Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004
Strengths: Frame - tough as Kona Stem and bars - surprised at how good they fit my shape!
Weaknesses: Kinked downtube limits options on seatpost length Suspension design showing its age, but simple is good for me!
Bottom Line:
Bought this second havd at the end of 2003 - my riding is semi aggresive - 5 foot dropoffs, small doubles. Bought this because I couldnt afford a new bike, and needed a nwe rig as my old Muddy Fox was holding me back. Turned out to be a GREAT choice.
Frame is still solid - bearing / bushes no signs of wear. Single pivot design = easy to setup / maintain. Bike was standard when I got it - C2 brakes, mix of LX / Deore. Upgraded to XT shifters, front, rear deraileurs, and hope M4s. Rear shock is now an RC.
Bike has eaten everything I have thrown at it, and since I have owned it has given me the confidence to ride bigger, harder, faster than before. Which I think is as good as you can ask. I see this bike lasting me another year, then maybe a VP free! Only 4 chillis as it is an older frame, and the shocks aren't a fancy platform so uphill is hard work.
Strengths: good spec, i upgraded to hope discs and it is great for street dirt dh freeride.. whatever
Weaknesses: i snapped it
Bottom Line:
it is a fantastic bike, it took it all in its stride, it snapped doing a twelve foot to flat landing drop bu that isn't really kona's fault (don't do big drops to flat landing) this could of affected the rating but i sent the bike back to kona who repleced the frame with a 2001 stinky dee lux frame for nothing!!! therefore 5 chillis for an awsome bike with a great warranty KONA ROCK!!!
Similar Products Used: marin b-17, alpine trail, muddy fox freeride drift,
Bike Setup: stock, exept for the hopes
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Submitted by
Tom
a Downhiller
from Norwich, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2003
Strengths: The Frame! Suspension's super plush
Weaknesses: The guy i bought it off had upgraded most stuff, might upgrade to bigger discs
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks ass! i've had it a few months and been hammering it without any problems. i'm 6'2" and 220 pounds so it has to handle a bit of extra strain on the drops and jumps but the frame and components handle it all.
the guy i bought it off had it in his basement for a year so after a good service its near new. the setup i'm running is multi-purpose cos i ride it to work every day on dirt track and tarmac but go downhillin and freeriding at the weekends so its a really versatile bike.
But i'm starting to push it now and i'm thinking of some jr T's and BETD plates to hit 6-7 inch front and rear to soak up the impact of my fat ass, and some bigger brakes for downhilling after a few too many near misses.
My review takes into account the bargin price of £500 (approx$750) but this bike is worth so much more! if you're looking for a bargin secondhand hardcore bike then this is for you. but you gotta watch out for crappy components!!!!!!
Bike Setup: 2000 17 inch frame, stock suspension, XT crankset, LX shifters and mechs, XT hydro discs, nokian freeride tires, DDG platfrom pedals
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Submitted by
Trunks
a Downhiller
from Canyon Country
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2002
Strengths: This bike is awesome super plush. It still has stock suspension and its killer. I dont think I could ever break this frame. I bought it used from a bike shop owner and now I ride it nearly everyday, and it puts up with a lot of abuse.
Weaknesses: Its a little heavier than I would like it to be, but it comes with the durability. Oh and the seat post that I broke and replaced.
Bottom Line:
To the point this bike is bad ass! Every aspect of the design is on the money. I do plan on going with a six maybe seven inch front fork (cause everytime I go out on this bike I get braver and braver, and go bigger and bigger). But it rocks I dont even think that 5 chillis are enough to give it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR, GT LTS1, Trek Fuel
Bike Setup: Like I said orginal suspension, all XT components, Hayes 6" Disks front and rear, Titec stem and seatpost, Ditch witch double walls, Panaracer XC front and rear, shimano DX platform pedals.
Strengths: has built alot of confidence, has showed me what parts to never buy again, it does have the best feelin ride to it tho when its not busted, sits high up front an low in back, rather comfy. has stood up pretty well for what i have put it thru tho
Weaknesses: cracked two frames, exact same spot, waited forever to get it replaced, busted original cranks first ride, replaced chain at leat 5 times, and bb in the first two months, busted a few shock mount bolts, orignal components are no good, busted z5s within 2 er 3 months, this bike has been a pain from day one, conciderin how many times ive had it outta buisness beucase of busted parts
Bottom Line:
i want a better bike, it is a good confidence builder btu onyl can hold its group up to a point, i think im pushin it now
Favorite Trail: enythin steep fast an full of jump/drops
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: McBike, Terrace B.C.
Similar Products Used: first fully
Bike Setup: 2001 Jr T's, Magura Discs, Maxxis Mobster up front an Tioga on rear on rhyno rims, race face cranks, shimano xt rear mech truvativ chain guide
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Submitted by
James Reid
a Downhiller
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001
Strengths: frame, colour, price
Weaknesses: everything but the frame and the paint. kona and there tru-value cranks and a damn tx or some bs bb
Bottom Line:
the frame is solid and built to take alot of punishment, everytthing else is crap. my ratings are based on the frame and the crappy canadian dollar. If youre a rider who wants a good frame but cant afford to build a bike from frame up this is a good choice. Make sure you know good components from flashy components or you well get stuck on a trail with a stock stinky. So i well close with three simple words RACE FACE CRANKS!!!!!
