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Jamis Aurora vs Surly Long Haul Trucker: Pro Con List?

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Jamis Aurora vs Surly Long Haul Trucker: Pro Con List?

Old 04-08-10, 09:20 PM
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I know nothing about the Jamis but commute 19 miles a day on a LHT. I love it. Bar end shifters are great. My only beef with them is standing up to pedal, sometimes my "massive quads" hit the shifters. Not much of a problem for me, I am rarely out of the saddle. The LHT will take some big tires if needed. I have the 26" wheels on mine. I purchased it with the idea that I would only have one road style bike, commuting, touring, grocery getting. I am really happy with it. That said, I am now considering a single speed/fixed just to add some variety.
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Old 04-08-10, 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by busted knuckles
I know nothing about the Jamis but commute 19 miles a day on a LHT. I love it. Bar end shifters are great. My only beef with them is standing up to pedal, sometimes my "massive quads" hit the shifters. Not much of a problem for me, I am rarely out of the saddle.
I've never understood this issue. I'm 6'6", so my initial concern with bar ends was kneeing them accidentally. I do a lot of stand-and-hammer climbing on pitches over 20% grade. Not once have I ever put a leg to my shifters.

Try leaning back so you're more centered over your cranks instead of leaning over the stem. Climb with your hands on the tops of the bars instead of out on your hoods, and it will automatically put your weight back over the cranks. It's more efficient for climbing; less rocking the bike back and forth and more of letting your weight do the work to move the cranks.
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Old 04-08-10, 10:54 PM
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Thanks for the tip, I have had my hands on the top of the bar when standing, felt too unstable. I dont really ever need to stand up with all the gears on the bike, mainly to change position. If I am not too tired and pay attention, it is easy enought to keep my legs on the inside of the shifters.
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Old 04-09-10, 10:50 AM
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STIs aren't the only brifter option. There is Campy. You can use their shifters with Shimano drivetrains by using a small $40 pulley from Jtek called the shiftmate. Campy Mirage and Centaur shifters can be had for reasonable prices and work as well as their more expensive brethren (chorus and record).

I'm suggesting Campy because the mechanism is relatively simple and a catastrophic failure causing you to have to throw the whole shifter away is pretty unlikely. In the event of a failure you can replace any individual part without having to get a new shifter.

The real plus to me though is the way the front shifter works. You don't need a road specific derailleur. It works with double and triples. Chain rub is a non-issue because they have "infinite trim". Adjustment is far less finicky. All this is accomplished through "micro-indexing". Basically you have like 10 clicks to work with. It's like of combination of index and friction shifting which makes a lot more sense when it comes to front derailleurs than pure indexing does.

I have Campy ergo shifters with shimano drivetrains on both of my bikes now.
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Old 04-09-10, 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
The problem with the Travel Contact isn't the width; it's that the Travel Contact is a multi-surface tire so they gave it a smooth center and huge cornering lugs. Unless you're cornering on loamy grass or loose dirt/gravel, those lugs are nothing more than a means of reducing your contact patch and making cornering a sketchy issue.

Normally I'm not one to promote Vittoria tires of any type, especially over a Continental tire; but in this case it's warranted. Surly should have put a City Contact or even a Town Ride on there instead of the Travel Contact. Heck, if they're going to promote the LHT as a touring bike, just use the Conti Touring Plus (Conti's version of the Marathon Plus).
The LHT Complete (700 wheel size) comes with the Continental Contact, not the Continental Travel Contact. No big lugs to worry about. That said, I replaced the tires on my LHT with wider (700x40c) Schwalbe Marathons.

