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Reviews 1 - 11 (11 Reviews Total)
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User Reviews
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Submitted by
J.R. Starr
a Racer
from ValenciaDate Reviewed: July 27, 2001
Strengths: This bike is awesome! ive thrown everything at it and still it hasnt failed me yet. ive tried 2 break this bike but ive ended up putting 10 stitches on my chin. this has got 2 be the strongest bike ive ever riddenWeaknesses: weaknesses??? i dont know what ur talking aboutBottom Line: if ur buying a bike this is it. its the best for the buck
Favorite Trail: the 1 i havent riden
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At: www.cambriabike.com
Similar Products Used: lotta stuff
Bike Setup: 00 kula, mavic x max, xt, atom bomb
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Stuart
a Cross Country Rider
from UKDate Reviewed: June 4, 2001
Strengths: Climbs like a rat up a drainpipe
Light, well-made alu frame
Responsive and direct without being harsh
The Kona ride and geometryWeaknesses: A bit "skippy" on rocky descentsBottom Line: I have a 2000 Kula frame (olive and white) and can honestly say it's an amazing frame. Direct power transfer without any of the harshness associated with cheaper alloy frames, it makes a great all-day trail bike. My frame is built up with components on the durable side of light; could easily shed a couple of pounds and make a rocket sled of a race bike but that's not my thing. It doesn't quite have the sweet ride of a top-end steel hardtail but it's not far away, certainly as comfortable as my Lava Dome after a few hours in the saddle. It's not a jump or freeride bike by any stretch of the imagination, but keep your wheels on or very close to the ground, enjoy the way it climbs and responds to power input and flows through singletrack. I'm 14st (200lb) and it's taken everything I've thrown at it so far. Highly recommended.
Favorite Trail: Gorple Road
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At: Winstanleys, Wigan
Similar Products Used: Loads - Kona Lava Dome, Nunu, Fire Mountain and ManoMano, Marin Rift Zone, Eldridge Grade, Whyte PRST-1, Rocky Mountain Vertex, DeKerf Team SL, Orange P7 and evO2 etc.
Bike Setup: Pace RC36 EvoIIIs, Hope C2 discs, Hope/X317 wheels, LX/XT mix, RaceFace/Titec/Middleburn/Cane Creek/Time finishing kit, Hutchinson Aligators
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
mtbmon
a
from northern ohioDate Reviewed: March 20, 2001
Strengths: Lightweight, stiff, great geometry, fits like a glove, looksWeaknesses: none I have foundBottom Line: I was a little leary at first since I loved my Caad4/Fatty SL so much but I am very happy with the Kula. Geometry was remarkably close to my Cdale and with the SID setup pretty stiff and the splined bb and cranks, the bike is very responsive. Climbs great, looks cool. Not so sure I'd do a lot of freeriding on it but I think it can take as much XC abuse as you can throw at it. Sizing is also great since it is available in one inch increments for the most common sizes. Giving 5 for value only since I got it below cost through my team but 5 logs for overall. I can't see how you'd be disappointed with this rig.
Favorite Trail: Vulture's Knob
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: Caad4, Fisher Mt. Tam, Trek 8500
Bike Setup: Sid XC, Magura Louise discs, Truvativ splined Stylos, SRAM 9.0sl derailers/shifters, blah, blah..
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
John H
a Weekend Warrior
from Dunfermline, ScotlandDate Reviewed: August 10, 2000
Strengths: Light, Stiff and very responsiveWeaknesses: none yetBottom Line: The pace frame was better but not by a lot!
Fast, Fun Resposive frame and my bike comes in at under 22lbs.
Not sure why but the 98/99/00 specs it seems to weigh a lot more???
Favorite Trail: all
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Similar Products Used: Pace 200,
Bike Setup: Pace RC35 Mxcd, XT, bontrager, mavic(although changing to velocity/hope,pace wheels)
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
CC
a Cross Country Rider
from WADate Reviewed: June 15, 2000
Strengths: Got the Kula as a replacement for a cracked Hot. Kona had it shipped within a week. Frame is light, stiff, responive and flat out rocks. A lot lighter that the Hot, yet it hasn't beaten me up the way I thought it might.Weaknesses: None yet.Bottom Line: I loved my old Hot frame, but I am really happy with the way Kona stood behind their product.
Favorite Trail: Trail # 8 Capitol Forest
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: Specialized M2 that also cracked.
