|   Trail bike: Jamis Dakar or K2 Evo | nomad
Aug 5, 2002 1:27 PM | | I wanted to build a good sturdy trail bike on a budget out of my leftover parts in my garage. I have a nice hardtail, but wanted something plush for the rocky trails.
My budget calls for either a Jamis Dakar frame or a K2 EVO/Disco Monkey (the EVO and Disco are same, just marketed under dif names).
I will not be freeriding, too scared and ain't gots the skills.
I just enjoying taking the roughest bumpiest lines, smooth lines are boring to me at times. I know the basic specs on each of theses frames, just looking for real life riding thoughts on these pupsters.
My problem is that I cannot test ride any of them because I don't live anywhere near a dealer for either and would be ordering online.
Any opinions would be helpful. |
| What size do you need first off... | DeeEight
Aug 5, 2002 4:22 PM | | as that's one problem with ordering online. You MIGHT not find a frame in your size in the model you want. Lots of K2's on ebay but they tend
to be the largest or smallest sizes and nothing in between for example. If yer around a 17", I got a Dakar Expert frame available. As to which is better, they ride different for starters. One's a 4-bar
linkage, the other a cantilever beam. Essentially the Dakar will be more active, especially during pedalling and braking than the K2. Travel is similar (3.5 vs 4.0) and so is frame weight (around 6.5 Ibs). Myself I'd go 4-bar as I prefer my suspension to work when I aim for the rough lines going up hill. :) |
| would you consider the Jamis to be plush? | nomad
Aug 5, 2002 4:54 PM | | Would you consider the Dakar to have a plush ride?
I have ridden the FSRxc and Sugar bikes and found their suspension to be too firm for my personal riding style.
I wanted a plusher ride. |
| regarding the k2 EVO | Jimmy Hoffa
Aug 6, 2002 9:00 AM | | Having never riden a Jamis, I can't comment on it. The EVO makes a great trail bike with a plush rear suspension, it will have a more compliant ride than the FSR or Sugar. Of course, the rear shock will be a determing factor. A lot of K2 riders switch out the Noleen for a Stratus(freeride) coil or Risse(XC) air. Check out the K2 forum at http://cynosure.homedns.org/proflex/forum/. Those guys can answer any questions you may have. |
| Plushness has little to do with suspension type and more... | DeeEight
Aug 6, 2002 10:44 AM | | to do with specific shock setups. If you don't match the spring rate
and damping to your body weight, its not going to be very plush. Too
many buy off the shelf and never play around with the rear shock settings
beyond the preload adjuster. |
| Dee Eight is correct | Jimmy Hoffa
Aug 6, 2002 3:42 PM | | I was reading a test report on the Jamis Darkar Comp in the May 2002 issue of Mountain Bike magazine. The article states, "With a somewhat squishy ride, it was assumed that the bike would easily suck up small stuff. however, it's a bit firm, and kicks when climbing up step-up bumps in the granny ring." The article goes on to state that it's a great overall bike. You might want to look up the article and read it yourself. I'm not saying the Evo is perfect, but several other sucessful builders have mono-pivot models with the pivot in the same location - Santa Cruz, Marin and I believe Ellsworth to name a few. Check out the rating in mtb.review, '98 or older, K2 4000 and Proflex 4000, these are the same design as the newer models. Either bike would be a good choice though. |
| There's no better FS frame for the money... | fonseca
Aug 7, 2002 5:15 PM | | I sincerely believe that. You can search the forums for my name and jamis to see some of my past posts on this frame. In short, it's a great frame, but there are a few quirks and I had several problems. But I still would recommend it and my frame is fixed up and perfect again. I now own a titus switchblade for my main trailbike, but I am almost done building the expert back up as a much lighter xc bike.
If you can't test ride you need to measure your inseam exactly, standover was always tight for me on my 19" frame although the TT length was perfect. Make sure you check the standover! If you are getting an '02 frame go smaller if in doubt, since the top tubes are longer this year. I don't know if jenson has any '01 frames left but they were $329 which is a steal. Email me at fonseca@operamail.nospam.com without the .nospam if you have any questions. I can recommend a dealer if you want a current year frame.
Fonseca NADS 898 |
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