Submitted by
chustig
a Weekend Warrior
from Lonsdale, MN
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2009
Strengths: Seems like a tough bike (except for wheels), turns quickly,
Weaknesses: WHEELS!!! Shimano cable disc brakes are a little weak, but do the job with two fingers hard on the front, Float rear shock
Bottom Line:
I pretty much learned to ride trails on this bike. I have crashed it a bunch and is has held up. I think the wheels are made out of wimpium. No problems with the Mavics.
If I sit on this thing on anything but light bumps, it bucks me off. I'm certain I have the preload set correctly. Maybe if it had a rebound adjust. No problem though, really, because I'm an aggressive rider and I'm always standing unless I'm resting.
The fork is not so bad. Not very adjustable, but it is what it is. At least it is air and has oil in it.
I have gotten to the point where I can ride this thing pretty quickly (I think, anyway). I can ride it pretty aggressively, but I would like to ride harder and with more confidence. I'm looking at moving up to a 2008 Stumpy FSR Expert so I can ride even harder (Fox suspension with more travel, brain, hydraulic discs, 3 lbs. lighter, etc.), but I will keep this thing. Never know when I might need a spare bike. Plus it has sentimental value. We've been through a lot together. I push it hard, and it pushes me hard back.
Similar Products Used: None, my first and only off road bike since I was a kid.
Bike Setup: Stock except for Mavic Crossride wheelset
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Hooksett, NH USA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2008
Strengths: Kona - Stand Behind their products. Kona Replaced the rear triangle which developed hairline fracture after 5 years of use. Provided original sales receipt and Serial Number. Bicycle Bob's Seacost NH did the repair work. Cost me $25.
Weaknesses: Original brake and wheel components. Shimano discs and M485 hubs. Have replaced brakes with Avid Mechanical and wheels with Shimano XT with Center locking XT discs.
Bottom Line:
Enough said - Kona - Purchased bike at beginning of 2003 and the bike still gets plenty of use with some hard rides here through 2008. Bike has been outstanding and has held up. As you can see as the components have worn out have been replacing them with upgrades. Estimate $750 spent over the course of 6 years for component upgrades and maintenance.
Similar Products Used: Bikes in similar price range. None had disc brakes.
Bike Setup: Current setup. Original plus now Avid brakes, XT hubs with XT center locking disc brakes, XT top normal rear derailer, and rear shock with 2007 Fox Float R with pro pedal.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rachel
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007
Strengths: Great geometry for jumps, doubles and safe descents. Good suspension for smaller (2-3ft) drops. Light with the setup I've got on it, at least compared to other dualies I've ridden on the same trails- probably 'cos they were for D/H (which itself says something about this bike's capabilities). Very strong- not surprised that some big blokes have had a fair go on this bike (but not sure I'd use it for D/H, especially for higher rider weights). Fast. Easy to pressure up the rear shock and reduce pedal bob if you're heavier or want to commute on the road. A very satisfying ride.
Weaknesses: Longer top tube and shorter frame height than on say, the same respective frame size Dawg, means sore knees on long, steep descents (especially for girls or blokes with relatively longer legs). But this you can get used to, and I'd rather this than going over the bars.
Bottom Line:
Great frame and rear suspension. Lots of potential to alter over-the-counter setup and turn this into a competitive XC Racer.
Submitted by
Bryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2005
Strengths: Great overall bike and can really take a beating. Former football player, big guy - started riding this bike at 360 lbs. and it took it all in stride. Now that I'm down 130 lbs it rides even better. Good full suspension bike. Spend the extra dough to upgrade some of the components (especially the Shimano Deore to XT) - brakes, wheels and pedals most definitely.
Weaknesses: Some of the standard components are a little weak but like I said, upgrade them and this is an awesome bike for the big guys!
Similar Products Used: Specialized, Trek and Cannondale - can't remember the exact models but they were in the same price range and all felt like they couldn't handle a clydesdale rider.
Strengths: Great value for starting rider looking to break into the full suspension market.
Weaknesses: The mech. disc have to be set up exactly per the instructions or they won't work. The bike wieght seem high for what you get!! The rims wiegh alot and you can feel it on the hills. Also the rims went out of true quickly and I had to have the LBS lock tight the spokes. I also wish it had a 100mm fork.
Bottom Line:
Its a great starter full suspension. I can't say anything bad about how it rides but my last bike had a solid front fork!! If you are getting into riding and want a cheap full suspension with disk brakes this is the bike for you. If you've riden awhile and want something more out of your riding I would pass on this bike. In the end, I wish I had hunted the used market and got a better frame package for alittle more money.
Submitted by
Logan
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2005
Strengths: has great handeling, and is a great overall bike for a average biker.
Weaknesses: bad componets, small tires
Bottom Line:
this is a pretty good bike except for the fact that the componets are weak and can damage easilly. I hae rode this bike hard and it has held up pretty well, but i think that you could buy a better bike for the money
Weaknesses: Shimano mechanicals lasted 2 months (didn't like the mud). Switched to Avid:) Heavy - Need to replace wheelsets - very poor and week - back wheel didn't take long to get outa wack - rider only 160lbs.
