Strengths: Awesome bike Super Light Climbs fast, descends faster
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Great bike, best racer I have ridden. Have over 500 miles on it and rides like the day I bought it. The SID flexes a little more than I like, but I am a small rider, so it really doesn't affect me too much. Same goes for the front wheel, radial spokes aren't very stiff. Otherwise awesome bike, helped me win many races. Couldn't ask for a better weight (22lbs actual measured).
Submitted by
Justin Finn
a Racer
from Townsend/Amherst MA USA
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2002
Strengths: light as sin. wont beat you up like an aluminum frame, but still just as stiff. FAST up hills... Northwest geometry is where its at (kona, rocky mountain, norco) you know if youve ridden one. It will let you rocket up the hills, and blow through those downhill rock gardens like none else. who needs a dualie?
Weaknesses: some people are concerned about long term strenght.... when i bough my frame in nov. 2001 kona had not warranteed one yet. im not a big rider (145) but i dont get any unwanted flex out of the frame. im waiting to see if the dent i put in the downtube causes any problems...i imagine the walls are thin
Bottom Line:
i put alot of miles and a lot of races on this frame. ITs definately one of the best race frames out there... if you can get your hands on one, do not hesitate. the ride is the best combination of speed, comfort, and handling. and kona has some of the best geometry out there
Weaknesses: worries about lifespan.but wot the hell its so bloody briliant
Bottom Line:
i loved the nunu but the back end felt heavy&harsh.i have transfered all the running gear,mainly the result of two years upgrading onto the explosif as isaid before its bloody briliant ive managed (in the middle of afullon glucose rush)to outssprint hardend racers uphill atbeastway (crap technique & a lack of real fittness stop me from doing it justice)& to fly down some seriously dodgey stuff in surrey.thebike inspires.people seem to enjoy slagging alli alloys off ,ive tried my mates titanium merlin & THE KONA is as comfy but faster.i can see where people might get their views about alli but the new frames great.
Bike Setup: hope&mavic wheels.paneracer tyres.pace evo 36 forks.xtr,xt,truvativ cranks with middleburn raceface rings ,avidsd7&archrival brakes.raceface system&lowriser bars.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
The Stranger
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland,Oregon
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2001
Strengths: Beuatiful,light,and exotic scandium frame for much less than offerings from Rocky Mountain,Voodoo,Dagger,and the like.Shoots up hills faster than any other bike I have ridden,but doesn't kill you on the way down.Awesome wheel/tire combo(Crossride/Hutchinson Mosquito Airlite).Mostly conservative parts mix,which is actually a very good thing--tubeless tires and the like may be the future,but I prefer something that works and that is easy to find inexpensively(good luck trying to find a replacement tubeless tire that doesn't cost over $40).An excellent overall bike for the money.
Weaknesses: The '01 SID SL is a turkey.Mine was plush and tuned very easily(I like the lock-out too),but had the requisite bushing slop right from the beginning.After 3 months,it blew out.My shop informed me that all forks in RockShox's 2001 line had these problems,and offered me a discounted '00 SID XC for $180,which was built with better quality control and works great(props to Bill and Dan,my local shop guys!You rock) I didn't like the Easton Monkeylite riser that came with the bike,so I sold it for a tried-and-true Easton EA50 flat bar.A little heavier,but 50 grams for a more solid bar is not a big deal.I didn't like the grips,so I replaced them with Prayer Sticks.
Bottom Line:
What a great ride.Unlike the other big corporations,Kona delivers a solid yet exotic XC hardtail with no corners cut.Scandium/aluminum frame--pardon me while I drool..stiff,yet with a degree of compliance not found in most aluminum frames.No generic parts here--XT/XTR,Mavic Crossride wheels,Hutchinson tires,Time pedals,Avid SD 7 brakes and levers all grace the Explosif with the usual great results.The bike weighs a mere 22.3 pounds out of the box.You could go lighter of course,but I have no desire to do that. I would reccommend replacing the SID SL.I weigh 175 and take good care of my bikes,but that didn't keep the SID from giving up on me after just 3 months.I'm not the only person who's had this problem.All of my friends who use Psylos and SIDs have had the same bushing slop problem.I've never seen this problem on last year's forks.Guess R.S's quality control is going downhill fast,though I hear 2002's line is significantly better.We'll see. The Easton Monkeylite is also something I'd replace.Yes,it's personal preference and all that,but a riser bar on a bike designed for XC racing is a little out of touch.Do you see any pro racers using riser bars?I didn't think so. Definitely worth the $2800--after all,scandium hardtail frames usually ring up at over $900,so finding a COMPLETE scandium bike for under 3k is damn near impossible.Scandium could be the frame material of the future.Never mind fragile carbon and whippy titanium--this is where it's at.I can't help but be impressed with my Explosif.
