|   Titus vs. Jamis | BowWow
Apr 14, 2002 9:47 PM | | Can anybody compare the Jamis Dakar Comp with the Racer-X? I'm a seriously broke father of eight, and can't afford to do more than dream about the R-X or HH (drool, slobber...). The Dakar seems to be very similar to the R-X, suspension-wise. How do they compare on the trail?
Thanks in advance,
Steve |
| Save.... | fud
Apr 15, 2002 2:43 AM | | your cash for your kids/family/home and buy a bike when you can afford it. Nothing worse than seeing a seriously broke father riding around on a new bike while the kiddies have doodly-squat.
Well you did say you were seriously broke. |
| Save.... | BowWow
Apr 15, 2002 9:16 PM | | Great advice! I figured when the kids start crying about being hungry I'll just tell them to lick my new bike! No, really, I find pounding the trails a great stress buster, and a couple or three of the kids are almost ready to pound their dear old dad into the trail! I thought maybe a decent FS (gotta have the Horst link...) would keep me a bike length or two ahead of them for a little longer...
Steve |
| Maybe invest in a vasectomy? | Population
Apr 15, 2002 3:07 AM | | One child is a blessing two is a blessing.....eight?......that's a downright expensive blessing. |
| Maybe invest in a vasectomy? | BowWow
Apr 15, 2002 9:26 PM | | Dang! The "v" word! And me deathly afraid of sharp objects! :-0
I agree about the blessing thing, though. "...Children are an heritage of the Lord... Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..." (Never thought I'd be quoting scripture on mtbr! Ya just never know, do ya!)
I'm getting an unexpected tax return this year, and just thought...
And why the heck am I justifying myself to you guys??? ;-)
Steve |
| How/when do you have time to ride a bike. | JsR
Apr 15, 2002 4:28 AM | | The Dakar is a great FS ride, don't think it can be beat for the money. |
| How/when do you have time to ride a bike. | BowWow
Apr 15, 2002 9:40 PM | | Thanks for the encouragement RE the Dakar...
I ride from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. every weekday morning from the middle of April until the middle of October, and try to get a couple or three hours every other Saturday, also in the early hours. I'm also racing five times this year in the local club XC race which is held the third Tuesday of every month, for the first time in my life (I'll be 46 in June). My family plans on being my pit crew and cheerleading section. I also take the kids out on a few Mondays (my day off) during July and August for some nice singletrack in a nearby National Park. I actually get quite a lot of riding in, and my family doesn't seem to get impacted too much (I hope!!!)
Winters (I'm in Canada) I just veg and read mtbr and a few mtn bike mags and get fat and dream and plan upgrades, and maybe catch a few hours on the mag trainer to keep the legs and lungs from forgetting what they're there for...
Where there's a will...!
Steve |
| Well... | JsR
Apr 16, 2002 7:07 AM | | That sounds like a blast! I just built a Dakar for my girlfriend (JensonUSA 13" frame), right now it's 26lbs. without any stupid light(expensive) parts. IMO it pedals and rides as well as my Switchblade, the front feels as stiff too but I can feel some flex in the rear in comparison (but the SB is a VVEERRYY stiff frame). |
| Oh, and I only need to sleep about 4 hours a night... NM | BowWow
Apr 15, 2002 10:05 PM | | |
| An answer: | XJT
Apr 15, 2002 8:23 AM | | The Dakar has slower handling, steering, climbing. The rear end is not as stiff and both Dakar designs (seatstay and horst links) "bob" a little more if your mashing the pedals.
The Dakar is a good bike. I owned one for over a year. But it's a "neutral" XC bike while the X is geared a little more towards racing. Obviously, either bike can be geared/setup toward racing or trail pounding. |
| An answer: | BowWow
Apr 15, 2002 9:50 PM | | Thanks for the excellent feedback!
I'm assuming you mean the X steers a little quicker (steeper fork angle)? I am looking more for plush, that with more preload will stiffen up for racing, rather than stiff from the get-go. I can parking-lot-test the Jamis (dealer is a couple of hours away), but don't think I can get a shot at the Titus without purchasing...
Does the Dakar feel looser in the rear end? I've read things about the bushings that concern me... Do you know if it's possible to replace the bushings with needle bearings without any machine work? (Sorry for all the questions!!!)
Steve |
| re: Titus vs. Jamis | Bret@kalomtb
Apr 15, 2002 12:03 PM | | If you decide to go with a Titus just give me a call I can set you up with a sweet deal!
www.kalomtb.com
Bret |
| What about... | Louie
Apr 15, 2002 12:45 PM | | What about all the bad publicity that I have seen regarding Kalo? Do you have anything to say about that?
I'll admit that I have never dealt with Kalo before, but I also have to say that I don't think I have heard one single positive thing about their operation before either. In fact, last summer, I saw a manufacturers site that specifically said Kalomtb is not a dealer due to bad experiences blah blah blah... for the life of me I can't remember where I saw it, but it definately left an impression.
Personally... I'd probably not buy from someone who I've never seen post here before... spammer! There are some other dealers here but they tend to actually provide a decent amount of help/information, and their spamming, if you can call it that, is subtle.
Simply my opinion and nothing more. Like I said, I've never dealt with this place before, only heard negative stories from people I have never met.
