JAMIS DAKAR XCT 2

Components: Shimano SLX, XT, Avid Elixir

Wheels: Mavic XM317 on XT hubs

Sizes (inches): 13, 15, 17, 19, 21

Jamis released the Dakar XCT mountain bike platform in 2009 to address the void between riders looking for cross-country and all-mountain bikes. Other bike companies had proved that riders were willing to pay a bit more for a do-it-all bike if it lived up to what was being promised.

For the most part, the XCT series did live up to the one-bike hype, but riders found it didn’t climb as well as was advertised and was a bit overbuilt for certain applications. Wisely, Jamis went back to work for 2010 and the result is a bike that – although similar to last year’s model in frame design – has been spec’ed much better to create a series of bikes that really do live up to their billing.

With the economy where it has been, riders are having to make tough choices with their bike stable. They may have been willing to shell out for two or three different mountain bikes in the past, but they’re now replacing bikes that might not get as much regular use with something more versatile.

That’s exactly where the 2010 Dakar XCT 2 fits in. Priced exactly midway between the better-spec’ed XCT 3 and the entry-level XCT 1, the $ 2,800 XCT 2 is an excellent choice for mountain bikers looking for one bike.

The XCT platform offers 130mm (5″) of travel with a slack 67.5 degree head tube angle making for a stable ride regardless of which spec choice you go with. Jamis borrowed its proven MP3 suspension technology from its Dakar cross-country line to give the XCT bikes a stiffer and better pedalling design.

Our XCT 2, appropriately painted in what Jamis calls its ‘dirt’-colour paint, came nicely equipped for the price point. Uphill pedalling performance, which was a complaint from last year’s model, has been greatly improved thanks to a tuned Fox Float RP2 shock in the back and a Marzocchi 44 TST2 front fork with adjustable travel from 100 – 140mm, external rebound and compression adjustment and a lockout. The 15mm thru-axle makes for a solid front end. Mavic provides its XM317 rims, which are built with Shimano XT hubs and DT Swiss spokes. Showing how serious it is about this being an aggressive trail bike, Jamis went with a Geax Gato 2.3″ tire in the front and a Geax Aka 2.2″ in the back. It’s a good pairing with the Gato’s meaty tread pattern up front handling rocks, big roots and anything else in the way and the less-aggressive Aka in the back tracking well and hooking up confidently without the extra weight.

Braking power comes from the Avid Elixir 5 hydraulic discs while the drive train is mix of basic Deore (cranks, front derailleur), SLX (shifters) and XT (rear derailleur), and a SRAM chain and cassette. There’s a comfortable WTB Rocket V Comp saddle and, for the cockpit, there’s a surprisingly wide Ritchey Mountain Rizer handlebar, Ritchey stem and Jamis-branded lock on grips.

As advertised, the Jamis XCT 2 is an excellent middle ground between a cross-country bike and a six- or seven-inch travel all-mountain bike. The suspension improvements for 2010 help it to climb surprisingly well for a 13.6 kg (30 lb) bike. The frame geometry, Marzocchi fork, 15mm thru-axle, wide bars and big front tire make for a very stable front end that can handle big drops, nasty rock gardens and just about anything else you’ll come across on the trail.

If this is your only bike, throw on some lighter weight wheels and tires and you could easily shave a couple of pounds for entry-level cross-country or enduro-style race use. This is a bike that’s not flashy and doesn’t perform like something it’s not, but it does the job Jamis says it will.

::GEARBOX
Dakar XCT 2 – $2,800
Jamis
12060