The Megamo brand is known in the industry for its expertise in mountain bikes and its Girona roots. And we do love Girona!
But what makes a Megamo road or gravel bike special and why should you take one home with you? SALA co-founder Adrian offers a candid evaluation of a Megamo gravel bike, below:
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Let's start with the fact that I have never ever written a review…. But I felt compelled to do one after riding a new bike from Megamo. It all started with a visit from a friend riding his top-of-the range Silk gravel bike, looking amazing with the latest SRAM RED components.
We agreed to host a ride at SALA together with Megamo and offer a variety of bikes for more friends to test. To my surprise I ended up last in the picking and rode with the Jakar. At the beginning I didn't expect much from this bike, as it had an aluminum and SRAM Apex group set.
We did a 60km ride, with about 500m elevation and some muddy sections and punchy hills, and I have to admit, I barely noticed the difference between the Jakar and my other gravel racing bike. I really like the geometry, designed for comfort, as well as the general feeling. Its being aluminum made me less worried about the elements like mud, water, etc. and kind of let me just ride and have fun. The design is funky, the color we have available for testing is yellow with orange, and after looking at the whole group of bikes, I really liked the fact that it was different and made me stand out.
Of course on the ascents and flats you eventually start feeling the weight and drag of the bike, however on the descents it worked in my favor, cornering was no problem, and the stock tires (WTB Riddler 700 x 45c Tan Sidewall) worked just fine. Given that the Jakar is targeted to riders that are just starting with gravel or simply want an all-around bike, I feel this model gives you a lot of value for your money, I would easily think this would cost 2,500 EUR. [The actual price is more like 1,900 EUR.]
Would I recommend it? 100%, especially if you are looking for a bike to start riding gravel or for an all-around bike as mentioned. It’s comfortable and it's on the light side for an aluminum bike. Of course you would need a good engine if you want to use it for road, but today there are plenty of tires that could serve both purposes and it would make an ideal bike for anyone.
Highlights:
-Price: great value for money
-Design: great colorways for all tastes
-Fork: Carbon fork to reduce weight
-Comfort: Designed for long days in the saddle
-Bike-packing friendly
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Buying a bike is a commitment. So choosing the right one can be a hard decision to make. We can help ease this process. Stop by the store for a chat and take a bike for a test ride. No obligation to buy.
If you do decide to buy or lease a Megamo bike, SALA offers financing options through PayPal and Klarna. We are also now licensed dealers with BusinessBike and JobRad, and we can perform yearly inspections covered by leasing contracts.
With spring just around the corner, now is a great time for a new bike!
Questions? Get in touch: hola@salacollective.com