Bottom Line:
Spend a couple extra pesos to get that next step up in the kona arena. You'll get a lighter bike, with clipless pedals, a better wheel set, and it won't come with the horid shimano disc's.
Like the frame and it will hold up and get lighter with some component upgrades.
Strengths: Marzocchi fork, fox fork, Kona durability, value
Weaknesses: Tires slide out from under you and collect mud. Brakes are "high maintenance"--have to adjust frequently from rubbing, HEAVY BIKE!
Bottom Line:
I was very excited to get this bike, but am (at least as of now) kinda bummed about the weight of the bike and how it has slowed me down when climbing. Climbing is one of my strengths and this bike makes it a chore. Not so much bobbing, but the weight and how the bike has you sit up more than my explosif. Maybe I'll get more used to it as time goes on. Had some chain suck (for the first time in my life) on my first ride on this bike. Don't know what happened.
I've only ridden it 4 times thus far, and hope that I grow to like the bike more with each ride and perhaps when I get better dialed in. I didn't like the Explosif much when I first got it, but now, it's the best bike I've ever ridden. Still have it.
Bike Setup: Stock, except put on SRAM Rocket Shorty shifters.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Garrett
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2004
Strengths: very strong, frame...i've dropped this CC bike off 4ft drops
Weaknesses: Shimano mechanical disc brakes suck
Bottom Line:
Kona's in genral give you the best bang for your buck PERIOD!!!!! this is a great cross country bike that is even good for light freeride, downhill. once you get the air shocks tuned in for you there is very little pedal bob and she is steady as a rock. You can't go wrong with these bikes
In 8 months, I have worn out the front and rear brakepads, chain, rear cassette, front chainring and bottom bracket. I have lost 30lbs. and am now riding quite a bit faster,crashing less and doing some minor 2-3ft.drops. Things have worn out, but nothing has failed. I upgrade componnents as they wear. For the money, this has been a fine bike and everything said in my earlier reviews hold true. The Kahuna Deluxe is no racer(neither am I) by any means, but it's the bike that I'm running. I've brought the weight down from 33 to 28lbs. Changing the wheelset/hubs/tires reduced the reciprocating weight and made the bike quicker and more nimble. The soul of this bike remains the same, I like it more now with the upgrades.
Bike Setup: Thomson stem,Answer carbon bar,Shimano 545 pedals,Chris King headset,XTR cassette, SCRAM PC20 chain, XT crankset and bottom bracket, Chris King hubs, doublebutted spokes with Mavic 317 rims, Tioga XC Extreme tires.
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Submitted by
chris miller
a Weekend Warrior
from glen ellen, ca
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2003
Strengths: Still rockin harder than ever!
Weaknesses: lousy platforms, not so nice seat, brakes squeal and go thru pads quickly
Bottom Line:
this is a follow up review, bike has held up great, though the back wheel is all tweaked...but hey, I weigh 290 lbs! yep I lost some blubber (about 30 lbs) from when I got this bike, which says more than anything. lots o' fun, makes me want to ride it every day. new seat and recently added clipless pedals were a huge improvement. I plan on getting avid brakes in the future and new tires soon. I highly recommend this bike!
Submitted by
Mike J.D.
a Weekend Warrior
from Taintville
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2003
Strengths: The bike has many strengths in my opinion. A.) the bikes frame is very strong. It may seem a little bit heavy, but you can count on the durability. It is the same frame as the bigger brother, the kakapo. You could go up to Vancouver and go free riding and the frame would take a lot of the abuse. B.)The bike set up is also another strong point. It comes with disc brakes, so you can upgrade later. (We’ll get to that later) c.) When you pedal the bike up a hill, you will not have any bobbing whatsoever! Most bikes have lockouts to prevent this. Some bikes don't have them because they don't need them-This bike is one of them! D.) This bike is worth the price. Brand new you'd buy it for I’m guessing 12? Well, you actually are getting a lot for $1200. I paid $900 for it, but I got it towards the end of the season. The bikes drive train works well too. I don't seem to have any problems when it comes time to shift gears.
