Mountain Biking - Trek Fuel 90 or Jamis XC Comp?

I have the opportunity to purchase either of these bikes for $1,200 each. (2003 models) As a roadie who wants to get into some singletrack riding, can I get suggestions on which bike might be preferred? I'm 40 years old and don't plan to do any jumping, etc, but must deal with a lot of stumps and mud. Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Welcome to bikeforums usrsld.

I've never ridden the Trek, but I did had a chance to try out the Jamis a couple years ago, and I had no complaints about it at the time. The friend who it belonged to loves it.

From what I've read about the bikes, the Jamis will probably be a little bit softer and I believe have a tiny bit more travel, whereas the Trek will bob a little less under the pedaling forces. The differences, however, are going to be pretty subtle, so the best thing to do, as it usually is with bikes, will be to test ride each one and figure out which feels better. As far as value, the specs are pretty similar except for the Jamis comes with Avid disc breaks, which might be nice to have, especially if you ride on a lot of hills or in wet weather.

I couldn't really recommend one above the other, but hopefully the extra information helps.

coming from the roadie stance you might like the trek more because the geometry will be a little more aggressive than the Jamis and thus a little closer to what you're used to in terms of riding position. As noted before the Trek will feel faster in the singletrack but the Jamis will be a little calmer on the downhills. Since the Jamis has Disc brakes it probably weighs more, but you know the benefit of discs.

What it seems to come down to is do you want an XC racer that can handle anything you can throw at it for the time being, or do you want the Jamis which leans to being more of a jack of all trades bike.

Do disc's make THAT much difference? Both disc and v-brakes seem to have plenty of stopping power in parking lot test rides.

One other thing... I'll also be using this bike for casual rides on paved bike paths - will one or the other be better for this type riding?

One other thing... I'll also be using this bike for casual rides on paved bike paths - will one or the other be better for this type riding?

full suspension for road riding isnt all that efficient. saying that the trek is probobly a bit better in the bob from peddling, the Jamis is probobly better for the disk's.
And yes, disk brakes are better, Ive gone through a set of brake pads in 40km of riding, it was wet, and I ran right through the pads!!
Disks, have much better stopping power, and the Avids are great, simple and easy to adjust!

If the Jamis has the integrated headset, which i think it does, I would avoid it for that reason alone, The trek has a lifetime warranty on the frame, get the big blue. and try and get disks thrown in.

Hey, am I sitting on the fence more than you?

fuel 90