The Jamis Renegade is an affordable steel gravel bike, and the Renegade S3 just got even cheaper thanks to some key part swaps. For 2026, Jamis traded last year’s 2x Shimano GRX drivetrain for a 1×10 Shimano CUES setup and cut the S3’s price by $200, to $1,699.95. An updated Renegade S4 is also shipping now at $1,499.95, and it’s now 1x too, though with nine speeds instead of ten.
What’s new for 2026
Previously, the Renegade S3 shipped with a 2×10 Shimano GRX 400 drivetrain, while the S4 ran a 2×9 Shimano Sora group.
“We made the move to 1x across our entire gravel lineup because we believe it offers the ideal setup for gravel riding — clean, simple, and highly reliable,” Jamis Road Product Manager Todd Corbitt told Singletracks. “Industry data from both major drivetrain suppliers strongly reflects this shift toward 1x demand.” Corbitt said the move also allowed Jamis to lower the price on the S3 build while keeping hydraulic brakes.
With fewer gears, the S3’s easiest climbing gear is effectively unchanged, since the old 30x36t combo and the new 40x48t work out to the same ratio. The trade-off is at the top end, where the 40x11t is noticeably lower than the old 46x11t. The S4 gets an easier low gear than the old 34x34t, along with a lower top end.
The Renegade S3 and S4 come with the Renegade V2 Adventure monocoque carbon fork. The fork features a flip-chip that switches between a 50mm and 55mm offset. Jamis says the 50mm setting adds high-speed stability for gravel, while 55mm sharpens steering for all-road riding.
Jamis is speccing the S3 and S4 with wider tires this time around, going from 700x37c WTB Riddlers to the 700x45c version of the same tire. Both bikes roll on WTB ST i23 tubeless-compatible rims.
The Renegade S3 and S4 frames gain a UDH derailleur hanger with the refresh. However, Jamis cut dropper post routing on the S3 and S4 this time around, though Corbitt says that feature could return for the 2028 models.
What hasn’t changed: the Renegade S3 and S4 are still made with Reynolds 520 double-butted chromoly tubing and feature a threaded bottom bracket, three bottle mounts, top tube mounts, rack and fender eyelets, and mostly external cable routing. Jamis lists claimed weights of 24.25lb for the S3 and 24.5lb for the S4, but didn’t specify a frame size.
| SIZE | 48 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEAT TUBE | 450 | 480 | 510 | 530 | 550 | 570 |
| TT EFFECTIVE | 532 | 547 | 567 | 587 | 604 | 621 |
| HT ANGLE | 71° | 71° | 71° | 71° | 71° | 71° |
| ST ANGLE | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° |
| CHAINSTAY | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 |
| WHEELBASE | 995 | 1010 | 1030 | 1051.2 | 1070 | 1085 |
| FORK RAKE | 50/55 | 50/55 | 50/55 | 50/55 | 50/55 | 50/55 |
| BB DROP | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| HEADTUBE | 80 | 99 | 130 | 162 | 189 | 210 |
| STANDOVER | 731 | 754 | 783 | 807.9 | 830 | 849.5 |
| STACK | 527.5 | 545 | 575 | 605 | 630 | 650 |
| REACH | 360 | 370 | 380 | 390 | 400 | 410 |
How the new Renegades stack up to steel gravel bikes we’ve tested
I tested a higher-spec version of the Renegade gravel bike in 2023 and concluded it was “a fun, capable, and stylish choice for exploring gravel backroads and singletrack connector trails.”
Looking at a few other steel gravel bikes I’ve tested, the State 4130 All-Road is priced much lower at $999, but the State-branded drivetrain on my test bike wasn’t great. Adding State’s $300 carbon fork upgrade brings the price of the All-Road up to $1,299. That puts the price within $200 of the Renegade S4, which features a Shimano drivetrain out of the box.
The S4’s mechanical brakes are the obvious place Jamis saved money. Then again, I felt like the mechanical-hydraulic brakes on the State didn’t feel any more powerful than a good set of mechanical discs. If you plan to ride singletrack, the S3’s hydraulic brakes and wider-range cassette look worth the extra $200.
The Surly Straggler GRX gravel bike I tested last year costs $800 more than the S3, but it comes with a dropper post, a 2×12 Shimano GRX drivetrain, and a slightly slacker 70° head tube angle. That bike weighed 27.7lb on my scale, while Jamis claims both new Renegades come in under 25lb.
The State and the Straggler both have internal dropper post routing, which is the biggest thing the new Renegade S3 and S4 give up.
Both bikes come in six sizes from 48cm to 61cm, with the S3 in Primer Gray and the S4 in Coppertone. They’re sold through Jamis retailers, or buyers can order from the Jamis webstore and have the bike shipped to a local shop for assembly.
The Renegade S3 delivers more bike for less money than last year, while the less-expensive S4 adds a carbon fork, adjustable handling, and a Shimano drivetrain. But if a dropper post is on your must-have list, you’ll want to look at the Renegade S1 or S2, or wait for the 2028 models arrive.
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