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Surly Karate Monkey 29er Hardtail
Product DescriptionSurly dealers are prohibited from shipping complete bikesToThefollowingcountries: Canada, Australia,The UK, Japan, Germany,The Netherlands,France,Finland, New Zealand,The Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland,Taiwan, and Italy. If you are in one ofThese countries, please provide analternativeshipping address at checkout. Surly bikes deliver bulletproof, reliable performance year after year.TheyveTakenTheir versatile 29er Karate Monkey frame and outfitted it with a careful selection of parts
User Reviews
Submitted by
BruceBrown
a Cross Country Rider Date Reviewed: December 28, 2012 Strengths: This review is for the 2012 Stretchpants Black size XL Surly Karate Monkey frame. Cost effective frame price for everything from entry level to a full out, tricked out bike that will take how every many $$$$ you can throw at it. The geometry with the short wheel base (when the wheel is run forward) makes this a bench mark fun bike to own and ride. A simple, fun, classic frame to own and ride. Weaknesses: Surly took care of most of the weaknesses I had with the 1st generation bike. Rear disc brake mount has been updated to make rear wheel removal and installation simple. Head tube was too short on the size XL in prior generation, and it has been improved to 125mm with this version. So I can't really pick out a weakness with this new model since I am comparing it to prior generations. Visually, perhaps I'm not a huge fan of the housing routing being underneath the TT - but that's a cosmetic visual preference of mine. An opinion, not a weakness. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Lake Ahquabi/Banner Pits Duration Product Used: 10 years on a KM, brand new with this frame Price Paid: $400.00 Purchased At: Rasmussen's Bike Sho Similar Products Used: 2002-03 Surly Karate Monkey frame (used it for 9 1/2 years) Bike Setup: Racing Ralph 2.4 front and rear BB7 160mm front/140mm rear Avid Levers WTB Silverado saddle Industry Nine Enduro wheels converted to SS with a Gusset kit Thomson post and stem (120mm with 0 degree rise) and one 2mm spacer RockShox REBA Race 100mm with bar mounted lockout Shimano pedals Race Face 175mm cranks with 29T ring and 16T cog Crank Brothers ISIS BB
Submitted by
ariel dekel
a Weekend Warrior Date Reviewed: September 30, 2012 Strengths: So durable it just survived falling from a roof rack on 90 kph without a skratch!!!. Geometry feels like it was tailor made just for me, puts a smile on my face evry ride. Weaknesses: After 4 years of rides i can't find a single 0ne but im not a wight whiny and less then 14k do it all bike is unbeatable deal. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: a few in the israeli desert Duration Product Used: 4 year Price Paid: $1200.00 Purchased At: shopharim as a frame Similar Products Used: Few xc 26er, ht & fs no more then 5 inch of travle. Bike Setup: Manitou tower 100mm, avid bb7, bontrager rhythm comp 29ers, fsa carbon seatpost ( aluminum got bent to many times), bonti race lite square bb, 32t surly chainring x deore 11-34 cassette 1x9 if you like that needs to be upgraed to 12-36 as soon as it breaks. I ride a 20" frame & 1.86 meter tall + 94k (go metric system:-D)
Submitted by
Brennan
a Weekend Warrior Date Reviewed: September 8, 2012 Strengths: Steel yet light, Affordable Weaknesses: Haven't found any yet besides a worn chain but I bought it used so what do you expect. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: anything Price Paid: $500.00 Purchased At: Used Similar Products Used: Diamond back response, trek 6500  
Submitted by
Justin Twelftree Date Reviewed: July 25, 2012 Strengths: Price. I was looking for steel commuting frame and this looked ideal. Feels lovely and solid. Novelty rarety (in UK at least) - only ever see one other. This frame has given me 3 years (15,000miles) of trouble free all weather commuting on widish road tyres and handbuilt 700c/29er wheels. Handy for any impromptu light off road bits i come across. Nice touch of having canti & disc brake mountings. Rigid forks are super solid. Weaknesses: Weight perhaps but it is a cheap steel mtn bike frame so cannot complain. Does not entirely give the famed steel springy ride. Paint fades & look scabby pretty quickly, plus skate park graffiti graphics are pointless unless target market is 14 year olds. Bottom bracket cable routing on a mtn bike? Please please please!!! Do you have proper mud in your neck of the woods? Frame has cracked at bottom bracket shell/chain stay/seat tube interface, which quiet frankly after 3 years road commuting for a frame that is allegedly designed to be used off road is appalling and smacks of poor manufacturing processes. I had 2 Surly crosschecks in 9 months that had identical issues, both replaced under warranty. Will not go near such badly made frames again. Bottom Line:
Submitted by
mtbinflorida
a Cross Country Rider Date Reviewed: July 1, 2012 Strengths: This bike handles great. This size 18" 29er is a shorter wheelbase than my 26er and the KM goes through singletrack like butter. Running rigid, the bike moves well. Converted the 160 front disc to 180, swapped out grips, converted to tubeless and dropped the air pressure and the ride is smooth. No front shock for now. Heading to New River Gorge, WV to try the new Arrowhead trails (thank you Boy Scouts for helping with the trail construction). Singletrack heaven they say. Adding a Dos Eno 17/19 in back and 32/34 front. Leaving the cranks because they are pretty stiff. Laser disc wheelset is nice. Weaknesses: The frame alone was on back order for two months so I bought the package bike. Rode good out of the box, but the above changes really brought her to life. The 17 degree sweep in the handle bars bring them back just a little too far for me (I am 6.0) so I have some H-bars on the way. Disc only this year. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Bear Creek Purchased At: Sprockets Similar Products Used: Canondale f1000, Trek Fuel ex8, Bike Setup: as above
Submitted by
Guerdonian Date Reviewed: June 28, 2012 Strengths: Rock Solid quality frame. The Geometry is perfect. Looks good, rides better, take it anywhere and have a smile on your face. Weaknesses: A bit heavy, but it is a budget steel frame so not much room to complain about that. Best to convert or purchase a rear wheel with a thru axle that you can crank down if going Single Speed. A regular Skewer does not provide enough compression to prevent the rear wheel from clocking out of line in the horizontal dropouts. Should be given rust protectant on the inside of the frame ASAP, to prevent compromising of the material. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Similar Products Used: I have ridden many other 29ers, many.... Bike Setup: I bought this as a frame only. Its set up with the stock rigid fork, and a SS drivetrain using a surly chainring and cog. "budget" 29er wheels ("explorer" which i dont think exist anymore) hydraulic juicy 7 brakes, Kenda nanoraptor tires. Carbon seatpost.
