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Jamis Coda Sport or Trek 7500FX

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Jamis Coda Sport or Trek 7500FX

Old 10-04-05, 09:42 AM
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Jamis Coda Sport or Trek 7500FX

Am new to the forum and haven't been on a bike for years. I'm down to two bikes; the Jamis Coda Sport or Trek 7500FX. Any thoughts? I'm having trouble finding information on the internet or magazines that compares bikes. Many thanks!
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Old 10-04-05, 10:44 AM
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I have the Trek and I like it pretty well. Makes a great commuter.
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Old 10-04-05, 10:57 AM
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What kind of riding do you plan on doing? The Coda Sport is closer to a road bike with both it's frame and gearing. It has a road crankset (52/42/30) with a MTB cassette which will give you very low gears for most roads. The Trek I believe can take wider tires and has a touring crankset which has even lower gears when paired with a MTB cassette allowing you to throw in some more serious offroad adventures as well.

For a longer commute (10+ miles), I'd go with the Coda Sport. Anything shorter and it's a toss up.
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Old 10-04-05, 11:35 AM
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Good question from joejack951 about what kind of riding you expect to do. I have a Jamis Coda Comp and I have been quite pleased with it. But it's my car. I commute 14 miles round trip to work on it over city streets (neighborhood streets, collector streets, and arterials) and I use it to run errends, go to church, go shopping, and get to meetings. There are some things I'd change about it but overall it's been a great bike. I ride the living daylights out of it and I've done nothing to it but routine maintenance. My LBS did replace the 11-32 freewheel with a 12-24 because I didn't need the low end range, though I do miss the 11. The 28mm tires that came on the bike are a good compromise for me, wide enough but not too wide. I don't ride the bike in serious offroad settings. But if I want to take off across the middle of a public park, the bike will handle it with no problems.

Good luck in making a choice. Like you, when I got back into biking I hadn't ridden in years. Starting to bike is one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm just sorry I didn't do it when I was 25 instead of 45.
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Old 10-04-05, 11:54 AM
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I don't know the detailed differences between the two, but assuming both accomodate at least 28mm tires, fenders, rear rack, etc., I would probably go with the Jamis for the steel frame.
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Old 10-04-05, 01:06 PM
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Have you done a test ride yet?

The only difference between these bikes is personal preferance-- both are not going to break down right away, or win any races either. Just test ride, buy and never think about it again!
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Old 10-04-05, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by boydbl
Am new to the forum and haven't been on a bike for years. I'm down to two bikes; the Jamis Coda Sport or Trek 7500FX. Any thoughts? I'm having trouble finding information on the internet or magazines that compares bikes. Many thanks!
I test rode the Coda Sport and the Reynolds frame felt great. I have the Jamis Aurora and it's plush but it's also a touring bike.

The Trek is Alu and weights about the same as the Coda. It's a no brainer if you ask me. If two bikes look the same, the Renolds frame should be chosen over the Alu bike hands down.
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Old 10-04-05, 01:38 PM
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I have the Trek 7000FX for my 29 km round trip commute - it's solid, sturdy, geared beautifully (and its not a high end bike in the least) and is an excellent commuter.

Just my 2 cents
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Old 10-04-05, 03:49 PM
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i really like my 7500FX... does great with the 23mile commute(one way). haven't ridden your other choice... so i can't compare.

good luck with your decision.
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Old 10-04-05, 05:45 PM
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I rode a coda Sport for a better part of this year. It is a great bike and rides a bit closer to a road bike vs. a hybrid. I sold it to a friend who had to have one after he rode mine and could not find one at the LBS. Now he is very happy with it.....me I miss it but I have a Jamis Aurora to take it's place.
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Old 10-04-05, 05:47 PM
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Oh for the record I had a Trek 7300 FX 2 years ago......Get the Jamis, you will not be sorry.
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Old 10-04-05, 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by phillybill
Oh for the record I had a Trek 7300 FX 2 years ago......Get the Jamis, you will not be sorry.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate your opinion because you have the two bikes it has come down to. I was today riding the 7300fx because of price and ready to purchase thursday. What makes it really hard is that the Trek bikes and Jamis Coda are at two different stores so I can't get them side by side to test. Neither do I feel that I am getting an unbiased opinion regarding the competing bikes from either LBS since they of course both want my business.

I can tell on this site that while people are mostly helpful that it may get tiresome helping newbies with their first purchase. This, for me, far outweighs my decision process of purchasing a plasma tv after having the same old tv for many many years. There are just so many terms, components, acronyms, philosophies that it's impossible to be 100% confident with the decision. At some point, I think I just have to jump in and live with my decision.

Again, many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to give me their opinion.

Last edited by boydbl; 10-04-05 at 07:14 PM.
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Old 10-04-05, 07:37 PM
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I am digging my Jamis Coda Elite. Trek makes a great bike also. Enjoy your new ride!
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Old 10-04-05, 09:21 PM
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I have a 7500fx and love it, it makes a great commuter IMO. Be advised that Trek is releasing its 2006 models within the next few weeks though.
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Old 10-04-05, 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by threephi
I have a 7500fx and love it, it makes a great commuter IMO. Be advised that Trek is releasing its 2006 models within the next few weeks though.
What does IMO mean?

BB
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Old 10-05-05, 08:09 AM
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Don't know about the Trek, but I ride a 02 Coda (back when there was only one model) for my daily 35 mile RT commute and it's been a great bike. Nothing but good things to say about the Jamis line from me.
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Old 10-05-05, 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by boydbl
What does IMO mean?

BB
In My Opinion

https://www.gaarde.org/acronyms/
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Old 10-06-05, 08:27 AM
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I've got a 7500FX too. I like it pretty well, it's fast, well equipped and looks good too. It also has lots of places to attach racks and fenders and stuff for the serrious commuter.

