The Jamis Komodo (MBA, February 2001) had thrown us a curve. We had uncrated the mystery bike (with a weird and wonderful mix of components, like long-travel forks hanging from an aluminum hardtail frame) and wondered what field the bike was going to be swinging for. It turns out it was swinging for the fences, and it hit a home run as the hardtail version of the perfect trailbike.

The arrival of the Jamis Dragon signaled the beginning of a new game. This is no farm-league hitter. One look at the Dragon strutting up to the plate and you know this is a bike from the big leagues. We signaled for the wrecking crew to move deep.

IN THE BATTER'S CIRCLE
The Jamis Dragon's Reynolds 853 steel tubes look downright tiny compared to the oversized, ovalized aluminum tubes of the Komodo (or any aluminum cross-country frame, for that matter). There are no massive gussets, and the welding is as close to seamless as you can get without taking a grinding tool to them. The stays have a slight taper to them that is barely noticeable.

There is no misunderstanding the Dragon's intentions. It has a single-purpose mindset. This is a bike that was made for cross-country racing. There is an 80mm-travel Manitou Mars Super fork on the front. Shimano XTR components are liberally applied. The Answer stem and bars are set for the hunker-down position of a serious racer. Tubeless Hutchinson tires wrap Mavic Cross Max rims. Don't look for cut corners on the Dragon, because there are none.

The Dragon's $2600 retail price may give the hardtail buyer a tinge of sticker shock, but it is a steal. Walking around the bike with a calculator, we got up to $2700 before we had calculated a penny for the frame or labor. If the Dragon were a free agent, it would be selling for over $3000.

STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
Lavishing praise on a steel hardtail may get us labeled as "old school" by those who jump from one wonder material trend to the next, but we'll take our chances and call it as we see it. The fact is, the dragon does amazing things on the trails.

The bike feels right. The frame's dimensions are traditional, but new technology (in the form of tubeless tires) makes the Dragon rise above mere tradition. The Dragon's hardtail frame may reap a greater advantage from tubeless technology than any dual-suspension or softail bike. Here is why.

The tubeless tires add a new dimension to the hardtail experience. Gone are the signature jackhammer shots that hardtails generally inflict. The Reynolds 853 steel has to be given some credit (especially when compared to certain small-diameter aluminum hardtails we've ridden) for the kinder, gentler feel, but it is the tires that give the Dragon its high batting average in the comfort department.

Traction is phenomenal compared to other hardtails. While the Dragon's ride can't possibly equal that of a full-suspension bike, it comes close to that of a softail. The lower air pressure allows the tires' surface to better conform to the terrain, in-the-saddle climbing also benefits markedly.

The Dragon does everything you'd expect from a traditional hardtail. It feels as at home on a tight trail as it does screaming down the mountain. The XTR brakes may not have the bite of a disc brake set-up, but the familiar feel and excellent modulation (not to mention light weight) make these brakes a perfect choice in this application.

CHECK SWING
It took the wrecking crew an extra inning to come up with a shred of constructive criticism for the Dragon. The WTB grips twisted like throttles on the Answer bars. Losing a grip on our favorite fire road decent would have terrible consequences. Safety wire cured the problem.

If the wheels need truing (they didn't during our test), the rider must use Mavic's special spoke nipple wrench and spoke holding tool. That's no problem in the workshop, but we'll bet the Dragon rider is not going to carry those tools in his Hydrapak every time he hits the trail. It will be a bummer if truing on the trail is ever necessary.

The same tubeless tires we raved about give up about seven pounds of air a night. Pumping up your tires on a regular basis is the small price you pay for their added performance. You shouldn't use tire tools on tubeless tires, so get your thumbs in shape.

CRACK OF THE BAT
If your idea of fun is dropping off ledges, blasting through rock gardens or spinning down the bike path on Sunday afternoons, turn the page in the Jamis catalog when you come to the Dragon. If you are dead serious about high performance hardtails that don't beat you to a pulp and offer a new dimension in tractability, call on the Jamis Dragon as your pinch hitter when the bases are loaded. The Dragon takes the fast ball of value and performance and knocks it over the fence.

CHECK OUT THIS BIKE!
CLICK HERE!