Jamis Dakar XC Comp?

Anyone have this bike? The only size with any hope of fitting me is the 13", and time will tell.

If this can be made to fit me, it will likely be what I will purchase after the Clinic. FS would be good for me old bones and joints, but I will get a hard tail otherwise. We are looking at 14 and 15 inch hard tails & had a good time at LBS Saturday standing over/sitting on different bikes. I've plenty of time to decide which is a good thing :)

Ya know, I HAVE had the thought that the clinic might be easier if I could show up with a bike that I had at least a little familiarity with instead of a free loaner that would be sight unseen prior to the clinic...but so far the voice of reason is winning out. Or is it? What IS reason after all? Time will tell ;)

I have no experience with the Jamis, but I do own a KHS Alite 2000 in a 15" and truly love it! Although the brand isn't as well known as some of the others, it definitely gives the consumer a lot of "bang" for the dollar... FYI. In the end,there certainly are lots of nice bikes out there, and ones that for the most part fit any budget... Have fun in your search and at the clinic, sounds like a great time!!

Catrin, would you be O.K. with the seat tube angle on that Jamis? 74.5 seems pretty steep for a mountain bike.

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Originally Posted by Artista

Catrin, would you be O.K. with the seat tube angle on that Jamis? 74.5 seems pretty steep for a mountain bike.

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I do not know, have been trying to find a FS bike through my LBS that might fit - the problem is that I need a really short effective TT, and that seems to almost preclude a stock FS. It is easier to find a hard tail that would fit me... I really wish that i had a longer reach :o I would like to find a 13 inch Dakar for a test ride, don't know how easy that is going to be...

The 15 inch for the FS bike is probably more realistic for everything outside of the effective TT, which is quite long. There is not a "Femme" version.

My LBS has a couple of smaller Durango Femmes they are building for the floor, and I will test ride them to see if either size will fit me. If I go for a hard tail, which is likely, it will likely be the Jamis Dakota XC Race but the test ride of the Durango will give us some good information. I do like Jamis in general and want one if at all possible.

Why do you want a dually for just doing easy peasy rail trails??? A hardtail will do the exact same thing...

:D

I love my dually:). We still have my hardtail(now singlespeed) but it's too long in the reach. A hardtail shouldn't be shunned!

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Originally Posted by Catrin

I do not know, have been trying to find a FS bike through my LBS that might fit - the problem is that I need a really short effective TT, and that seems to almost preclude a stock FS. It is easier to find a hard tail that would fit me... I really wish that i had a longer reach :o I would like to find a 13 inch Dakar for a test ride, don't know how easy that is going to be...

The 15 inch for the FS bike is probably more realistic for everything outside of the effective TT, which is quite long. There is not a "Femme" version.

My LBS has a couple of smaller Durango Femmes they are building for the floor, and I will test ride them to see if either size will fit me. If I go for a hard tail, which is likely, it will likely be the Jamis Dakota XC Race but the test ride of the Durango will give us some good information. I do like Jamis in general and want one if at all possible.

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The smallest Dakota XC Race Femme appears to have a longer top tube than the 13 Dakar and they both appear to cost the same. Of all of them, the Durango (in either a 12 or 14 inch) has the shortest top tube. Have you ruled out the Durango? It's price is certainly more attractive.

My two cents is that you should wait until the clinic. You've said it yourself that you need to see if you have the skill set yet for MTBing. It may also give you a feel for just how much bike you really want or need. If you went with the Durango, as a for instance, you could spend a $1k less and still have a very rideable bike for what you plan to do with it, e.g., easy singletrack, fire and grave roads.

Granted, in saying that, I will admit that I'm looking at your decision in the same way I looked at my own. I decided to buy an entry level MTB this past December so that I could try out the sport before investing big money into it. Given where the trails are in Indiana, I'm just not all that confident that I'll do it enough to really warrant dropping a lot of money into it. Plus, I'm honestly not sure how much I'm going to like it or whether I'll be all that good at it. If I really take to it, then I can always upgrade my bike. Plus, I'll have a better feel of what I really want in an MTB by that point. I'm just wondering if that approach would work for you, too.

