is this a good bike?

SHU MAN FU · 03-10-2010, 12:42 AM

i am a beginner and i bought a mongoose full suspension from walmart and decided that that bike sucks. Im really looking at this bike and probably going to have scooters order it for me.

So what does everyone think. Is this a good beginners bike?

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...arxcsport.html

N8 · 03-10-2010, 07:08 AM

It would be s lot more helpful to us to know:

1. What your budget is
2. What your riding style/goals are

Neo · 03-10-2010, 07:53 AM

I agree with Nate. Also, I rode with 2 guys in Memphis who both rode Jamis' and still do. One is on his second frame and 3rd swingarm, the other is on his 3rd frame and 5th swingarm. See a pattern here. They are not hard riders and are not particularly hard on their bikes. They both love the ride the Jamis has so that is why they have not changed over and Jamis has warranteed all of the breakages. Just a thought. I am not a particular fan of the Jamis full suspension bikes although I have not heard anything bad about their hard tails.

Go ahead and look at the 29er hardtails. You will probably be impressed with their ride quality and what you can buy for your money.

The Specialized 29ers are especially nice and you get quite a lot of bike for the money. The Gary Fishers are not bad either. Do a lot of shopping before you make your decision and go with a reputable bike shop as well.

N8 · 03-10-2010, 08:06 AM

Lots of info out there to help you.

www.mtbr.com is very helpful for bike info, and for local advice www.locomtb.com (this forum) is the place to ask.

If the Jamis you are looking at is a '09 model, just know that in 6 months it will be 2 years old, since most bike companies release their new lines in the fall (the 2011's are coming soon!).

Mountain Bike Review.com Resources for the New Rider
Bike Reviews
Beginners' Forum
29er Forum

There are lots of other great forums in mtbr.com, even if you are interested in great beer.

SHU MAN FU · 03-10-2010, 08:21 AM

right now im dealing with scooters. Are they any good? I want to start doing downhill type trail riding that has some stuff to jump thats why i was leaning toward full suspension. Budget wise, I didnt want to spend alot of money on a bike right now i was just going to ride for fun, for now. I picked this bike because ive heard good things about jamis and its not as much as the other brand names. I just bought a house in the ellerbe area thats why im not going all out and buying a $2,000 bike. This bike was a little more than what i wanted to pay but i thought about it and said why not. I had went to bikes ect to buy the haro thats in the for sale forum buy they said they sold it.

and just wanted to know why a hardtail over full suspension.

btw im 5'7 ( midget ) haha so wouldnt a 29er be too big for me

adrenalnjunky · 03-10-2010, 08:29 AM

For the money, I always had a problem trying to sell a customer an entry-level full squish. It seems like a big selling point - but for the $$$, you're not getting as functional a piece and overall parts spec as you would spending the same $900 on a hardtail.

If you are seriously going to start putting miles on a trail bike - I fear that RST fork and low end wheels just aren't going to hold up to the learning curve that a new rider requires.

LOCOs are all about the 29ers, but I'll go ahead and be the calming factor here - if you can get a 26" wheeled bike with better suspension and parts than a similarly priced 29" - I'd buy the better parts package every day over the bigger wheels.

TBone · 03-10-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHU MAN FU

right now im dealing with scooters. Are they any good? I want to start doing downhill type trail riding that has some stuff to jump thats why i was leaning toward full suspension. Budget wise, I didnt want to spend alot of money on a bike right now i was just going to ride for fun, for now. I picked this bike because ive heard good things about jamis and its not as much as the other brand names. I just bought a house in the ellerbe area thats why im not going all out and buying a $2,000 bike. This bike was a little more than what i wanted to pay but i thought about it and said why not. I had went to bikes ect to buy the haro thats in the for sale forum buy they said they sold it.

and just wanted to know why a hardtail over full suspension.

btw im 5'7 ( midget ) haha so wouldnt a 29er be too big for me

Scooters is a great shop. Scott at Scooters has been in the bike biz for many years. On your downhill comment...there are NONE around here. I believe that people telling you to buy a 29er hardtail is an effort to steer you to buying a bike that will be the best for you in the area you live in. If you show up on a 30+lb full suspension and get hammered at every ride you probably wont enjoy riding. If you are planning to move to a more mountainous area soon and do downhill riding then buy a full suspension but do more research on the best bikes for that sport.

SHU MAN FU · 03-10-2010, 09:03 AM

im not in it to do racing im just riding for fun. when i was a kid i would go trailriding and find stuff to jump or jump off of so thats why i was leaning toward a full suspension bike. So seeing the bike and knowing i dont want to spend more than $875 is this a good bike?

N8 · 03-10-2010, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHU MAN FU

im not in it to do racing im just riding for fun. when i was a kid i would go trailriding and find stuff to jump or jump off of so thats why i was leaning toward a full suspension bike. So seeing the bike and knowing i dont want to spend more than $875 is this a good bike?

