Submitted by
Kristopher
a Downhiller
from Easthampton, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2007
Strengths: Decent frame
Weaknesses: Everything else
Bottom Line:
The bike worked well for about a year, but after any heavy riding it goes to hell. I've replaced the drive train twice with zero improvment. Bike is very incompatiable with new componentry. Don't get fooled into thinking buying new parts is going to solve your problems. Ive spent at least $400 trying to get the drive train working properly. Waste of money, just buy a new bike. Fork also died after first year of hard riding.
Bike Setup: Panaracer FIRETRAIL tires, Sun Rims, Manitou Shock absorber, gripshifters and ? derailer,etc
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Reid
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004
Strengths: This bike is great for beginners - it's easy to handle, and it takes a tonne of punishment! The fork (Manitou Six) isn't the best fork on the market, but it's taken all the punishement I could dish out, and come back for more!
Weaknesses: Low quality Deore shifters - even after a tune up at the bike shop, the rear shifters change gears slowly and reluctantly. The seat is just some foam no-name, and isn't very comfortable.
Bottom Line:
For the money, this bike is unbeatable! It doesn't have the best components on the market, but taken as a whole, this bike is perfect for the beginner rider. The shocks handle all bumps, jumps and dips with ease, and the brakes are nice and strong. The only downsides to this bike are the crappy stock seat and the low-end Deore shifters. Replace those two components, and you've got a wikked bike that can handle anything you throw at it!
Similar Products Used: Kona Fire Mountain, Norco Wolverine
Bike Setup: Replaced cheap stock seat with a Selle Italia (bought used for $30.00!) Everything else is stock; I bent the front cogs when I fell off a log run, but that's been replaced by a Truativ crank/cog set (same as stock). Future upgrades: new Shimano gears; possibly a new fork.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Cok
a Weekend Warrior
from Lyons Oregon USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2004
Strengths: products are considered crappy in the component world--- but they do a decent job at holding up... want more performance--- buy an upgrade.
Weaknesses: uhh.... well stock it is good for bending and breaking axels like my homie owen said--- (see below) and uh... well. when i first got it, i weighed like 120-125 ish lbs so it held up real nice untill the axels started busting.
Bottom Line:
Great for beginers. uh. but ive also seen dirt jumper bikes with only a better fork than this bike and thats the only better part besides like wheels and junk. For the $300 that you pay it kicks ass.
Bike Setup: hehe... uh... mavic 221 whell in back with shimano deore hub and shimano cassette, truvativ hussefelt crank with truvativ bottom bracket, those queer panaracers with red lines, kore riser bar, easton ea50 seat post, selle italia seat which hurts my ass. oh yea and those gay freeriding pedals. and the best of all---- a black water bottle holder.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
owen
a Weekend Warrior
from mill city, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2004
Strengths: For under 400 bucks everything. it holds up to anything i dish out( so far). Great for a begginer or a light person(stock)
Weaknesses: The weakest back axle i have ever seen. i went through 5 steel axles and 2 chromoly axles before i bought a cassette wheel. The components aren't very good but they get you started.
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike to start for a foundation. you can buy this bike and ride it and buy upgrades as you go. i wieght 240lbs!!! and i am taking 4-5 foot drops on a regular basis. so for all you light bodies out there with a couple upgrades it will impress even some of the more experienced riders.
Bike Setup: Sun rim, new truvativ crank and isis bottom bracket, converted to 24 speed.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Darrin Tinsley
a Weekend Warrior
from Flat Rock, NC
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Strengths: Cost, frame. It is hard to find a decent hardtail for $300 to $400, but KHS has the idea here. I bought my wife the Alite300 and the 500 for myself. These bikes are fantastic for beginning mountain bikers.
Weaknesses: Components ... specifically those blasted grip shifters.
Bottom Line:
Can't beat the price. I have really ridden mine hard (for an amateur) and it has held up extremely well.
Submitted by
PATRICK
a Cross Country Rider
from OTTAWA,ONTARIO
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2003
Strengths: Good cross country frame, light and tough, looks good, good geometry.
Weaknesses: Components suck, but you get what you pay for.
Bottom Line:
Good frame, light and tough, good price, but the components suck, the complete bike (with original accessories) is perfect for mom and dad that know nothing about mountain bikes or as a good beginer bike for the cost woried, but if you swap the components like i did (just needed the frame), it will make a good bike (if you got a good deal). Obviously not the ultimate bike but for the price, you can't go wrong.
Although this frame worked great for me, i am changing this frame for a Kona Scrap this winter, need something stronger, but i'll make a bike for my girl friend with this khs.
Bike Setup: 2002 khs alite 500 frame, striped the original accessories and swapped them for: rock shox duke sl 100mm, radical stem, axiom bars,lx brake levers with rear brake booster,grip shift, louis garneau short grips, sts aheadset, xt front & xtr rear derailleurs, lx v-brakes, titec dh seat post, shimano cartridge bb, fsa crank, black spire big ring protector(took out the big ring and fit protector in it's place), radical dh pedals with spd, sun rhyno lite rims with deore hubs.
I have a STRICT BUDGET of $400. Please do not suggest $600 bikes saying they'd suit me better. I will not spend $401; $400 or less.
I've found a Diamondback Response with these sp Read More »
I saw a cheap one for $15 that might still be for sale still. Is this a quality item? Also is it compatible with 9speed deore? It is a 2003 model. Read More »
I am still looking at frames for a new bike, since I am a beginner I put it in this forum section. I want to know what would be better, and what is lighter. The KHS alite is chea Read More »
Which of these bikes are going to be better? or does it matter..?
[URL="http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/4_series/4300disc/"]trek : http://www.trekbikes. Read More »
Hello, new to the forum and biking as well. I am planning to buy a hardtail for trail riding, I have narrowed it down to two bikes due to pricing.
My choices are 2011 KHS Ali Read More »