Bike Setup: XT, Race Face, Atom 80
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Durgin
a Cross Country Rider
from BozemanDate Reviewed: April 4, 2000
Strengths: Extremely durable frame. I thrash on my bike, and it has always bounced back. I almost always damage myself more than the bike.Weaknesses: I seriously can't think of one. As I said, I've thrashed on this bike for years and haven't broken it yet.Bottom Line: My setups pretty light, yet durable. It seems to handle well and climbs like a champ. I only weigh about 155 lbs. or so and am about 6' tall. I think Kona makes longer frames for taller people, which suits me great. The ideal buyer is somebody who likes to use their equipment and isn't afraid to put it to the test of severe abuse and punishment.
Favorite Trail: sypes canyon to middle cottonwood
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Similar Products Used: Kona Kileau, GT Zaskar.
Bike Setup: Z2 Superfly, Race Face cranks, Magura Race Lines, Mavic wheels X517 citrons, Race Face riser, XTR rear, XT front. Chris King headset.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Whistler, B.C.Date Reviewed: March 9, 2000
Strengths: lightweight
stiffWeaknesses: no disk-brake mountBottom Line: Good solid hardtail for lighter riders. I've got it set up with nice solid parts and it's bombproof. This is my second kula and they keep getting better. Kona has a great warranty. I cracked the head tube and they gave me a brand new frame(it just took a couple of months).
Favorite Trail: ladies only
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: 94 Kona Kula, Kona AA, specialized stumpjumper
Bike Setup: Z1 bam, race-face crank, kore stem, thompson seatpost, wtb wheels, easton monkey lite riser
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
John Hawes
a Racer
from Dartmouth, MA, USADate Reviewed: January 16, 2000
Strengths: light, its a Kona, cool colours, nice xc racing bikeWeaknesses: durability; every time I went off a drop-off it cracked the seat stayBottom Line: a great xc racing bike but only a xc racing bike. don't do crazy drops or jumps or it will break!
Favorite Trail: ones w/ jumps and decending
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: kona caldera
Bike Setup: kona 98 kula, z1 bam(100mm)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross-Country Rider
from Port Jefferson, NYDate Reviewed: January 9, 2000
Strengths:
Stiff Frame
Very Light
Custom Paint
GussettsWeaknesses:
Kona does not offer the 2000 frameset yet
none that I can see yetBottom Line: This bike is bullitproof!. It weighs 22lbs. It climbs better than my GT ever did! and tracks better too!. The frame is really eye candy. The welds are really nice. Not much to say other than buy one now!
Favorite Trail:
Rocky Point
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Similar Products Used:
Kona Hot
GT Tequesta
Gary Fisher Mt. Tam
Cannondale F700
Bike Setup:
16 Kona Kula, 2000 Rock Shox SID XC, Full 9spd XT, Mavic 217 rims w/ GT hubs, Easton EA70 seatpost, Vetta Vandainium rail seat, specialized team tires and light tubes, Titec bars, Dean stem.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al Goodridge
a Cross-Country Rider
from Kent, UKDate Reviewed: August 14, 1999
Strengths:
Forgiving
Light
Fast
Winterability: top tube cable routing; plenty of clarance; forward-facing seat clamp.Weaknesses:
DropoutsBottom Line: A great all-round frame: light,strong +responsive.
A blast to ride; climbing, gnarly technical trails and descents, its fast + fun.
The Easton Ultralite main frame is more forgiving than many alloy frames.
A real allrounder; if you race xc, ride gnarly trails and take in the very rough with the smooth, you won't be dissapointed. This frame is superb.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
GT Karakorum
Kona Nunu
Bike Setup:
Z2 Light,XT/LX, Avid AR40
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
King
a Racer
from King TownDate Reviewed: May 13, 1999
Strengths:
Great stuff, Fast as hell.Weaknesses:
The only problem that I can think of is that it atracks loser, sickos to this site. The reason being is that they all went out and bought Specializes and they are so upset that they take it out on the bike they knew they should have bought. Although they probably can't read what I just wrote, I think it should be known that this is a great bike.Bottom Line: Consider this bike regardless of what a few weaklings said. If you don't take a look at it you will be missing out. Happy Trails.
Favorite Trail:
King Trail
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Similar Products Used:
Just about every thing
Bike Setup:
Stock
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Reviews 1 - 11 (11 Reviews Total)
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