Strengths: Lots. Feel, strength, reliability, looks, quality.... I could go on you know.
Weaknesses: Paint finish is a tiny weeny bit soft
Bottom Line:
Excellent. Probably good as standard, but with the extra width rims and tyres (the 2.3"s just fit in the rear triangle) it handles like you wouldn't beleive. get quick or technical it doesn't matter, its real responsive. The Z4's work well with 100mm of pluch usable travel to make it smooth as hardtails will allow. It goes up steps just as well as it comes down 'em, and so far I've not hurt it on the medium drops either. Love it, which upsets my wife.
Given the choice over similar trek or claude butler, I'd get the Muni Mula again every time.
Bike Setup: Hope minis, stock bomber Z4, Mavic F219's and Tioga 2.3"s
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Submitted by
ThaHam
a Downhiller
from Burgess Hill
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003
Strengths: This bike is sweet. Light, strong, components, suspension, and the brakes.
Weaknesses: Tyres were good but i have two bald mosquitos in my garage now, rims should be stronger.
Bottom Line:
Fast-it will outpace most bikes, Z4's are great, Responsive, Stops well, Bloody LIGHT, riding position is nice nice deore XT stuff, koski things are cool, sturdy frame- expect from kona. You can run this bike as it comes without worrying. Can do anything you want it to- XC it will get up them hills, and damn does it go down them. Its fantastic for trials and tricks etc cos its so light. reliable stuff and ride. will take some abuse- nothing more than head height drops or the rims will crumple[as i found out] prone to pinch flats, its real forte is the XC! it rules! great bike for the cash, will fall in love on the first ride. outclasses everyting today.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Rockhoppers, Scott Voltage, GT, Trek 8500 and 4500, also have Kona Stinky 03.
Bike Setup: Rear rim folded so Mavic D521, Tioga TerraFirma tyres, WTB saddle replaced my snapped SDG, new shifter which smashed in crash, but all this is only because of injury to bike, i liked it as it was.
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Submitted by
kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Colborne Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003
Strengths: Great frame, lightweight. best deal for the money.
Weaknesses: Crappy rims (mavic 127), i am only 120 pounds and they are already out of true. (sell the rims as soon as you get it and buy new ones)
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks, it is a great bike for general cross country riding. If you plan to do anything more than cross country riding upgrade the rims. I am not sure why they put such bad rims on such a good bike.
Favorite Trail: Shorthills provincial park, hardwood hills
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At: Jolley meafords cycle
Similar Products Used: Gt ricochet, diamondback, klein attitude(cousins)
Bike Setup: xt rear, deore (hubs, shifters, crank etc.) z4 bomber, avid ad 5.(soon going to upgrade rims)
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Sarasota FL. USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002
Strengths: This is a very solid and fast bike.Good fork and frame design.
Weaknesses: Some components are weak...but its better than a cannondale!!
Bottom Line:
Nice fast bike that is well built. A bit heavy but it does not affect how the bike rides and handles. The reps at kona are not concerned with who sells there product so make sure you know the dealer...cause eddy is a real tight a** when it comes to service after the sale.
Bike Setup: manito z4, koski bars +seat post, deore chainset (xt rear mech), avid speed dial 5 brakes and the o so important kona bar grips (glo in the dark)
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Submitted by
Nick Porter
a Racer
from Lincoln, NB, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2002
Strengths: This bike just loves to go fast, and climb hills, but at the same time has great handling on the technical singletracks and descents. The fork is also excellent!
Weaknesses: I love the traction of the tires on this bike, but the mosquitos just wear down too easily. AS well, if you want to race XC, you will definately want to swap the riser bar with something else.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks! It is a true all round excellent XC bike that also likes open up and show her speed on the open pavement once in a while.
Bike Setup: Everything stock except I have an Easton EA70 bar (instead of the riser, and an IRC rear tire because I tore a hole in the Mosquito
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Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2002
Strengths: Nice color, good geometry, stiff & good control & strong frame, lastly: reasonably priced
Weaknesses: slightly heavy
Bottom Line:
Tried out various brands, still kona geometry is best for me. I love my Kula so much that's why bought the Muni Mula. Switch parts from Giant to Muni. Immediate improvement in handling felt. But overall weight heavier than the Giant's setup. Can't tell other differences until further use. Will review after 3-6 months. As of now, this bike deserve full marks.
Similar Products Used: Frame Only as I transfers my parts from frame to frame. Mongoose NX, Jamis derango sport SX, Giant ATX 870, Kona Kula + some cheaper bikes
Bike Setup: Fork: SID XC, Shimano WH575 w panaracer 2.1, truvati stylo team, XT set-up + LX front Del, etc....
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Submitted by
Grexx M
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2001
Strengths: Frame is Strong and light The bike corners well specially on switch backs...