Bike Setup: hayes 6" all around, race face bb and north shore xs cranks, Mavic d521 with xt hubs and a load of other stuff
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Submitted by
Mister Maniac
a Racer
from Brooklyn, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001
Strengths: The frame!!!
Weaknesses: everything but handle bar, step
Bottom Line:
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a DS racer. 15th Place in Platekill. I can't believe how tough the frame is. It got so plush and perfect when I got the Fox Vanilla RC shock on the back. The best think besides the bike is the Rholoff SpeedHub. No more bullsh!t deraleur, no more adjustments. I don't even need the MRP, just had it before the hub. The frame is sick, Easton RAD is the toughest aluminum tubing there is. Get it, it's cheap, it's solid, and it's even better for 2002.
Similar Products Used: norco launch,andd team-dh, super 8, fetish, stab primo
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Jack Lucas
a
from Elmira, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2001
Strengths: beefy frame, vanilla r, z-5, cranks, the list goes on...
Weaknesses: drivetrain
Bottom Line:
Sweet ride. I have had a bit of trouble with the rear derailleur cable, it seems to pop out of its housing when you do bumpy sections at speed -- you can just fasten it though.
Overall, I haven't been able to really push the bike yet at all -- the thing takes repeated 4-5 foot flat landings as if you're riding over a curb.
Strengths: the frame ia amazing,it has good travel and its affrodible. the coakpit is pretty well speced too
Weaknesses: the drive train (it just sucks) the cranks and bb (I wiegh 135lb. and i broke them) the forks (i wiegh 135lb. and i can flex it out about 3 inches) i hear the original wheel set isn't to good either but mine came with a dh one
Bottom Line:
you will have to do some upgrading if you push bikes but the total coast will never be more then 2100,l wich is worth it for the frame. and if your young (i'm 14) or just have no money it's affordible for a freeride bike. although it has alot of weak stock components the frame still kicks a$s and kona is the best bike company around. 5 faming turds.
Bike Setup: i had it stock for about 4 monthes then i got a ds3 to replace the z5 a dh wheelset. and i'm going to order race face cranks and bb because i just broke the stock ones.
Weaknesses: Everythng exept the frame, i broke nearly every thing
Bottom Line:
Awsome frame, build it up and it is an awsome freeride bike (but anything over 12 feet kinda hurts), its probably better to buy a stab dee lux 00 kona frames rule ( my ratings are for the frame)
Bike Setup: Stinky,Z1 drop off, Rhyno-lytes, Maguras, Intense Tires, Second set of firex, Pro tapers with an artos DH stem
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Submitted by
Mike K
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria BC
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Strengths: nothing that came stock
Weaknesses: all stock components. the only thing i havent broken is the front derailleur.
Bottom Line:
Kona frames break very easy. Thats the bottom line, and whats worse, is that kona doesnt honour any warranty. I love the way my bike feels and rides, but I have to ride it broken because kona wont give me warranty. Id give my bike 5 chilis if they all came like that, and since konas warranty sucks I wont give and recommendations for this bike. Buy a Norco.
Submitted by
stilford graw
a Racer
from Drain,Oregon,USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2001
Strengths: I liked The shocks, they were cool to throw off my roof!some day I'll learn how to ride it. Most of all I enjoy looking at my kona stinky unless billy has his pants down in front of it....
Weaknesses: I hit my nuts ion the frame and they burst it was bad
Bottom Line:
Go and get yourself a bike. And dont hit your gonads on anything hard...
Strengths: Awesome frame, kick a$$ travel and nice paint job.
Weaknesses: Ive almost broken every single conponent. Some of these conponents really suck and need to be upgraded.
Bottom Line:
The frame kicks ass. The suspension kicks ass unless u bottom the bombers out and break them like me. But most of the conponente NEED to be upgraded. If you could, get yourslef a custom stinky with disk brakes, better rims and a better drive-trane. If u dont, u'll find out just like me that the conponents on the stinky suck for the most part. Upgrade and then u will have a kick ass freeride bike.
Bike Setup: Stinky with shimano disks, bonz cranks, rock ring, Mavic rims and a bunch of other crap not with the stinky.
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Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Newton, Ma
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001
Strengths: -Four Bar linkage system -Killer Paint Job -Ultra Plush -Good solid ride in general
Weaknesses: -Could be a little too plush on climbs... -Front derailur is tweaked a little, not bikes fault tho
Bottom Line:
This bike eats up drops like its nobodys buisness. The tioga tires grip really well. Its not a bike thats ment to go fast, its a bike thats ment to perform in technecal conditions. Everyone I see says "wow, thats beautiful" the color draws a lot of attention. everyone turns and looks when u bring it into the shop. im planning on upgrading the front derailer and brakes to disc when i get the $$. Im looking for people to ride with so if ur around 16-25 and are a fairly decent rider and live in the boston area email me.
