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Reviews 1 - 5 (6 Reviews Total)
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Submitted by
Bob
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: December 5, 2011
Strengths: Higher quality 631 teel on main tubes
Sram Apex groupo
Price to value
Color coordinated rear rack and good looking
Nice metallic paintWeaknesses: Stock fenders and seat
Crank is FSA and not Sram Apex
HeavyBottom Line: Excellent steel frame bike for the price. I bought the discounted 2011 model which is also the only year Jamis offered the Sram Apex groupo (except for the crank. Love the shifting and gear ratios though may change to the Gore cabling later. Bike rides smooth due to frame and 32mm tires. Very comfortable sitting position.
Favorite Ride: Jamis Aurora Elite
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At: Bikesport - Seattle,
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Synapse
Bike Setup: Added Thomson Masterpiece seatpost with Fizik Aliante seat
HB wheelset with Shimano XT hubs and Velocity A33 rims
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Submitted by
ahren
a CommuterDate Reviewed: October 29, 2011
Strengths: Reynolds 631 (all others use 520 or 4130)
Nice rack included
Disc brakes (don't look to good, but stop on a dime)
Solid wheels and tires
Nice seat post and handle bars
Weaknesses: 1)Tires max out at 35 without fenders, 32 with.
2)SRAM rival or 2012 model 105 triple does not offer a wide enough gear range.
3)Handlebars dont come up high enough.
4) Fenders are ugly and semi functional.Bottom Line: Best production almost "touring" bike under $2500. (Its not really a touring bike)
Sure you can get a co-motion or a Bruce Gordon but you'll pay the same price for just a frame and fork. That is the price you pay to support a cottage industry of passionate builders. And I plan on getting a US made bike as soon as my budget affords it. I don't really consider this bike a touring bike as the gear range is quite narrow and it wont take anything bigger than a 35c tire. But aside from that it's a great bike. Light and responsive. Handlebars could come up about 3-4 more inches to achieve comfortable riding position. I ride it everyday to work and occasional S24H tours. It serves my purposes quite well. I had to swap out the drive train for a sugino triple and XT derailleurs, w. dura ace bar end shifters.
I think this bike is an incredible value and will enjoy it, but can't wait till I can afford a USA made bike.
Favorite Ride: Jamis Aurora Elite
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Local Bike Shop
Similar Products Used: Lugged steel cross bike
Countless carbon racing bikes
Bianchi Pista
Bike Setup: 2011 Jamis aurora
Sugino XD600 crankset
XT derailleurs
Brooks Saddle
Dura Ace bar end shifters
MKS Grip King Pedals
Vittoria Randoneur Hyper 700x32 tires
Velo Orange Fenders
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Wilkinson
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: June 19, 2011
Strengths: Ride
Price
Bottom Line: The bike is a perfect fit for the multi-day touring ride or the commuting in the city streets. I'm a steel frame fan and couldn't ask for anything more. Great styling, smooth ride, quality components and a great price when stacked against its competitors.
Favorite Ride: BRAN
Purchased At: TrueWheels, Council
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: October 22, 2009
Strengths: Smooth ride
Comfort
30 gears
and with a brooks seat pefection
Strong bike won't break down
On long rides its very comfortable and relatively fast..supports all types of riders and weight..Weaknesses: Heavy bike compared to carbon or alum
Not a named bike if thats important to youBottom Line: The bike rides very smooth and steady. Great bike for long rides and good or bad roads. I bought the bike with the hope of long 3-5 hr rides which for me is a long ride. I wanted comfort and some good speed and this bike does it both.
I had the wheels rebuilt and put on a Brokks B 17 and you can't beat it. When I am club riding all the guys have more expensive racing type bikes and I can easily keep up with them or stay in front ...probably the engine driving the bike...
Favorite Ride: Jamis Aurora Elite
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At: Tri Athlete Zoombies
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ewan Robinson
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: March 20, 2009
Strengths: Versatile compromise between road and touring
Good bang for the buck (components)
Carbon fork makes for comfortable ridingWeaknesses: Difficult to impossible to mount rack in rear eyelets
NOT full-on touring design (if that's what you're looking for)
Stock star nut insufficient to grab carbon steer tube
Some concern about durability of carbon fork under touring conditions
Bottom Line: Overall I am fairly impressed with the Aurora Elite. It is one of the very few mid-range touring bikes available, and an impressive bang for the buck. That said, I've encountered several problems with the bike, and labeling it a touring bike is somewhat disingenuous.
I want to point out that the bike is not designed for full-on touring. It appears to repurpose Jamis's Nova cyclocross frame. The bike is a higher, more aggressive and more responsive than a touring-specific bike, but also less stable and forgiving.
Unfortunately, the repurposed frame creates a few problems. Most importantly, because the rear eyelets are brazed on to lugs that seem to have been added to the frame, they do not provide sufficient room for all rack types. There is simply not enough space between the eyelets and the seat stays to attach struts. There are work arounds. I haven't contacted Jamis about this.
Another unfortunate oversight is the threadless headset. The stock star nut seems to be aluminum and cannot grasp the carbon steer tube. I had to replace this with a carbon specific nut soon after I bought the bike.
I am impressed by, although a little nervous about, the low-rider rack mounts in the carbon front fork. The carbon fork makes for a very smooth ride. My hands really appreciate it after riding all day on a tour. I'm not sure, however, how well the carbon will hold up in the longterm under loaded touring conditions.
I have yet to take the Aurora Elite on an extended tour. So far, I've only used it for recreational road riding and weekend trips. On the whole, I think the bike represents a decent compromise between road performance and touring stability.
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Bikeworks, Urbana, I
Similar Products Used: Lotus Odyssey
Trek 520
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