Hybrid Bicycles - Jamis Coda Femme - chromoly fork?

I recently posted about a hybrid bike for a petite female. Turns out, a local shop has a 14 inch Jamis Coda (2012) in stock. I'm going to take a look at it this weekend. Based on the specs, it doesn't look like the Jamis Femme has a carbon fork. Does that matter? I've heard rave reviews about the steel frame and carbon fork but for some reason the Femme bikes aren't equipped with the carbon.

I'm going to test ride it anyway but am wondering if the Jamis Coda Femme w/o the carbon fork is still a good bike for the price.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/12_codasportf_bl.html

The Coda Comp and Elite are the only ones with a carbon fork for 2012

Hey there Jyyanks!

What happened there, turns out to be very interesting. The 2010 Coda Sport doesn't have a carbon fork. The 2012 Coda Sport doesn't have a carbon fork. However, the 2011 Coda Sport does indeed, have a carbon fork. This is the only year (2011), that the carbon fork was featured on the Coda Sport. Jamis, for some reason, dropped the carbon fork from the 2012 Coda Sport model only, but chose to keep it on the remaining Coda models in the series. If you could somehow find a 2011 Coda Sport femme model within a 100 mile radius, it may very well, be worth your while.
I would just play it cool and act like I wasn't that interested as I inquired around. You just might get lucky and find a back-logged 2011 Coda Sport femme with a carbon fork!

BTW-It happened to all of the 2011 Jamis Coda Sports, not just the femme models. They all have CF forks! :thumb:

- Slim :)

PS.

If you act too excited, they may not feel inclined to give you the 2011 clearance price.

* First, get fitted by Jamis!

My 2011 Jamis Coda Femme has a chromoly fork, and it's perfectly fine. Nice ride on the bike. I strongly prefer steel frames, just my personal taste. I'm not sure what a carbon fork on a chromoly frame is going to do for you anyway. Makes it lighter of course.
Ciao

Thanks for the replies! My local lbs has the 2012 in my size with chromoly fork in stock. I'm going to see if it fits before I do anything. Another store (not local) said they can potentially order me a 2011 but this store is nowhere near me so it may be hard to get it serviced.

Either way, I'll check out the fit and post an update. If I end up loving it, I may need opinions on whether to buy the 2012 locally or order the 2011 from the non local store. This may be moot if the bike doesn't fit. I still have to check out the specialized vita and the khs. Thanks all!

Thanks for the replies! My local lbs has the 2012 in my size with chromoly fork in stock. I'm going to see if it fits before I do anything. Another store (not local) said they can potentially order me a 2011 but this store is nowhere near me so it may be hard to get it serviced.

Either way, I'll check out the fit and post an update. If I end up loving it, I may need opinions on whether to buy the 2012 locally or order the 2011 from the non local store. This may be moot if the bike doesn't fit. I still have to check out the specialized vita and the khs. Thanks all!

If the bike fits, Jyyanks!...Wait and get the 2011 Coda Sport with the Carbon fork. You won't only be getting the CF fork, but the whole bike is upgraded over the 2012 Coda Sport, as well!

- Slim :)

The carbon forks on the Coda series have low-rider carrier mounts.

The 2012 Jamis Coda series does not have a Coda Femme offering, only Coda Comp Femme (carbon fork) and Coda Sport Femme (chromoly fork). So the OP must be talking about the 2012 Jamis Coda Sport Femme with the 14 inch frame.

The 2011 Jamis Coda Femme has the carbon fork and if new would actually be the better value than a 2012 Jamis Coda Sport Femme.

To keep prices down Jamis has consistently downgraded the components of the Coda series. The epitome of the Coda Series probably came in 2009.

Another downside for the 2012 Codas is the 700 x 32c tires replacing the previous year's 700 x 28c tires.

LOL, when your use to "MTB" tires or even 26x 1.50, the 700x32's seem pretty "thin"! ;) I figure I'll just wear out the 32's and then maybe put on 25's, don't see much difference between 28's and 32's, jmho, ymmv.

I'm not sure why some people get so excited about carbon forks. From what I read, carbon fiber doesn't break, it explodes. And some people say they've heard of people getting bits of carbon fiber in their legs.

I'd be more tempted to get all hot and horny over chromoly. At the same time, I'd too cheap for it so I got an aluminium frame for a touring bike. haha