Price: $4,000
Weight: 31.5 lb. (M, claimed)
Style: All-mountain
Drivetrain: Shimano XT
Frame material: Aluminum
Travel: 160mm front and rear
Wheel size: 27.5
The right bike for: Riders who like big trails and steep, technical climbs
The Jamis Hardline is a 160mm all-mountain bike that uses a new suspension design for better climbing without compromising descending capability. It is equally at home on both steep climbs and rocky descents, and the modern geometry makes finding the ideal riding position for any situation easy.
The Hardline Family
There are two builds in the Hardline family: the $4,000 A1 and the $3,000 A2, which comes with a RockShox Deluxe R DebonAir shock and RockShox Yari RC fork. The A1’s partial Shimano XT drivetrain is swapped out for a drivetrain with Shimano SLX parts, although the Shimano M7000 11-speed cassette comes on both models. The TRP Slate T4 brakes that are spec’d on the A2 are four-piston like the A1’s Magura MT5 brakes, so you still benefit from the increased stopping power and control of a four-piston setup.
3VO
Jamis doesn’t own the 3VO (3 Variable Optimized) suspension platform—also used on the 130mm Jamis Portal 29er—but it is the first company to license it. Like the DW Link used by Pivot or the VPP linkage of Santa Cruz, 3VO aims to reduce pedal bob for better climbing efficiency without compromising descending capability. It’s essentially a dual-link platform that projects an instant center behind the bottom bracket, directly along the chainline. It’s an efficient pedaling system that is active and supple over the bumps and can handle the big stuff just as well.
Great Suspension and Powerful Brakes
The A1 build comes with a Fox Float DPX2 Performance Series shock known for its firm platform and easy adjustability. Paired with a Fox Rhythm 36 Float fork, the Hardline is well equipped to handle almost all the trail or enduro a ride can throw at you. You get a Shimano XT Shadow Plus rear derailleur with a Shimano M7000 11-speed 11-46t cassette for smooth shifting and a 1x Race Face Aeffect 32t crankset, making sure you have what you need for speed and still get over climbs. The Magura MT5 four-piston hydraulic disc brakes are a highlight, as they provide powerful stopping power with a high level of control. The dropper post is a KS E20i.
Geometry
The Hardline’s geometry is exactly what you’d expect from a 160mm all-mountain ride. The 439mm reach and 595mm stack is almost identical to the Pivot Mach 6. It also has a very similar, short, chainstay length at 429mm. The head tube and seat tube angles are close to that of the Santa Cruz Bronson at 65.5 and 74 degrees. The Hardline and the Pivot Mach 6 also have a very similar wheelbase, with the Hardline being longer by 2mm at 1,182mm.
Ride Impressions
My ride impressions are based on a demo version that had an upgraded version of the same shock and fork model as on the A1 as well as an upgraded drivetrain. The retail versions of both Hardline models make the ride characteristics available to more riders at a lower price point. I started up a few steep climbs at the Northstar Resort in northern California before jumping on a lift and riding down trails of different difficulties. I felt that if the lift hadn’t been there, the Hardline would have been able to climb a lot of the trails that I was descending. I rode up the initial climbs with the shock fully open. The pedaling platform was smooth and pedal bob was almost nonexistent. Descending is what a bike like this is made for, and as soon as the trail pointed down, the fun really began. I was able to quickly find my ideal setting on the shock and fork which soaked up the big stuff with ease. I could move my body around the bike so that I was able to find the best riding position for descending as well as climbing and when the trail briefly pointed up, I could jump on the pedals and make sure my speed didn’t drop. It rode smoothly through the small, choppy sections and flew through tight corners and wide berms. I felt full of confidence after only a few runs and didn’t want the test to end.
Matt grew up riding BMX in the UK and has ridden across Europe and the US, and now he’s putting those miles to use testing road, mountain, and city bikes for Bicycling. His ideal ride includes includes steep rock gardens, sweeping berms, and fast descents followed by a cold beer.
