I'm hoping to get some feedback regarding this decision. Is anyone very familiar with the difference in componentry in relation to that in price? I'll be riding this bike a lot (I courier), including some possible touring down the line. I've heard the wheels that come stock on the Jake aren't very high quality, so I'd probably look into replacing those, considering the riding I'll be doing off-curbs, etc. Should I just spend the extra for the Jake the Snake? Thank you.

Spend the extra and get the Snake. I picked one up last week and am very happy with it! Nice and light, performs great, looks great and rides much much smother than I thought it would. The Snake frame is much better than the Jakes, plus the components are alot better as well. Can you test ride both before buying? Is so that would be the best way to determine if the Snake is worth the extra $.

About 3 weeks ago I was pondering the same thing. I decided to splurge and the Snake. I haven't been disappointed. I am a roadie at heart, but this bike handles like a dream. I rediscovered my love for biking all over again. The shifting is great (I have Tiagra on my road bike), and the bike doesn't feel flimsy when I ride. I have to say it has been the best cycling investment I have made in a very long time.

The Jake the Snake has Shimano 105 parts while the Jake has Tiagra. In the Portland area- the Snake is being discounted to where it's only $100 more than the Jake, sort of a kick-off to the cyclocross season thing.

I demo-d a Jake the Snake 2 nights ago at a local cyclo-cross clinic. It was a really nice bike for the money. The hubs are mountain bike stuff- which is probably good considering you're planning to ride the bike hard. I didn't use the top in-line brake levers- but it's cool that it comes with them.

The best part is that it has drillings for front and rear fenders. If you're going to use it as an urban assault vehicle- that's a good thing.

Have fun!

Hi Homer,

Where in Portland are they selling the snake for $100 more then the Jake?

Scot

I've also been looking at both the J and the JTS, primarily for commuting use. My LBS advised that for that purpose the heavier, more robust, frame of the J make it the better choice. The ultralite frame of the JTS is intended for racing and is not going to stand up so well to the long-term commuting abuse e.g. curb hopping etc with loaded panniers. That was their opinion at any rate. Personally I think I'd still be inclined to get the snake. I think it's great value, with excellent components for the price.

A heavier aluminium frame is not necessarily more robust but for commuting the Jake is all you need, why spend money on a snake for commuting?

Today my snake 2005 arrived and i'm gonna use it for everything!!!

By the way, the snake is'nt so ultralight, 10,4 kg... Heavy!

I've assembled a titanium seatpost and a lighter saddle and have saved 0,4 kg...

Fat Tire Farm. The special ended yesterday.

I just picked up a Jake last night. The shop didn't have any Snakes, but I still really like this one so far. The poor bike is probably going to take a lot of punishment this winter, so I wasn't really wanting to spend a whole bunch more cash on the Snake anyway.