Strengths: some exelent stock parts such as the really burly wheels and the decent transmition components for instance the bashgaurd and chain guide are quality peices of kit .The original forks are actually really good aswell.
Weaknesses: the seatpost is a little short and the origignal brakes aren't the best.
Bottom Line:
this is a briliant bike that is exelent to ride in almost every dicipline of mountain biking from jump to trail riding but I certinaitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is wanting a light xc bike but for the jumping and trail riding that I use it for it's fantastic.
Similar Products Used: specialized hardrock pro 2006
Bike Setup: rock shox psyslo race 2001 forks ,hope mono mini front disks apart from these items it's all the original spec.
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Submitted by
Austin Sedz
a Weekend Warrior
from burlington, Ont
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2006
Strengths: ummmm......it comes with all the components u need to ride a bike...
Weaknesses: frame has awful geometry, it's heavy and it looks ugly. and it's a kona..
Bottom Line:
dont bbuy a kona. they have good rep and bad rep. the good rep comes from teh people who bought em without trying anything else (inexperennced buyers) and the bad rep comes from any bike store that isnt stuck dealing with kona and any body else whos tryed a kona and then tried another companies "competition" for the same kona model. Aka stuff compared to rockey mountain flow. stuff compared to banshee scratch, flow compared to norco 4hun etc.
Bike Setup: 2003 Stuff, Fox Vanilla RLC 130, MAvic D321 Rims laced to DT Swiss Onyx hubs, Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR SIC Bodyslam classic stem and Chase Risers, FSA Pig DH Pro.
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Submitted by
Andrew Atchison
a Weekend Warrior
from London, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2004
Strengths: This bike is extremely strong and all the stock parts are great.
Weaknesses: The rims warp a bit to easy.
Bottom Line:
This bike is overall an excellent buy, and since I only paid $680 CAD I think I got a pretty good deal. The only things I'm going to change (these really arn't needed I just want to make it better) is the brakes which I'm chaging to Hayes hydros, and the fork, which I'd like to upgrade to a DJ3.
Favorite Trail: Meadowlily Bike Park (unauthorized if you know what I mean)
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$680.00
Purchased At: Some guys house in Toronto.
Similar Products Used: 2002 Miele 251
Bike Setup: Stock except for new avid speed dial 5 brake levers.
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Submitted by
ade
a Weekend Warrior
from birmingham
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2004
Strengths: great bike for throwing around. will take a lot of abuse. most of the stock components are good enough. the truvativ hussefelt isis crank is bombproof.
Weaknesses: sun ditchwitch rims are absolute crap. they spend more time in the truing stand than on the bike. the shimano mechanical brakes are crap as well. cracked the lowers of the EXRs in a crash which involved a road with loose gravel, a car pulling out of a driveway and a Hope M4... (you can probably guess what happened. it put me out of action for 4 weeks. i had a cast on my leg and my wrist. luckily i wasn't too far away from home and i managed to crawl back dragging the bike behind me!)
Bottom Line:
good bike to buy if you want a tough bike but you are still planning to upgrade (not really up to seriously heavy abuse stock), but still an excellent bike stock, rides very nicely, as do all konas, apart from the things mentioned above. i am 6'2" and 16 stone and therefore component durability is an issue on any bike that i ride. i have eventually found a pretty much perfect setup for my stuff. it is absolutely, bar none, the toughest little b*tch goin!
Bike Setup: kona stuff '03, '04 marzocchi DJ3's(bombproof),mavic 721's on hope xc,hope M4 front, mono mini rear, full XT (apart from rear mech-LX)club roost stem and grips, DMR V8's and DMR elite saddle
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Submitted by
KT
a Downhiller
from Whistler, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2004
Strengths: Frame geometry and strenght. I rode my Stuff for 2 years in the Whistler Bike Park with no major problems at all. It stood up to lots of abuse.
Weaknesses: Stock rims are trash, and the brakes are the worst I have ever ridden. They need constant adjusting and always felt mushy. I eventually upgraded the front to a deore hydro and that has made a HUGE difference. The saddle is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever sat on :( Oh and the EXR fork isn't really gold either.
