Calder Benson

I picked this bike up early yesterday morning. A 21". Had to special order it, as the LBS didn't carry them in stock. In fact, they didn't have any 2015 Coda's in stock either. The shop owner said that regarding the Jamis hybrid line, he doesn't sell Coda's and only sells the Allegros bc a lot of people don't do research and assume that aluminum is the best for all applications. For that reason, he doesn't stock them. I figure some people buy aluminum bikes based on the look, those thick tubes that just look sporty and fast. Maybe I'm wrong. Not hating on aluminum bikes tho, I would have gotten one if that's what I was looking for.

So I wasn't able to test ride a Coda Sport at that shop, but I had previously ridden one, so I knew what I was going to be riding.
Haven't put much more than 5 miles on it so far. Had to go to work right after I picked it up yesterday. Just got back from a quick ride to the park and back with my son, and I'll take it for another spin this afternoon when it gets a bit warmer.

I feel good about this purchase, feel like I did my due diligence. I hadn't been on a bike in years, and knew next to nothing about parts and lingo before I started researching a little over a month ago. I have much to learn still, but it's going to be fun.

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Pistard

I bought one of them Alu bikes first, then got a Coda in 2011, just a great bike, I have a CF road bike from Jamis also, just a great product from a smaller manufacturer and not what most riders have, great choice, good luck with it.

Berta

My brother is looking at hybrids and likes the look of the Coda's steel frame. There are so many things to learn and consider when you've been off a bike for X many years; I had to do this myself and it's been worth the effort the whole way. I don't want to bombard him with info, though, so I've been doling out suggestions piecemeal. It's been very helpful to read feedback here on the bikes he's considering.

ColonelSanders

Where are the pics of your new baby?

Kobe 

I give Jamis credit for one of the few large bike manufactures to make a lot of their bikes in steel. I wish the Coda came in a size larger than the 23" or I would probably have one, they are a great choice for a steel hybrid. One of the other large bike companies to make steel hybrids is KHS. Although I never see many of their bikes around, their Urban line seems interesting.

DorkDisk

I totally agree. Steel has made a comeback of sorts. About 15 years ago, steel was so untrendy no large manufacturer would touch it with a bargepole. Kudos to Jamis and KHS for not only offering decent quality steel frames but 650b back in the day before it was the coolest thing to have

Pompiere

The steel frame was the deciding factor for me to buy my Jamis Quest instead of a similar aluminum bike from the other companies. I wanted a bike that would be smooth for longer distance rides. The aluminum bikes' advertising talked about having different methods to reduce the harshness of the frame so it was more like a steel frame. Since Jamis had a steel bike that didn't need any of that stuff, I thought the choice was obvious. A lot of people don't believe me when I tell them that it is a steel frame, since the bike is so light.

DorkDisk

There are many misconceptions about steel. Many used bike owners will refer to light steel bikes as "aluminum" because they think light = aluminum. You can point out the rust and stick a magnet to it and they still say "aluminum."

A 95 Stumpjumper weighed in at about 23lb stock. More exotic steel MTBs easily weighed 22lbs.

Anyways, modern alumium is a great deal. Forming has done wonders and the process has matured. Comfortable frames have been made in Al for a long time. It would be hard for me to choose between a modern $500 al bike and a chromo bike. In the high end, I still prefer steel

tarwheel 

I'm thinking about buying a used Jamis Coda for my daughter. It seems to be a good value for the money. Let me know how you like yours.

Calder Benson

Here you go, Colonel.

Calder Benson

Calder Benson

Jamis is still a family owned company, as far as I know. Do you have a pic of yours? I think your year had the cursive font on the top and down tube, no?

Calder Benson

I agree with the look of the frame. Looks streamlined and understated. A classic look.

Calder Benson

You must be tall to need a larger frame than a 23". A guy at one of the LBS's I went to says the starting point for a 23" in his opinion was about 6'4" with an average leg length / torso ratio.

Kobe 

I have an older Mongoose 450 hybrid that is a 23". The only way I cab make it usable was to put drop bars on it. The drop bars stretched out the top tube a bit. Being 6'6" I can extend the seat tube way up, but it not visually pleasing to me.

Trek also makes a 25" hybrid in their FX lineup, but of course it is aluminum.

ColonelSanders

That is even better looking than I thought it might be.

Such a classic frame shape.

koolerb

I don't think you can go wrong with a Coda. I got my wife one last Christmas, same paint scheme as yours, smaller frame. The only thing I'd maybe change if I could would be the tire clearance at the rear stays. I came with 700X32's, you could definitely go up at least one size, maybe two. That said I'm not sure I'd ever have a need to put on a tire bigger than what would fit. All round a great bike for the money.

corwin1968

Congrats on your new bike. I've heard nothing but high praise for the Jamis Coda and I think the Sport is the sweet spot in their lineup. Good choice!!

Calder Benson

Is 650b kind of like 4130 but a bit heavier/durable? I looked it up and got a bunch of hits on mtn bikes.

DorkDisk

650b is a wheelsize now marketed as "27.5"

Its the new wunder-size, if you believe the marketing

Jamis had the Dragon 650b in Reynolds 853 since waaaay back before the bandwagon started

Calder Benson

Definitely. I didn't review the bike in my OP bc I feel I couldn't speak to a lot of things that I will be able to once I'm more familiar with it. So far I'm happy with the ride on asphalt and the acceleration, seems to move easy off the line, and I'm out of shape right now too! I thought I would have to use my might to mash from a dead stop, but it just isn't so.

I'll keep you posted, after I put some miles on the Coda.

Calder Benson

Ah, ok. No wonder my search let me astray. Thanks for the info there.

Calder Benson

Thanks for the compliment.

Calder Benson

Thanks!

Calder Benson

Related to what you're saying about the wheels, two things I was thinking about post purchase were:

The space between the seat stays: Is it enough in case I want to swap for bigger tires..
Can I upgrade to a higher gear ratio (9speed) in the future,