Submitted by
Liam
a Weekend Warrior
from Midlands UK
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2004
Strengths: Strong, stiff, agile fast bike. Very inspiring ride, fun, fills me with a huge sense of pride! Funky colour just happens to be my favourite (neon green, black & white, also luminous green!!!)
Weaknesses: As I bought the frame only, none. Though, I do worry about theft a great deal more with this bike - it looks very cool
Bottom Line:
I ride this & wonder why we need Freeride. I don't race but love it for being race-ready - 'cos that's all I wanna do, is go out & ride it fast! A strange vehicle that is very serious, carves & cruises like a jet fighter, but I seem to be having much fun with it. It is a much better bike than those pro downhill racers in the early to mid 1990s. I love the Kona styling especialy the frame design - the low slung riding position suits me perfectly. This is a rare thing - once it's fitted & tweaked, you don't need to mess with it or upgrade it, & it will still surprise you for being great fun, I've become bored with bikes before but not with this one (so far!).
Favorite Trail: South Downs, Cannock Chase or Malverns
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Purchased At: NEC Birmingham Bike 2001 (Frame)
Similar Products Used: Handsome Dog XT (similar to Muni-mula 2000)
Bike Setup: Kona Spec bike is near perfect, they've made the right decision in speccing it slightly lower so people can buy it - then upgrade later if they wish. I built mine up, so gave it full XT. I ran XC bars but felt too 'angsty roadie', so put risers on, just like the stock bike, also it's got the Bomber air fork, Flite saddle, Ritchey logic pedals... Most of the upgrades that people would make to this are personal ones, but I do feel it deserves full XT. If any changes are made, they'd probably be very similar to what Kona have done anyway. It's the perfect 'keep it simple race bike'
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Submitted by
Gerik Waltz
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto On. Canada
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2002
Strengths: Great Frame. Geometry is perfect. Strong and stable. Deore is like butter with minimal fiddling. Climbs and decends well. Feels like a giant BMX bike with a turbo.
Weaknesses: SDG sattelite saddle took some getting used to. Seat post saddle clamp has to be tightened often. Stock rims are tin foil.
Bottom Line:
When I purchased this Bike I had a pair of Judy SL's lying around. Traded the Bomber Z3 for the upgraded wheels and bars and popped on the Judy fork. With this slight customization this bike preforms BETTER than most $1500-$3000 bikes I've used. Takes tons of abuse. Handles great on all types of dirt. Last and least; this bike looks awsome. It blows the 2001 and 2002 models away!!
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain O2, KHS ALite 4000.
Bike Setup: Mavic 519 rims. Rock Shok Judy SL. Azonic Riser bar. Azonic A-frame platform pedals (ouch, bye bye shins).
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Submitted by
Jasper
a Cross Country Rider
from Westfield,MA
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001
Strengths: Great bike for the money. Frame geometry is awesome. Z4 will handle anything you give it. Avid brakes Stop on a dime. It glows in the dark. Climbs like crazy.
Weaknesses: As much as I love this bike it has not been all roses for me. Let me add that I am 6'4" 250lbs. The seat needs to go if you want to have kids someday. The seat post has an annoying creak. Now for the Mavic rims. I managed to taco the rear rim after 4 spokes let go on me.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line. After putting a little money into a rather new bike I would still buy it again. The Kona frame is one of the best on the market and components are components. The only downside I can really see on this bike are the wheels, but if you only weigh 175 or so they will last fo ever. I give it 4 chilis in value but love the bike too much to not give it a 5 chili overall
Bike Setup: Wilderness Speed V seat Thompson seat post Sun Rhyno Lite rims front and rear Specialized comp tires all around Sigma BC800 Computer (You'll ride enough to need it)
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Submitted by
Joseph
a Cross Country Rider
from Cornwall, England
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001
Strengths: Great ride, great fork, good spec for the money,
Weaknesses: wheels kinked easily, brakes needed some adjustment
Bottom Line:
Fantastic bike for the money, Fork and geometrey give a confidence inspiring ride. I have had it for 3 months and have still found very few faults. Climbs like a beast
Similar Products Used: 98 Specialized Rockhopper FS
Bike Setup: Normal apart from pedals
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Submitted by
Tzur
a Cross Country Rider
from Rehovot
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2001
Strengths: frame strength and geometry, marzucchi Z4!!!, components, Kona's reputation.