Oh, and the Bontrager Hardcase tires that it comes with have been super, too. Not a single puncture in 7 months of daily commutes... and I hit glass and chunks of gravel all the time.

I'm still saving up for a trike, though.
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Old 10-06-05, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by boydbl
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate your opinion because you have the two bikes it has come down to. I was today riding the 7300fx because of price and ready to purchase thursday. What makes it really hard is that the Trek bikes and Jamis Coda are at two different stores so I can't get them side by side to test. Neither do I feel that I am getting an unbiased opinion regarding the competing bikes from either LBS since they of course both want my business.

I can tell on this site that while people are mostly helpful that it may get tiresome helping newbies with their first purchase. This, for me, far outweighs my decision process of purchasing a plasma tv after having the same old tv for many many years. There are just so many terms, components, acronyms, philosophies that it's impossible to be 100% confident with the decision. At some point, I think I just have to jump in and live with my decision.

Again, many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to give me their opinion.
The big difference is that the Reynolds 520 steel frame gives a great ride. And the components are better. There are lots of people that love the Trek, it is a good bike. But I put allot of mikes on my commuting bikes and over the long haul, I feel less beat up and jarred when riding the Jamis frames.
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Old 10-06-05, 04:05 PM
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With the steel frame in mind, I sought out the Jamis. It was that, or a steel Bianchi, but the geometry and my measurements told me to go Jamis.
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Old 10-07-05, 06:29 AM
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I have the Trek 7500fx Disc. I have had a lot of fun with it, using it for workout rides and commuting. I did my first century on it this summer -- nearly killed me -- but no problems with the bike

I do currently have a problem with it though -- actually, a couple. After about 1300 miles from new I popped a couple of spokes on the back wheel within the space of a week -- without hitting any major bumps or anything. My LBS (where I bought it) has been kind enough to look into it. Apparently, Trek have said there is a problem with the wheels on the 7500fx DISC. They have replaced the wheels once, but the bike feels heavier and sluggish with the new wheels. It turns out they gave me a bit of a downgrade and now my LBS is trying to get a better wheel from them. Trek are having a problem finding something comparable to the original wheels (evidently, because of the disc situation), and so I'll wait to see what happens.

Also, the pedals kinda fell apart -- both of them. That is, the reflectors broke and fell off and the LBS was unable to repare them. They (LBS) were kind enough to replace the pedals and are notifying Trek of the problem.

One other thing -- probably minor, but annoying -- is that the handlebars creak like crazy when I'm standing pushing uphill -- it makes me wonder if they're going to snap. I've asked the LBS about this but they haven't found a solution.

Other than that, it's been a great bike. I wonder has anyone had similar problems with a 7500fx?

Last edited by macintheus; 10-07-05 at 08:02 AM.
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Old 10-29-05, 10:17 AM
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I'm commuting on Irish roads (with firewood, turf, groceries in a big rucksack) on a new Trek 7300SF. I purchased this bike because the 9/11 (inspection) thugs in Boston (in addition to ripping off my tools-again) did not repack my Dahon Matrix folder cocooned in its Tempurpedic foam mattress pad and the folder arrived, after being hurled by gorillas in Boston, Manchester UK, or Cork with a destroyed derailleur. Getting replacement parts in Ireland seems to be even more challenging than riding on Irish roads ;-)

I really miss my Jamis Coda Sport which is unfortunately in storage in Boston. Not just the steel frame and geometry- if it were a horse it would be a thoroughbred- but the quality parts. I can't say the same for the Trek 7300SF. The fat aluminum, heavy frame performs badly in high coastal winds. Also I've had a saga of flats and shifting problems.

I'm going to replace the cheap Bontrager tyres with Hutchison Gold Elites and add Cane Creek Ergo Control bar ends. Already replaced the stock pedals with wide and secure Stomp platform pedals. Finally, if I take the Trek 7300SF to the UK on the ferry (and don't heave it into the Irish Sea), I'll get a Cane Creek headset, Technomic stem, wider bars, and especially a serious saddle (such as a Brooks Champion Flyer and a Thudbuster seatpost). But when touring West Cork in the spring, I'll be on the Jamis Coda Sport- this time shipped in a bike box ;-) Or if I win at the racetrack, I may even ride the Ring of Kerry on a Ducati ;-)


Last edited by Leo C. Driscoll; 10-30-05 at 03:18 AM.
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Old 10-31-05, 05:14 PM
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What is a 7300SF? Is that the model with the suspension fork? If so, it has lower level components than the rigid fork FX model, at least here in the US. I have been very pleased with my 7500Fx and use it for almost all my fitness and errand runs under 20 miles. It is light, fast and quick handling, and has lots of eyelets and such for racks.
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Old 10-31-05, 08:33 PM
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I prefer steel; I therefore ride a Jamis Coda Comp, among other steel bikes. I don't have a bad thing to say about the Jamis. After 1 year I replaced the tires (an annual thing for me), after two years I replaced the pedals. After three years I replaced the saddle (it started oozing this nasty gel stuff). I did cut down the bars, but I'm a chica. And I did put bar ends on and it's just perfect.

Leo, sorry to hear about your Matrix (the only alu bike I have). You had it set up so nicely last time I saw your posts.
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Old 11-01-05, 04:39 AM
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Yes, the 7300FX has an RST CT Free C5 suspension fork. So far, no complaints about the suspension. Given the roads here in Cork, anything helps ;-)

Hello, again, velogirl. How is your Matrix riding these days? Once I track down the derailleur with its custom hanger, my Matrix will be perfect for some road and off-road exploration of the Kinsale area.

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