I need a little help.
 

James Dakota Elite, or Santa Cruz Chameleon? Leaning towards getting the Jamis just because I feel like its a better buy, but I am looking for a second opinion.

Santa Cruz. I like Santa Cruz. There, you've got an opinion :rolleyes:

Seriously, you're going to have to do better than that on your own, why do you even think the bikes are comparable. Why do you think one or the other might be better for you or your riding skills/style/area? Do you dress yourself?

Yes I dress myself. I like the Santa Cruz also, but I was looking at best bang for buck, and from my point of view the Jamis is a better buy. Now what I was thinking of doing was just getting the Santa Cruz frame and switching all of my current stuff over. Not that I can't buy stuff on my own, I just wanted a second opinion.

Jamis will almost always be better "bang for your buck"...depending on the type of bang you're seeking. Something they seem to frequently skimp on is hubs. If you can get a similarly built Chameleon for the same price...I'd go SC.

What is the build of the Santa Cruz?
What year is the Jamis?


The Dakota Elite is a light/fast cross country bike:
Specifications
Frame
Kinesis Superlight 7005 triple-butted aluminum main tubes, BB30 over-sized BB shell, carbon fiber monostay, over-sized seat tube, gusseted down tube, replaceable derailleur hanger

Fork
Fox 32FRL, air spring with lockout & external rebound damping adjustor, 32mm stanchions, 100mm travel

Headset
Zero-Stack internal cup threadless, 1 1/8”

Wheels
WTB Laser Disc XC eyeletted rims, 32H, Shimano Deore M525 disc hubs, WTB 14g stainless steel spokes

Tires
Maxxis Ignitor, 26 x 2.1”

Derailleurs
Shimano Deore XT Shadow rear,
Deore XT 34.9mm top pull front

Shiftlevers
Shimano Deore XT, Rapidfire Plus-SL, 27-speed

Chain
Shimano HG73

Cassette
SRAM Powerglide 950, 9-speed, 11-32

Crankset
FSA Afterburner BB30, 44/32/22,
170mm (15.5”), 175mm (17-21”)

BB Set
FSA BB30

Pedals
Crank Brothers Smarty clipless

Brakeset
Avid Juicy 5 hydraulic disc brakes with Avid Juicy levers

Handlebar
Ritchey Mountain Comp OS flat bar,
31.8 O˚ x 5˚ sweep x 580mm

Stem
Ritchey Comp OS, 31.8 bar bore x 6˚ x 100mm (15”),
110mm (17 ”) & 120mm (19-21”)

Grips
WTB Trail, dual compound

Seat Post
Ritchey Comp OS, 350mm x 31.6 mm with 2 bolt design

Saddle
WTB Pure V Race with SL cover, chromoly rails

Sizes
15.5”, 17”, 19”, 21”

Color
Team Red/Pearl White

Weight
25.80 lbs

I was looking at a new Santa Cruz with the XT setup, and a 32 Float, and I was also looking at the newer model Jamis.

Just needling ya, sometimes I just read one too many "what should I buy" thread (having never asked anyone else what to get). The two bikes are totally different, though and would boil down to how you want to use the bike...like Chelboed points out the Dakota is a light xc bike, the Chameleon is more an "AM" kinda bike (but more versatile than the Dakota in a few ways). You sure you want to do the BB30 thing with the Dakota?

I ended up getting the Santa Cruz frame. Just bought it, should be here in about two weeks. Gonna swap everything from my current bike over.