rugerben

I've been looking for an MTB, and found one on CL the other day.

It's a Jamis Dakota. 4130 frame, fork, etc... from Tange. The guy thinks he got it around the mid 80's. I rode it today. It is awesome. I love this bike. I'll post pics tomorrow when I get home from work.
It has Shimano friction shifting FD and RD by the way.

The brakes are some crazy set up I've never seen before. Kinda like cantilever brakes on steroids. Not quite sure what to make of them but holy coz are they powerful!!! If this bike were being towed behind a car going downhill, i have no doubt that judicious application of the bikes brakes would stop the car, regardless of its weight.

I just felt like sharing. Anybody have any info to share about it?

roccobike

By 1988, friction shifters were relegated to the first, entry level bikes. I'm pretty sure the Jamis Dakota was not an entry level bike so your bike is probably older than 88.

rugerben

Rocco- thank you for chiming in. That's consistent with what the guy told me. With 4130 Tange frame, fork, and stays, and Biopace chainrings I didn't figure it was a cheapo bike. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Biopace. score, one for Ben.

Ok, new info. Those monster brakes say "Suntour XC power" on them. Mean anything to anyone?

jjvw

The Suntour XC group was among the best you could get back in the early to mid-80's for mountain bikes.

bikesandtools

Those are probably self-energizing brakes - there's a cam or something that turns rotational force into gripping force. I think. They're based on Scott-Pedersen SE brakes; some Suntour brakes have that printed on them. Sheldon Brown put some info on them in his glossary.

Andrew

YoKev

I thought those brakes were (Charlie) Cunningham Design? At least, thats what my 1985 Suntour XC brakes say.

rugerben

Wow. Looks like i got a good find for $50. I'm happy.

And I can certainly see why these brakes were considered to be top notch. Did I mention they're good?

Self-energizing? that's awesome. I'm going to have to clean them up later and get some good pics for you guys. I appreciate al the incoming info! Thank you.

Bikedued

Make sure the roller cams have been switched to brass! There was a problem with the plastic ones failing, and most were refitted with brass rollers. If they're that powerful though, it may have been switched already. The brass ones will have a antique brownish patina by now.,,,,BD

rugerben

Yup, they are indeed brass. And the brakes do say "Cunningham design" on them. You guys are good. damned good.

but this sucks, I was looking for a cheapo, MTB to use as a winter commuter. I wanted a bike where I wouldn't mind if it got all messed up with salt and sand and crap.
But this bike is too nice to do that. I don't have the heart to ride this bike in corrosive salty roads. grrr...I guess I'm adding it to the collection and resuming the search for something cheap and disposable.

Bikedued

I know the feeling. I have several bikes that started out to be work commute riders. Once I saw how quickly they got filthy, they get cleaned up and go in the garage, hehe. I still ride the Club Fuji in light rain, and it doesn't rain every day? I've only been caught by rain too heavy to ride in twice this year.,,,,BD

The one I did finally settle on for commuting, is getting traded this weekend for a set of wheels to go on the Moto Grand Record.

rugerben

Sounds like a good trade. I'm just going to keep searching CL for a cheap MTB for winter commuting. ugh...

I just can't buy a bike on Saturdays. I don't roll on Sh*****.
I know the dude gets it.

Bikedued

Yep.,,,,BD

jgedwa

I boycott any discussion of this bike until pics are presented.

jim

Grand Bois

I think he has roller cam brakes, not the Suntour cantilevers with the self-enegizing rear brake.

rugerben

Your wish, is my command.

The brakes





What kind of derailleur is this?


Biopace. Score.

rugerben

And the one we were all waiting for:



What kind of derailleurs are those with the stag looking symbol on them? Are they anything special?

I really like this bike. No rust really at all. I do need to clean it though. You can see from the pics, it's a little gritty.
I noticed the shifters are "Shimano EM." Does that mean anything to anyone?

Edit to add:

That strap that goes between the top tube and the seat tube makes it really easy to man handle the bike when maneuvering it around a bike rack or bringing it upstairs. I've never seen that before. Was it common?

YoKev

Whoa, what a looker!

It's hard to tell, but is that strap held on by bottle cage braze ons?

Nice score, and thank you for the pictures

Kevin

fuzz2050

Those derailers seem to be the first generation shimano moutnain group. I think it was an 'xt'. Don't let the lack of an 'r' fool you, they were top of the line when they were introduced.

Those brakes are a pair of old rollercams, as you can read, designed by Cunningham, his first name escapes me, but he was one of the foudners of WTB. They have some problems, for one, they arn't interchangeable with any other type of brake, but i've heard they work great. Never had a chance to ride them though.

banjo_mole 

Okay, well unlike you, I do see some immedieate rust and such that you ought to clean up.

Go to a hardware store, and for $2-$3, buy some #000 steel wool and an aluminum polish, like Mother's, which is a great starting polish.

Clean up the handlebars, the cranks, and chainwheels with the wool and rub some polish into them.
They'll literally shine like new, and you'll love the bike even more!

I don't mean to be a "hey, fix this" kind of person, but I think you'll really love the bike if it gets new-looking. I mean, REALLY love it.

Anyway, try the crank or spider first just to see how it looks, and I garuntee that you'll love it and then disassemble the brakes and deraileurs just to polish them to.

It's very easy, very rewarding work.

rugerben

I've done it before and planned to do it to this bike as well. I love getting metal bits all shiny. By no rust, I really should have said no really significant rust. The frame is very sound with no rust. The handlebars have very minimal. absolutely 100% nothing internal. It looks worse in the pics than it is in person, fortunately. But I already have mothers. It's what I used to get my mom's Motobecane Grand Jubile to look like this:

Bikedued

Wow, rugerben, that is even nicer than I was picturing! Majorly cool mtb score!! The derailleurs are affectionately called "deer head". Oh yeah, that is one to clean up and keep out of the snow/salt.
I had a Fuji Sundance pass through my hands a while back with the same brakes, and I still know where it is I believe. I may make a play to get it back, after seeing this one. Mine had Suntour Mountech derailleurs. That Dakota is begging for some black fenders IMHO, like planet bike, etc. Nice buy for $50!,,,,BD

Bikedued

On second thought, the brake clearance may not allow for fenders. Worth a try though. And somebody snagged the shifters off of it, as it was unlikely both of them broke being friction. Here the ones you're probably looking for. Good luck though, friction thumbshifters are hoarded items these days.,,,,,BD


https://www.trek4fun.com/mountain_bik...700_levers.htm

j. hughes

I really need to snag a portage strap like your bike has. I have the strap bosses on one of my bikes, but don't know where to look for one of these.

BTW,
Great looking bike, those XT derailers are nice.

epicurean

That's a great looking Jamis, Ben. Can't wait to see it after you've given it the treatment like your Motobecane!

Bikedued

I recently found a frame bag with a built in curved pad. Probably made sometime in the 80's or early 90's. It has two wire hoops that fit either side of the seat/top tubes, and attaches with velcro. A very sturdy item, and has a nylon covered foam pad for carrying the bike. I put it on my 88 Cannondale MTB. Looks right at home.,,,,BD