Mountain Biking - In the market for a new MTB: my first candidates!

I started out looking at lower-end FS bikes, but I don't really need FS, and something about a sweet hardtail just holds more appeal to me anyway, so I narrowed myself to HTs. Recent events in my life have given my price range a huge boost in flexibility (:D), and I think I have my first candidates. I want to know what people have to say about these picks ... if you own one or have used one, did you like it and why/why not ... advice on what kind of terrain they seem made for ... etc.

Yes, there are a lot of Jamis's here. My future uncle owns a shop and I can get one from him, but he lives in Colorado ... luckily, my LBS carries Jamis and I'm friends with him so I get some deals there, too. The Spez, I'd have to get somewhere on the internet.
........So yeah. The lineup ---
(In order of favoritism)


Jamis 2007 Durango 2.0
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/Audiophile121/Bikes/MTB/07durango2.jpg

Jamis 2006 Dakota Comp
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/Audiophile121/Bikes/MTB/06dakotacomp.jpg

Jamis 2006 Durango 3.0
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/Audiophile121/Bikes/MTB/jamis-06durango3.jpg

Specialized 2007 Hardrock Sport Disc
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/Audiophile121/Bikes/MTB/Specialized2007-HardrockSportDiscsi.jpg

Any feedback/suggestions/etc is greatly appreciated :D

Are Jamis an American brand?


I'm not familier with the brand here in the UK.

So, on that note I'd say go specialized. I test rode an 07 HT stumpjumper this week and I was very impressed (although I bought a Scott) :p

the jamis 2.0 or 3.0 look decent....

My future uncle owns a shop

Sounds like a precocious little bugger. Tell your grandma congrats.

Buy the best one you can afford.

NO! NO! NO!

You are supposed to say you want a full suspension bike for less than $500.

Then, the forum will educate you about the downfalls of the cheap full suspension bike.

then, and only then, should you post a nice group of hardtails, of which anyone of would be great bikes.

DAMN IT! please follow form.

Mr W: im not 100% positive but im pretty sure that Jamis is an american brand. theyre made in taiwan though. i have a jamis road bike and i love it. the company started off making MTB's almost exclusively so its a respected name in the mtb world but now it makes all kinds of bikes.

Gastro: sorry, typo on my part ... *future uncle-in-law! even cooler huh :D

Curt Kurt: lol, i already had a thread about that kind of thing: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=265200


ill be doing homework on which one i want, and saving in the meantime.

but yeah ... anybody ever own any of those bikes? have any advice/insights on any of these bikes?

I just bought a jamis xam and I love it. i did alot of research on jamis before i bought my bike and almost everyone that has owned a jamis loves it. i don;t know much about there hardtails but the company has given me great support and feedback. Also jamis tends to give you a better grouping of parts for cheaper than most companys.

I love your future Jamis 2007 Durango 2.0. Somehow the paint theme looks like this year Giant's dont ya agree?

I like the first Jamis because it's the shiniest.

2007 Durango 2.0 seems nice.

i like the specailized because thats what i have. iv'e never heard of jamis befor today.

Jamis 2007 Durango 2.0
looks cool and has lockout...which for me would be fun to play with :P

I dont know....but I feel lockout is not really usefull.....my opinion though. But damn I love the Jamis Durango shiningness and colour. Not to mention the Specialized Hardrock cool paintjob.

It seems from the pic, the Jamis has a better spec then Specialized. 06 Dakota Comp has better components : Manitou Axel, WTB Saddle, Shimano LX/XT, Truvative/Race Face Crankset, comes with clipless (not sure), Oo maybe it has carbon seatstay, Im judging all this from the picture, so I might not be 100% correct. If I were you, I would choose Dakota cause of the better components, although it doenst look as nice as Durango.

Choose the bike that you like, and if you think that Dakota is more value for money, learn to love the colour because only then you will love the bike and will use the bike more often. Its pointless if you have a super cool bike components, but hates how it looks. It will end up collecting dusts. Oo

any of the Jamis bikes....I kind of like the dakota comp..then Durango 3.0 and then 2.0.....

unnecessary note: when you put the Hardrock next to the other bikes....it shows how ugly the Hardrock looks.....the paint job and everything else is clumpsy and dorky....