Weaknesses: non yet for XC needs.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great for skilled riders who wants to upgrade for more serious bike but are not serious racers. the marzucchi is god! you need the appropriate marz' pump (with the low pressure gauge)to set it correctly. about the price see the value flamin' cows. I wrote this review for the 2000 model even though its true also for the 2001 model. if you belong to the progressive, nonracing (or 'light' racing) xc rider category YOU SHOULD BUY THIS BIKE.
Bike Setup: stock + xtr brake pads, Lizardskins shock protector
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Submitted by
Brad Hewitt
a Weekend Warrior
from Salmon Arm,B.C.,Canada
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001
Strengths: Handles well , Fairly light frame,but very strong Awesome feel
Weaknesses: The rims bent easliy, The stock brakes were very powerful for the first month. The forks were strong but not very plush on the trails. The cranks and bottom brackets could be a little better.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike It fits me perfectly. I like the fast almost spastic feel.
Bike Setup: Physlo xc, Gremica disc, XT hubs, ryhrno lite rims tioga 2.3 rear 2.5 front , everything else stock
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Submitted by
Suzi
a Cross Country Rider
from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001
Strengths: -So far, great for doing tricks, I can handle it with ease. -First time on clips and loving it.(they are kinda low end, but who cares, you get lotsa good cadence) -The Arch Rivals are very sexy breaks, but I needed to adjust them a few times for some fine tuning. -The shocks are damn good, the overall geometry is nice. -Glows in the dark, so when i walk in my garage I smile and rub it. -Kona's bikes are overall economically great (.. the 2000 muni mula is so much better than the 2001) Im sure you will all agree. -nice on decents and especially on long long climbs
Weaknesses: While the geometry is nice, I personally prefer the genesis geometry of the Gary Fishers (Big Sur is comparable) The deore cranks are shyt. I had cable stretch even after a few rides. -lighter riser bar damnnnit -better tire/rim set up
Bottom Line:
Comp mabye? but it needs some upgrades, (front derailer is crap, deore?) come on now... ... crankset/front deraileur needs to be changed if you are serious rider Sweet breaks, good geometry, good shocks, Good spend. :)
Similar Products Used: Kona Caldera, Gary Fisher Big Sur, Gary Fisher Marlin
Bike Setup: Easton monkeylite carbon riser, diadora chilli shoes, going for the raceface crank soon
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Submitted by
Chris Janes
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001
Strengths: Great bike for the dollars. Glows in the dark. Marzocchi A4 Flylight Air shocks are great. Tioga tires and Avid Arch 40 brakes kick ass.
Weaknesses: Decals chip way too easily (scraped mine on a rock and "mula" is gone from the riser bar on right side). Paint on front shock chips easily too. A squeaking noise has developed in rear hub, but only when I am on the bike. It may be due to my weight (200 lbs). Cheap rims, but what bike under $2,000 doesn't have cheap rims?
Bottom Line:
Overall it's an enjoyable ride and a good bang for your buck!
I love my bike, but I have been unable to ride it for the past two weeks because the cranks became stripped. The Mavic 221 rims came out of true after two days of riding. I plan to replace the cranks soon with some inexpensive carbon ones. Rims to be replaced in the near future by XTR Hubs on Mavic 517 Ceramic rims. Bottom Line, I love this bike, and I am glad that I got the 2000, and not the 2001, as I prefer the convenience and weight of the air fork to the heavier oil fork on the 2001. In case you didn't know, Muni-Mula is Aluminum spelled backwards..... ~The Jedi
Similar Products Used: Trek 7000 Schwinn Moab 1 Kona Cinder Cone
Bike Setup: Stock 2000 Kona Muni-Mula Specialized Body Geometry MTB Comp Saddle Salsa Moto-Ace Stem
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Submitted by
Andrew Parlock
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2000
Strengths: *Great Frame *Dope looks *Greater climbing bike *It fits me like a glove *Bulletproof, it oozes confidence *Marzocchi Z4 Flylights in the front
Weaknesses: *Rear shifting issues *Rims are a little suspect
Bottom Line:
I'm absolutely in love with this bike. It's like having a girlfriend, I her hell for about 3 hours 3-4 times a week then make sweet love to her afterward. Seriously, this bike is really light and so strong. the shocks are adequate, nothing to write home about, but they do a good job. What it all comes down to is, this bike has a great frame, and the components complement the frame well. Kona makes such a great product:I was die hard GT for a while, but Kona won me over with their Frames.