Bottom Line:
It's a good frame. The stock components could have been a little better. I bought it and decided to ride it stock and replace stuff as it broke. It's worked out rather well so far. The 05 stuff has a better fork, better brakes, more comfortable saddle so the only thing that I would still like to see upgraded is the rims. Still a great little bike. Especially for the price. Good all round. I took mine down hill in the bike park, on some xc rides, used it to commute to work, and dirt jumping. I love mine.
Similar Products Used: A bunch of different frames... and I also own a Norco Six.
Bike Setup: 03 Stuff with Mavic 721 rear rim hand laced to a deore hub. Front wheel set is a machine built Single Track laced to a deore hub. Deore hydro front brake. Intense FRO DH 2.35 tires. Most everything else stock.
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Submitted by
shawn smith
a Weekend Warrior
from grants pass
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004
Strengths: the frame is top quality, no problems what so ever, rims arent bad with a true once and a while, marzocchi fork, although lacking travel makes up for it in longevity, stem and handel bars are great as well
Weaknesses: stock brakes, mine didnt come with disck, an i upgraded to avid mechanical, no problems noe. I also stipped out the crank ( pedal just fell out ) after a run in with a tree( my legs ok though ) need to upgrade deraluirs!! plus the pedals are shot.
Bottom Line:
this bike has out lasted my friends raliegh ( had to have the frame replaced twice) a daimondback hardtail, and is now proving itself over a trek liquid 25, this bike is tough, an although it needs some upgrades, the frame is indestructable, ive had this bike for 2 years, and its still workin great!!! if you want a bike thats strong, can be used as a dirt jump bike, trail bike, or anything in between this bike is for u, not for cross country!!
Similar Products Used: none, dont need amything else
Bike Setup: bike hase new seat post and seat ( snapped the stocker ) LX cranks ( now a little bent due to a couple run ins with a nine stair) avid mechanical disc, and will soon have a marzocchi Jr. T, and a neew set of wheels.
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Submitted by
Thomas Gehrig
a Racer
from Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004
Strengths: everything (mine is set up with a 2003 DJ3 and Deore Hydro disk brakes)
Weaknesses: the damn Sun Ditch Witches are already out of trueness and the Tioga's get full of nasty frame-scratching rocks on nasty trails
Bottom Line:
Man that bike is so nice... I love it so much It manuals perfectly and is even light enough for skate-park and some trials stuff on it... the only weaknesses are the rims and maybe the tires...
Strengths: Bars stem frame and brakes are all strong the crank is beautiful
Weaknesses: rims bend easily but can be trued for about an hour. they arent that great for dirt jumping and advice dont try 360's if you dont how.forks cracked after about 4 months. pedals seized up after a week and derailler needs replacing after 9 months
Bottom Line:
I dont know why this bike didn't win dirt jumper of the year it handles good but needs more travel for downhill racing but it is solid and prestegious. I guess that the bike is really good since mine was stolen once but i got it back because i couldn't take any other bike
Strengths: well right now i ride the 2002 stuff but there all the same pretty much from year to year all i can say is the components on the bike are unbelieveable the frame very strong, pedals, crank toughest one ive used yet, rims pretty good over all just the whole bike is great
Weaknesses: rims i broke the first set on the bike, the forks i cracked the lowers, but that all there really not a weakness just the rims warp easy and the fork had alot of flex,
Bottom Line:
great bike i have mine set up for hardtail down hilling the head tube on these bikes are so over built, they can take the boxxer with no problem, at races ive seen them with the marzocchi monster t crazy..this bike is just perfect a little heavy but once you get used to it then you can wip it around like any other hardtail.
Similar Products Used: specialized p3, banshee morphine
Bike Setup: 2002 kona stuff 2003 rock shox boxxer, sun ringle single track rims, truvativ hussefelt cranks with raceface FR BB, fsa pig pro dh headset, maxxis minion tires...