Couple of links, there are plenty more if you want to search:
lawsuit against Kalo
After getting jerked around by Kalo
bad, often illegal business practices
Another Kalo Horror Story
i've been crooked by Kalo b4 2 |
| Contrast With Hammerhead's Sterling Reputation | DTC
Apr 15, 2002 1:49 PM | | In my book, life's too short to do business with someone with a questionable reputation. I therefore only do business with folks I have thoroughly checked out and have been rewarded for it. For example, I recently purchased a custom Ti Hammerhead 100X from Charles Coker, who has an outstanding reputation for honesty and service. Charles gave me an outstanding deal pricewise and attentive service in customizing the bike's geometry and dimensions. When I got my bike, the Fox Forx RLC 100 fork was slightly damaged during shipment. I called Charles up about it. He said no problem, ride the bike while he shipped out a brand new replacement fork via overnight courier, without asking to charge my credit card account as security for the return of the old fork. I subsequently sent him back the damaged fork and received a prompt thank you note from him via email.
The point is that Charles undoubtedly took a bit of financial hit on the damaged fork, but promptly stepped up to the plate to correct the situation nonetheless. It's clear that Charles considers his long term reputation for honesty and service as far more important than trying to make a fast buck. That's why you can trust him absolutely, unlike some other mail order/online bike merchants.
If you're looking for a top quality frame at a really good (and honest)price, Charles is the man. Don't waste your time with Johnny come lately spammers with questionable reputations. |
| What about... | bretkalomtb
Apr 15, 2002 8:21 PM | | It is the same old story. You always here from the people that did not have a good experience. There are probably 200 people on this message board that would gladly recogmend my shop. These people are just mad at me and out to get me. I still said behind my prices and my shop. Don't listen to a few naysayers listen to me. My prices and service keep people comming back again and again not the opionions of people on a message board like this!
www.kalomtb.com
Low prices and selection all the time!
Bret Waters |
| Ok, how do you explain this? | Louie
Apr 15, 2002 9:55 PM | | Why did you post this message under a different name? Appears that you, yorself, are posting fake messages from your "satisfied customers".
"John Smith"? What a clever alias.
Huh? What? How?
Look at each of these postings (this one and this one).
"View Source"
Search for: "IP:" (without the quotes)
Please don't play me for a sucker. |
| That's too funny! | Locoman
Apr 16, 2002 5:30 AM | | I love it when spammers give those fake testimonials.
It's good to know who NOT to trust. |
| If what Bret says is true, maybe he should just stay away. | DTC
Apr 16, 2002 6:59 AM | | If Bret has such great service and prices that keep customers coming back and if the opinions of the people on this message board don't count, maybe Bret should just stay off this message board. That should satisfy everyone. |
| AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA | fonseca
Apr 15, 2002 7:07 PM | | That's too funny. |
| Thanks, but I'll be buying locally... NM | BowWow
Apr 15, 2002 9:51 PM | | |
| re: Titus vs. Jamis | Hammerheadbikes
Apr 16, 2002 5:19 AM | | I say just buy what you can afford and ride the piss out of it...
family is obviously the most important thing...
I have a 5 year old son who keeps me pretty busy too!
I cut a group ride that I was leading a little short on Sat morning because I wanted to take him fishing/camping.. we had a blast..
Charles
Hammerheadbikes |
| Jamis | bikebaybe
Apr 16, 2002 10:08 AM | | I love my Dakar Comp not only becaue it is a sweet ride but because I can afford to put gas in he car to take it to the trails. |
| I RIDE my SB to the trails.... ;) | davis
Apr 17, 2002 9:11 PM | | you gotta admit, you were askin' for that one...
peace and who cares, just ride...
DTB |
| BUY A 2001 JAMIS DAKAR COMP!!!! read on... | Beast
Apr 16, 2002 8:55 PM | | 2001 Jamis Dakar Comp w/ many upgrades for sale!
price - $1200 (beats the heck out of the price of a new one, and it has many better components that the newer ones)
17 inch frame - very nice bike, only ridden for 4 months with minimal usage. it has been upgraded to include a new rhino lite rim in the rear, a new fox vanilla r (you can also buy the stock fox float if you want), a new ritchey seat post, new Geax knobby tires and dh tubes, a water bottle cage, new sharkbite platfrom pedals (or new shimano clipless pedals w/ cages) , a new kore dh stem and new answer riser bars. it is yellow and blue, has 3 and a half inches of rear travel, and 3 to 5 inches in the front via pyslo xc; only has a few kniks in the paint, check out the spec sheet at the web site, I paid 1600 for it last year and have since added all of these brand new parts, its very nicely built!
this is such a good deal, thought id offer it to you before i release it to the public! The bike is very versitile and can be used for nearly anything.
Web site, take note, their specs are not as good as what i am selling! - http://jamisbikes.com/bikes/dakar_comp2001.html
Email me at bikinbeast@Aol.com or call me at 303-733-1212 |
| re: Titus vs. Jamis | John Neiley
Apr 25, 2002 2:43 PM | | Well you've narrowed it down to 2 good bikes. The Titus Racer X is overall a better bike than the Dakar Comp due to the higher end components, BUT the Dakar is also way more affordable. From a design aspect, they are both true Horst link designs, which means minimal pedal feed back and a very supple ride. I looked at the Titus real hard, but ended up buying a 2002 Dakar Pro, and saved about $2,000. The Dakar has been a super ride and weighs in at about 25.75 lbs. The bikes ride very much alike. The 2002 Dakars now come with sealed cartridge bearings on the main pivot and bell pivot. The bushings on the rest of the linkage are easy to replace and don't cost much. For the difference in price and the similarity in design and ride, I would definitely recommend the Dakar. Of course you could sell one of the kids and upgrade...... |
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