I'm not familiar with the 26" tires Surly puts on the LHT.
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Old 04-09-10, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by tjspiel
STIs aren't the only brifter option. There is Campy. You can use their shifters with Shimano drivetrains by using a small $40 pulley from Jtek called the shiftmate. Campy Mirage and Centaur shifters can be had for reasonable prices and work as well as their more expensive brethren (chorus and record).
If Shimano hadn't warrantied my STI (because I was mucking with it myself or whatever), this is indeed the path I would have taken...better to spend money once and be able to repair it in the future. But it's even better to spend no money at all, sooo...
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Old 04-10-10, 08:19 AM
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My brother and I test drove the LHT and the Aurora together switching halfway through. He liked the LHT better and I liked the Aurora better. Buy the one you like riding and you'll be fine.
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Old 04-10-10, 07:09 PM
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Is there any website where older models of the LHT (Long Haul Trucker) can be purchased? I think I prefer it, but can't stand the bland black or blue options. I love the previous versions of ocean looking blue and olive green. Other than Ebay is there a way to get an older model?
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Old 04-10-10, 09:22 PM
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You can definately tour fully loaded on a Jamis Aurora. I have one, its a 2000 model, and have taken several fully loaded camping trips with it. It can handle the weight.

I am in the process of switching the original brake/shifter levers for bar ends shifters and separate brake levers as I found the original brifters to just be uncomfortable and cheap for me. They have worked fine, but I want a different setup now. I have always liked the Auroroa for a touring/commuting bike, the geometry really feels good to me.
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Old 04-11-10, 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by dcrowell
The LHT Complete (700 wheel size) comes with the Continental Contact, not the Continental Travel Contact. No big lugs to worry about. That said, I replaced the tires on my LHT with wider (700x40c) Schwalbe Marathons.

I'm not familiar with the 26" tires Surly puts on the LHT.
Good to know, since their website spec sheet says Travel Contact for the 700c version.
They claim WTB Slickasaurus for the 26" version.
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Old 04-11-10, 07:32 AM
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The LHT uses higher quality components where it counts. The barend shifters are top of the line vs. Tiagra STI for the Jamis. The Surly RD is XT vs Deore in the Aurora. Best of all, the LHT uses XT hubs.
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Old 04-12-10, 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
Good to know, since their website spec sheet says Travel Contact for the 700c version.
They claim WTB Slickasaurus for the 26" version.
Bizarre. I wonder if they changed it for the 2010 models. Mines a 2009.
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Old 04-12-10, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by dcrowell
Bizarre. I wonder if they changed it for the 2010 models. Mines a 2009.
I have a 2010. It has Contacts on it, not Travel Contacts. I like them a lot. They're wide, not too much profile, and they have reflective sidewalls.
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Old 04-15-10, 03:21 AM
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Originally Posted by z90
I have a 2010. It has Contacts on it, not Travel Contacts. I like them a lot. They're wide, not too much profile, and they have reflective sidewalls.
Thanks alot!

That is great. I was mad at Surly for putting a tire with 'lugs' on a road bike. I think that tire is more for a hybrid. Reflective sidewalls a plus too.
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Old 04-15-10, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by futuregrace
Is there any website where older models of the LHT (Long Haul Trucker) can be purchased? I think I prefer it, but can't stand the bland black or blue options. I love the previous versions of ocean looking blue and olive green. Other than Ebay is there a way to get an older model?
I tried that and they're very hard to come by, esp. in the right size. But try eBay and Craigslist. And they're kind of like Hondas in that you don't really get that much of a discount for a used one when you take wear and tear into consideration. I own a Jamis Quest for weekend riding, very happily, and considered an Aurora but the LHT edged it out for some of the reasons cited here. The biggest reasons were that I can put fat tires on in winter, and the bike is a bit better suited toward touring.
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Old 04-16-10, 12:20 AM
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For 7miles commute, I'd go with the Jamis, and if you are not planning to do any touring, consider the Jamis Nova, replace the tires with some continental gator skin (28c or 32c). I put some slicks on my jamis super nova and rides like a dream.
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Old 04-16-10, 05:04 AM
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Originally Posted by z90
I have a 2010. It has Contacts on it, not Travel Contacts. I like them a lot. They're wide, not too much profile, and they have reflective sidewalls.
My 700C LHT came with contacts, not travel contacts. The spec chart for the LHT on Surly's website is apparently an error. Continental has so many different tires in their "contact" line its easy to get them confused.
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Old 04-16-10, 06:55 AM
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Originally Posted by sygyzy
Wow, great comparison by CliftonGK1.

