theroyalwe

Hey there,
So I've been test riding the last few days and have narrowed down my selection to a Jamis Coda Sport '07 and an 08 Fuji Absolute 2.0.
I'm going to use it to commute some pretty rough city roads with few hills- mostly constant grade.

Any thoughts on which is a better buy? Jamis is $550 from a shop I'll never go to because it's too far and the Fuji is $530 from a place with two years free maintenance (although I don't care for their shop).

I like both equally, but worry that the wheels and adjustable stem on the Fuji are crap.
Jamis is steel, Fuji is aluminum with carbon fork only.

Anyone have any thoughts on the wheels for these?


https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/...odasport.html#

https://www.fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=469

Any helpful opinions are much appreciated.

elTwitcho

I have the Absolute 4.0 and I can't speak to the rims (mine are cheaper, don't have problems with them since truing them and making sure all the spokes are tight) but I haven't had any trouble at all with the adjustable stem. What are you worried might be wrong with it and maybe I can give you more specific feedback?

nahh

from the link you gave, the fuji does not have a carbon fork. it's 'cro-moly', which is steel.

both bikes are fine, the wheels are both ok (what's your worry, exactly?) IMHO the fuji seems like a better deal, with that nice two-year maintainance package.

theroyalwe

Thanks to bot of you

Nah- sorry I gave the wrong link! should be https://www.fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=467# Absolute 2.0

El Twitcho- I'm mostly worried that the stem is cheap and crappy and will either be really loud and/or unstable. The rims- well I'm large and in charge and going over potholes the size of my @ss... don't want those breaking spokes or warping either

envane

How the hell can a stem be loud? Its not a moving part.

fluidworks

For many people, this would come down to a steel vs. aluminum debate.

Personally I'd try both if at all possible.

theroyalwe

Went with Steel- Road 25 miles today. Not as fast as my old bike but so comfy

AdrianFly

You need to be extremely fit to ride aluminum. Aluminum is a young man's material, while all the geezers ride steel.

It's not necessarily a weight issue as it is for someone to announce to the world that they've come of age. Music too loud, ride steel. Not understanding today's teens.. well then.. steel frame it is.

Steel is also the medicinal marijuanna of bicycles.


As for the choice in bicycle, I would go with the Jamis.

Ride 20 miles on the Fuji and you'll feel like you fell and rolled down the basement stairs. No reason a fine individual should subject themself to such punishment.

...Which leads me to believe that the Fuji might be the right choice for you. You can't go wrong with aluminum.

Thepurplem0nkey

I just purchased a 2008 Jamis coda sport and I love it. The telescoping seat post was a pleasant surprise as well. It's slightly heavier than my Trek aluminum mountain bike, but rides so much smoother.

-TPM

elTwitcho

Admittedly rough patches and pot holes are a bit harsh coming through the handlebars on my Fuji. Doesn't bug me often, but depending on my route choice now and again patches can be unpleasant. If Any aluminum bike is going to be the same story though.

FWIW while I am happy with my bike, my next bike is going to be steel.

Not unstable at all, and I don't hear any noise coming from it. If I go from putting my weight on the bars to pulling up on the bars it jiggles about 1mm (not enough to really notice other than you can feel the slight movement) but since 99% of any ride for me is spent with putting my weight *down* on the bars, I never feel it move at all. Rims like I said I have no trouble with after tensioning everything and truing everything. Cheap rims properly tensioned will probably give you more reliability than expensive rims that aren't properly set up. If you can have someone look at the spoke tension you'll probably be fine. I'm not always on the smoothest pavement and I have no issues