Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006
Strengths: Versatility. Steel ride. Somewhat unique (for a non-custom).
Weaknesses: Sliding drops make frame a tad bit heavy. Paint chips too easily.
Bottom Line:
I can't complain, I wanted a versitle frame, and I got it. I found this 2004 dedachi frame used on a local bike forum, it was only used for a few months, the original owner went custom. It's not as light as my homegrown was, but I have a bike that can pull double duty as a SS or as a 1x8 geary when in the mountains. I can convert it in less than fifteen minutes by popping off the lock-on grip, removing the shifter and derailer, swaping the cassette for a gusset SS spacer kit and cog, and swaping chains via SRAM power link.
Compared to my tin-can homegrown, the ride is definitley more supple. Maybe not as smooth as my 90's era steel stumpjumper, but not bad.
I agree with another reviewer that the welds are not the prettiest. Also, I have probably 10 paint chips from rocks or other light contact. The star washers thrash the dropout paint (I know that it's the nature of the design, it's not Kona's fault, but it still annoys me). The drive side dropout bolts must be cut down to run gears, or the chain will rub (not critical, just noting it for the record so a new buyer will make sure to have a sharp hacksaw blade ready if they are running it geary).
I'm planning to have mine powdercoated light blue next season, and building it up with retro silver components. I'm also going to have the tamer road bike Kona graphics applied.
If Kona could shave a half pound off this frame and get a more durable paint job, this would be an outstanding frame, but for now, it's an excellent value for a very good frame.
Bike Setup: Double duty as a SS or a 1x8 with Hope mini's, basic XT/Mavic wheelset, Manitou 80mm fork.
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Submitted by
Yeepa
a Cross Country Rider
from Gaüses
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004
Strengths: Is one of the few classics remaining with a few updates,It´s steel, looks good(very),kona slooping,disk brake ready,top tube cable routing,light, s-bend stays,Ritchey dropouts,seat tube slot at the front side, kona sticker under the downtube for showing on a wheelie
Weaknesses: Paint rubs away on contact points with housings very fast. As already posted, the housing fittings are too close to head and seat tubes: annoying, a little. Disc mount weld is clumsy.Really afterthought stuff..But as long as it works...
Bottom Line:
Verrry happpy so far. Feels light! Looks great, don´t trust the catalogue colour..looks much nicer! Beautifully bent shaped stays (not visible at the catalogue pics either) The first thing I noticed was how light it felt compared to the Specialized.It´s light. (I couldn´t weigh it when got it naked but sure it was under 2 kg by far). The second, how damn fast was down the hill ! Almost got scared ! Very agile, yet controllable= well compensed geometry, I guess, is the culprit. Top tube slooping combined with a low rise will let easily set things so that the levers won´t hit the top tube when crashing or whenever it could.Nice point This thing of the housing fittings is annoying. They look unnaturally placed making the housings a bit difficult to install and remove. Is no really a big deal , but they could have done it better. The disc mount looks really just welded there.The weld even eats some of the Ritchey logo of the dropout. Not very clean weld either(can´t tell about the alignement though, I run V´s)... the welds of the frame are pretty ok though. Housing rub, be sure to protect the frame at the critical points against housing rub as soon as you can. Overall: great ! I love it. 1 chilly out for the weaknesses posted.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Ni Ti Rockhopper (but that was much heavier)
Bike Setup: Cross country stuff Mars cl, xt/mavic 517,dt swiss spokes XTR Dual control, v-brakes,rear derllr and chain. Specilizd Roll x, On-Off stem and low rise handlbar Body geom seat, Kore post Deore cranks on alum biggest rings and xtr sqare BB Ritchey pedals, FSA headset, gore tex housings and foam grips...did I forget anything?
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Submitted by
Charles LaBarbera
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2004
Strengths: superlight with rockshox black box SID, compliant steel ride, long life of steel frame
Weaknesses: May switch back from tubeless tires. That's it (so far)
Bottom Line:
Sweet bike picked up second hand off ebay. Haven't spent huge time on it yet, but have logged a couple of rides. The featherlight setup and SID with lockout enable it to climb like a goat. High speed fireroad/doubletrack descents are very supple (fork set up for 63mm), more so than my old aluminum framed trek. Hourglass seatstays + steel frame (true temper platinum OX) are a plush combo (for a hardtail). I have yet to get in the woods for singletrack action, but so far very pleased.
Similar Products Used: '98 Trek 7000 w/Marzocchi X-Fly 80
Bike Setup: 2002 SID fork with black box crown, XT front/rear der., LX crankset, race face prodigy XC stem, straight bar, Selle San Marco saddle, Time ATAC, Hutchinson Python tubeless tires
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Submitted by
søren
a Cross Country Rider
from denmark
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2004
Strengths: great frame,good brakes I dont miss disc brakes because it is very good avid vbrakes.
Weaknesses: not the best looking welds
Bottom Line:
Dont be wrong about steel,it is as a top frame with very good components like raceface.sdg saddel.sun rims and shimano xt.It is also a very comfortable frame so if you use the bike in the wood but also ride on it to work and back again it is good to both.It is a real race mtb.
Similar Products Used: kona kula.specialized stumpjumper.
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2003
Strengths: Quick handling, respectful weight, good ride quality. Slopping top tub for more stand over height.
Weaknesses: Not the best looking welds, cable stops are too close to the head tue and seat tube.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the price. One of the few Steel bikes at that level of quailty that also has cantilever brake boss. Not sure wht Bianchi and Marin doesn't have the cantilever brake boss but that kept me from buying their frames.
Similar Products Used: Bianchi Denali, Marin Pine Mountain, Salsa, Gunner
Bike Setup: Sram 9.0, Avid Ti, Velocity Rims, XT
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Submitted by
Christian
a Cross Country Rider
from berkeley, ca
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2003
Strengths: stff and fast, good handling. durable.
Weaknesses: no disk brakes
Bottom Line:
steel frames are the best for fast and enduring rides over challenging, technical, trails. you know: drop-offs, switchbacks, steep chutes, jumps, rock gardens. unless you're pro-am norba xc racer (who would be in the market for a much more costly bike) Explosif would among the best xc race & aggresive trail riding.
my cro-molly steel frame has endured several hard crashes on rocks, but i need not worry like i might if had an aluminum frame
Submitted by
John Striver
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens GA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2002
Strengths: Amazing ride! For a showroom model this is the absolute best bike I have ridden/raced in 7 years. The frame exceeds every expectation, living up to its famous steel reputation (this bike rides better than my titanium GT). Fork and components are a great value and bike is very well balanced in respect to geometry.(no sore back)
Weaknesses: Heavier wheels
Bottom Line:
Unbelievable bike, Cant beat it with a stick for the money.