OP, let us know what you decide.
+1. Great comparison Clifton! Good points from others as well. I doubt you'd go wrong either way, so what Clifton closed with:
"Ride them both and see which is more comfortable, and if they're about the same comfort, which one do you think looks better. "
is important. Pick the one that puts the sparkle in your eye and makes you want to ride the most.
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Old 04-16-10, 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
Good to know, since their website spec sheet says Travel Contact for the 700c version.
They claim WTB Slickasaurus for the 26" version.
My 26" wheeled LHT came stock with the WTB Slickasaurus. It's an okay tire, but not so great for people who like to do tons of riding everywhere.
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Old 04-18-10, 02:40 PM
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One question I keep trying to figure out is the chain stay, perhaps one of you could help me figure it out. I have no doubts the LHT will not cause my heels to hit a paniers on a rack. I"m worried that the Jamis will cause my feet to hit. I've tried an old '03 Jake the Snake and that happens.

However I only wish to use paniers every so often so I'd like a quick bike, not sure how much fully loaded touring I'll do on this thing.

How can I tell if my feet will hit apart putting racks on one and testing it which does not seem as though it will happen.
Can anyone tell me what the difference between the two chain stays is in cm?
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Old 04-18-10, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by futuregrace
One question I keep trying to figure out is the chain stay, perhaps one of you could help me figure it out. I have no doubts the LHT will not cause my heels to hit a paniers on a rack. I"m worried that the Jamis will cause my feet to hit. I've tried an old '03 Jake the Snake and that happens.

However I only wish to use paniers every so often so I'd like a quick bike, not sure how much fully loaded touring I'll do on this thing.

How can I tell if my feet will hit apart putting racks on one and testing it which does not seem as though it will happen.
Can anyone tell me what the difference between the two chain stays is in cm?



Might i suggest you do some home work,by going to the web sites of the bikes your interested in yourself. There you usually will find frame geometries,lengths etc. to do comparisons.
Just to show im not trying to be rude and happen to know Surly LHTs chainstay length i will give it to you.Metric is 460 or 18.1 inches. I dont know the Auroras. Sorry its just that people seem to ask questions so often and do no research of there own,which may help them in there decisions.
Good luck on your decision. No offense i hope. Cheers.

Ok i have a little time on my hands now(didnt earlier) and im curious myself so looked up Jamis for you. 440 or 17.3 inches. Way shorter.

Last edited by ddez; 04-18-10 at 05:19 PM.
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Old 04-18-10, 06:46 PM
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This might be a dumb question..... Looks like Surly puts 26" wheels on my size LHT frame (54cm). Can you swap out the 26" wheels for 700c and still put fenders on it?
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Old 04-18-10, 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by MVclyde
This might be a dumb question..... Looks like Surly puts 26" wheels on my size LHT frame (54cm). Can you swap out the 26" wheels for 700c and still put fenders on it?
I own the 54cm LHT, and it has extremely wide tire clearance. However, I doubt that it can handle a 700c wheel with fenders. For another thing, there's the placement of the cantilever studs. They're placed lower on the frame and fork than on the 700c versions in order to accomodate the smaller wheels.
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Old 04-18-10, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by ddez
Ok i have a little time on my hands now(didnt earlier) and im curious myself so looked up Jamis for you. 440 or 17.3 inches. Way shorter.
44cm on the Jamis and 46cm on the Surly.

44cm doesn't seem bad to me. A lot of touring bikes use this chainstay length. If you are concerned about heel strike, just use a longer rack, like the Jandd Expedition or the Tubus Logo. Unless you're using large expedition-style panniers, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
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Old 04-18-10, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by fat_bike_nut
For another thing, there's the placement of the cantilever studs. They're placed lower on the frame and fork than on the 700c versions in order to accomodate the smaller wheels.
Thanks! I didn't even think about that.
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