5teve

One thing you should try if you can is to see how the brake levers feel to you. The hoods on the exploit and escapade have very different shapes! I didn't care for the exploit levers and upgraded to the escapade-the lighter weight is just a bonus.

D.zo

Unfortunately the shop didn't have either model on hand so I couldn't try them. I ended up ordering the exploit... I guess if it is a real problem I can always just upgrade that piece.

5teve

It'll probably be fine-I'm fussy about such stuff but I'll bet even I could've adjusted to it. I got the Escapade mostly 'cause I wanted to. Rationalizations are fun, eh? They pack a lot of value and performance into this bike at all component levels-hope you enjoy yours!

Danny01

I actually think the Escapade is the better value. The shifters on the exploit aren't the greatest. They're kind of like Shimano's beta test, hence the lack of 105 label. Just the shifters alone are worth the $500. 2lb for $500 is a bargain . IMO the paint job is the prettiest too.

megaclyde

I picked up a Renegade Expert today, sort of by accident, to primarily use as a road bike. I couldn't stand the Claris package or bargain basement brakes on my Marin Nicasio commuter anymore so I went to my LBS to see about upgrading the hardware. The Jamis caught my eye, it was the right size frame and they offered me a nice discount. Next thing I know I'm having some 700X28 Continentals put on the Jamis and I retired my Fuji Sportif and robbed the 105 groupset and Avid brakes for the Marin. With the right tires I think the Jamis makes a pretty nice road ride for someone my size. I'm trying to fall asleep but I'm too excited thinking about my morning commute. Instead of clanking along on my Claris equipped Marin (which is still undergoing surgery) I'll be putting the first miles on the Renegade. :-)

StarBiker

I was trying to sleep, and the alarm went off dam iT!. And I am not excited.

D.zo

Sure. $500 for shifters-- that's a steal.

Danny01

If you've ridden both the 1st gen shimano road hydro shifters and the new Ultegra/Dura ace hydro models, you would know that the new ones are a significant improvement and now in line with the quality and performance of the rest of the 105/Ultegra/DA branded stuff. Considering what the Ultegra 8020 shifters cost, yeah, the $500 is worth it. You also get the new R8000 stuff everything else including rotors which cost significantly more the 5800. When considering the price jump from the Tiagra level Expat to the 105 level Exploit is $1,000, $500 looks like a bargain.

D.zo

good point.

now I am second guessing my decision.

5teve

I picked up my new Escapade late last week and got in a couple of good shakedown rides this weekend! I like this bike, with a few parts swaps it fits and suits me well, and I like the way it rides and handles. It's not particularly light but it'll do for my purposes. I think it's a keeper!

D.zo

Very nice. Are those the tires that it came with?

5teve

Nope, they're Compass BonJon Pass, standard casing. They roll really nicely!

Caliwild

Need some advice... Planning on selling my 2017 Exploit with less than 5 miles on it. What should I ask for it? Thanks in advance...

Caliwild

Sweet! Love those tires!

shelbyfv

Start with 50% of retail and adjust if no takers. That there is a newer 105 out may work against you.

5teve

They roll even better than they look!

D.zo

Here's the new bike

Added some new tires - WTB Rambler 42mm barely fit in the rear (had to sand the tread down just a little bit.) I'll probably go with 40s next time. She rides great though.

Patriot1

Great looking bike!

shelbyfv

Nice

hnasir

Not as fancy as the higher end models, this is my first road bike (had a hybrid before), and I absolutely love it!

hammb

Downtown Cleveland! NICE!

I got the Expat, not one of the fancier high end ones talked about here either. Absolutely loving it, going for rides that I never could have imagined on my old Mountain Bike.

RidingMatthew

great looking bike nonetheless. I like it!


I think that is sweet looking. I want one so bad.

Derekve

As quoted above...still a very nice bike and most importantly you love it!
What rack did you put on it?

Junkbeast

BKL seems to be a fairly popular destination to fly into from my area.

A lot of people discussing the Expat...did you pick Exile purely from a budget decision or did you want to limit your exposure for your first road style bike? I too am coming from a hybrid and was looking at the Expat or Jari 2.1. An Exile or Jari 2.5 would save a few hundred dollars and if I didn't really like the bike I'm not out as much.

hammb

I test rode both of them when I was shopping a few months back. However, I test rode the Exploit first (which was nowhere near my price range) due to it being already on the floor in my size and ready to roll. I went from the Exploit -> Exile -> Expat.

I ended up on the Expat because it felt (to me) nearly identical to the much pricier Exploit. I felt the Exile was a noticeable drop down in ease of shifting and braking performance. I would have been happy with the Exile as well, though, the deciding factor for me was the LBS willing to take a good percentage off of MSRP because they were the '17 models still in stock.

Best advice I can give is to go out and ride them and see how you feel. I went in expecting to buy an Exile, but for me, I could justify the extra few hundred bucks for the difference in how they felt for me. IT is my first drop bar bike as well, but I also lived with my crappy Diamondback mountain bike for 15 years, so I'm confident I'll get 15+ years out of this bike as well.