Obviously, there is a flip side to that argument, i.e., that you won't like the sport very much or be very good at it unless you buy a good bike and one that takes into account any physical issues that you have. I do think that's a valid argument, so if that's where you're coming from, I understand.

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Why do you want a dually for just doing easy peasy rail trails??? A hardtail will do the exact same thing...

:D

I love my dually:). We still have my hardtail(now singlespeed) but it's too long in the reach. A hardtail shouldn't be shunned!

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I already have two bikes that will do easy rail trails :) I would like to do more than that, and I've assorted body parts that like to hurt, including lower back issues. I do think that a dually would be kinder to my body in the long run and help me to be less afraid to try more difficult mountain bike trails. I also don't want\have room for more than 3 bikes :)

I have been told my Gunnar can handle non-techie mountain bike trails - but I don't want to take my beautiful custom go-fast bike where she will likely get scratched up ;) Right horse for the course!

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Originally Posted by indysteel

The smallest Dakota XC Race Femme appears to have a longer top tube than the 13 Dakar and they both appear to cost the same. Of all of them, the Durango (in either a 12 or 14 inch) has the shortest top tube. Have you ruled out the Durango? It's price is certainly more attractive.

.....Obviously, there is a flip side to that argument, i.e., that you won't like the sport very much or be very good at it unless you buy a good bike and one that takes into account any physical issues that you have. I do think that's a valid argument, so if that's where you're coming from, I understand.

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I've considered all of this, and I do think it is best to get a bike with decent components and one that takes into account my physical issues. If it hurts me then I will be less likely to ride it, or to explore more challenging mountain bike trails. Sure I am starting with easy trails, but knowing me I will want to try more challenging terrain as my skills develop.

About the Durango - I have had more than one person tell me it isn't really suitable for Brown County State Park - it is more suitable to rail trails/gravel riding and that I would not be happy with it on actual mountain bike trails. Not everyone telling me this is trying to sell me a bike :)

The 13 inch Dakar is probably too small in other ways then the TT, my fitter has told me that I need to look at 15 inch bikes, possibly 14 inch. Because of fitting needs I've been told that it will be quite challenging to find a FS that would fit me properly outside of custom. That doesn't mean I am not looking however :D Hard tails do tend to have shorter TTT...

Jonathan DID put me on a 12 and 13 inch hard tail last Saturday just to see, but of course they were too small... The test ride of the larger Durangos will give us good information.

I greatly appreciate all of the input here - it really helps me to think things through before I pull the trigger on a third bike. I do expect my mountain bike will need replacing before my other bikes - so upgrading in the future is also in the back of my mind.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

I already have two bikes that will do easy rail trails :) I would like to do more than that, and I've assorted body parts that like to hurt, including lower back issues. I do think that a dually would be kinder to my body in the long run and help me to be less afraid to try more difficult mountain bike trails. I also don't want\have room for more than 3 bikes :)


I've considered all of this, and I do think it is best to bet a bike with decent components and one that takes into account my physical issues. If it hurts me then I will be less likely to ride it, or to explore more challenging mountain bike trails. Sure I am starting with easy trails, but knowing me I will want to try more challenging terrain as my skills develop.

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I think Canuck and I both based our answer on your prior statements (in past threads) that you primarily wanted this bike to ride easy singletrack. It appears, however, that you're thinking farther down the road--pun intended.

You say on one hand that you will "likely" get a hardtail, but in other posts you insist that you need a FS because of your various physical issues. I'm sorry, but it's just sometimes hard to follow your train of thought on this.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

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You say on one hand that you will "likely" get a hardtail, but in other posts you insist that you need a FS because of your various physical issues. I'm sorry, but it's just sometimes hard to follow your train of thought on this.

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Sorry for lack of clarity. While I do want a FS for physical issues, I've been told that it might not be possible to get one that will fit me outside of custom - which isn't an option. If a hard tail is the only way to get the proper fit then I will get it - and from what I can see that is likely going to be the case.

Does that clear it up?

Thanks, it sort of does, but that's why I pointed out that the 13 Dakar has a shorter reach than the 14 Dakota. All other things being equal, it would seem, then, that the Dakar is a better suited for you anyway--and at the same price as the Dakota.

