shoota 

Sounds perfect. I think one of the things that makes the Renegade sizing fluctuate so much among various owners is its long-ish top tube. The 54cm has a 55.1cm ETT and the 56cm has a 57cm ETT. I normally ride a 56cm in everything but I doubt I would be comfortable riding a 56cm Renegade.

Derekve

Thanks everyone for all your input! After checking out other forums/websites, it seems like the reach issue is a common problem for most. Luckily it seems that getting a shorter stem, generally 20mm less than stock, have helped the majority greatly.

I get my full fitting March 9th so i will hopefully make the changes needed that day. I'm so anxious to get this done lol

vwaldoguy

Looking to buy a Jamis Renegade Expat in the next few weeks. Also looking at the Trek Crossrip 2, but I like the bigger tire clearance on the Renegade. I've ridden a hybrid for the last 13 years, so going to a drop bar bike may feel pretty awkward for me. However, I'd like to get into rail trail rides, which may include bike packing, so I want something that can take bigger tires, and fenders and racks. My Trek 7500Fx (13 years old) is still in great shape, but time for an upgrade. 5'11, with a 33" inseam, so looking at a 56cm. Honestly not sure the $1000 upgrade is worth it to go to 105 groupset and hydraulic brakes.

Derekve

Thats what the guy at my LBS pointed out to me. He said the Expat is the best combo of value and quality components in his opinion. Said it could be upgraded over time and didn't like the price jump to the Exploit. The frame is made out if better 631 steel so i suppose that factors in. How much better compared to the 520 steel expat? Idk lol

Derekve

Thank you for sharing this!

Danny01

There is more than just the group and brakes. The brakes are flat mount on the Exploit and the rear is mounted on the chainstay as opposed to the post mount seat stay mount on the Expat. Also, the Expat is Reynolds 520, which is just Reynolds branded 4130 made in Asia. The Exploit get Reynolds 631, which is the same chemistry as the high end 853, but not heat treated. It is stronger than 520, and does not weaken when welded like 520 does. You also get a carbon seatpost and Centerlock hubs Shimano rotors. I think the $1,000 is justfied. Worth is subjective. But honestly 105 is being replaced very soon and the 105 level hydro shifters that are on the Exploit leave something to be desired. The $500 step up to the Exploit is worth it in my opinion, for the shifters alone. The 8020 shifters are a huge improvement from the 505/685.

hammb

Visited several of my LBS yesterday for some test rides. It was the first day in awhile that we didn't have rain/snow and it was nice enough to get out on the road with some bikes. After testing the CrossRip, the DiVerge, and Renegade I think the Renegade was my favorite ride, and also at an LBS that was willing to knock some off the price (I think these are still 2017 vintage bikes). They had the Exploit, the Expat, and the Exile all in stock and in my size (54). I rode all 3. My budget was a pretty hard fast $1000, but after riding all 3 the Exile just feels like a completely different bike. THe Exploit is obviously way out of my price range, the only reason I rode that one was because it was on the floor (the others were in their warehouse) and she just wanted me to go out and get a feel for the bike. Once I loved it, I asked to ride the other levels.

To me the Expat felt a LOT closer to the Exploit than the Exile did to the Expat. The jump in groupset was VERY noticeable both in ease of shifting and the closer jumps in gears. The brakes also felt a lot better to me. The overall ride was night & day, I'm guessing because you're going from aluminum to steel w/ a carbon fork. I really am a novice when it comes to any of these bikes. I'm coming from a 15 year old diamondback big box mountain bike, so they are all an obvious upgrade, but as a complete novice the jump was plain as day. I'm sure I could live with the Exile, but I'd probably think about the difference everytime I'm on the bike. They're closed on Sundays but I plan to go in tomorrow and hopefully she's still got it there. She's offering me 15% off the $1200 price, so that knocks it down real close to my initial budget.

Anything else I should look for check out on the bike before I buy? Looking forward to joining the Jamis Renegade owners group

biketampa

I think we’re in a similar boat. I’m 6’ 2” 33ish inseam. I’ve always felt like I’m reaching on my road bike. Bike fitter shortened my stem exactly what you’re doing and it worked. My bike fitter actually started out with saddle and getting knees over correct place over cranks before even looking at front of bike. Then he shortened the stem.

