Bike Setup: Marz Bomber forks, Stock shock (Bar). Candy Pedals yadda yadda.
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Submitted by
MaximumRPM
a Weekend Warrior
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2011
Strengths: Good components for the price. My experience with the SRAM components is great.
Weaknesses: Weight. A bit on the heavy side, but not unreasonable for the price. Selected low cost component upgrades can knock off some of the weight.
Bottom Line:
So far I only have 1 two hour ride, but the upgrade from my '95 no suspension bike to the full suspension ride (and better gearing) is tremendous. I was slightly concerned about giving up some climbing efficiency with the full suspension, but continued to hammer past the others on the climbs. Just didn't give it all back on the decents. Too early to comment on durability, but I will follow up after each of the races I have entered.
Bike Setup: Swapped the trigger shifters for SRAM X9 Grip Shifters. Also swapped out the seatpost and saddle for Ritchey Pro and Specialized Rival. Hayes brake levers exchanged for Avid. (LBS accomodated all these swaps for No Charge).
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Submitted by
apellegrino81
a Weekend Warrior
from New Haven CT
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2010
Strengths: For the price you will not find a better FS setup.
Weaknesses: Maybe change out the rear shock, but for my 120lb wife that Bar will do just fine.
Bottom Line:
http://bobs-bicycles.com/ for 299. Great FS bike for the wife. Let her look cool on the trail! How can you expect to find a better bang for your buck. Very tunable rear shock for a lighter person. Frame and shock weighed in around 8lbs. Total build 27lbs for a LX build. total cost cause i already had the wheels ws around 500$.
Similar Products Used: Many other FS frames up to a full XTR S-works Epic
Bike Setup: Wife's bike! LX drive train, with FSA Alpha dive crankset. Cheap wheels.
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Submitted by
DERRINGER
a Cross Country Rider
from Rapid City, SD, USA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2010
Strengths: Got this one for my Wife. The biggest selling point is the Air Adjustable Suspension. Dialed in perfect for her weight. Specialized Horst Link Rear works great! Good pick of stock parts, even the Bengal Brakes (never heard of em) were easy to adjust and work better than the Hayes on her last bike.
Weaknesses: Grips were pretty cheap, replaced with some lock on style.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for anyone. Especially nice for women and even kids getting into a 26" bike due to the air sprung suspension adjustability. Good quality mix of parts.
Bike Setup: Set sag per manual. Other than grips its good to go as spec'd.
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Submitted by
BurnNotice
a Weekend Warrior
from Asheville, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2010
Strengths: Nice welds; well made; Horst rear setup
Weaknesses: Paintjob would have been nicer to have been a clear coat slick look rather than a flat look.
Bottom Line:
I like this frame for my build I did. The price was right and the frame came with great reviews. The frame is built well and handles the rides I put it on. If your needing a economical full suspension frame to do a project build I highly suggest you give this a look. The Horst rear is really a great design. My review is based on frame alone and not my custom build. Also the rear shock is a entry level but really worth riding and not replacing right away. All in all a great buy.
Submitted by
Utomo
a Cross Country Rider
from Jakarta, Indonesia
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2010
Strengths: Excellent climber, adequate descent (although I seldom used it for drop off more than 2 feet). Very agile, and handles very nice. Good design for entry level Full Sus XC bike.
Weaknesses: None so far. It is XC bike, and used within its limit, its a good design. I
Bottom Line:
Excellent climbing, quite plush FSR design, still using stock Rock Shok Bar 21. Handling descent equally well. For its entry price level, very agile and nice to use. I rode minimal 40 kilometers every time around 3 times a week. After using this bike for 900 Km up to today this bike is still going strong. Pivot bushing and bearings held up pretty good (I squirt chain lube on it time to time to eliminate squeaky sound). I also used it for one until two feet drops and its still good, although I have to replace the wheels bearings periodically (due to mud and high mileage). The FSR horst link license is spot on, and the exact locatin of the pivot on the chain stay enable this bike to handle XC nicely. I recommend this for XC at entry level full suspension. You will be nicely surprised at the agility, good handling, good climber and descent ability.
Similar Products Used: I used hardtails XC before.
Bike Setup: Fork Fox F series 100mm. Shock RS Bar 2.1, Maxxis Advantage front and rear, Quad hydrolic brakes.
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Submitted by
detrich
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2010
Strengths: Lightweight, sleek design. Smooth shifters, responsive brakes, sturdy frame, great suspension components. Made in Taiwan.
Weaknesses: Hydraulic brakes howl a bit. Seat post is a powdered black color, which scratches easily when raising/ lowering the seat. (Easily fixed & touched up with some Forever Black or Back to Black paint dye used for cars.)
Bottom Line:
Absolutely loving the way this bike looks and rides. Smooth as silk, responsive, and fun. Am looking forward to many good rides with it. Bike Attack in Santa Monica, CA is a great shop to buy from too =)
Similar Products Used: 2009 Novarra System, 2008 Kona Four
Bike Setup: Standard, OEM.
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Submitted by
bbk
a Cross Country Rider
from South Australia
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2009
Strengths: It has a solid frame and the front suspension works well, as well as the back one.
Weaknesses: Too heavy
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for the price i reccomend it for a cross country rider but also does a bit of not so hard downhill, it has taken a couple of very hard hits and still works like the day i got it.
Bike Setup: Khs XC 204 stock with gusset slim jim pedals( pink) and ergon grips.
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Submitted by
MTBiker2477
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2009
Strengths: Moderate weight, good choice of components for a starter bike.
