Strengths: the monsters are sick, 9 inches of rear travel!! hayes as usual rock, stiff as hell, takes the big drops really well, xtr shifters are smooth, mr dirt chainguide does its job, and i think i should mention the monsters again because they saved my life, uhh, several times
Weaknesses: a bit noisy on drops in the 7 foot and up range, but that really isnt a weakness, and it sure isnt too heavy, i weigh 135 and can throw it around pretty well
Bottom Line:
this bike is sick. it makes 5 foot drops to flat concrete feel like a small curb. it will boost your confidence on the scary stuff and feels awesome in the air. if you are concerned about the weight, dont be, it doesnt make all that big of a differnce when your hittin high speeds anyway. the bottom line is, it rocks
Similar Products Used: '01 stab primo, brooklyn tmx, khs dominatrax(nothin compared to the stab)
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Carmen
a Downhiller
from Nelson, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2001
Strengths: plush, strong, fits a 3" tire in the back, 9 inches of travel, no flex rear end
Weaknesses: not progressive enough
Bottom Line:
this bike rules, if it wasn't for it not being progressive, this would be the best bike I've ever ridden. I'm a freerider, not a racer, but this bike still rocks.
Strengths: Medium to huge hits and rocks strong everything tracks very well rolls over everything stays on the ground pedals very well very balanced very stable in air or ground very comfortable with the nice tank feel to it
Weaknesses: not too great on small bumps but who cares Cannot put the seat down much because the swing arm will hit the seat or seat post clamp real tough to bunny hop higher than 5 inches high because of weight
Bottom Line:
This bike is like a tank. It will roll over everything with speed. It is a great jumper because it is well balanced and all and it will take your mistakes. This bike also can pedal real well without much pedal bob. barely any power is robbed. The suspension design is one of the best. It will take anything but at the same time is a great pedaler. The Moster T will break rocks in half. The stering is accurate and its handling is amazing.
But this bike is not for everyone. It is ideal for the downhiller that doesn't mind the weight of a 50 lb bike. It does not have the best agility and doesn't require much finess.
One of the best downhill bikes out. Beats the crap out of all bikes i have tried
Strengths: pedals good looks sick mobs anything jumps good lots of travel
Weaknesses: some say weight but i think its fine
Bottom Line:
this is a sick bike for going all out.it does anything you want it to do.tears up everything in its way.not to heavy for a 140 pound rider.dankest bike EVER
Bike Setup: 00 Stab Primo/99 monster T/Hayes/Azonic/Intense Tires/Gizmo/mavic D521/sun hubs
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Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001
Strengths: its huge, beefy and beasty. has confidence inspiring edge crushing ability. It knows where to go before you do. I found it extremely easy to pedal for a 54 pounder w/ so much travel. the suspension and rubber has no problem keeping you on track or on the trail.
Weaknesses: like it has any other than the fact I may kill myself on it
Bottom Line:
word to your mom this came to drop bombs
I bought it 6 days ago and have been out riding 5 of those. Whoever said that the swingarm hits the frame didnt have it setup right. A few minor adjustments, and its sooo plush. It came with a Fox Vanilla R @ 600 x 2.80 so whoever had the 400 spring got a different setup I guess. Also, the other guy from Vancouver who said its feels good lofting off a curb, 6 feet likes a curb on this beast. The monsters have corrected all of my mistakes which includes nosing a 6 footer. Granted the front end is heavy but the more you ride it, the less you'll notice and I'm not complaining in any way.
If you're reading these reviews looking at all the negative feedback wondering if you should get one, ignore the negatives. I havent looked back on buying this since I first hit the trails and niether will you once it setup to your liking. I'm 160 pounds and its just fine for me.
Similar Products Used: Norco Shore Norco VPS 1 & 2 2001 Kona Stab 2000 Kona Stinky Primo
Costco Kuwuhara special ;)
Bike Setup: stock except I traded the spd's for axiom flats. may change the mr. dirt gizmo to ds chain guide for easier wheelie drops
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Submitted by
Sean Murphy
a Downhiller
from Spokane, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001
Strengths: Stiff, plush, pedals well, built to take what ever you can throw at it, looks great.
Weaknesses: The frame came stocked with a 400lb spring on the rear shock. It's a down hill frame. A 400lb spring bottoms off of curbs.
Bottom Line:
This frame is sturdy. There is no 2001 primo so I am reviewing it here. I love this bike. It runs over everything. It is a little heavy but I built it that way. It jumps fairly well, not as good as some but good. I ride where there are big rocks and huge drops and this is the perfect bike for it. It also makes a great race bike. The only problem was that from the factory the frame came with a 400lb spring. I think that is why the rear shock is blown out. Other than that it has run perfectly since I have had it. The suspension design is great for pedaling a heavy bike.
Purchased At: Bike shop, Factory, MTBR, Mailorder, Used
Similar Products Used: Kona Stab, Cannondale Super V 1000 FR, Ridden alot of down hill bikes but not more then a few pedals.
Bike Setup: 2001 Kona Stab Primo, 2000 Monster T, White 26" Sun Double Wide rims, Intense Down Hill Hubs, Michelen 2.5" rear tire, Tioga 2.3" front (soon to be michelen), Profile Mountain Bike Cranks, Dirt Works Gizmo Chain guide, Race Face 42t DH chain ring, Big Cheese pedals, Sram PC-51 chain, Shimano XT 11-32 cogset, Shimano XT rear derailer, Kona seat post, SDG Bog Boy saddle, Zoom 60mm Dh stem, Azonic PDW bars, Sram cheapo shifter, Gripshift grips, FSA orbit Extreme headset, 2000 Magura Gustav front break, 2001 Magura Gustav rear break.
