Submitted by
P. Man
a Weekend Warrior
from Clearwater, FL
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2005
Strengths: Durable Durable Durable. Cannot wear it out
Weaknesses: Too durable, doesn't give me an excuse to replace it
Bottom Line:
Had this bike for years now, ridden in all climates hot to cold, sand and hard rock, upgraded components as I saw fit along the way, never had a single complaint. Scared the heck out of me when I looked at it in my tent one night and saw something glowing, until I realized the decals glowed in the dark NICE TOUCH! Of course, you can't get this bike now so this review doesn't help much, but I just wanna thank the people at Kona for making my ride. Thumbs up!
Similar Products Used: Ridden lots of different types
Bike Setup: XT 9 speed front and rear derailliers and shifters, Judy forks, stock all the rest
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Lephturn
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2003
Strengths: Great frame, geometry feels great. Awesome paint/decal job.
Weaknesses: RST fork is crap. Tektro brakes not the best. Stock pedals blow.
Bottom Line:
Can't beat it for the price. I've gone from commuting on this bike when I first got it, to doing technical XC and freeriding. I got rid of the RST fork when I started doing offroad, as it is CRAP. Had to ditch the Tektro front brake caliper, as it would not stop wailing. An Avid fixed that right up. I've thrashed the hell out of this bike for almost four years, and I don't think I've spent $200 on it. I got a used Judy XL 4" for $100, some cheap clipless, and it just keeps going. Finally this year I've cracked the rear rim a bit (3' and higher drops to granite flat) and the drivetrain is starting to wear out. I've only put a chain on it so far. Great bike for the $, and the new Blast is even better since they've swapped out the sucky fork and brakes.
Favorite Trail: The Crest, down through Mill Creek
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$425.00
Purchased At: Steveston Cycles, BC
Similar Products Used: specialized rockhopper, a few Gary's & trek's
Bike Setup: stock except pedals, saddle & seatpost
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Benjamin Bilsland
a Weekend Warrior
from Taunton, England
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2002
Strengths: Looks good, weights good, smells good, comes with a potof touch-up paint that my friend through was grease and tried to grease my pedals with. Good saddle.
Weaknesses: RST 281 EL
Bottom Line:
I rode it as a full on bike and loved it. Apart from the forks lasted one ride. One, admittedly wet, ride? I then went rigid, and then went singlespeed. Its lgiht, and all the components lasted (apart from rear wheel and forks) and I love it. I am annoed by the way nothing breaks, so I have no excuse to upgrade. I love the SDG saddle and I am sure that subliminally I want to snap it so I can buy a Sattellite. Honestly, I love this bike.
Similar Products Used: Trek 4300, Cannondale F500, GT I-drive XCR 3000, Other Konas...
Bike Setup: Singlespeed w/ 24/7 setup. LX/D521 r/wheel. Kona P2 forks.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from NW England
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002
Strengths: Strong & stiff Frame. Quick, precise handling. Wheels acceptable. Cheap & upgradeable. Looks good
Weaknesses: The original forks were TERRIBLE. I replaced them after a few weeks -they're not used on new Konas anymore either. WTB tyres not very good in mud. Some cheap components, replaced when necessary.
Firm ride, but it is a HARDtail!
Bottom Line:
*This bike is an excellent allrounder*.
It has been ridden (& crashed) hard. Its been all over the UK and to The Alps. The frame and stem/bars have stood up to everything thrown at them.
Strengths: it´s cheap, bombproof, it´s nice lookin´, the colour is nice i haven´t had any problems yet, but i have ridden it every day since i got it!!!
Weaknesses: it has pretty low budget components but it can be upgraded cause of it´s cheap price
Bottom Line:
This is my first "real" mountainbike AND I LOVE IT. I became interested in mountain biking about a year ago and then bought this bike and since then i´m totally into mountainbiking. I think this is the perfekt bike to grow with. I´m planning to upgrade it to the summer to get even more plesure from riding. I would recommend this bike to everyone, KONA RULES, FEEL THE FLOW!!!!!
Submitted by
Toad Spike
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Alberta
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2001
Strengths: Good Frame pretty well impossible to ruin frame. Fairly light. Good Price!!!
Weaknesses: Not bad components may wear out but possible to replace for cheap. Horrible rst fork REPLACE IT ASAP. Rims not so great 4 jumping. no back disk mounts.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money. good hanling, weight, and STRONG FRAME. Good for a Person who wants to have a good time riding or beging racer.
Bike Setup: Blast, Manitou Mars fork, Avid front disk, Panaracer trail blaster tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001
Strengths: Great Frame, Great Price, Overall an amazing bike
Weaknesses: Fork, thats about it. The components aren't that bad at all and I was fine riding them until some wore out. Rims a bit weak for jumping, etc...
Bottom Line:
Overall, I love this bike. Its cheap and if you shop around, you can get all the upgrade parts you want for really cheap. And the frame is stong and light and so its just a matter of making some minor changes to the parts when they wear out.
Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2001
Strengths: Great frame and the mongo color is the BOMB. Good Components for the money.
Weaknesses: Sorry front Fork. In the process of installing a Rock Shox Judy SL.
Bottom Line:
Great bike. Really love riding it and have had no problems so far except the RST on the front. I highly recommend piking up the 2000 model before they are all gone.
Bike Setup: Stock for now. Plain on upgrading drivetrain and brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Troy Price
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001
Strengths: Frame is bombproof...not much else was
Weaknesses: everything but the frame
Bottom Line:
Santa was sweet...had to come back and say how sweet the ride on this frame is now that it is a more mature bike. The Marzocchi is perfect for Kona, just as bombproof as the frame...traded the XT stuff back for the grips, love the performance, this bike completely rocks now...just waiting on a new seat and stem/bar...this frame and bike should be around for a while...Kona should go back to the mongo paint on this baby, anything else is an insult!
I have ridden 2200 km (1400 miles) during the winter. In Denmark mtb-riding is mostly a winterssport for road-cyclists. However the winter is rough on the bike! Chain and cassette is worn out after a season. Of course this problem concerns all bikes. This particular bike suits me fine. It´s a cheap bike, and the good frame deserves better parts. You can replace the different parts when needed. This way, as time goes, you will end up with a bike, build to suit your needs. All in all; a good deal !!!
Bike Setup: I replaced following parts during the winter: fork:RS Jett XC, Rear derailleur: XT, Pedals: Time -full carbon, brake levers: LX 2-fingers (servo)
Hey guys, I can pick up a used Kona Blast --- but it's old (2000) --- what do you think its worth? It looks like all original components. Thanks!
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