Weaknesses: Okay, THE BRAKES ARE HIDEOUS! Going into the bike shop to look at the bike, I knew that it had the shimano mechanicals on it, which was sort of a turnoff, but it could have Formula MD1's on it. On my old bike, I had an avid mech. up front, which was fantastic! So I did plan on getting them again if I was going to get the bike. When I got the bike and after a trip to the local ski/bike resort I made up my mind to get different brakes, seeing how the shimano's stunk! Plus I smashed the rear rotor on a rock. (I know you can buy new rotors.) Also, I think the bike needs the marzocchi EXR with 100mm of travel. Maybe my old bike spoiled me on the fact, since it had a Judy XC w/ 100mm of travel. But the fork does a good job. I do plan on upgrading to a DJ III in the future. The brakes seemed to need tightened up a lot of the times, but with the new brakes on + the fact of being away at college; I haven't had time lately to pay attention to them. I also personally don't care for the Tiogas because they don't seem to grip as well as my old motoraptors- maybe I just need to put more of my weight on the bike when I climb lose terrain. For the bike being $1200, I sort of thought that it would have come with better pedals than the ones it did?? Some people complain about the seat, but I don't seem to mind it. Also, there are NO Kona dealers around my area. I had to drive to Pittsburgh to get this thing! But the biggest problem I have is descending. I think my old bike was easier to climb with for more reasons than one. For one, my old bike was a Fisher with genesis geometry, plus it was a hard tail, so it was a little bit lighter. Where as the Kona is not as stretched out as the Fisher was, plus it is a dual suspension=heavier. I did feel better when I was stretched out on the Fisher, compared to the Kona. On my Fisher, I had clip less pedals, where I still have the platforms on the Kona- mainly because I am trying to get into free riding. (I may look into the Kona Jack Schit pedals) Also with Fisher's Genesis Geometry, the frame is more spread out, which decreases the chances of going over the bars. But when it comes to riding over tough terrain, the Kona takes the medal. -the full suspension helps a lot in that case..Duhh
Bottom Line:
I personally am very happy with the Kahuna Deluxe. It performs well, and will take a beaten! I am nothing great when it comes to bikes, but I know for a fact that I am giving it a lot of attention when it comes to that. Like I said earlier, you could free ride this bike if you wanted to and you wouldn't have to worry about breaking the frame. I am starting to free ride (nothing major, only a few feet off the ground, with ladders that are 20 inches wide) and the only thing I would consider doing to it is a bigger fork. I would have considered a new 04 "back country" type kona, but they are a tad bit more $$ I always thought I'd ride a Fisher- made in the good Ole US of A, but with the bang for the bucks, I made the right choice. Not saying I'll never go back to Fishers in the future. (Those new cake series are nice, check em out), but for now, I am happy being a Canuck, and I sure hope to someday go to BC for a nice bike ride!
Favorite Trail: St. Giles Free ride course-Thanks Lowes fot he wood!
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Similar Products Used: My previous bike was a 2000 Gary Fisher HooKooEKoo- good bike. It was strong, and plus like I said 10 seconds ago "Genesis Geometry." I also looked at the Fisher Sugar 4- I would have bought the bike but I was looking for a bike with disc brakes, or even disc hubs...but the fisher didn't have either, or I would be pedaling a sugar 4. I also was thinking about a Jamis Dakar Sport...but the company was all sold out. Plus I heard that the frames were not as strong as the Konas. The Haro Extreme X3 was another one of my choices, but I had a hard time finding a Haro dealer that sold more than just their BMX line. And when I did find one that sold their MTB line, they said they wouldn't be able to get the extreme X3.
Bike Setup: Stock except for the Avids, this was a darn good move!
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Submitted by
Sluggo
a Weekend Warrior
from Shaker Hts, OH
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2003
Strengths: Solidly built and well designed. This bike is a great value component-wise as well. The Marzocchi fork is solid and the Fox rear shock soaks up the bumps nicely. Where are you going to find a bike with a list price of $1,200 that comes with an XT rear derailleur and disc brakes? Excellent all around value and is built like a tank. Perfect for the budget minded hardtail owner wanting to get a nice FS bike. Funky chainstay design virtually eliminates chain slap. Chain suck that seems to plague the NRS bikes is non-existent on the Kahuna Deluxe. Great bike!
Weaknesses: A tad on the heavy side. $1,200 and and you get schraeder tubes? Grips leave a lot to be desired.
Bike Setup: Stock bike with Shimano M515 clipless pedals and Serfas grips.
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Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from växjö - sweden
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2003
Strengths: Kona aluminum worx
Weaknesses: Frame hade some scratches when i got it
Bottom Line:
I wanted a bike that would go fast in the pretty hard terrain here in my local forest, i also wanted a bike that could take some jumps and drops, and if it looks good its always a plus :)
If you are lookin for a light and stiff frs xc race bike this is not the bike for you.
This bike can be set up stiff but it loose alot of the fun factor it really have..this bike beg for action :)
A better riser than kona original is recommended to!
Bike Setup: Kahuna deluxe frame, full xt,bomber mx comp, magura hs33, mavic wheels
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Spencer
a Weekend Warrior
from Grand Forks ND,
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003
Strengths: Excellent handling in cross country. Bomber fork reacts well to any type of terrain. Fox full suspension provides for a cushy ride. all around very nice for cross country riding. speed is pretty good considering the weight. shifting is quick. price is decent also.
Weaknesses: Brakes wear quickly. especially in downhill riding. stock pedals are lame if you want to get off the pavement. crank could also be upgraded.
Bottom Line:
good all around bike. works well in cross country as well as in town. component's quality is lacking a bit but still not bad considering the price. a few upgrades and this bike is ready for anything. good bike for intermediate skill levels especially for first time full suspension riders.
Similar Products Used: none. first full suspension bike.
Bike Setup: replaced brakes with avid mechanical... defninite plus. replaced pedals with bontrager clipless... also a defninite plus. replaced stem with titec. considering upgrading to a better crank....maybe shimano XT or raceface