Be better off buying a well spec'd USED bike for the same money.

adrenalnjunky · 03-10-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHU MAN FU

im not in it to do racing im just riding for fun. when i was a kid i would go trailriding and find stuff to jump or jump off of so thats why i was leaning toward a full suspension bike. So seeing the bike and knowing i dont want to spend more than $875 is this a good bike?

I'd have to see you ride - but there's a diff between catching some air, and hucking. If you're looking for air measured in feet, not inches, I wouldn't expect the entry level suspension on that bike to take a ton of abuse like that. The wheelset would definitely be the weakest link - for trail riding it will be fine, but if you're really talking about big air - those wheels aren't going to handle it for long unless you are the smoothest jumper around here - (and Cary isn't going to give up that title without a fight).

Short answer - to ride local trails, sure the bike will be fine, and properly maintained should work just fine. It is a basic swing-link 4-bar (horst-link clone) 3.5" travel cross country rig. @ 35+ pounds you're going to have to work to push it, but that is a byproduct of the price point. As an all-mountain/freeride style bike, where you're wanting 5+ inches of travel it is the wrong tool for the job.

What are you riding right now?

03-10-2010, 12:42 AM	#1
SHU MAN FU Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: shreveport Posts: 168	is this a good bike? i am a beginner and i bought a mongoose full suspension from walmart and decided that that bike sucks. Im really looking at this bike and probably going to have scooters order it for me. So what does everyone think. Is this a good beginners bike? http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...arxcsport.html

03-10-2010, 07:08 AM	#2
N8 SSlow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 7,453	It would be s lot more helpful to us to know: 1. What your budget is 2. What your riding style/goals are __________________

03-10-2010, 07:53 AM	#3
Neo - Fit - *LOCO-President* Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Somewhere in the Matrix Posts: 1,572	I agree with Nate. Also, I rode with 2 guys in Memphis who both rode Jamis' and still do. One is on his second frame and 3rd swingarm, the other is on his 3rd frame and 5th swingarm. See a pattern here. They are not hard riders and are not particularly hard on their bikes. They both love the ride the Jamis has so that is why they have not changed over and Jamis has warranteed all of the breakages. Just a thought. I am not a particular fan of the Jamis full suspension bikes although I have not heard anything bad about their hard tails. Go ahead and look at the 29er hardtails. You will probably be impressed with their ride quality and what you can buy for your money. The Specialized 29ers are especially nice and you get quite a lot of bike for the money. The Gary Fishers are not bad either. Do a lot of shopping before you make your decision and go with a reputable bike shop as well. __________________ Mr. Anderson

03-10-2010, 08:06 AM	#4
N8 SSlow Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 7,453	Lots of info out there to help you. www.mtbr.com is very helpful for bike info, and for local advice www.locomtb.com (this forum) is the place to ask. If the Jamis you are looking at is a '09 model, just know that in 6 months it will be 2 years old, since most bike companies release their new lines in the fall (the 2011's are coming soon!). Mountain Bike Review.com Resources for the New Rider Bike Reviews Beginners' Forum 29er Forum There are lots of other great forums in mtbr.com, even if you are interested in great beer. __________________

03-10-2010, 08:21 AM	#5
SHU MAN FU Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: shreveport Posts: 168	right now im dealing with scooters. Are they any good? I want to start doing downhill type trail riding that has some stuff to jump thats why i was leaning toward full suspension. Budget wise, I didnt want to spend alot of money on a bike right now i was just going to ride for fun, for now. I picked this bike because ive heard good things about jamis and its not as much as the other brand names. I just bought a house in the ellerbe area thats why im not going all out and buying a $2,000 bike. This bike was a little more than what i wanted to pay but i thought about it and said why not. I had went to bikes ect to buy the haro thats in the for sale forum buy they said they sold it. and just wanted to know why a hardtail over full suspension. btw im 5'7 ( midget ) haha so wouldnt a 29er be too big for me Last edited by SHU MAN FU; 03-10-2010 at 08:26 AM.

03-10-2010, 08:29 AM	#6
adrenalnjunky stays crunchy in milk Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Monroe Posts: 1,929	For the money, I always had a problem trying to sell a customer an entry-level full squish. It seems like a big selling point - but for the $$$, you're not getting as functional a piece and overall parts spec as you would spending the same $900 on a hardtail. If you are seriously going to start putting miles on a trail bike - I fear that RST fork and low end wheels just aren't going to hold up to the learning curve that a new rider requires. LOCOs are all about the 29ers, but I'll go ahead and be the calming factor here - if you can get a 26" wheeled bike with better suspension and parts than a similarly priced 29" - I'd buy the better parts package every day over the bigger wheels. __________________ Thanks, CHRIS www.nelacycling.org

03-10-2010, 09:03 AM	#8
SHU MAN FU Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: shreveport Posts: 168	im not in it to do racing im just riding for fun. when i was a kid i would go trailriding and find stuff to jump or jump off of so thats why i was leaning toward a full suspension bike. So seeing the bike and knowing i dont want to spend more than $875 is this a good bike?

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