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Jamis Renegade C1 & C2 carbon adventure bikes build on versatility with GRX

Written by Cory Benson
2020 Jamis Renegade C1 carbon gravel bike, Shimano GRX versatile carbon gravel all-road bikepacking bike
13 Comments
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Not a ton has changed on the carbon Jamis Renegade since it was last updated back in 2016. But proven mixed-surface versatility has kinda been its strong suit since we reviewed the Renegade, creating a bike that can cover road, commuting, bikepacking, cyclocross & still be raced on the premier gravel of the Dirty Kanza. For 2020, it’s mostly cosmetic updates to the new premium carbon Renegade C1 & C2 bikes, plus a couple of all-new Shimano GRX double gravel drivetrains that open up more all-terrain utility…

2020 Jamis Renegade C1 versatile carbon gravel bike

2020 Jamis Renegade C1 carbon gravel bike, Shimano GRX versatile carbon gravel all-road bikepacking bike

The new desert storm tan Jamis Renegade C1 frame shares the same top-spec Omniad M30 carbon construction as 2019’s Renegade Elite, and the matching ECO adventure-ready fork, with room for up to 700x40mm tires at both ends

2020 Jamis Renegade C1 carbon gravel bike, Shimano GRX versatile carbon gravel all-road bikepacking bike

This new top model at $3700 gets build up with a complete Shimano GRX 2×11 groupset over the prior Ultegra build (a $700 premium), and the same 8.6kg/19lb claimed weight as the Elite before it.

2020 Jamis Renegade C1 carbon gravel bike, Shimano GRX versatile carbon gravel all-road bikepacking bike

The move also brings 48/31T subcompact gravel gearing on the new GRX cranks, and a more ergonomic flared dropbar in the latest Ritchey Ergomax Comp. And while the rolling stock is the same with Stan’s Crest MK3 alloy wheels wrapped in Donnelly MSO tubeless tires, the C1 is said to add a new Switch Lever thru-axle quick release.

2020 Jamis Renegade C2, more affordable GRX-equipped carbon gravel bike

2020 Jamis Renegade C1 carbon gravel bike, Shimano GRX versatile carbon gravel all-road bikepacking bike

The Renegade C2 looks to offer a lot more value, with a similar GRX upgrade. The C2 frame the same down-spec Dyad Plus carbon frame as the older Expert model, made a heavier T700/FRP mix of carbon fiber. But at the same $2600 price as the prior Expert, this new C2 gets a solid spec upgrade.

The primer gray C2 also gets a full GRX 2×11 gravel groupset, with the same RX-810 derailleurs as the C1. Sure is saves money & adds a few grams by swapping in the GRX RX600 shifters, RX400 brakes & RX600 crankset (with even smaller 46/30T rings). But all of that is a big upgrade over the prior 105 groupset. Claimed weight again doesn’t change at  9.5kg/21lb.

Both new carbon Renegades are in stock & ready to ship now from Jamis.

JamisBikes.com
Cory Benson
4,347 articles

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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threeringcircus
threeringcircus
4 years ago

The bike looks nice enough, but I would take Ultegra over GRX any day of the week, much less pay an extra $700 for it.

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Dave
Dave
4 years ago
Reply to  threeringcircus

Then you will love this bike. Fuji Jari carbon 1.1 for $2700.00

http://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/road/adventure-and-touring/jari-carbon/jari-carbon-1-1

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kayce
kayce
4 years ago
Reply to  threeringcircus

What makes an Ultegra road groupset better for a gravel bike, than its equivalent in the gravel line from shimano?

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Hurricane
Hurricane
4 years ago
Reply to  kayce

I would say $700 makes Ultegra better. Only advantage I would see with GRX is that if you are running a 1x system or a large cogset.

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Mark
Mark
4 years ago
Reply to  threeringcircus

Some might prefer the GRX for it’s lower gearing, wider range front derailleur (okay, by one tooth), better tire to front derailleur clearance, and revised pivot point for the brake levers- or is that only the di2 version?

I’d like to ride them back to back before making any pronouncements.

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Damian Bradley
Damian Bradley
4 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Updated brake lever pivot point is Di2 only at the moment

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Tim
Tim
4 years ago
Reply to  threeringcircus

Looks like the Ultegra model bike is discounted, that bike was originally the same price as the GRX equipped model before it was released.

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Heffe
Heffe
4 years ago

Does anyone have a frame weight for the C1?

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Max
Max
4 years ago

The 2019 Renegade Elite has a dropped price, it used to go for $3,699 same as the C1.

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Ruzakruzak
Ruzakruzak
4 years ago

Commuting without fender or rack mounts ?? Let me think…

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phroboi
phroboi
4 years ago
Reply to  Ruzakruzak

It has both. From their website:

MORE MOUNTS
To make life easier we have repositioned each mount externally in a variety of easy-to-use locations. With a wide collection of fork and frame mounts you can now choose to mount fenders, rear carrier, low-rider front carrier (or two cages for water bottles/ storage) and three front triangle water bottles. This will open up the options wherever and whenever you chose to ride. Bad weather, commuting, trekking, touring – anything is possible.

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phroboi
phroboi
4 years ago

You’ll want to double check the chainstay clearance of the rear tire on these carbon models. It’s pretty tight, perhaps too tight…

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Frank
Frank
4 years ago

GRX has three levels, 800, 600 and 400 which are Ultegra, 105 and Tiagra equivalent respectively.

All versions have clutch rear derailleurs, better brake calipers (4 piston on the 800 like XT and XTR), redesigned STI levers with better leverage, etc, they are clearly better off-pavement.

The reason the big four, Trek, Specialized, Giant and Cannondale spec’d road parts for 2020 is that Shimano couldn’t meet the volume/demand in time for Spring.

This is where mid-sized brands like Jamis have an advantage.

It also means that the $2,500 – $4,000 carbon 105 and Ultegra gravel bikes you by this spring are in a way already obsolete. We will see “Early Into” 2021 GRX versions of the same bikes this summer.

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