Strengths: I am actually reviewing the 2001 Muni-Mula. Mostly the same as the '00 but they added hollowtech cranks, a different seat, stem, bars and a new paint job, and downgraded the Arch Rival 40's to Avid SD 5.
Weaknesses: None yet, although the shop I got mine from did a crappy job on assembly...loose headset and the rear derailer needed adjustment before I got on. Oh yeah the seat kinda hurts my ass....
Bottom Line:
Even with the cheaper SD 5 on the front and rear they they still do a decent job of stopping. The components all seem good and you gotta love the nice plush Z5. Very impressed so far.
Strengths: Strong frame that can handle drops, Z4 takes anything, unique look, GLOWS in the dark
Weaknesses: Not all that much Tires
Bottom Line:
Great ride! Haven't really had any trouble except for the shifting in the rear. Anyone else getting a lot of ghost shifting? Gonna try a Rollamajig. Frame is light enough and sturdy enough for everything I use it for. Great for a lighter (160-170) rider who wants to throw it around, drop stuff, and do some real technical xc. Go get one, Kona's rule!!
Bike Setup: Stock except: Fr. tire - Ritchey Z max 2.35, Rr. tire - WTB Veloci raptor 2.1, Tooth Fairy ring gaurd, toeclips or platforms, new seat post, WTB SST saddle
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Submitted by
Kelvin Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2000
Strengths: Its light. Love the XTs. Avid Brakes are solid but needed a bit of tuning. The frame is great for both climbing and downhill. Rather fast on the road too. Z4s eat everything
Weaknesses: Traction on the Tiogas arent that good.
Bottom Line:
All the bikes i've tried belong to my friends. The Munimula is a fast and good bike. It'll take almost everything u throw at it. It may not be as light as the Kleins or as fast as the treks but it rocks my world.
Similar Products Used: Trek 930, Klein Attitude Race, Kona Roast, Giant Rincon, Norco Charger 2000.
Bike Setup: All stock except for V8 pedals.
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Submitted by
Riley Troke
a Downhiller
from Coquitlam B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2000
Strengths: Marzocchi Z-4 Flylight Air Forksare good. 7005 series aluminum is strong. Reinforced frame. XT rear changer and Avid Arch Rival 4.0's give a responsive shifting and sweet braking power. It's great for the price.
Weaknesses: The tires are way to narrow (1.95). They don's have that good of traction. The rims are light but not to strong. And the there is quite a gap in between each shift.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a good ride over all. It climbs really well but is also good for steep descents and medium sized drops (4-6 feet)just replace the tires and rims and you got a sweet ride.
Bike Setup: Tioga Factory DH 2.3's, sun rim ditch witch rims, core rat bar and stem pad and a ring god rock ring.
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Submitted by
Steve Normington
a Cross Country Rider
from Haworth, Yorkshire, England
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2000
Strengths: Frame and forks are built to last - essential for a heavy rider like me. Great handling and climbing. Avid Arch Rival 40 brakes allow genuine one finger stopping. Bomber Z4 forks seem very good, although this is the first bike I've ridden with suspension forks.
Weaknesses: Deore shifters aren't very good. Front has a very long stroke compared to the XT shifter on my Trek 970 and only changes up 3 gears at a time. SPD pedals are plain dangerous on technical single track; no wonder down hillers prefer platform pedals. I would prefer flat bars with bar ends rather than the riser bars fitted.
Bottom Line:
A good solid fun bike, but needs a few mods for serious cross country riding. At the full UK price (£1000/$1500) I would have expected Deore LX cranks, hubs and shifters, so only a four chilli value rating.
