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Bicycles Online > Mountain Bikes > Jamis Dakar XC Mountain Bike Review
Jamis Dakar XC Mountain Bike Review
Get the most bang for your buck! The Jamis Dakar XC is arguably the best entry level (i.e. inexpensive), full suspension, cross country bike on the market. Check out the features and components and see for yourself. 
The Jamis Dakar XC bikes are a great value right out of the box. Excellent (award winning) frame and quality components. You can tweak, enhance and repair as needed, but why not get off to a great start to begin with?
The Dakar XC has been around for years so there are no shortage of reviews online. At the time of this review, the Jamis Dakar has a rating of 4.6 of 5 stars at mtbr.com.
The only real consistent complaints that I've seen about this bike is that it is a little heavy, (around 35 pounds) although customers generally had excellent reviews and still rated the bike very highly.
Jamis bikes can be purchased online but you won't find them at as many online retailers as other brands that can be purchased online. JensonUSA is probably the best choice and you can usually get quite a discount on previous year models.
Jamis Dakar XC Features at a Glance: All 2010 Jamis Dakar XC bikes have aluminum frames (the XCR models are Carbon or Kinesium alloy), Geax Saguaro, 26 x 2.1” tires, Shimano shifers, derailers and cranksets, and Aheadset, STS-2K, 1 1/8” headsets. Other components are dependent on the specific model.
Note: As of 8/1/2010 the 2009 Jamis Dakar XC is on sale and selling for $640 (new) at JensonUSA. See Jamis Dakar XC at JensonUSA for the latest price or to buy the Dakar XC or XCR full suspension mountain bikes..
Jamis Dakar XC Model Comparisons:
The 2010 Jamis Dakar XC series has 2 price/frame/component levels . The 2 XC levels are based on frame and components and include the Comp at the high end followed by the Sport.
Although the Dakar XC Sport and the Dakar XC Comp are both classified in the full suspension Dakar XC category, there are many differences in the two bikes. See the table below for a comparison of the two models.
Although this review is primarily for the Dakar XC, it may be helpful to understand
the higher end 2010 Dakar XCR which has 3 price/component levels. The
3 XCR levels are based on components and frame and include the XCR TEAM at the high end followed by the XCR Pro and then the XCR Sport.
About-Bicycles Review:
The Jamis Dakar XC (and XCR) series bikes are inexpensive and rock solid bikes right out of the box. Although it may be harder to find these bikes online, you can usually get very good deals on previous year models.
Customer Reviews:
There are plenty of reviews of the Jamis Dakar XC bikes to be found online. Customers have rated the Dakar XC very high (4.6 of 5 stars at mtbr for example). Below are just a few of the relevant comments on the Jamis Dakar XC.
Most Relevant Customer Review Comments included...
Jamis Dakar XC Comp: "Totally descent bike for the amount paid. I ride fire roads close to the house and more technical trails up in the mountains. This bike has no problem with the climbing or decending that I do with it." - From June, 2009, mtbr.com.