If you are willing to spend the money for the Dakota Comp, why waste your time with a Specialized Hard Rock? Step up to at least a Rock Hopper or, for just a little more, you could get a Stumpy (a plain one with V-brakes) which has a much better fork and frame.

I dont know....but I feel lockout is not really usefull.....my opinion though.


Stand up and do an all out sprint on a bike with lockout and then do the same on a bike without lockout then tell me if you notice a difference. ;)

Stand up and do an all out sprint on a bike with lockout and then do the same on a bike without lockout then tell me if you notice a difference. ;)

uhm... what's the difference?

uhm... what's the difference?

Power lost due to bobbing of the suspension.

sigh, I was trying to be smarty-pants-steaktaco... you had a typo.

sigh, I was trying to be smarty-pants-steaktaco... you had a typo.

Not any more. ;)

well, yeah I agree on that...but I rarely stand while cycling uphill

I found the ETA and Lock out options are pretty helpful in long and steep climbs....no matter if I am pedaling standing up or sitting down..........its basic science that the bob cancels out a significant amount of energy that is directed towards the pedal.

Lockout schmockout...just tighten the tension adjuster and you have a lockout...don't sweat that a bike may/may not have the little lever.

Regarding components, I know the 06 Dakota Comp is the nicest of the four ... stock w/clipless, carbon seatstays, Deore/LX drivetrain, Axel Platinum Air w/4" and lockout ... he definitely has the others beat on the specs.

But my #2 choice, the 07 Durango 2.0, has got pretty sweet specs also. No carbon and slightly lower components, and two pounds heavier (I think), but $600 easier to acquire, and I can't ignore that. I'm saving for moving away and for getting married (summer 08 yay!) ... so I have to really take into account how badly do I want things like slightly better specs and things like carbon seatstays vs. aluminum ... and I don't think it matters enough to me to spend the extra $600. That's why the Durango 2 is my first choice.

But yeah, alextrot69, Jamis is actually a pretty big name in mountain biking. I also know a lot of people who have owned Jamis mtb's over the years and they never have anything bad to say. Plus, like Killerbee said, Jamis has a knack for cranking out high-value bikes regarding component mix. They're really good bikes and I would recommend them to anybody in a heartbeat, but you have a really sweet Specialized so that's cool. It's also always a good thing to be friends (/relatives) with LBS owners! hahaha

So yeah, anybody else have two cents to contribute?

I'm saving for getting married (summer 08 yay!)

Trust me: buy as much biking stuff as possible before summer 08!

Being whipped sucks.

Trust me: buy as much biking stuff as possible before summer 08!+1! Take it from someone who has been married now for over 30 years ;)

I'm on the opposite end—my girl wanted a seven. I had to talk her down to a local custom frame.

what is a "seven"?

.....dont worry, ive been talking to her about it, and the debate on whether or not i should take the plunge on a sweet bike is (i think) slowly leaning toward my favor...... but i am not, repeat not, going to buy a bike if she cant get over the idea of me doing it.

call it being whipped or whatever, but she, her happiness, her respect, her listening, and yes even making compromises in our relationship are much more important to me than any bicycle.

lol, and if that is called being whipped, then i beg to differ - being whipped is much more rewarding than any of the coolest bikes or most epic rides.

If you need someone to talk to, this isn't the place. Go to Foo.

Pssst - look at my sig.

got me hook line and sinker! lol

If you need someone to talk to, this isn't the place. Go to Foo.

nonono tell us more audi! like, what's she like? how'd you propose? you DID propose right?

I like the first Jamis because it's the shiniest.

I like the last Jamis due to it's suggestive stance.

I like the last Jamis due to it's suggestive stance.

Very good point. That one wants to be mounted from behind. The last Jamis is definitely the winner.

Very good point. That one wants to be mounted from behind. The last Jamis is definitely the winner.

Not unlike an ex of mine. She was also a winner.

lmao ... this rapidly turned into a hilarious thread

just to dispell any curiosity... shes great, i did propose and i did it alone with her in the rain at night on the roof of a hotel in downtown key west. not the typically-imagined setting for a proposal but i think it was way cooler for exactly that reason .... but im not about to talk about mounting or anything like that.

the durango 2 IS pretty sweet though :D

i talked to my lbs and he's looking at getting me a 06 dakota comp for around 800 :)
if that works out, then my decision will get a lot easier.... :rolleyes: