Lost_Brit

Hey all, my names Mark

NEED a new bike ASAP, was riding on some trials in rain last fri and my bike has now been pushed a little two far, new new front suspension, 3 new cables, new brakes all round, blah blah the list goes on, was on the bike today cause its my only one, fell four times, and flew of the trail at least 10, in under a hour run, gave up and came home

so i was looking into upgrading and getting a machine worthy of my abuse, due to buying a couple duel sport bikes, and being a college student, money doesn't come easy, but i love to have fun, so i dont really want to spend over a grand, two bikes that i was really looking at where the
gary fisher hoo koo e koo
and
jamis dakota sport, unless the store can get a (Jamis 05' dakota AL in a 21", due to price reduction, $1100down to $900)

Any dos or donts, or any other advice welcome, just want to get somthing SOON

East Hill

Hello Mark, I'm not an expert on either of those two bikes, but if I remember correctly, a lot of people weren't happy with the fork on the HKEK, so you'd probably need to replace it fairly soon.

The Jamis sounds like the better deal, in that case.

Where are you located? And why are you a Lost Brit?

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Lost_Brit

Hey East Hill, Thanks a lot for the info on the HKEK, about the sn;
Lost_Brit = just lost in my own head, lived in Manchester England till i was 11 then moved to long island, New York, so im a brit in the US who's a little nuts

Looking at the bikes some more the jamis looks quite a bit better, maybe not the frame, but the hydrolic disks brakes, over the reg disk, and other components are somewhat similier. Hopefully the store can get there hands on a 21" in the 05 Dakota AL, if not the dakota sport will prob be the way to go as far as i've looked. Gray Fishers seem to be based a lot more on the frame than the components, which are a lot easier to break.
Have to wait till mon to find out about the AL so im still open to any suggestions, and would appriciate them

East Hill

You aren't related to me, are you ?

I was born in Swinton, and have had ancestors in Lancashire since before 1841...see my signature.

I think I'd still go with the Jamis. If you did some searching on my posts, you would see that I am very fond of steel bikes, so you would not get an unbiased opinion from me about steel . Perhaps someone else will help you with the AL versus the Sport.

East Hill