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Jamis Rolls 650 b’s With New Steel and Aluminum Hard Tails

Written by Zach Overholt
12 Comments
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Thinking of giving 650b a try? Or maybe you’re already a convert, but are looking for a new rig in a never ending sea of 26 and 29 inch bikes? For you, Jamis would like to offer their newest batch of 650b hardtails, the Dragon and the Nemesis.

The Dragon pictured above is a Reynolds 853 steel frame with a slacker 68° head tube angle, most likely geared towards all day rides, not really racing. Initial spec reads includes a White Brothers Loop TCR 120mm fork, American Classic 650b wheels, a Shimano SLX 3×10 drivetrain, Avid Elixir 3 disc brakes, and a Syncros AM cockpit. The aluminum Nemesis on the other hand, has a much steeper 71° head tube angle and should be perfect for building up as a light weight racer.

Check out the Nemesis after the break!

Rather than the steel frame of the Dragon, the Nemesis features a 7005 triple-butted aluminum frame with a tapered head tube, and PressFit 30 bottom bracket shell.  Up front you will find an X-Fusion Velvet RL 650B 100mm fork with a tapered steerer tube to keep things in check. Going with the more race theme, the Nemesis will be offered with a SRAM X7 2×10 drive train instead of the 3×10 of the Dragon. Avid Elixir 3 disc brakes will slow Alex XD Lite 650B rims mated to hubs currently unknown. In order to keep everything in control, the cockpit controls will be handled by Ritchey.

While a complete Dragon will set you back $2600, and the complete Nemesis will cost $1600, both bikes will have a frame only, or frame and fork option as well.

 

 

 

 
Zach Overholt
5,722 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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ONeal
ONeal
13 years ago

I applaud Jamis for pushing the 650B’s. I want tone. The Dragon looks great, unique and functional but the price tag is just too steep. Kona is putting out the Steely for ~ $1000.

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fanboy
fanboy
13 years ago

*sigh*
o when sales are slowing, brands jump on the “oh wow it’s new” bandwagon in the desperate hope of making sales?

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Joshua Murdock
Joshua Murdock
13 years ago

I’m so inclined to bash 650b as a compromise for those who are unsure of leaving their 26″ wheels for 29″, similar to the now rare soft-tail in relation to hardtails and full suspension. But that would be like bashing 29’er simply because they’re different. As a 29’er racer, I realize that that’s not how riders should think. I haven’t ridden a 650b bike, so I can’t say whether I like or dislike the size, but people need to be more open to new ideas. Who knows, maybe we’ll all be riding 650b in 10 years. People laughed at suspension forks, rear suspension, carbon fiber, hydraulic disc brakes, 29’ers, tapered head tubes, through-axles… look how common they are now.

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stratosrally
stratosrally
13 years ago

I’m happy to see these, as Jamis is actually expanding their 650B line from last year. They already had the Six-Fifty B1 & B2 FS rigs and now they have a couple of different pricepoints covered in the hardtail lineup. My first decent mountain bike was a Jamis Cross Country 18spd when I got out of the Marines in the late ’80s. I loved that bike and put it through hell.
I now ride a Haro Beasley 1×9 650B rigid and I chose it partly because I felt more comfortable on it than the 29ers I looked at, being 5’7″ with a 29″ inseam. Very happy with it.

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Steve
Steve
13 years ago

I really enjoy 650b, personally. I believe it to be the ideal wheel size. Rolls better than 26″ and does not have the sloggy feeling 29rs have in SOME situations. We have a 650b prototype TI bike that I rode before I picked up my LTc. I really liked it. I’m now on a Tallboy and absolutely loving it. I do wish it were a 650b, however. But the tires, rims, and wheel choices are just not as numerous as I would like.
We sell a TON of 650b tires and rims. It is picking up, not slowing down.

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brick
brick
13 years ago

One of the big brands needs to pick this up if it will ever catch on, look how long it took 29″. After many years and much $, Trek/Fisher was able to get the idea mainstream. I imagine the likes of Trek, Specialized, or Giant spend as much in marketing per week (or day) as Jamis does in a year.

I have tried a few 650b bikes in the past and I agree with some of the above, they do ride great. While I agree with @Steve about the idea picking up, that seems all it is doing, not taking off. If one of the major brands introduces a 650b in the upcoming years, I would imagine it to be anywhere from 5-10 years afterward before 650b holds a market share worth discussing.

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ringding
ringding
13 years ago

ONeal – you’re comparing apples to oranges when you look at the Kona versus the Jamis. The Jamis has a higher end spec and tubing throughout. Nothing against Kona, I’m sure it is a fine bike. Also, you have to consider that Jamis has to spread out the overall cost over fewer units.

In essence two different markets – two different bikes.

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KGrT
KGrT
13 years ago

@Joshua,
Agreed. Don’t knock it until you try it. 650b’s do an admirable job of letting you mix light weight and long travel with good rollover abilities and long footprints. 29ers have a substantially better monster truck rollover quality when the trails call for it.

To paraphrase Ferris, if you have the means I highly recommend having both sizes in the quiver.

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Andy
Andy
12 years ago

I can’t figure out the pricing and weight. Jamis website has the aluminum nemesis, what is being pitched as the race bike, at $1650 and 27 pounds, while the steel dragon is $2700 and 26.5 pounds. Is the dragon more pricey and lighter because of better components? If so, can those be put on the nemesis to make it much lighter?

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Gremlin
Gremlin
12 years ago

Agree w/ Andy. Is this a mistake on Jamis’ part? Why is the aluminum “race bike” heavier??? Kind of makes me suspicious that Jamis doesn’t have their s*** together.

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650Ber
650Ber
12 years ago

The Dragon 650 is a much more expensive frame with much more expensive parts… 853 Reynolds, WB Loop fork and American Classic wheels. The Nemesis is a more “race geometry”. Jamis kept the parts build at a price point that would hopefully make the bike affordable for most. The frame is actually very light and they could have done the bike up with Sram XX but no one would be able to buy it, just dream. That’s why they made it available as a frameset also.

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Le Piou
Le Piou
12 years ago

Jamis’ Full supension 650bs bikes are awesome.
I am very happy of my 2011 B1, I won’t go back to 26ers ever…

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