Submitted by
Gray Mauch
a Weekend Warrior
from Alberta
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2002
Strengths: Good quality, strong frame. Decent components for the money. Begs to be upgraded through time.
Weaknesses: Stock wheelset sucks. Stem/bar combo way too upright for cross country.
Bottom Line:
This is my third Kona bike and I swear by them. They've always made comfortable, stable, good quality frames. The parts mix is good for the money. Switch out the wheelset, tires, and stem/bars with something decent, it will be worth it. A little heavy but I'll trade it's durability anyday for someone else's wet noodle feather-weight. With some smart upgrades you can shave the weight down to be competative. In general, a kick-ass trail bike that can take any abuse you dish out.
Bike Setup: ALmost Stock. Upgraded to Shimano discs & Sun Rhyno Lites. Thomson stem, kore bars. Time pedals. Raceface crank
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Submitted by
matt wirzba
a Weekend Warrior
from lathbridge, alberat, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2001
Strengths: Good match between durability and weight, am amazed at the strength of the bike considering that it is a 850$ bike and is called a cross country bike. I have hit a 6 footer with it and it help up fine (I am even a bigger guy)
Weaknesses: Only 80mm of travel on z-5 bomber fork. Saddle is comftorable yet weak. You get what you paid for.
Bottom Line:
Good all around bike if you do a lot of trails and are into Urban/freeriding. Gets high ratings for its all around strengths. If you are like me and do pretty much everything for biking and are low on cash I recomend it
Strengths: Great all arround bike. This was my first bike in 10 years and it has yet to dissapoint. A little heavy but then again you get what you pay for. *Caution the wide handle bars will have you clearing the trail* (very wide).
Weaknesses: Weight, weak bottom braket.
Bottom Line:
Great begginner to hardcore downhiller or XC rider. Some of the componets are week and should be replaces ASAP. Over all a great bike for the price payed.
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2001
Strengths: Reliable, inexpensive, great for medium speed single track!
Weaknesses: Slight flex in the frame, with some cheap and heavy components.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price. The guys at Kona did a great job. For the North West terrain, this bike does not disappoint (i.e. single track, medium speed--Not Cali terrain). Slightly heavy, but what do you expect. This bike will do until I get enough $$$$$ for an Intense Uzzi. Ride hard!
Bike Setup: Basically stock except for XT brakes and a 120 stem.
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Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland Oregon
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001
Strengths: Burley construction, great feel, nice all around mountain bike for people who like to ride hard.
Weaknesses: A little heavy, but I'll take tough and heavy over light and flimsy any day. Stock rims suck.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I ride it so hard that I had to put on much better wheels, but otherwise the package is a great deal. The frame will last a long time, and the bike is definately worth upgrading. I am a big fan of Kona frames and I would buy another were I in the market again.
It's very good geometry, stiff frame. Look's and feel very playfool. If someone wont bike for trails this is perfict machine for mudd. If someone wont to spent more money, he shoul upgrade brakes and put magura or shimano disc's.
Submitted by
Johhny
a Weekend Warrior
from Harrington Park, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001
Strengths: ALMOST everything!!!
Weaknesses: rims are really weak, seat rips in the corners, and the tires gind down fast. The cranks and chain rings could be better.
Bottom Line:
god bike for the money, minus the rims and cranks. Busted both within one month of purchase. the rest of the bike is holding up real well. It creaks alot.
Bike Setup: snafu pedals, xt cranks, deore/XT setup. Hoping for Sun Rhyno Lites in the future
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Submitted by
Eugene Pascual
a Weekend Warrior
from Morganton, NC
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2001
Strengths: Strong, tough, and stiff frame, Marzocchi fork, disc brake ready, a lot of bike for the money.
Weaknesses: Stock rims, a little heavy.
Bottom Line:
I am very happy with this bike. It has taken quite a beating on rocky, rooty, technical trails. Due to my lack of skill, I have been over the handlebars more times than I can count, and the bike is doing just fine. This bike may be a little heavy for serious cross country racing, but it is still a great climber. This is the kind of bike that you just ride and not worry about. It works great for technical trail riding, downhill riding, cross country riding, or for just romping around in the dirt. It is definitely worth upgrading. For those looking for a durable frame and a good value, this is an excellent choice.
