Mountain Biking - Jamis Dakar XLT 1.0 vs Specialized Rockhopper FSR comp

Well I need to buy a bike soon and I'm coming across extra money from work. Originally I wanted to get a hardtail, the Giant Iquana, but now since I have more money I thought to myself " why not get a full suspension bike ?" So I looked into it and my friend can get me a 20-30 % discount at the copelands at the mall. I saw a nice Jamis Dakar XLT 1.0 for $1500. At the local bike shop I saw a Specialized Rockhopper FSR comp (?) for about $1000. Can anyone give me some pros and cons of each and what the deal is with the two bikes. thanks.

btw I'm about 5'9" and 220 pounds and to over wieght for my own good so I'd like to take up biking. thanks

gene

The Jamis's are a good deal, i belive the XLT have like an XT drivetrain and possibly a fox forx. The FSR design however is suposed to be one of the best.

they're two differant bikes. what kind of riding do you do

if your gonna spend 1500 get a Stumpjumper FSR comp, its got a fox float 100rlc and an xtr rd and lx everything else.

I am just going to be doing light trails and weekend riding for the mean time. I intend on growing into the potential of the bike.

OK, from the sounds of it if you plan on "growing" into the potential of the new bike the Jamis would work better. But are you more of a person who likes to shred singletrack and sometimes does some of the more extreme stuff or do you plan on doing more of the aggressive/jumping thing

I'll probably end up only doing the singletrack thing and occasionally hit the jumps.

Didnt finish my thought. Like i said if you like singletrack and only occasionally do drops and the like get the Specialized. If you're into the whole jumping/aggressive XC thing the Jamis would be the better pick

Yep, the Jamis is a little beefier, with a bit more travel. In order to be fair though, you've got to compare the Jamis 1.0 to the Stumpjumper FSR Disc. The Jamis has a bit more travel, a coil-over shock, but weighs over 30 lbs.

The FSR has a Axel Super which isn't as good as the Fox, but decent, Deore Hydraulic Disc (better than Hayes Mechanicals) and an Air shock. Weight for it is probably close to 26.5 to 27 lbs. Definately a lighter more XC oriented bike.

I still prefer the FSR, but that Jamis is a very nice set-up. I don't think you could go wrong either way!

L8R

Another vote for the Specialized but with modifications (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18024) that I found useful

From what you described, it sounds like you would be better off with a hardtail. Hardtails jump much nicer than a fs bike does. Unless your talking about jumps like Helltrack 2.

Originally posted by danka24
From what you described, it sounds like you would be better off with a hardtail. Hardtails jump much nicer than a fs bike does. Unless your talking about jumps like Helltrack 2.

well it feels good to spoil yourself dont you think? :)

i mean, you only need a simple, basic $200 bicycle to enjoy riding...

Get a Stumpjumper FSR if you're willing to plop down 1500 bucks. The frame & stuff is better, and its got lockout.