That said, as FS bikes go, the Dakar is pretty cheap, which gives me a bit of pause. Granted, I've not studied it in any detail, but I've repeatedly heard and read that a good HT can be better in a lot of respects than a cheap FS, so there's that consideration, too, I suppose.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Thanks, it sort of does, but that's why I pointed out that the 13 Dakar has a shorter reach than the 14 Dakota. All other things being equal, it would seem, then, that the Dakar is a better suited for you anyway--and at the same price as the Dakota.

That said, as FS bikes go, the Dakar is pretty cheap, which gives me a bit of pause. Granted, I've not studied it in any detail, but I've repeatedly heard and read that a good HT can be better in a lot of respects than a cheap FS, so there's that consideration, too, I suppose.

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Indeed - and there is all of that to consider. Jonathan tells me that the Dakar is a pretty decent entry level FS bike - Jamis has a FS Dakar that is even cheaper but I wouldn't go that cheap for a FS and I want SRAM anyway. This is the man who has refused to sell me things in the past that he did not think would work for me, so I have come to trust his opinion. I still do my research, but I certainly place some weight on his advice.

I agree that the 13 Dakar does look like my best bet on paper, and is my top choice right now. That is why I posted it here :) Time will tell what happens in June.

I am looking forward to seeing your new mountain bike! Am getting some basic camping gear so I can camp that weekend.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Indeed - and there is all of that to consider. Jonathan tells me that the Dakar is a pretty decent entry level FS bike - Jamis has a FS Dakar that is even cheaper but I wouldn't go that cheap for a FS and I want SRAM anyway. This is the man who has refused to sell me things in the past that he did not think would work for me, so I have come to trust his opinion. I still do my research, but I certainly place some weight on his advice.

I agree that the 13 Dakar does look like my best bet on paper, and is my top choice right now. That is why I posted it here :) Time will tell what happens in June.

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I'm sure that with Jonathan's help, you'll ultimately choose the right MTB for you. :)

Catrin, I've had some experience with Jamis bikes and the Dakar Xc comp is a great value for the bike. Also their size 13 is a great bike for smaller riders. I've known of few people that had problems getting a FS bike due to their size and at the end got the Dakar in size 13 and they are happy with it. In my opinion if you can straddle the bike you should be able to setup the front to fit you. Good luck :)

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Originally Posted by bellissima

Catrin, I've had some experience with Jamis bikes and the Dakar Xc comp is a great value for the bike. Also their size 13 is a great bike for smaller riders. I've known of few people that had problems getting a FS bike due to their size and at the end got the Dakar in size 13 and they are happy with it. In my opinion if you can straddle the bike you should be able to setup the front to fit you. Good luck :)

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I was pulling the trigger as you posted this :) My LBS had another Jamis with the same dimensions as the 13-inch Dakar XC Comp and I gave it a good test ride, it certainly did not feel too large or small! There were only 3 left in stock in this size at the distributer, and who can say if/when Jamis would make more available? Fitter told me if he were to build me a custom FS from scratch that it would look remarkably like this one. For fit reasons will need to switch out stem and handlebars, but that isn't a big deal.

This will allow me to go to the Clinic on a bike I KNOW fits, and will have a chance to get at least a little familiar with it beforehand - AND to be able to practice the basic/intro skills on the same bike on which I learned them. This just felt like the right thing to do. I was also looking at a Cannondale Lexi and Scott Contessa Spark - they were similar in size, but this one was the best overall fit. One of other two had a taller head-tube? headset? Can't remember which, but noticeably less stand-over.

I also have several friends who go down to Brown County State Park all of the time for mountain biking and they have told me they will be happy to ride the beginner trails with me - that is another key piece to all of this. It will certainly help me to have someone with me at the beginning for that confidence level :) I doubt that would stop me, not much does once I make my mind up, but it will help.

This is going to be fun - though it does mean I will likely bring home two new bikes in the same week :o :cool: :D That is exciting enough, but what is even more exciting is looking forward to lots of fun riding both of them :)

Wow, 2 new bikes..... Can not wait to see photos. I would love to get a new mountain bike sometime soon. I am happy that you found one in your size. Thankfully I can ride most mens Med. Size mountain bikes. I am tall with long legs, short torso.