Rides Excellent, My first MTB so I dont have anything to compare it to.
Frame seems rock solid and will keep up with any riding, small jumps gaps are nothing for this bike.
The frame seems rock solid, I am an aggressive rider...so far it seems like it will keep up.
Weaknesses: The saddle, grips, fork is decent nothing especial..no bash rings, did not come ready to rip... I had to learn how to adjust the Disc brakes myself.
Bottom Line:
if you want a bike with good components and Full Suspension, this is where you want to start...I took a big jump in buying KHS even thou I do not see them so much.
So far, this bike will be show me what KHS has to offer.
Submitted by
Danker18
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2009
Strengths: Moderate weight, good choice of components for a starter bike.
Rides Excellent, My first MTB so I dont have anything to compare it to.
The frame seems rock solid, I am an aggressive rider...so far it seems like it will keep up.
Weaknesses: The saddle, grips, fork is decent nothing especial..no bash rings, did not come ready to rip... I had to learn how to adjust the Disc brakes myself.
Bottom Line:
if you want a bike with good components and Full Suspension, this is where you want to start...I took a big jump in buying KHS even thou I do not see them so much.
So far, this bike will be show me what KHS has to offer.
Submitted by
Greg Williams
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2009
Strengths: Good solid frame. Good front crank set,wears well
Weaknesses: Rear swing arm pivots down by BB, forever squeaking and loosening off, even after applying locktite to thread. Ended up replacing cheap aluminiun washers with stainless steel ones, that fixed it.
Bottom Line:
A good allround Dualie. Abit heavy. Put a good fr suspension on, something with a 15mm axle to stop flexing and you can run with the big boys, at half the price.
Bike Setup: Changed front Dart 2 fork, for a Tora 318. Placed on a short 60mm head stem, so takes drop offs alot better, without going over the bars. Replaced fr 2.1 tyre with a 2.35, that helps alot more in corneing and log riding
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Submitted by
mawkmadness
a Racer
from Duluth, MN, US
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2008
Strengths: so far cant complain basing off the frame, seems rock solid and will take anything i throw at it.
Weaknesses: stock rockshox bar 1.1 is a bit shy of great.
Bottom Line:
So far I love the frame and components ive mated with it. I would recomend it if you are looking for a rock solid all mountain bike. I plan on racing it in the 09 cross country race season, so i feel this setup can be feasably raced, just a tad on the heavy side. i see this frame lasting as long or longer than my Team Marin frame ive raced for 5 years and ridden for 8. Excellent value!
Similar Products Used: Team Marin 1999 that had to be replaced by the new khs
Bike Setup: azonic outlaw wheelset, panaracer 2.3's, tora 318 solo air freak, avid bb7's, shimano xt shifting gear, Truvativ blaze crankset, sram two piece cassete.
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Submitted by
diego
a Cross Country Rider
from Sta. Rosa, Laguna Philippines
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008
Strengths: the frame performs well in all road conditions,its geometry really suit the demands of cross country riding,
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
KHS XC 204 is really a great frame..highly recommended for those who would like to experience the joy of riding a full suspension frame for an affordable price.
Submitted by
nuj
a Weekend Warrior
from binan, laguna, philippines
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2008
Strengths: just a great bike, need i say more
Weaknesses: none i can find at the moment
Bottom Line:
if you're looking for a good trail bike, the khs xc204 is the one for you. i've tried it at sabak cardiac and palace in the sky trail and its a winner. suspension is great specially on climbing and decent.
Similar Products Used: norco full suspension down hill, mosso full suspension four bar lingkage
Bike Setup: shimano lx shifters,kore carbon high rise handlebar,cats eyes wireless computer, shimano m535 hydo disk breaks,dnm lsf 130mm downhill fork or sun tour xcr white 100mm w/ remote lockout, shimano deore front dereallier, shimano deore lx rear dereallier w/ token roller pulley, shimano 9speed, shimano deore lx crank gear, wellgo pedals, shimano deore hubs, fatboy rims, 2.1 all mountain rubber, alloy seatpost, velo saddle
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Submitted by
dalewilbanks
a Cross Country Rider
from Belmont, NC
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2008
Strengths: Stiff frame, rides like a hard-tail. Handles 3 ft. drops with no sweat.
Weaknesses: Cassette is a bit heavy, pays to upgrade to a lighter one.
Bottom Line:
This bike can take a beating, I've been learning to ride well over the past two years, and had many wrecks (my fault not bikes), but this bike always comes up swinging. Handles a 3 ft. drop like you were sitting in your lazy-boy, phenomenal bike. Stiff suspension, rides like a hard tail. The SRAM shifters are phenomenal, blows my wife's shimanos away. This bike loves the Panaracer Fire XC Pros, it will climb hills without you thinking about it. Also a good bike for riding around the neighborhood and just having fun. One fun ride!
Just ordered a frame and I'm new to the whole zero stack thing. Will any zero stack work?
Will this cane creek? [url]http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/18951-205_CACZS9-43-Brands- Read More »
Considering on upgrading the bar shock that came on my XC 204. It does the job pretty well, but I figured I'd like something with a lockout if possible. Curious to see what other r Read More »
I just purchased a used khs xc 204 and wanted to change out my rear shock. The previous owner had a spring rst shock but its a bit stiff. I was looking the get the rock shox bar 2. Read More »
Hello everyone. I recently purchased an '09 KHS XC 204. I wanna do something to mine. I am relatively new in the upgrading department. I bought a fox float rear shock. I dont know Read More »