Bike Setup: Mavic Crossride wheelset, XT front derailleur.
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Submitted by
Mazapekka
a Weekend Warrior
from Riihimäki, Finland
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2001
Strengths: Frame. Doesn't weigh too much and still strong. Well made component choises.
Weaknesses: Fork, rims and brakes. Fork have should been with 100mm travel.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is, that this bike is a very good two-wheeler for those who like to jump, drive trial and XC. With changing the rims and the brakes, you will have a nice all-around bike. I like my own VERY much.
Weaknesses: the seat (realy uncomfortable) wheels are heavy
Bottom Line:
You can't beat it for the price a great entry level bike with lots of potential a few easy upgrades and you have a race ready machine that can stand up to anything. If your just starting to mountain bike or have been doing it for years but don't want to spend alot of money this is the bike for you. go buy it.
Bike Setup: stock with xt front dr bontrager race light bars & bar ends Sworks saddel mavic cross link wheels and fire xc tires and soon to add sid xc fork
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Submitted by
Johhny
a Weekend Warrior
from Harrington Park, NJ
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2001
Strengths: Components, Light Frame, Nice fork, Disk Compatible
Weaknesses: Thin Rims, Paint scratches with brake cables hitting it on headtube
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the value. I got mine on sale from last year with a short stem and snafu pedals. $150 off original price. great deal! Holds up like anyother bike i've ever used on trails, jumps and downhill slalom
Strengths: All around good bike; frame, shocks, drivetrain
Weaknesses: trie wore quickly weak rims
Bottom Line:
a real Mountain Bike. CAn be used for any type of riding once change to fit your style. The frame is great and can handle a beatting. Buy this bike, then change it to suit you. YOU WILL LIKE IT. Ge rid of wheels quiockly everything else can stay.
Submitted by
philippine machine
a Cross Country Rider
from san angelo texas usa
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2000
Strengths: prestigious company for solid, strong-as-hell frames. great xc riding and getting big air. won several races for me in texas series. solid package containing a marzocchi z5 fork, xt rear, deore front, 9 spd, avid single digits, and 7005 db Al frame.
Weaknesses: weak wheelsets, heavy fork
Bottom Line:
for a base price of $840, it came w/ great components that you cannot find on any other brand bike package at that price. any beginner planning on racing xc can utilitize this bike in many ways: having fun jumping obstacles, racing, touring, transportation, or training. you can always upgrade in the future if money is tight. i suggest that you upgrade the wheelsets first. giving it a weight reduction can make it an excellent climber.
Bike Setup: everything stock w/ a pair of new hutchinson python tires
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Submitted by
Beefy Carp
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000
Strengths: Frame geometry, ultra-plush Z5 Bombers, XT rear mech, deore hollowtech cranks, Kona Pseudopod glow-in-the-dark-grips, HG72 chain, cheep but nice avid 10 series brakes.
Weaknesses: Rims are a bit heavy. saddle is comfy but heavy and it creeks. Tyres are alright bur wear fast. XT groupset would be nice but deore/XT rd is still amazing value at this price
Bottom Line:
If you'r into xc but like to make it a bit more extreme then buy this bike. I got it for 700 UK pounds but I coundn't have got better for 900. The components in order of importance: the frame is light-ish and stiff. It climbs and decends imposibaly well. I will keep it till it breaks. wheels are ok while they last but I upgraded to 517 ceramics on XT which are lighter, tougher, and stiffer. when I start racing next year I will put Z2 X-flys on. drive-train is not bad at all. The XT rear mech and HG72 chain are great, and I have already put an XT fd on. will soon upgrade shifters, block and chainset to XT as well. the tires didn't grip so I upgraded to continental cross-countrys. The saddle, seat post, stem and bars are all OK but I will upgrade to lighter ones by selle italia, U.S.E, Race Face and X-Lite next season.
Weekend Wariorrs: Buy this bike.
Soon-to-be racers: Buy this bike and upgrade. you will get a better and more individual bike than if you spend $2000 straight off.