Is that Jamis a Womeen's specific? Or just a small size? I never tried a WSD mountain bike but the Women's road bikes fit me very well.

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Originally Posted by Trek-chick

Wow, 2 new bikes..... Can not wait to see photos. I would love to get a new mountain bike sometime soon. I am happy that you found one in your size. Thankfully I can ride most mens Med. Size mountain bikes. I am tall with long legs, short torso.

Is that Jamis a Women's specific? Or just a small size? I never tried a WSD mountain bike but the Women's road bikes fit me very well.

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The Jamis is just a small size. We will have to change stem and handlebars/grips - but not because of reach but for other fit issues. Jamis does not have a "femme" version of their full suspension bikes - but they do have a femme hard-tail - which is a little larger than my Dakar interestingly enough...

So far I've only had the one WSD bike, and it was too large (long) for me though it was the smallest size Trek made. Then again, I don't find their small FX sizes to be all that small. Thankfully my LBS guarantees the fit for even special orders, so if it turns out this size doesn't work for some unexpected reason then it will be replaced. That made it easier to pull the trigger. I do wonder if most "WSD" designs have a 5'4 height assumed - though of course it is much more about inseam and reach...

I wanted to mention this the other day and forgot. I did test-ride an entry level Dakota that had the same dimensions as the Dakar. Before taking off on it I picked the bike up and just looked down at the frame. Aside from noting that it was significantly lighter than my LHT (which isn't hard), but it looked so SHORT! I guess that I've become so accustomed to a touring geometry I had forgotten just how long the wheelbase is!

The tires on the Dakota seemed huge when I started the bike up - but on the pavement it was like riding on a cloud - of course the tires were .75 wider than my LHT and there was the little detail of a suspension fork. If an entry level hard-tail with not-very-nice components felt that good, I can hardly wait to see what my lovely Dakar will feel like!

She lands at the LBS tomorrow :)

Catrin, i know you're amazed that mountain biking is different style of riding to roadie stuff BUT remember the following:

The skills you use on your mtn bike can correspond with what you do on your road bike. Think core strength...

Remember you have to THINK whilst mtn biking. The seat is not a sofa!

Momentum & speed are your friend in mtn biking. The slower you go, the harder it can be..in some cases.

Andd.......you don't have to worry about cars! It's trees that don't move on the trail!

When's your skills thingy?

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Catrin, i know you're amazed that mountain biking is different style of riding to roadie stuff BUT remember the following:

The skills you use on your mtn bike can correspond with what you do on your road bike. Think core strength...

Remember you have to THINK whilst mtn biking. The seat is not a sofa!

Momentum & speed are your friend in mtn biking. The slower you go, the harder it can be..in some cases.

Andd.......you don't have to worry about cars! It's trees that don't move on the trail!

When's your skills thingy?

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I was just impressed at how different the mountain bike I test-rode felt over my beloved cushy steel tank - and I find the LHT quite comfy!

Thanks for your encouragement and thoughts - I do understand that many of the skills cross-over between the two types of riding. I think that whatever I learn as a rank newbie to mountain biking will only enhance my road riding and vice-versa. Thankfully my personal trainer is a VERY dedicated mountain biker and he knows what I am doing - he has really increased both core and upper-body work.

I think what attracts me the most to mountain biking is you get even closer to nature - and yeah - there is that car thing and not so much wind :)

My skills clinic is June 12, and thankfully they are very accustomed to having students at my level. Unsure how many just learned how to ride only a little over a year ago, but the organizer who is also an instructor is strongly encouraging me. It helps I know her :)

Until then I will put a few paved miles on the Dakar, and then find some grass to ride on. There is a short 5-mile crushed limestone trail on the city I can take her on as well. I do think I want to wait until the Clinic before I try to take her on a beginners trail - though I hope to take it to ride a fire-trail with some friends prior to the clinic. I understand it is a double-track that has little in the way of roots and so forth.

Jamis has landed at the bike store :) Kind of thankful for all of the rain and thunderstorms - we do need the rain - but it helps me to wait when I know I can't get out on any bike right now.

Am checking to see if there is ANY local park in which it is legal for me to ride on the grass - the idea is to give me a little taste of off-pavement riding with the new mountain bike prior to the clinic.