Derekve

I did not test ride any other renegades because of my budget and I knew I wanted steel and not aluminum. I think the Expat is a much better choice than the Exile. I know I'd be happy with the 15% off too!

Derekve

Yes, very similar. I get a full fitting this friday. The lady who is doing the fitting mentioned saddle position, height, and stem length etc. I'm looking forward to it to say the least. How much was your stem shortened and what bike was it done to?

biketampa

I think I went from 110cm to 90cm stem. My bike size is a 58cm. It's a 2014 Jamis Ventura Race

Derekve

That is a nice bike! After playing around with a stem calculator, i think a 90cm stem with a +15° will be my best bet. It will shorten my reach 25mm but only raise the height 2 mm or so.

biketampa

Thanks. I like the bike. I like Jamis bikes. I always feel they're a pretty good value. I also have a raleigh tamland 1 which is my gravel bike.

Caliwild

Not sure if I should start my own thread, but I have a quick question: I have a 2017 Renegade Exploit in a size 51 and I keep striking my shoe on the front wheel. Will going to a 650B wheel eliminate this? I'm guessing it may... Thanks.

shelbyfv

Probably will not help as much as you might think. Someone can do the math for you if you post what size tire you are using now and what size 650b tire you might go to. Toe overlap can be scary if it bites you out of the blue but it's not uncommon and most people can adjust if they know it's an issue.

Derekve

Yes, I agree! Jamis bikes are a good value. The Tamland is a nice bike as well and I did consider it when researching gravel/adventure bikes.

shoota 

There hasn't been a better value than the Tamland 1 when it was on super sale a couple years back.

Derekve

For those interested... Had my bike fitting today and my stem was replaced with a 90mm +6 degree one. Amazing what 20mm's can do lol.

hammb

I picked up my new Renegade Expat last week. And mother nature must hate me because we haven't seen 40* since so I haven't even gotten on it since my test ride (yeah, I'm a wuss, not out there riding in the cold).

Anyway, I would maybe like to tow my son's Burley trailer with this bike. My trailer has the old style "classic" hitch which will not work with the disc brakes. Burley informed me that I can purchase the Flex Connector and their steel hitch for bikes with thru axels or disc brakes. Has anybody installed one of these hitches on their Renegade? It looks like I just unscrew the quick release on the rear wheel, and slip it over the axle and then tighten the quick release back on?

Derekve

Has any Jamis Renegade steel/aluminum frame owners run WTB Resolute tires on their bikes? Even though the tires are listed as 42mm wide, I've read some reviews that when they are fully inflated, they measure upwards to 43-45mm and I'm wondering if they might be too wide for my Expat (rated for up to 42mm).

tangerineowl

Depending on how much overlap you have, you could look into getting an angled/offset headset.

The ones I read about some time ago were 1/2 degree offset.
Apparently the best ones are made by a UK firm, whose name I forget.

I'm pretty sure they do a 1 also.

You'd have to do the math prior to purchasing, so you know how far out front it will position the wheel.

Caliwild

Thanks... going to try to figure out if 650B plus shorter cranks will do it. If not, might have to sell it...

D.zo

Lots of good information on this thread. I was in between two bikes and I think I am going to go with the 2018 Renegade Exploit.

Anything I should know before committing? I haven't been able to test ride the bike as none of the shops near me have one available.

Any arguments for going up from the exploit to the escapade?

The differences I see are:

-WTB i23 Frequency Team i23 disc rims vs. WTB i23 STS disc rims
-Ultegra vs. 105,
-Saddles are different
-Overall weight is almost 2 lbs lighter on the escapade.

shoota 

Seems like the Exploit is the better value of the two, with its hydro brakes.

I guess you're set on steel? Because the Expert is the same money as Escapade and is carbon and has hydro brakes. That would be my personal choice.

D.zo

You can say that... I am more of a road guy, and have had a couple of carbon road bikes - currently: Giant Propel Advanced 1.

Something about the steel... just seems right for this bike.