Weaknesses: Front End is heavy due to the Marzocchi Z4 The Mavic X221 is weak...I'm only 130lbs and its already warp. Tires wear out quickly
Bottom Line:
I would definitly recommend this bike for beginners and for hardcore racers.
Similar Products Used: Tried Caldera, and Rocky Mountain Oxygen race
Bike Setup: Stock except for Cranks(Next LP)
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Submitted by
Bo-Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001
Strengths: Climbs and corners like a banshee! Nice mix of components for the price, 7000 series alu frame, great bomber z4 fork, strong koski stem and handlebars, very duarable bike except for the rims.
Weaknesses: I managed to put both rims out of true after 3 rides. The Mavic 221's are not up to the task. Hutcheson tires wear quickly.
Bottom Line:
For the money there is nothing better. Handles almost as well as the Deep Cove Stiffee, but without the #1 spec components. With very few upgrades this bike is a credable XC race machine for novice or sportsman riders. Makes you ride faster because it inspires confidence and at this price, leaves plenty of room in the budget to upgrade or replace broken parts. A terrific starting point for someone who is ready to get serious about mountain biking
Similar Products Used: Rockys, Specialized Stumpjumper etc
Bike Setup: Flatbars, Mavic 517's, Tioga tires
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Submitted by
tim
a Cross Country Rider
from clifton nj
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001
Strengths: i just pick up the frame but i have ridden it many time b4 i would steal my freinds every chance i got i have been on one for 3 years now
Weaknesses: konas have no weeknesses
Bottom Line:
never have i rode a bike better than this one. it blows away higher priced bikes like the trek 9.7(yuppie wanna be peice af crap), schwinn home grown, spook junebug, it beats out the kona chute as the best bike on earth and the only reason for that is weight
Submitted by
Eric Anderson
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2001
Strengths: Frame, very good frame, Fork, works perfect
Weaknesses: none that I've found
Bottom Line:
This bike is a awesome!!! It handles better than any bike I've ridden. It's first of two konas I own, and they work just great. just make sure that you test ride what you get, Kona just might not what you need, well ride em hard!
Bike Setup: XTR/XT hubs/deraillurs/cassette/shifters/BB; raceface crankarms/headset/ bontrager wheelset/stem titec seatpost/ avid single digit brakes/ anything else?
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Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Regina,SK,CANADA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame, sweet fork, good mix of quality components
Weaknesses: rims-221s can't handle a heavier rider, I dented the sidewall up front in 2 weeks tires-front's holding up well, rear looks like a semi-slick
Bottom Line:
This is a great do-it-all(almost all) bike. Great for cross country and, with stronger rims, aggressive commuting! I'd recommend this bike to anyone wishing to have as much fun on a bike as you can without buying a tank.
Bike Setup: stock except for 545 pedals and 519 rims must get raceface cranks and BB next
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Submitted by
Stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001
Strengths: Frame strength, spec level for price, geometry, weight
Weaknesses: Front end feels heavy relative to the rear so when jumping I need to make a concerted effort to keep the nose up - will try changing the bars to lose some front-end weight
Bottom Line:
AWESOME AWESOME BIKE!! Feels so "right" on the singletrack and the hills just seem to level out when you mount this bike. I would absolutely recommend this bike to anyone wanting to improved their times/speed between two points over rough terrain. I won't need to buy another bike for a long time because with a few minor upgrades this bike will do anything I ask of it
Weaknesses: Hmm maybe the tires? I keep poppin flats doin tricks!
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great deal for anyone looking for a way to get into racing or doing more technical XC riding. I love the sloping top tube geometry, it's especially good for someone tall like me. This thing is a beast on uphill sections, and fares pretty well on technical downhills (roots/rocks). A great XC hardtail! I almost forgot - the sweet Bomber performance! I recommend this to anyone who wants to rachet up their skill level...it pays off!
Similar Products Used: Kona Caldera, Gary Fisher Big Sur, Rocky Mountin Elevation, Kona Cinder Cone
Bike Setup: Stock except for pedals - replaced them with my classic PD-424's
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Submitted by
Liam Quan
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2001
Strengths: The Muni Mula is a great bike for the money. The Marzocchi Z-4 fork is nice. because it's a Kona the frame is built strong. the double butted 7005 aluminum tube set is assembled in classic Kona geometry (long sloping top tube) and given a sweet green-gold paint job.
Weaknesses: I was disapointed with some of the parts, the Deore shifters and hollowtech cranks aren't bad, but hubs? I busted the rear hub as well as the mavic 221 rim pretty quickly.
Bottom Line:
pretty good parts spec. fully disc compatible. Worthy of future upgrades. really nice frame, and of course glow-in-the-dark grips
