2012 Novara Randonee vs. Jamis Aurora help please
03-20-12, 01:04 PM
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2012 Novara Randonee vs. Jamis Aurora help please
Trying to make a quick decision, they both ride about the same. REI's Novara discount takes 20% off the Randonee this weekend making it $959. The Jamis Aurora (standard not Elite) is $950, a tad bit heavier, but with fenders. I guess the component level might be the deciding factor, any advice from owners of either would be appreciated.
Randonee:
https://www.rei.com/product/816068/no...onee-bike-2012
Aurora:
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...12_aurora.html
Thanks in advance.
Randonee:
https://www.rei.com/product/816068/no...onee-bike-2012
Aurora:
https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...12_aurora.html
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by uprightbent; 03-20-12 at 01:06 PM. Reason: url's
03-20-12, 02:03 PM
#2
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You have a Jamis Dealer where you live?
Metro around DC it's likely .. do you like the service you get from that dealer ?
Metro around DC it's likely .. do you like the service you get from that dealer ?
03-20-12, 02:10 PM
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The Jamis is a 27 speed and the Novara is a 30 speed. The 30 speed is the new generation Shimano MTB drivetrain. This makes the Novara a bit more modern and upscale, but 3x10 gearing is less proven in the touring world than 3x9 gearing.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 03-20-12 at 04:38 PM.
03-20-12, 03:28 PM
#4
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Good point, +9 speed spares cost less than 10 speed chains and cassettes
down the road, when you wear thru what you got on the new bike ..
down the road, when you wear thru what you got on the new bike ..
03-20-12, 05:22 PM
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ah.... sure.
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Had a 2008 Jamis and have a 2010 Rand.... The Rand has a much stiffer feel between the two. both served me well and I only got rid of the jamis because a car decided to pull in front of me and end it's well used life but not mine.
I would suggest you ride both... because from my point of view they both rode very different. The Jamis was more agile feeling but whippy and the Rand was stiffer but slower turning for sure with it's longer wheelbase.
Either will serve you well though. Rei does have the best return policy in the business....
I would suggest you ride both... because from my point of view they both rode very different. The Jamis was more agile feeling but whippy and the Rand was stiffer but slower turning for sure with it's longer wheelbase.
Either will serve you well though. Rei does have the best return policy in the business....
03-20-12, 10:30 PM
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03-21-12, 09:32 AM
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Well, not to bring social politics into it but REI is a consumer co-op that has been committed to the US outdoor enthusiast for over 50 years with over 100 stores. Jamis' investment in the US scene?
03-21-12, 11:10 AM
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I saw longer wheelbase and it prompted me to ask "why". The actual chainstay length doesn't show on the REI geometry but comparing the other numbers hints that it's about 1.5cm longer.
Also, you can't judge by it, but the amount of space between the leading edge of the rear wheel and the seat tube "appears" to be significantly wider on the Rand.
Also, you can't judge by it, but the amount of space between the leading edge of the rear wheel and the seat tube "appears" to be significantly wider on the Rand.
03-21-12, 11:57 AM
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I saw a review on the Novara in the Adventure Cycling magazine and the low gearing caught my eye. If you plan to carry a decent load up any kind of hills I'd definitely go with the Randonee and it's 18 low gear inch vs the 25 of the Jamis. The Novara has a 22x32 low gear vs. 26x28 which can be a huge difference on a climb.
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03-21-12, 12:55 PM
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I love my 2010 Jamis Auroras (plural- yes I have two of the exact same bike due to theft/replacement/recovery) and HATE the fenders. Do not let them influence your decision, unless they've upgraded. I just took the recovered one in for a tune up and they were like "should we try to fix these" and I said "please just burn them." I am replacing but don't know with what yet. Other than that, I'm very happy with my bike(s) but I haven't ridden the other one.
03-21-12, 01:10 PM
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I saw a review on the Novara in the Adventure Cycling magazine and the low gearing caught my eye. If you plan to carry a decent load up any kind of hills I'd definitely go with the Randonee and it's 18 low gear inch vs the 25 of the Jamis. The Novara has a 22x32 low gear vs. 26x28 which can be a huge difference on a climb.
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
03-21-12, 01:44 PM
#14
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Here is the gear inch range for the Randonee from the review. It looks wide enough to cover loaded tours and still have a pretty good top end.
22 32 44
11 54.0 78.5 108.0
12 49.5 72.0 99.0
13 45.7 66.5 91.4
15 39.6 57.6 79.2
17 34.9 50.8 69.9
19 31.3 45.5 62.5
22 27.0 39.3 54.0
25 23.8 34.6 47.5
28 21.2 30.9 42.5
32 18.6 27.0 37.1
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03-21-12, 02:02 PM
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Just the 22t inner ring won't get it as low as the Novara. The cassette will also need to be swapped out to go from a 28 to a 32 - probably another $30 and the RD needs to handle the extra range.
Here is the gear inch range for the Randonee from the review. It looks wide enough to cover loaded tours and still have a pretty good top end.
22 32 44
11 54.0 78.5 108.0
12 49.5 72.0 99.0
13 45.7 66.5 91.4
15 39.6 57.6 79.2
17 34.9 50.8 69.9
19 31.3 45.5 62.5
22 27.0 39.3 54.0
25 23.8 34.6 47.5
28 21.2 30.9 42.5
32 18.6 27.0 37.1
Here is the gear inch range for the Randonee from the review. It looks wide enough to cover loaded tours and still have a pretty good top end.
22 32 44
11 54.0 78.5 108.0
12 49.5 72.0 99.0
13 45.7 66.5 91.4
15 39.6 57.6 79.2
17 34.9 50.8 69.9
19 31.3 45.5 62.5
22 27.0 39.3 54.0
25 23.8 34.6 47.5
28 21.2 30.9 42.5
32 18.6 27.0 37.1
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 03-21-12 at 02:15 PM.
03-21-12, 02:15 PM
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I am rooting for the Novara. The gearing on it is just so much better than the Aurora (for touring) and all the components are solid. My girlfriend rides a Aurora and I was disappointed with the gearing and the finish.
03-21-12, 03:31 PM
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03-21-12, 11:02 PM
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A 44/32/22 chainring with an 11-34 will get you about 28mph at 90 RPM on the high end. That seems adequate for most touring situations.
03-22-12, 02:07 AM
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The rest of the road bike world has been using 10-speed drive-trains for quite a while. Even the mountain bike guys have been using it for a couple of years now. Given the accuracy of modern CNC machining, I spend more time worrying that gravity will suddenly stop working than I do about the reliability of my 10-speed drive-trains...
03-22-12, 05:09 AM
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The rest of the road bike world has been using 10-speed drive-trains for quite a while. Even the mountain bike guys have been using it for a couple of years now. Given the accuracy of modern CNC machining, I spend more time worrying that gravity will suddenly stop working than I do about the reliability of my 10-speed drive-trains...
3x9 is proven in the touring world, 3x10 eventually will be.
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 03-22-12 at 06:02 AM.
03-22-12, 09:18 AM
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03-22-12, 06:29 PM
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To my knowledge, 9sp is more widely available in far flung areas of the world, much like 26" tires.
03-23-12, 10:02 AM
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