Just in: Jamis Aurora Elite

Chill out about spoke numbers. 32 is a LOT of spokes. I had 24 spokes in my around-the-world bike and never had a spoke snap or needed to true a wheel. Likewise I've got a 20 spoke front wheel which has done 3 cyclo-cross seasons and had several victories without any problems.
The more spokes you have the more holes there are in the rim (weakening it). Spokes tend to snap at the bend by the head - so straight pull spokes/hubs make a lot of sense to me.

does anyone know if they sell the frame and fork only?

as a complete bike it looks like they've gone for a niche commuters-who-tour-a-bit. not a bad idea. but they've missed the c2w price point - silly.

it makes me laugh that manufacturers spec BB7's but then don't fit them using full metal jackets as per avid's recommendations. well set up bb7's are as good as it gets but off-the-shelf they won't always impress.

I test rode one of these the other day in a 57. I was only allowed 15 minutes and it was unladen, but it was enough to let me know that I wouldn't buy it.

The frame is nice with the ‘springy’ ride quality that you'd expect from decent steel. The handling was good, steady without feeling boring. Excitement *was* forthcoming though in the form of some quite severe toe overlap when setting off from a set of lights on a hill (I’d have fallen off in surprise if I hadn’t nearly come off because of the overlap).

The BB7 disc brakes are OK if a little overhyped. Stopping in the dry was less responsive than the Mini Vs that I'm used to (and despite their reputation as the best cable-operated callipers, I couldn’t discern any difference between them and Shimano's BR 505s).

The main problem that I had with the bike was actually changing gear. I like the idea of Apex, and the wide ranging rear cog certainly made it easy going on the hills, but the shifters are horrible. They felt cheap and plasticky like they’d break within a month or two (nothing like their £200 -odd RRP suggests). Shifting action was spongy at best and I wasn’t able to reliably tell whether I was going to change up or down despite single and double-tapping like crazy. Maybe I’m just too used to Shimano’s precise clicks and instant feedback, but Apex was more like Nadir for me.

On paper (and screen) this looks like a great bike, but in practice it’s let down by flawed frame design and some poorly performing components.

I'll be interested to see what the road.cc folks think of it.

It is a 11-32 cassette and a compact crankset, so wouldnt fancy too many hills fully laden as well (or puddles).
Its described as a "town bikes for smart urban speedsters and cyclo-tourists" on their website. Which is what it looks like, a slightly trendy-ed tourer.
Despite that.. I like it, 631 and discs look great to me - but then I am more likely to pack some shopping or a creditcard than a tent and cooker..

The 2011 Sutra is £1000, so £150 cheaper than the Jamis. The Kona frame (while sturdy and comfortable) isnt the same quality as 631 and the P2 fork wont be as comfortable as this one.

Spec wise the Kona is down at Tiagra level (bar the solitary XT mech) and has bar end shifter, which are £50 compared to the Apex Brifters, at least £150. The kona does have a front rack but they can be had for £20.

Overall the Kona is good, infact with the discs, guards and racks its better specced for £1000 than my LHT was. But i dont think it holds well against this Jamis, assuming you can afford the extra £150. Not to mention the fact you can get the Kona on C2W schemes.

The Kona Sutra has very similar kit to this (but deore/xt/fsa mix) and is £300 cheaper!

I don't see how this could be called a tourer in the proper sense. Never mind the 32h wheels - it's got bloody road bike gears on there! Mind you, if it's an 11-32 on the back you could always swap out the crankset for a 26/40 or something.

Having done three months around Europe fully loaded with camping and cooking kit, I'd never go without mtb gears... I used everything right down to the 22-32 granny gear. Surly LHT FTW.

Looks nice for a tourer, good price and loving those discs. Damn shame they thought it a good idea to fit it with crappy Sram but there you go.

I would love to see it with alloy Campag Athena and different wheels, maybe Ambrosio rims etc. but overall very nice. Like the blatant 'Made in Taiwan' sticker as well, there's balls for yer ....

Well i like the look of it, some decent spec'd parts too. My issues tho...

Cables - badly done from the factory? are they long enough to have the bar at full height and still get a decent turning radius? dosnt look like it.
Also, rear brake cable is too long at the caliper, there is a big kink! Obviously that is something a shop should sort out before delivery but i doubt they'd want to fit a full new set at the bars.

Rack - why go for a disc version when the caliper is inside the stays?

Guards - style over substance, plus as you say fitted to the low rider bosses (and prob cut to short form factory to shift them elsewhere?)

Wheels - 32h? now im not overly bothered by this but i know many will discount a touring bike if it doesnt have a 36h rear wheel at the least.

Not major -ve's i know, but things to consider. If was still in the market for a new tourer id deffinatley consider one (bought a Surly LHT last summer, very happy it too)