Strengths: Literally, the frame's strength. I am one of those die-hard hardtail fans and won't buy a dualie, so I take this bike out there and have dropped up to 8 feet onto flat pavement, and 12.5 feet off a north shore type ramp onto the back side of a double jump. This frame is beefy, in all meanings of the word.
Weaknesses: I'm looking over it right now, and I can't think of one. Ok, they didn't include touch-up paint, but wait that's kinda irrelevant anyway considering the bike's purpose. I built up the frame with components I choose so there are no weaknesses basically.
Bottom Line:
There are quite a few options when it comes to this market of freeride/urban assault hardtails. The Chute is up at or near the top of the list depending on your style. It is less race/DS oriented than an Azonic, but it is also a little more comfy. I can't say much regarding Rocky Mountain but I would guess their equivalent is about the same as the Chute, only more expensive (so I would rule it out). As far as a do-it-all bike goes, the Kona Chute is your best bet out there I'd say. I've ridden it hard, really hard, for a year now. It's suffered countless hits of up to 7 and 8 feet onto pavement from retaining walls and cement railings, and it looks just as pretty as it did the day I built it up. I've taken it on countless trail rides as well and whether it's my climbing skill (doubtful) or not the thing can climb well enough if you've got the wind to support it. And as far as advantages over a full-suspension, well you can learn trials on it (nothing is more fun than learning new trials moves) since there is no bobbing in the rear; you can expect better responsiveness, less weight, and a more compact frame with which to move your body around. Enough about my bragging about this bike though, I got it with a shop deal so the frame came to me at half-price, and it didn't even take more than 2 weeks for it to get to the bike shop I work at. Talk about service, I've never dealt with friendlier guys in my life. If you do decide to go Kona, you'll never go back to anything else and you certainly won't regret it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized P3, Azonic DS1, Azonic Evolution, numerous trials bikes designated for urban assault
Bike Setup: Z1 MCR up front, Velocity Cliffhanger wheels (built them myself, they haven't come out of true yet long live handbuilt wheels) RF Turbine Crank, XTR FR der, LX RR, WTB momentum headset, Marzocchi Karve seat, Avid Ultimate levers w/ Avid SD 7 brakes, Salsa boosters, Velociraptors, a profile maniac bar and a kore chain reactor along with RF bash ring
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Submitted by
frank
a Downhiller
from quebec,canada
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002
Strengths: FRAME GEOMETRY. the bike ride like a dream, it is enough strong to ride dh ( you could ride it faster than a intense if you have the nuts) excelent in urban riding and drop, great handling. the hayes brake are excelent (maybe 8 inch rotor will be better). Race Frace crank is great. Great parts out of the box(handlebar headset...).
Weaknesses: the stock pedal suck, i would like have a five inch fork
Bottom Line:
the bike ride really well. It's a really good freeride hardtail.
Bike Setup: Truvativ Hussefelts, Alex DX32 rim (24inch) w/2.6 tires, Ameoba DH bar, Ameoba Short Stem, SNAFU pedals, XT shortcage der., Maxxis MOFO DH rear on front.
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Submitted by
Everett
a Weekend Warrior
from Prince George, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001
Strengths: Fast, responsive, easy to get a feel for. Riding this bike is like pouring liquid courage into your veins. Have no fear of anything, the z3 soaks it all. The first stunt I pulled on this bike was a nose heavy 4 foot drop to about 2% grade. The shock was set right down, bottomed it out, and eased it back into the trans. Confidence in your ride is about as important as tight underwear.
Weaknesses: Maybe not so much a weakness of the bike itself, but when I got the bike, it needed a few replaced parts right out of the box.
Bottom Line:
This bike is about as much fun you can have on 2 wheels (from my somewhat limited experience). I hadn't been on a bike in about 3 years, when I bought this machine, and the first day I rode it, it felt like I'd been on it for months. There is nothing you can chuck on this bike that will hurt it. I'd say that it was probably not cool that the rear tire came flying off the first day and bent my disc rotor, but stuff happens. If you are a first time buyer... you want a bike that you can learn the basics of riding on, with a quality setup with no need to upgrade, this is a great ride. I'm hooked for life. Kona baby. Is anything else worth the sweat?
Strengths: Wickid geometry, good all around hucking and jumping bike. Amazing handling.
Weaknesses: None so far and i dont expect any, cause well, it is a custom built kona.
Bottom Line:
I hesitated when i bought this bike cause i was totaly not used to hardtails. But i have no regrets, i love this bike i really hope to improve at downhill and getting smoother. I trust this bike completly and i cant wait to go jumping with it. I definetly reccomend this bike for any urban rider or duel slalom riders.
Similar Products Used: Nothing really similar, currently own a stab primo
Bike Setup: got the frame at full cycle, built it at work... z1 mcr, magura gustav ms, mavic D321s, rf turbine lp, xtr rear derailler, mrp chain guide, protaper bar
Strengths: Seems immune to the effects of general thrashing and the occasional mistake. Kona ride: fun, comfortable, and easy to get used to. Carries its weight well. Consistent, sensible component selection – huckable out-of-the-box. People actually seem to like the color (“Hawiian Dirt”). Grips glow in the dark (I thought I wouldn’t care but it’s cool at night – too bad they’re not Ourys). I don’t need to go on a long ride or wear special clothing to have fun on this bike.
Weaknesses: It should be cheaper to have this much fun on a bike. I had some QC problems: stem bolts missing, front disc bolts missing and disc didn’t mate w/hub – had to file, headset is garbage, cheap pedals. I had to wait 3 months for delivery – no 2001 18 inchers were in the country.
Bottom Line:
My parents owned a bike shop when I was a kid. I’ve been riding mountain bikes since about 1983 when the first production bikes became available (and I was big enough to fit on one). I have a BMX and freestyle background so mountain biking always appealed to me more that road riding. I rode a 1987 Wicked Fat Chance for over a decade (I still have it). The Wicked is a handful on technical stuff but it’s fun. I recently moved up to the modern era and bought a 2000 Ibis Mojo. It’s way faster than the Wicked but not as fun. I missed the great times I had as a kid on my BMX bike. The problem with most high-end bikes is that they are race/single-purpose oriented – they’re designed to be efficient. The Chute is designed to be fun. And it’s the most fun I’ve had on a bike since I was 13 and jumping at “The U”.
Similar Products Used: I checked out most of the other urban assault bikes available (from GT, Specialized, Trek, Cove, Rocky Mtn). Conceptually they were what I was looking for but none were as well executed as the 2001 Kona. I rode a bunch of Chutes, different model years and different setups – even the rep’s bike (from Santa Barbara), and I liked them all.
Bike Setup: Stock 18-inch, except for headset (CK) and pedals (SPDM646).