Strengths: Can't say a whole lot, havent ridden for too long.
Weaknesses: Crack! I have nothing against my bike, but it cracked at the headtube. The swingarm hitting the seatpost is just dumb.
Bottom Line:
This bike isnt indestructible, it is possible to break it. Why the Kona Stuff hardtail has more reinforcment than the primo at the headtube, I'm really not sure about. Mine cracked under the Downtube.
Also, the seatstay yoke was hitting the seatpost head, so i moved it up. Then after riding it, It just sucked, I went right over the bars WAY too many times. Given, I hadn't tried to tweak around witht he seat setting, but that just wasn't nice.
I found out from Kona, to be able to lower the seat and avoid any interaction with the seatstay yoke, Run a Zero offset seatpost, and a Smaller XCish seat.
Although my first few rides wern't terribly pleasant, I'll give it five starts till next review, because I see alot of peotential in the bike.
Similar Products Used: VPS-1, many downhill bikes.
Bike Setup: Monster T, Hayes Brakes, etc.
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Submitted by
Jonathan Hodge
a
from bexhill e.sussex england
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2001
Strengths: the bikes shere abilty to go through anything you point it at rock solid its a kona
Weaknesses: what none what so ever
Bottom Line:
this is the most stunning bike that i have ever redden. it is very hard on the sticky mud but it will cope easely with rocks gravle grass mud and it will fly but sticky mud kills it the bottem line is that ervyt thing feals right and it is bult like a brick and can take ervy thing that you throug
Similar Products Used: schwinn stright 8 cortner atx1 sun radical
Bike Setup: shivers ,xtr ,modoes factry set up apart from the forks
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Submitted by
Dave Sheppard
a Weekend Warrior
from London,England
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2000
Strengths: Erm the whole bike? it rocks.
Weaknesses: Erm the gear cable? Honestly thats about it maybe shimano need some thicker cables for dhers?
Bottom Line:
Um well i only got it recently but i love it. Its an ex team bike but was never raced. I reckon its not a great dh race bike but its into some extreme riding and it loves crazy stuff that breaks other dh bikes in two. I don't race but i love big drops and silly jumps which is why i got this bike. The front end is heavy but "hey" thats all part of buying a dh bike!
Similar Products Used: Schwinn straight 8, rotwild dh3, marin team dh, intense m1 sl, Specialised FSR DH, santa cruz super8, foes dh slammer.
Bike Setup: AS UK standard with purple hayes 8" discs,2.6 tires f&r,azonic bar & stem to raise front end slightly.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC, CANADA!!
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000
Strengths: It sucks and has not many.
Weaknesses: heavy, when you go off big drops, the swingarm hits the frame
Bottom Line:
it sucks because it is WAY too heavy to get anywhere. you can't ride it in the shore well and also off anything over 8ft, the swingarm hits the frame (depending on setup) and if you like to ride your bike stiff, than if you ever bottom it out, the swingarm will hit the frame. Trust me. It does feel pretty good when you're lofting a curb though... go to mtbbc.cjb.net for a cool site
Submitted by
leoni leone
a Downhiller
from wiena / austria
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2000
Strengths: ...that's not a bike, thats a gun!!!
Weaknesses: what? - oh, maybe way tooo heavy for the cross coutry people... hehe!
Bottom Line:
ok, first of all: the bike is a beast!!! ...it just kixxx buttt!!!
This bike is a grat DH machine, one of the best on the market. In comp. to my old GT lobo, this bike is a bit faster in everything... The only problem, I had with the bike was the fork. F1's are great forks, but mine was loosing oil /but that is not a problem of the bike/ I changed the fork, now I have a custom Votec upside down DH fork with 18 cm travel. The frame is a bomb!!! this bike is great for all you DH ppl., ...it's not cheap, but its a perfect bike!!! ps.: the picture on the kona web are great, but just wait till you see the bike "live on two nokians"...it looks great!!! have a good ride!
Strengths: This bike is extremly strong, impossible to break. The bike with the best handling that I've ridden. Very plush, the 2k monster-ts do the job. Perfect bike to run over the racer infront of you that is going to slow! and of course, not feel anything
Weaknesses: weight for the wussies who cant handle it. But i cant find any weaknesses for me
Bottom Line:
Expect to win some races with this bike... but you will need two good lungs to bring it to, I think I am gonna die, speeds. This bike can take you wathever you can give it, and also expect to improve while riding this bike cause you will be fearless. Who ever does downhill should BUY THIS BIKE!
Strengths: A fat & strong awsome downhiller! This bike is the best thing i have ever seen.
Weaknesses: Maybe the weight. But you get over it. Possibly hitting the steroids might be a good idea for the weaklings
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks ass! If you ever hear any wussies complaining about the weight, just ride over em, cause you wont feel a thing its so plush! If youre looking for a bike for taking huge hits and massive drop offs, buy this bike.
Submitted by
BONUS WAGNER
a Downhiller
from SEATTLE
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2000
Strengths: STRONG FRAME DESIGN, REAR SUSPENSION SOAKS UP BIG HITS SMOOTHLY.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
VERY STABLE UNDER SPEED, SOAKS UP BIG DROPS AND HITS. CORRECTS ALOT OF MISTAKES WHEN U GO OFF COURSE. THE WEIGHT IS NOT AN ISSUE. IT'S LIKE PLAYING GOLF WITH AN OVER-SIZE CLUB. THANKS TO WILLY & THE BOYZ AT KONA, AND "THE DOWNHILL ZONE" FOR SETTING THE BIKE UP FLAWLESSLY.
