Notices
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

which is the better build?

Old 03-09-09, 04:12 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
which is the better build?

If the price is the same, which of these cyclocross bikes would be a better bang for the buck?


Kona JTS

Aluminum frame 60cm
Wound Up carbon fork
Chris King headset
Ritchey Biomax bars 44cm
Easton EA 50 stem 120mm
Frogglegs brakes and in-line brake levers
Campagnolo Chorus 9 speed gruppo
Truvativ cranks 175mm
FSA bottom bracket
Crank Bro's pedals
Easton CT2 carbon seat post
Terry Zero saddle
handbuilt Mavic Open Pro rims/Chris King hubs wheel set
extra tires and innertubes.

Redline Conquest

1. Frameset: Redline Conquest 58cm
2. Wheels: Velocity Fusion on Dura Ace hubs
3. Bars: Ritchey Pro Ergonomic 44cm
4. Stem: Ritchey Pro 12cm
5. Chainset: Ritchey Cross 175mm 46/38 chainrings
6. Chain: SRAM 8sp new
7. Cassette: SRAM 8sp 12-32 new
8. Rear deraileur: Shimano XTR
9. Front deraileaur: Shimano Ultegra
10. Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace 8sp
11. Brakes: Empella Frogs Legs Cantilever
12. Levers: Empella Frog Legs Top Mount
13. Tires: Michellin Cross-Sprint
14. Saddle: Avocet 02
15. Post: Synchros

Jamis Nova

Components
Component Group Shimano 105
Brakeset Avid Shorty 4 brakes, Shimano 105 STI Dual Control levers
Shift Levers Shimano 105 STI Dual Control
Front Derailleur Shimano 105, top-pull/clamp-on 31.8mm
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105
Crankset Truvativ Elita Compact GXP, 36/50 teeth
Pedals Crank Brothers Candy C
Bottom Bracket Truvativ GXP
BB Shell Width Unspecified
Rear Cogs 10-speed, 12 - 25 teeth
Chain Shimano CN-5600
Seatpost Ritchey Road Comp V2, 27.2mm diameter
Saddle Fi'zi:k Pave, chrome-moly rails
Handlebar Ritchey Biomax II Road Comp
Handlebar Extensions Unspecified
Handlebar Stem Ritchey Road Comp V2
Headset 1 1/8" threadless Aheadset

Wheels
Hubs Ritchey Aero Comp
Rims Ritchey Comp Aero
Tires 700 x 32c Maxxis Mimo CX


Thanks!

Tyler
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 04:19 PM
  #2  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by flargle
Put these data in tabular form.
huh?
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:00 PM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Is that going to change the responses? I'm not being a smartass...i just don't see the point of wasting my time to make an excel spreadsheet when there are many people here who know much more about these bikes than i do...who can take 30 seconds and tell me which is the better deal...
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:11 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 108
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If you're asking for help is it too much to ask that you put the data in a format that is easier for people to read?
funurdiesel is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:27 PM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I don't know what half of the things are...lol...which is why i was asking. One bike specify's what is what...the other just gives names of parts...i'm not sure what refers to what...

oh well. i guess i'll just try elsewhere!

thanks anyhow!
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:31 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
nubcake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 699

Bikes: Gunnar Crosshairs, Giant Trance, Felt Breed, Marin SS MTB, Felt Pyre BMX bike, oldschool GT trials bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
the Jamis is the best bang for the buck but the kona is a bad ***** build kit and if you can afford it, go that way and you will not regret it. Hell the wheelset on the Kona goes for close to $800 new alone.
nubcake is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:44 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 909

Bikes: Kona Jake (2006)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Do King hubs even have a Campy cassette option?
knucklesandwich is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:47 PM
  #8  
Semper Fidelis
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,000

Bikes: Tiemeyer Road Bike & Ridley Domicles

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
i would go with the kona
HAMMER MAN is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 06:52 PM
  #9  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks fellas! They're all priced about the same. There's also a Bianchi Axis for about $300 less than the aformentioned...I was leaning towards the Kona simply based on the research I was able to do online.
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 08:05 PM
  #10  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
jesus. forums used to be the place to come get information. people used to be so willing to offer their opinion. did something crawl in your ass and die flargle? i mean seriously, if you don't want to offer an opinion...don't!

obviously there are knowledgeable people in here who can simply look at the bikes...and know immediately what is what. it would take me hours of looking up prices...adding them up. i'm sorry. i'm a doctoral student who barely has time to type this response, let alone spend mindless hours looking up prices.

i'm sorry for asking knowledgeable people something that they know like the back of their hand and can answer in a matter of seconds.

hopefully you wake up on the not so grumpy side of the bed tomorrow morning.

cheers.
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 08:15 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Andy_K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,785

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 522 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3228 Post(s)
Liked 3,848 Times in 1,435 Posts
Don't mind us. Cyclists are grumpy when we're not on our bikes.

