If you get a deal, it's a great full suspension bike
Written: Dec 16 '03 (Updated Jan 02 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Low cost, feature packed
Cons: weight, tires and pedals
The Bottom Line: If you can get it for less than the competition, it's a sure thing. Otherwise, the extra weight may be enough of a liability to justify another choice.
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| sneddren's Full Review: |
I just got a Jamis Dakar Sport from a local bike shop for $629. I have to admit that this was the primary reason for picking a Jamis over some of the other lower level full suspension bikes (e.g., Trek Fuel 80, Giant NRS 3). I think the retail is close to $1000 and I doubt I would have gone for this bike over, say, a Gary Fisher Sugar at the same price.
With that said, I'm very impressed with the Jamis so far. It is a bit heavy for this class (about 32 lbs) but since I neither race nor ride the bike to its limits I haven't noticed it as a problem. The tradeoff for the weight is that this bike is solid, stable and appears to be quite robust. It came with Manitou Black Sport forks, a Vanilla coil over shock and a mix of decent Shimano Deore and Truvativ components. It also comes with some very effective mechanical disc brakes.
I won't dwell on the component details because they're easily changed, but I will point out that the stock tires are so bad that they should be discarded before the first ride. I had the bike shop toss them out in favor of some WTB tires before I got out of the shop.
As for riding, the bike is FAR superior to any hardtail but it clearly is not near the elite of this class (Santa Cruz or Ellsworth). This bike is probably best used for moderate trail riding and maybe a little downhill, but nothing extreme. The shocks and fork are a bit soft (I am about 185 lbs) but the bike as a whole rides nicely. It soaks up the bumps and hits, keeps the tires planted and handles with the right mix of sharpness (enough to react quickly, not so much that it is unstable). The one thing I was surprised at was the level of bob under pedaling. I knew that all full suspension bikes do this to some extent but the Jamis bobs quite a bit. It's not a huge problem but it is noticeable.
I'm going to be changing the pedals from the standard Wellgo clipless pedals (they probably work ok but I prefer something with more platform) to a pair of Crank Bros Mallets. Other than that, I don't think there is any need to upgrade the bike. I've put only a few hours on it so my opinion may change later, but I'm truly impressed and thrilled with how much bike a bit over $600 can buy. The brakes are outstanding, the shock, fork and drivetrain are smooth and of good quality and the frame is very comfortable and easy to ride.
UPDATE LATE 2004:
After riding this bike for a year (and not very hard), I found a number of cracks in the headtube. I immediately brought the bike back to the dealer and they got Jamis to replace the frame. Unfortunately, it took a long time (2 months or so) to get the frame replaced and I didn't get the same type of frame in return. I don't know why this is the case, but apparently, Jamis doesn't carry Dakar Sport frames for anything but full bike builds. So when the frame cracked, they replaced it with a Dakar Pro frame. The Dakar Pro is a much more expensive bike (primarily because of the components, which weren't part of the replacement), but I've notice that the Pro frame results in a much better riding bike. I can't say I was pleased that the Dakar Sport frame failed so quickly (and after very easy use), but I'm so far pleased with the new frame. It seems lighter and more responsive than the Sport frame, though it does have a different geometry and some different parts (like an integrated headset, which, apparently, has some issues of its own).
Overall, I can't say I'm thrilled with the Jamis experience. I don't like that the frame cracked and I just don't trust Jamis products at this point. Hopefully, the Pro frame will be more reliable.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sneddren
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Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 6 members
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