Price Paid:  $800.00 at Mountains Northwest

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in the Puget Sound

Bike Setup:
Rack, Fenders and the usual bits

Summary:
So far so good. I really enjoy the feel of the steel frame. I'm a daily commuter and get to tour as time allows and this bike will be doing dual duty. The paint is so pretty!.. Really hard to complain about the bits and pieces for the price. This is my first bike with STI type shifters and I really like them. I've always had down tubes or rapid fires so a little learning was in order. I'm still trying to decide if I like the saddle or not.. So far so good.

Strengths:
Frame is sweet.. shifting is great

Weaknesses:
Wish it had a little lower gearing(granny)

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Internet Shop - Join

Favorite Ride:
under the cherry trees along Meguro River

Bike Setup:
Added Topeak racks & pump, water cage (of course), and removed clips on pedal

Summary:
This is my 1st real bike (2008 model) and I've been very impressed by both its quality and performance. The bike is built well with good quality components considering its price. Paint job is excellent and all the brazons, etc., are put together very well. (The brazons come with aluminum bolts in them--I was easily able to attach standard Topeak accessories--pump & rack--to it.) Tiagra and Deore components work well and the the Tekro brakes are surprisingly strong.) I had to take off the pedal clips because it caused a crash the 1st time out but other than that the ride has been smooooth and fast. I'm now training myself to take a long ride on the bike.

Strengths:
Value for quality parts
Well built
Excellent ride

Weaknesses:
clipped pedals

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Eaton Bike

Favorite Ride:
anything with a tail wind

Bike Setup:
Lone Peak Handlebar bag, front/rear panniers, fenders

Summary:
I happen to work for Eaton Bike in Key West, Fl But... I've had my eye on the Jamis for quite some time and just recently made the purchase. Overall I can't fault the bike at all. I did my first 50 mile ride 2 days ago and was delighted with the way the bike rode. I'd forgotten what a good steel frame can feel like.

Strengths:
Good value

Weaknesses:
None so far

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Price Paid:  $840.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
full fenders, rack, panniers

Summary:
This review is for a 2008 model that I have set up for commuting.

I was totally in love with this bike until it came time to start adding a bunch of accessories (fenders, rack) to it. Then I discovered that several of the threads in the frame were buggered. Not unusable, but had to be cleaned out with a threading tool before they would take a bolt. Also, the left-side seatstay boss for the rear rack was welded in completely crooked. It points kindof forward and down. Once again, not unusable, just had to bend the little extension piece from the rack to make it line up. But still, this just seems to indicate shoddy frame-building and poor attention to detail for this price range.

The front brakes had a terrible squeal/chatter which the shop was able to cure by toeing the pads out, so that the long portion of the asymmetrical pad contacts the rim first, but it still comes back occaisonally. I think the Tektro Oryx brakes will just need to be replaced to completeley get rid of it. Not a big deal considering how cheap this bike was, but still worth mentioning.

Also, the FSA crankset is geared a bit tall for loaded riding in hilly areas. The 130mm BCD precludes just swapping to smaller rings. Replacing the crank also means replacing the BB, b/c it's a proprietary FSA design that only works with ONE crankset- the one you've got.

The ride quality is fantastic and the components (except for the brakes) are solid. I rated it low based on the frame issues above.

Strengths:
very cheap for a serious steel touring bike

Weaknesses:
poor attention to detail on frame-building. chattery Tektro brakes. proprietary FSA bottom bracket.

Price Paid:  $860.00 at Harris Cyclery Newto

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Blue Hills Near Boston

Bike Setup:
Factory setup. Considered upgrading the tires, but they've been cool so far.

Summary:
I was set up with the Aurora by a few friends. 1 is a hard-core commuter, the other a racing freak. I ride 9 miles each way in to Boston from the suburbs. They hooked me up with all the necessary stuff needed to be a comuter. The Aurora has been unbelievable. After the first month, I have become really comfortable with the handling, it feels strong and sure. I load it up each day with about 40-50 lbs in paniers and nothing has ever gone wrong with the bike at all. My first commute day started with two flats, but nothing since then. I keep it showroom clean and it sings to me on my rides. Love it!

Weaknesses:
Not so much a weakness, but the additional brake levers have not been useful to me at all. I'll probably remove these soon and lighten the bike a bit.