Seriously, though, try asking this same question on the commuter forum. The guys over there love to compare parts.
Andy_K is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 08:39 PM
  #12  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
no worries. thanks andy!
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-09-09, 09:18 PM
  #13  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
because driving a car 5 miles to school in atlanta every day is a complete waste...so i thought i'd come find out what is my best option...thanks for reminding me why i'm still in school...
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-10-09, 06:25 AM
  #14  
Lost
 
AngryScientist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: nutley, nj
Posts: 4,600
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 113 Times in 45 Posts
if i can ask, how much is that Kona, that thing sounds sweeeeet.

if you couldnt tell, thats the one i would go for!
AngryScientist is offline  
Old 03-10-09, 08:16 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
iamtim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054

Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by flargle
Put these data in tabular form.
Because the forum software handles tables so elegantly?
iamtim is offline  
Old 03-10-09, 12:57 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: Dawes Kalahari, Puch Prima Super Sport, Graham Weigh 853

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I personally like the parts spec on the Kona, but what is the bike for? If you are commuting in Atlanta, you might like mudguards or rack mounts. Those might not be present on the bikes you posted. Also, the Chris King wheelset means that that bike is fitted with a non-Campagnolo cassette which will make keeping it tuned up harder. The Redline has dura ace 8 speed. With that build, you are in big trouble if you break the right shifter. 8 speed is otherwise cheap and durable. The 105 on the Jamis is usually strong and tough but I don't think the wheels are that great for commuting.

Whatever you choose, make sure you buy some tyres suited to commuting. Cross tyres are terrible on the road.
acorn_user is offline  
Old 03-10-09, 02:42 PM
  #17  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
angryscientist, the kona is less than the '07 fuji cross comp leftover at performance bike :-)

acorn, thanks for the advice. the bike will be mainly used for commuting. i actually don't know if any of those bikes have tabs for mounting those items.
Originally Posted by acorn_user
Also, the Chris King wheelset means that that bike is fitted with a non-Campagnolo cassette which will make keeping it tuned up harder.
why?

flargle, do you really have nothing better to do than lurking and creating drama?

thanks again for all of the help fellas!
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-10-09, 03:18 PM
  #18  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
nevermind. you answered my question.
tydaddy is offline  
Old 03-10-09, 06:19 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
TheValveSource's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Phoenix Area
Posts: 91

Bikes: Road Cyclocross

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Jamis !!!!

I went out and test rode a bunch of cyclocross bikes including the Specialized $1800 one, the Kona JTS and lots of others. When I rode the Jamis Nova Pro - it was far and away the best of the bunch.

I bought it, I love it and wish I would have had the money to buy the SuperNova Pro.
TheValveSource is offline  
Old 03-11-09, 10:16 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Posts: 1,990

Bikes: Dawes Kalahari, Puch Prima Super Sport, Graham Weigh 853

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Chris King does not make a hub with a Campagnolo freehub body. That means that you have to run a cassette designed for a Shimano freehub. In turn, this means that you will have to find one of the few Shimano freehub fitting cassettes with Campagnolo spacing. They do exist; the best way is to use spacers on miche cogs atmo. Or... you could do one of a couple of things to run the regular Shimano cassettes, such as run a Jtek shiftmate. Also, campagnolo 9 speed shifts Shimano 10 speed spaced cassettes pretty well in my experience.
acorn_user is offline  
Old 03-11-09, 10:53 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
iamtim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054

Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by flargle
No. Because those data are best shown in tabular form.
You miss my point completely.

My advice to you is that if you can't handle the method by which the data is presented like the rest of us, don't read it. This is a forum about bikes, not data analysis.
iamtim is offline  
Old 03-11-09, 11:19 AM
  #22  
shoot up or shut up.
 
isotopesope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: colorado springs, co
Posts: 1,961

Bikes: yes please.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
that kona is indeed a sweet build, but seems like overkill and ill-fitted for a college commuter... epecially considering you "don't know what half of the things are...lol" i'd also hate to see such a race oriented bike locked to a campus bike rack like a common huffy. har har.
isotopesope is offline  
Old 03-11-09, 11:43 AM
  #23  
big ring
 
MIN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: philadelphia
Posts: 5,838
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
flargle, your posts were deleted. please be more considerate or don't post at all.
MIN is offline  
Old 03-11-09, 11:50 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,119
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by iamtim
You miss my point completely.

My advice to you is that if you can't handle the method by which the data is presented like the rest of us, don't read it. This is a forum about bikes, not data analysis.
This thread is exactly about the analysis of (bike-related) data.

If the OP had put his data in readable form, more people (perhaps even I, he should have been so lucky) would have bothered to make suggestions. As it stands, even just to compare wheels between the three bikes requires scrolling up and down.

If the OP can't even go to the trouble of making his data intelligible, why should anyone bother spending time responding or even reading it? [This statement has wider relevance to life in general, including the pursuit of a doctoral degree.]
flargle is offline  
Old 03-11-09, 01:08 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
iamtim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054

Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
flargle, go away.

tydaddy, that's a tough call. They're all good builds. I'm partial to the Redline because Redline was huge when I was racing BMX (and yes, I know today's Redline is not yesterday's Redline.) But it's only 8 speed, so... *shrug*

...

Not that 8 speed is bad, mind you, but given your premise that price between the three is equivalent you won't get the most "bang for your buck" from an 8 speed bike when compared to a 9 speed or 10 speed bike.

So that leaves the Kona and the Jamis. I'm a Shimano guy so I have no idea where the Chorus group sits in the Campy line up, but 105 is good stuff. I imagine Chorus is probably on an equivalent level as 105, but I'd be more tempted to go with the Jamis because it has the Shimano.

YMMV.
iamtim is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.