Bicycles Online > Mountain Bikes > Jamis Durango Mountain Bike Review

Jamis Durango Mountain Bike Review

I'm not sure how they do it but Jamis jams a lot of good stuff into their bikes for a really low price. I was just reviewing some Jamis bikes at a LBS and noticing how Jamis pays attention to the smallest details and loads these bikes with high quality components.

The Jamis Durango series are Jamis's high end "Trail XC" bikes. These bikes are very reasonable priced (MSRP: $640-$1050) so I've seen them described as good "entry level" hardtails.

It's not at all uncommon to see the words "entry level" matched up with inexpensive bikes and even though this would be a good entry level bike I've seen a lot of comments from hard core (experienced) mtn bikers that don't want to part with their Jamis bikes or are out looking for a new one!

The only real consistent complaints that I've seen about the Durango is that it is a little heavy, but Bicycling Magazine just had a short article, in the March 2010 edition, on how the 2010 Durango had just lost some pounds.

My only complaint is that Jamis bikes can be a little hard to find (both online and offline (at least where I live)).

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.

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Jamis Durango Model Comparisons:

The Jamis Durango models go up in quality/price as the model number goes up. The Durango 1.0 is the low end (least expensive) and the Durango 3.0 is the high end (most expensive).

All 2010 Jamis Durango bikes have the same frame (7005 triple-butted aluminum main tubes, over-sized seat tube, sloping radius top tube, box-section down tube at BB, zero-stack head tube, over-sized stays, replaceable derailleur hanger). Each Durango model (1,2, and 3) has a different fork but they all have 100mm travel and lockouts. Other components are dependent on the specific model.

Although the Jamis site is pretty slick, at the time of this review, they don't have a real easy comparison feature. Therefore, I have included the specifications for all 3 Jamis Durango models below for easy reference.

About-Bicycles Review:

The Jamis Durango series bikes are inexpensive and rock solid bikes with excellent components. Although it may be harder to find these bikes online, you can usually get very good deals on previous year models.

I can easily recommend the Jamis Durango as a high quality hardtail at a hard to believe (low) price.

Customer Reviews:

The Durango has been around for years so there are no shortage of reviews online. At the time of this review, the Jamis Durango 2 has a rating of 4.3 of 5 stars at mtbr.com.

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2010 Jamis Durango 1,2,3 Features and Comparison:

Durango 1 - MSRP: $640.00	Durango 2 - MSRP: $865.00
Frame 7005 triple-butted aluminum main tubes, over-sized seat tube, sloping radius top tube, box-section down tube at BB, zero-stack head tube, over-sized stays, replaceable derailleur hanger	Frame 7005 triple-butted aluminum main tubes, over-sized seat tube, sloping radius top tube, box-section down tube at BB, zero-stack head tube, over-sized stays, replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork RST Gila Pro, MCU/coil spring with lock out, external preload adjustor, 100mm travel	Fork RST Omega TnL, magnesium sliders, lockout, 30mm stanchions, 100mm travel
Headset Zero-stack internal cup threadless, 20mm shim stack, 1 1/8”	Headset Zero-stack internal cup threadless, 20mm shim stack, 1 1/8”
Wheels Alex TD25 disc-specific rims with reinforced spoke bed, Formula alloy disc hubs, 14g black stainless steel spokes	Wheels Alex DP17 double-wall/eyeletted disc-specific rims, 32H, Formula alloy disc hubs, 14g black stainless steel spokes
Tires Geax Saguaro, 26 x 2.2”	Tires Geax Barro Mountain, 26 x 2.1”
Derailleurs Shimano Deore Shadow rear and Altus M311 34.9mm dual pull front	Derailleurs Shimano SLX Shadow rear, Shimano New Deore 34.9mm top pull front
Shiftlevers Shimano Acera RapidFire Plus SL-M360, 24-speed	Shiftlevers Shimano Deore RapidFire-SL, 27-speed
Chain KMC Z82	Chain KMC Z9000
Cassette Shimano HG40, 8-speed, 11-32	Cassette Sram PG-950, 9-speed, 11-32
Crankset Shimano Acera M361, 42/32/22, 170mm (13-15”), 175mm (17-21”)	Crankset Shimano Deore M442 Octalink, 44/32/22, 170mm (12-15.5”), 175mm (17-21”)
BB Set Sealed cartridge, 68 x 122.5mm	BB Set Shimano ES25, Octalink, 68 x 118
Pedals Full platform with steel outer cage	Pedals Alloy platform with steel outer cage
Brakeset Tektro IO mechanical disc brake with 6” wavy rotor and ML-330 levers	Brakeset Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes with 6” wavy rotor
Handlebar Jamis XC alloy riser, 6D sweep x 13mm rise x 620mm wide	Handlebar Jamis XC alloy riser, 6º sweep x 13mm rise x 620mm wide
Stem Jamis XC alloy threadless, 10D rise x 75mm (13”), 90mm (15”) 100mm (17””) , 120mm (19-21”)	Stem Jamis XC alloy threadless, 10º rise, x 75mm (13” ), 90mm (15”), 100mm (17”), and 120mm (19-21”)
Grips Velo Kraton, medium diameter	Grips Velo Kraton, medium diameter
Seat Post Jamis alloy micro-adjust, 31.6 x 350mm, with alloy QR clamp	Seat Post Jamis 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”	Sizes 13”, 15”, 17”, 19”, 21”
Color Stainless/Gloss Black or Victory Red/Pearl White	Color GunMetal/Flat Black or Copper/Pearl White
Weight 31.00 lbs	Weight 30.75 lbs
Durango 3 - MSRP: $1050.00
Frame 7005 triple-butted aluminum main tubes, over-sized seat tube, sloping radius top tube, box-section and shaped down tube at BB, zero-stack head tube, over-sized stays, replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork Marzocchi 22 RLO coil spring preload, rebound, lockout, 30mm stanchions, 100mm travel
Headset Zero-stack internal cup threadless, 20mm shim stack, 1 1/8”
Wheels Alex DP17 double-wall/eyeletted disc-specific rims, 32H, Shimano M475 disc hubs, 14g black stainless steel spokes
Tires Geax Saguaro, 26 x 2.2”
Derailleurs Shimano Shadow Deore XT rear, Shimano New Deore 34.9mm top pull front
Shiftlevers Shimano Deore RapidFire-SL, 27-speed
Chain KMC Z9000
Cassette SRAM Powerglide 950, 9-speed, 11-32
Crankset Shimano M442 Octalink, 44/32/22, 170mm (12-15.5”), 175mm (17-21”)
BB Set Shimano ES25, Octalink, 68 x 118mm
Pedals Alloy platform with steel outer cage
Brakeset Hayes Stroker Ryde hydraulic disc brakes with 6” rotor
Handlebar Jamis XC alloy riser, 6º sweep x 13mm rise x 620mm wide
Stem Jamis XC alloy threadless, 10º rise x 75mm (13”), 90mm (15”), 100mm (17”), and 120mm (19-21”)
Grips Velo Kraton, medium diameter
Seat Post Jamis alloy over-sized, 31.6 x 350mm, with alloy QR clamp
Saddle Jamis Trail with pressure relief channel, wide tail platform and scuff-resistant corners
Sizes 13”, 15”, 17”, 19”, 21”
Color Cool Grey/Pearl White
Weight 30.25 lbs