The Abra Cadabra's technology and geometry has been honed through the rigors of enduro racing. Kona Enduro Team members Karim Amour and Matt Slaven throw these bikes up and down mountain biking's most demanding race courses. With a new 142x12 rear axle, incredibly light and lively Scandium 6069 tubing, and a Magic Link platform that can switch from extreme up to extreme down solely based on rider and trail input, the Abra Cadabra is the ultimate do-everything ride. New for 2012, ISCG 05 tabs and cable stops for gravity dropper seatposts.
Submitted by
Acba
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2011
Strengths: From looks to riding experience, almost everything
Weaknesses: handlebar
Bottom Line:
Impressed... bought it because I've always liked how Kona bikes ride and despite the fact the Cadabra sounded "too good to be true". Well, it is better than it sounded and is true!!!. This jewel jumps, drops off, eats rocks so easily! Magic link if properly set up (had problems with initial set up) works wonders without you even thinking to switch on/off anything.
Of course there's always room for improvement and better components and bla, bla, bla... could be added but then you can just pay the extra 1000 for the abra cadabra I guess. A taller handlebar will be my next move, but this is totally a personal preference.
... oh and did I mention the looks???? you can bet there will be no more elegant and better looking bike wherever you go
Bike Setup: as purchased plus candy 3 pedals (Crank brothers)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Prestige
a Racer
from Helsinki, Finland
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2011
Strengths: Magic link! Super fun coming downhill, carries speed much better than any bike I've ridden before. Feels really solid and well balanced.
Weaknesses: None so far. Only thing I'd swap is 10mm bolt trough axle for the rear wheel, but Easton wheels don't allow that.
Bottom Line:
Review is for 2011 model. Really love it! Looks great and works really well. At first i was little suspicious about the 150mm talas, but that has been very plush and solid. I've already ridden everything with it, done one enduro race with it, few days in bike parks riding some DH tracks and lots of trail riding. Bike felt perfect at all times. Feels very light and is about 30 pounds with my setup, and thats size L. I'm surprised since I loved my Meta before, and this beauty climbs and descends better! Would recommend to anyone who's after great all mountain machine.
Similar Products Used: Commencal Meta 55, 2006, 2007, 2010
Bike Setup: Stock + RS reverb, new xtr trail pedals and E13 the Hive. Just swapped Maxxis LUST tires and turned grips other way around so that the lockrings are at the end of the bars. Loving the stock setup!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
nickhead
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne VIC
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2010
Strengths: Stiff, strong, fast and bloody good pedalling. easton haven wheels!!!
Weaknesses: the saddle dosent agree with my but. the gips only had one lock ring and moved near the ends.
Bottom Line:
i was incredibly surprised at how efficient a climber this bike is. it just eats up the trail and gave me a huge amount of confidence straight away due to the stiffness and plush suspension. it does exactly what is claims. i havent actually needed to use propedal yet and i dont think that i will.
Bike Setup: stock standard 2011 model except swaped the grips for some ourys and fitted some geax lobo loco tyres for a bit more grip in the soft stuff.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
bipedillusionary
a Cross Country Rider
from Rapid City, SD
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2010
Strengths: Aggresive climber, nimlbe and secure dowhills. I am enjoying this bike more and more each and every ride. The MagicLink system would best be described as a mathmatical pivot that simply functions under pressure. This truely is a just get on it and ride type of bike.
Weaknesses: I have found that this bike (possibly tires, etc.) reacts swiftly in loose material....(loose gravel, sand, etc.) I notice this more on the uphill sections as the back tire will spin out under these conditions.
Bottom Line:
I truely am happy with this bike/purchase. I spent 6 weeks researching, testing, riding, diffrent bikes. I had narrowed it down to several bikes. Specialized Stumpy Elite, Trek Fuel EX9, Cadbra, Cannondale Rize 3. All of these bikes had pros and cons. The Stumpy was a sick bike, however I really felt like the Kona was a more comfortable climber, I really love the power and acceleration it offers in technical sections. So I crossed the Stumpy off the list. Trek was nice bike as well, but after testing riding it several little things happened, the seat clamp was loose and couldn't be retightned, and the brakes seemed to act differently in same scenarios making me lose confidence quickly. Trek was crossed off. The Cannondale actually got the least testing but felt really good. I was a little sketched on the Lefty fork, and the componetry was lacking for the price I felt.
So I test rode the cadabra, and honestly felt super comfy on the bike immediatley (even though I was coming off of a ten year old bike that is considerably more raked out) The guys at the bike shop were super professional but also really down to earth. Through talking with them, having them tweak out the bike for my test rides (which no one else did) and never pressuring me to buy. They were the a solid team to buy from. So after lots of deliberation the Abra Cadabra has become my bike of choice.
In a nutshell, aggressive climber, smooth downhill dominator, sexy.
Strengths: Lightweight, nimble handling, bottomless feel, aggressive pedaling, loves to accelerate and stand up under power. Much better lateral stiffness than the G1 Magic Bikes
Weaknesses: Not sure how it should be spec'ed...
Bottom Line:
Been fortunate to test the Magic Link bikes since the conception with early prototypes. And in 3 years time, I can say this particular bike is chiseled and refined, and may be the very definition of "All-Mountain". At 6.4" travel and build-able from 26 lbs, this bike may turn the AM class upside-down . But the hell with my word go demo this bike. Haters beware. Straight up nasty.
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Here is the deal.
Surfing on the net i found out about Kona and Magic Link. I got impress with the Abra Cadabra model, so I'm Thinking on buying one.
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