jamis Durango and have since moved up to a Jamis Komodo. The komodo is actually a 2000 which I bought used. I am very happy with it. Its close to being too big for me but I feel very comfortable on it. My experience with Jamis itself is that it provides a good product at a lower price than others. I have not noticed any problems with quality of product. I've ridden for a few years but only got seriously into MTBing about a year in a half ago. This means that I'm still working on my skills which causes me to beat on my bike. I have no complaints about the quality of the frame as it has taken my beating with no problems. The one complaint about both my Jamises (Jami?) is that the replaceable derailluer hangers seem to be weaker than other designs I have seen. As a result I have deystroyed a few so far.

[quazar76]

Ask Andy in Wi about the Dakar before you make a purchase. I remember him having a really hard time with them, rear triangle warranty issues.

[Mauriceman]

The publisher says "Support our Advertisers"

I know it's wrong, but I just had to say that.

[wooglin]

Can't speak to their FS bikes, although I hear far more good than bad things about them. In general, Jamis has a rep for providing good product at a very good price. The downside is that they don't have many active dealers and apparently aren't always responsive to customers. Regardless, I'd buy one of their steel hardtails (or a steel roadie) in a second.

[majormadmax]

I had a Durango too, about 15 years ago. Still, it was a pretty decent bike and put up with my abuse! :D

From what I have been following on Jamis, they have only improved over the years. I am quite surprise they haven't hit it big, but that doesn't mean they aren't good!

Cheers! M2

[jp10jp]

Hey M2 and all
Thanks for your comments. I am encouraged about the Jamis and have read some reviews that glow especially for the 1997 Dakar.

I am thinking it is time for a demo ride (when it dries up a little around here in the nation's capital.

[tom11919]

My experience with Jamis has left much to be desired. I bought a '01 Dakar Expert frame from my LBS last year. It rode terrific; those 90mms sure smoothed out the bumps and it still climbed like a goat. However, while riding along back in May (I swear that's all I was doing!) I notice the rear end feels a little loose. I look down to see the left seatstay flexing like crazy whenever I applied the brakes (2nd gen. Avid mechs- best thing since sliced bread, but I digress). The seatstay completely was snapped in two at the top of the dropout plate/caliper mount. Do a search on it and you'll see that it isn't the only time this has happened. The shop owner called Jamis's warranty dept. to get a new seatstay sent. They promised it within the week. Nothing. More calls. Three weeks later they send a seatstay for the wrong model Dakar. More calls. Two weeks later they send a chainstay, but at least it was for the correct model. More calls. Its been two months and I'm still riding on a borrowed bike.

Moral of the story: Don't break a Jamis cause their warranty department sucks.

I hear the newer models are stronger than the '01s, however. The '03 XLTs are supposed to be freeride bikes. Go figure.

[jp10jp]

Tom,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I HAVE heard similar both re/major breakage and major difficulty in company-direct customer support.

JP