Touring - The '05 Jamis Aurora

I've been idlely looking about for a touring bike to do an east coast and possibly a cross country tour next year and have run across an '05 Jamis Aurora at a LBS for $500. It has been ridden, according to the shop owner. It was rented a couple of times (day excursions, so I'm told) and to demonstrate the contrasts between a steel frame and aluminium frames. Reynolds 520 frame, Tiagra brifters/Deore components mix. Tektron brakes, I'm sure. I have yet to see it because I'd have to take a bit of a ride to the shop. It's about a 100 mile trip. Is this a good deal? I'm tending to think it is, but I'd like some of the experts to weigh in, if you would please.

An after thought: I have an '04 Quest that I think is the Katz PJ's. Sweet ride, great handling. Hoping the Aurora is a chip off the old block.

This one sold for 420 shipped, New old stock, 2001 model.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jamis-Aurora-55cm-Sport-Touring_W0QQitemZ200079294190QQihZ010QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

80 bucks more for a more advanced '05 model sounds like a good deal.

Hey Robert, someone did good, I'm guessing.

Just spoke with the shop. They've come down another $50 on the price.

I'd buy it for 450 if it fit.

It's an excellent deal if you're on a budget and the bike fits. Don't buy it just cuz it's a good price. Make sure the frame size is correct for you. Otherwise, It will be $450 that you could have spent on the new Aurora or any other bike that might be perfect for you. It's a good entry level touring bike. It should fit the purpose you stated to a "T."

agree with Tace
It is a good deal but fit is key
I bought a upgraded 2003 Aurora (the frame was original, but lots of upgrades like bar end indexed shifters, better wheels, etc. Great great bike. I paid somewhat more than that.

I'm 5'10" with a 32" inseam... think it is a 58CM

Just ask for the LBS for support if anything goes wrong right away--- and buy it for $450 and never look back.

I have a 97 or 98 aurora that im thinking of selling. Its has some miles on it of course, but is still in good working condition. Any idea how much its worth???

The shop owner said it was a 55cm frame, which is the same as my '04 Quest (and it fits great). I'm 5'10", with a 30" inseam. I gave the shop a small deposit to hold it until I can get there this Saturday, when I plan on taking it out for a spin. Damn, I know it's ridiculous (I'm 49, why does this sort of thing still work me up?), but, I'm down right excited and hoping for a fit.

55cm could be a good fit for you with 5'10" height and 30in inseam. I'm nearly 6' and have a 30in inseam... 55 would be slightly on the small end of a rideable size range for me, 57 would be more ideal... So I'm guessing 55cm could well be within a good rideable range for you.

Main thing you can't adjust on a bike is the standover height... Try this: Stand straddling the bike and try to pick it up by the top bar with the intent of hauling it through your crotch. You want the bike to lift roughly 1 to 1.5 inches before it's stopped by your crotch (pubic bone). So you want to be able to stand over it without breaking anything anatomical, but if there are many inches of extra room, the frame is probably too small.

Once you get the correct frame size based on standover height you can get your torso comfortably placed by adjusting the seat placement, handlebar height, stem length, etc.

I have a (relatively) long torso and short legs for my height and wind up with bire frames that look maybe 1 size too small for my overall body size... they're chosen based on leg length, but the distance from the seat to the handlebars is adjusted for my (relatively) longer torso.

Hope this helps with fit?....

Good luck!

Sam

Hey thanks Sam, and everyone, for yours replies. I went to the shop today to check it out. What I thought would likely be a great deal turned out to be more of a regular deal. $450 might be what the bike is worth. The "demo" bike turned out to be pretty much a "rental" bike. From a shop about a block from the beach. Every nut and bolt on it had rust and/or corrosion. It made me nervous about a steel frame that spent the first two years of it's life as a rental bike at the beach. It was in good repair, but it wasn't clean. Sand, salt and grit in the drive train, mud on the frame, torn tape, scraped brifters, etc. I was disappointed in the shop for not giving me the straight scoop fom the beginning and also for not trying to make the bike presentable/buy-able. Bad form from a LBS, in my opinion. Anyway.

The bottom line was: It just didn't fit. It was a 55 cm, just like my Quest, about an inch plus of crotch clearance. I set seat and took a ride. It was very nice and smooth. For all that it was rented, it shifted, pedaled and rode very well, I thought. It made the Quest's ride feel twitchy by comparisome (not that I would ever have described the Quest as twitchy before I rode this), kind'a like a sport luxury car. I liked it's ride a lot. It just didn't feel big enough. My seat was 2+ inches higher than the triple-stacked+ stem and I felt bent over and slightly cramped. It felt as though I was riding on a smaller bike than the Quest and yet, in pretty much the same position. I don't know why. I'm sure some of that would go away with some tweaks. I tried to imagine myself on a loaded tour (I try to imagine myself on a loaded tour, period) with that bike and couldn't do it. Oh, well. I'll just keep looking, particularly at a newer 57 cm. We'll see what happens.