"Great bike for the price. All others were almost double for comparible features. "Weaknesses: 'The stock rear derailer does make contact with the frame and as a result is noisy going over bumpier terrain. " From February, 2009, mtbr.com
2010 Jamis Dakar XC Comp and Jamis Dakar Sport Features and Comparison:
| Dakar XC Comp |
Dakar XC Sport |
| MSRP: $1375.00 |
MSRP: $875.00 |
| Frame 7005 aluminum all tubes with gusseted down tube and box-section stays, fully-active/multi-link design with 90mm rear travel, Rock Shox Bar 2.1 air shock with rebound damping, replaceable derailleur hanger |
Frame 7005 aluminum all tubes with gusseted down tube and box-section stays, fully-active/multi-link design with 90mm rear travel, X-Fusion Glyde R coil-over shock with rebound damping, replaceable derailleur hanger |
| Fork Rock Shox Tora XC coil, magnesium lowers, 32mm stanchions, external rebound damping adjustor, 100mm travel |
Fork RST Gilo Pro TnL coil, aluminum lowers, 32mm stanchions, external lock out, compression and preload, 100mm travel |
| Headset Aheadset, STS-2K, 1 1/8” |
Headset Aheadset, STS-2K, 1 1/8” |
| Wheels Mavic XM 117 disc-specific/eyeletted rims, 32H, with Shimano Deore M535 Center Lock disc hubs, 14g black stainless steel spokes |
Wheels Alex TD-25 disc-specific/eyeletted rims, 32H, Formula disc hubs, 14g black stainless steel spokes |
| Tires Geax Saguaro, 26 x 2.1” |
Tires Geax Saguaro, 26 x 2.1” |
| Derailleurs Shimano Deore XT Shadow rear and Deore 34.9mm top pull front |
Derailleurs Shimano Deore Shadow rear and Alivio 31.8mm top pull front |
| Shiftlevers Shimano Deore RapidFire-SL, 27-speed |
Shiftlevers Shimano Alivio RapidFire-SL, 24-speed |
| Chain KMC Z-9000 |
Chain KMC Z82 |
| Cassette SRAM 950, 9-speed, 11-34 |
Cassette Shimano HG40, 8-speed, 11-32 |
| Crankset Shimano M442 Octalink, 42/32/22, 170mm (13-15”), 175mm (17-23”) |
Crankset Shimano M361 Octalink, 42/32/22, 170mm (13-15”), 175mm (17-23”) |
| BB Set Shimano ES25, Octalink, 68 x 118 |
BB Set Shimano ES25, Octalink, 68 x 121 |
| Pedals FPD clipless |
Pedals FPD clipless |
| Brakeset Shimano M575 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm Center Lock rotors |
Brakeset Tektro IO mechanical disc brakes, ML-330 levers and 160mm wavy rotors |
| Handlebar Ritchey Mountain Riser 6 dergree bend 20mm rise and 670,, |
Handlebar Jamis XC alloy riser, 6D sweep x 13mm rise x 620mm |
| Stem Ritchey 4 bolt stem,6D rise x 75mm (12.5” ), 90mm (14M-15.5”), 100mm (17”) and 120mm (19-21”) |
Stem Jamis XC alloy threadless,10D rise x 75mm (12.5” ), 90mm (14M-15.5”), 100mm (17”) and 120mm (19-21”) |
| Grips Velo kraton gel |
Grips Velo kraton gel |
| Seat Post Ritchey OS, 2-bolt , 31.6 x 350mm, with alloy QR clamp |
Seat Post Jamis OS alloy micro-adjust, 31.6 x 350mm, with alloy QR clamp |
| Saddle Jamis Trail with pressure relief channel, wide tail platform and scuff-resistant corners |
Saddle Jamis Trail with pressure relief channel, wide tail platform and scuff-resistant corners |
| Sizes 13”, 15”, 17”, 19”, 21”, 23” |
Sizes 13”, 15”, 17”, 19”, 21”, 23” |
| Color Victory Red/Pearl White |
Color Gloss Black/Stainless |
| Weight 33.25 lbs |
Weight 35.00 lbs |
More helpful online bike sales resources:
See Best Buy Bikes Online - for the latest sales and deals on quality brand names bikes for sale online.
Most popular bike brands in US - WIth so many bicycle manufacturers, bicycle types and popular brand names sold in the US, that it can be difficult to find a comprehensive summary of the top 20 bike most popular bike brands.
See Online Bike Stores - for a complete listing of where to purchase the most popular brands for all bike types online.
Recommended Mountain Bike Brands and Online Bike Sites
** REI.com - Mountain Bikes
has a great selection of GT, Ellsworth, Cannondale, Ellsworth, Novara and Raleigh brand mountain bikes that you can buy online. Some REI brand mountain bikes (like Cannondale and Raleigh) must be delivered to an REI store but the brands that can be delivered directly to your home come with only minor assembly required.
* Mountain Bikes at Performance  for a nice selection of mountain bikes for sale online including GT, Diamondback, Fuji, Schwinn, Focus and Mongoose brand mountain bikes. Bikes can be delivered to your home or to a Performance store for FREE shipping.
See Bikes at Wal-Mart  for a good selection of mountain bikes at very low prices. Walmart offers Schwinn, Mongoose, and Next (and other inexpensive) brand mountain bikes for sale online.
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