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Submitted by
nathan gyorkos
a Weekend Warrior
from medince hat, alberta, canda
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004
Strengths: excellent frame design, very srtong rims and great cranks and pedals
Weaknesses: the forks arnt equiped enough for larger drops
Bottom Line:
this bike is very good for all uses and can take a lot of abuse... i fully recomend this bike for anyone out there lookin for a hardtail.
Bike Setup: pretty much stock, except for new tires
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Submitted by
ade
a Weekend Warrior
from birmingham
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2004
Strengths: beefy all round and a good bike for general bashing around. it will take one hell of a beating before any of the components give up.
Weaknesses: brakes (changed for hope m4 on front and magura julie on rear. (you can read my review on the hope m4 as well on this site)
Bottom Line:
you get a lot of bike for your money, but a few weaknesses spoil it, but these can be sorted out with a few upgrades as mentioned above (brakes being the most essential upgrade, as the ones that come with it are CRAP!!!) my Stuff is worth about £1300, but you could (and should!) get a basic new one for as little as £600 (what i paid for mine originally). The stuff is a great bike for throwing around the streets and for showing off at your local jump spot! The new '04 model has the improved dirt jumper forks, rather than the EXR's on the'03, but i would recomend picking up an '03 model and kitting it up, rather than spending extra mobey for not a lot more.
Bike Setup: standard rims, handle bars, stem and standard (but very good) truvativ hussefelt isis crank, marzochi EXR forks. cane creek headset, hope and magura brakes (front and rear respectively), dmr dirt jumping saddle and V8 pedals and the all important pimp ass dice valve caps!
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Submitted by
Brian Giorgio
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2004
Strengths: it is a good bike for riders who are hard on their equipment, and if you want a good strong beefy bike, for dirt jumping, freeriding, or just riding to the store.
Weaknesses: a few of the bikes components arent very good.
Bottom Line:
this is a sweet, beefy, longlasting, strong, all round awesome bike, for the price you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Similar Products Used: i have used the specialized p3, both bikes are about the same, except that a few components are diferent.
Bike Setup: marzocchi drop off comp fork, truvativ hussefelt crank with bash guard, sun ditch witch rims, shimano disc brakes.
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Submitted by
Ross Bearman
a Downhiller
from Regina, Sask, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2004
Strengths: Solid cranks and pedals, frames good, but not as strong as the roast, the roast has got a way better chainstay, but if u ride street like me its good, great handle bar and stem, rims are good
Weaknesses: Brakes, the brakes are good for a month then they are really crappy, the derailers good but i broke it a few times, so im on an XT, the shock is not a good shock for dirtjumping and street riding its really week in the stanctions, i found a nice crak in em. but majorly the brakes arnt very good
Bottom Line:
Its an awesome bike overall, like anybike parts break so at all depand on wut u like to ride, i street ride so the brakes and fork is not the best for me but like anything u can always update, and u get alot for ur buck!
Submitted by
Travis Harvey
a Weekend Warrior
from Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2003
Strengths: I actually just purchased the 2004 stuff. The bike rocks, great marzocchi forks, solid frame(exact same as the roast), nice rims, and meaty tires. The bike is a great bang for the $. If you're looking at the roast, it isn't worth the extra $400-$500 over the stuff. the roast is a nice bike, but to costly for a hardtail.
Weaknesses: Bike is a bit heavy, but you have to expect that with a meaty frame. At least change the front brake to Hayes Hydrolaulic.
Bottom Line:
I live in Canada so the bike actually cost me $1149 Cdn. The bike is a great value, if you built the same bike up part for part would cost over $2000 Cdn. The Roast is $700 more than the stuff and is not worth the extra $. DJ3 and the drop off are almost the same shock, Hayes HFX9 and shimano mechanicals is less than $50 price diff. and a deore LX drivetrain isn't as costly as you might think. Those are the only diff. between the 2 bikes the forks, brakes, and front and rear derailluers. Either bike is great, it's just how much you have to spend.