Submitted by
gf99 Date Reviewed: June 4, 2012 Strengths: handling Weaknesses: it broke Bottom Line:
Submitted by
DaveS29er Date Reviewed: May 28, 2012 Strengths: This was my second single-speed mountain bike, and my first 29er. I love this bike and love to ride it. I'm reviewing the frame and fork, since my build is not the stock Surley KM, and everyone seems to build theirs differently, for different purposes. I have done dirt, gravel, paved bike paths, pavement, and fording shallow creeks, but no technical riding in the nine months I have had the bike. The 20" frame is right for my 6' 2" and 32" inseam. It is a well-made, beautiful, practical, versatile bike. Weaknesses: I wouln't put gears on this bike, because of the horizontal dropouts, but many people do this and aren't complaining. It is not a weakness, really, it's a feature. Bottom Line:
Submitted by
isaac
a All Mountain Rider Date Reviewed: May 18, 2012 Strengths: super sturdy, fast, awesome handling, light for a steel frame, climes well, and just fun to ride! Weaknesses: the only one I can think of is that it has trouble on long semi steep to steep climbs with the stock gear ratio. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: devils backbone Price Paid: $1050.00 Purchased At: full cycle Similar Products Used: kona unit Bike Setup: stock
Submitted by
rufio
a Cross Country Rider
from Occoquan, VA Date Reviewed: February 21, 2012 Strengths: Exactly. Weaknesses: You gotta be kidding. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Duration Product Used: 3 months Similar Products Used: Redline Monocog Flight 29er. Bike Setup: Surly frame and Karate Monkey fork. Hayes Nines, Bontrager Ranger wheelset, XT cranks, Forte Carve Pedals, singlespeed.
Submitted by
jjonas
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, NH Date Reviewed: December 8, 2011 Strengths: Just about everything. Weaknesses: Grips are kinda cheap feeling and I might get me fired from my job Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Bear Brook, FOMBA, Fort Rock Duration Product Used: 3 months Price Paid: $1050.00 Similar Products Used: Redline Monocog Bike Setup: Stock 
Submitted by
krash670
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, GA Date Reviewed: November 23, 2011 Strengths: Bomb proof, great handling, brakes Weaknesses: Grips, seat, 17 tooth rear Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Chicopee Woods Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month Price Paid: $1050.00 Purchased At: The Bicycle Doctor ( Similar Products Used: Haro Mary SS Bike Setup: Factory. Changed out grips to Ergon GP-1 (large).
Submitted by
halr
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO Date Reviewed: November 2, 2011 Strengths: Strong, balanced, great geometry Weaknesses: Possibly weight, but I don't notice it. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: Fox Run Duration Product Used: 6 months Price Paid: $1000.00 Purchased At: The Hub Bike Shop (C Similar Products Used: None, this is my first 29er Bike Setup: KM frame and fork, Race Face Turbine Crank, Salsa Delgado Rims, Paul Hubs, White ENO freewheel, Avid SD7 brakes, Tektro levers, Salsa Woodchipper bars, WTB SST saddle, MKS Mtn Lux pedals
Submitted by
zinco
a Weekend Warrior
from Albuquerque Date Reviewed: September 10, 2011 Strengths: A very strong frame. I have ridden other hardtail 29er frames and didn't like the flex and twist in other frames compared to this Surly. I'm 6'2 185lbs and torque on this thing set up as single speed. I've learned to really trust this frame trough all the hell I put it through. Weaknesses: First off if you buy this as a complete bike your not getting ripped off. Just don't plan on not having to upgrade or replace things with-in the first year of hard riding. I ride it ridged with the Surly fork and it's hell on the wheels. The Salsa rims suck they don't stay true and paired up with the worthless Surly hubs which would be fine on a beach cruiser but on a ss-mtb give them three months. The bb-7s mechanical disc brakes are there but I'll tell you the best up grade was going to a 180 on the front and changing to hydraulics. On a ridged frame bombing down rockyness very nice not having to squeeze the life out of the mechanicals. So lets see that pretty much leaves you a frame set to start with and putting on new upgraded components would not be a bad way to go. But it was also fun to get the bike in a box ready to go and slowly have no option but to replace things and upgrade when needed. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Favorite Trail: anywhere east MT Duration Product Used: 1 Year Price Paid: $950.00 Purchased At: speedgoat Similar Products Used: Salsa Fargo, ridged Bike Setup: SS- 33x18, Avid elixir, carbon bars.
Submitted by
Cycle Nomad
a Cross Country Rider
from Hudson Valley NY Date Reviewed: June 29, 2011 Strengths: Strong, great geometry for me. Weaknesses: It's a steel frame so you have to understand there is some weight here. Do yourself a favor, lose five pounds and ride a steel frame. Bottom Line: Expand full review >>Duration Product Used: 1 Year Price Paid: $225.00 Purchased At: Ebay used frame Similar Products Used: Surly instigator Bike Setup: 29er, 80mm air fork
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