2014 Jamis Dakar AMT 650 Comp Bike

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This is a very solid all mountain setup. It was my first 650b, as well as my first bike with over 120mm of travel. The COMP version comes with a reliable group of components. Shimano Deore all around gets the job done, and is not soul-crushing expensive should you knock off the derailleur in a rock garden.

Pros: The bike feels at home on rough terrain. The 650b wheels fit really well with the geometry, Jamis has been doing the mid-size wheel for some time now. Though the head tube isn't as slack as other enduro or all mountain setups, this one finds a happy medium between the ups and descents, allowing you to climb some more technical slopes. I have noticed that this bike feels taller than some others I have ridden. The bottom bracket seems higher, which I have actually grown to enjoy. I rode a Santa Cruz nomad during a trip in Durango, CO and constantly felt like I was smashing the bottom bracket on rocks and roots. This higher feel does take a bit of getting used to in the corners, but I don't think it has slowed me down too much. The FOX suspension really knocks this bike up a notch against others in its price range. I've ridden RockShox suspension, and none , even the Pike, seem to have the fluidity of travel that the Float brings to the table. Also, the bike comes stock with a 2X setup up front, which is a positive for me even though I eventually switched to a 1X.

Cons: As stated above, this thing is heavy... Out of the box built, it came in around 31 or 32 pounds. Also, the suspension geometry seems a little dated. Maybe all of the other guys are just trying to find their own gimicks, but this bike has basically the same setup as the 2008 model Giant I had upgraded from. That said, aside from some pedal bob on climbs, and a few clap-outs before I got the rear shock pressure adjusted correctly, I've been please with the overall performance of the rear travel.

Though this bike does roll in as a heavyweight, I was able to drop a noticeable amount of weight when I switched to a 1X10 setup. I'm using a RaceFace Narrow Wide 30t up front, with a Shimano XT cassette in the back with the Wolf Tooth Components 42t in place of the stock 17t. I also replaced the Deore derailleur with a SLX and have noticed a big improvement in shifting preciseness. Next upgrade will be a new set of wheels, as the stock hoops and tires are beefy and gravity-laden.

Overall, this has been a great bike for the gnarlier rock gardens, root drops, and river gaps I spent the summer riding in Western North Carolina. I've noticed no problems with the frame, and Jamis was extra helpful when I had a stripped rear hub. They sent me an entire new wheel, free of charge (totally covered by warranty).