Submitted by
Camster
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2011
Strengths: Simplicity, durability, low maintenance, low price, 100% old school.
Weaknesses: Riding a 26" singlespeed in the era of full-sus 29" geared bikes can be a bit lonely... but it makes you a hell of a lot stronger than the other guys.
And... it has to be said: Kona put on a pretty weak paint job. I love the orange, but wish it stuck around longer.
Bottom Line:
I'm not out to win - just to have a helluva good time, and this bike delivers exactly that. Rode fully rigid for my first year and found the rock gardens of PA too hard on my body. Added some squish up front for my second season with the Unit and love it.
Similar Products Used: Test rode a handful of SS 29ers (Redline, Karate Monkey, Gary Fisher Ferrous) before realizing that it wasn't for me. Felt like driving a (heavy, slow) truck.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Tora up front, ringle front hub, paul rear hub, conti mountain king 26x2.4" tires, Cane Creek headset, oury grips, Titec hell bent handelbars.
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Submitted by
Ollapod
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleburne, TX
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2004
Strengths: agile, light, smooth ride
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike. I use it for everything from commuting to work, urbans with my kids, and local technical trail. I still use my FS bike on the rough sections of Cleburne, but for a quick spin thru the technical loop you can't beat it. Nothing cooler than passing some guy huffing and puffing with 27 gears.
You definitely get a workout, and when you try to hit the rougher sections you take a beating, but this IS mountain biking.
Submitted by
Byrren
a Cross Country Rider
from Rocklin, CA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2003
Strengths: Supple ride (steel IS real!), much more so than aluminum frame hardtails. Decents components for the price, but the frame is really tight. Singlespeed makes you a stronger better rider, but can really blow out your lungs and legs on stiff climbs!
Weaknesses: Great stock bike - but I'd suggest putting on a suspension fork, which makes the bike a really decent descender down singletrack.
Bottom Line:
If you want to check out a great stock SS, get the Unit. Its frameset is nice, and can be upgradeable to better spec components as you can afford to. Riding SS on singletrack has its own rewards through its effort, pain, simplicity, and accomplishment. The Unit with its simple set up, compact frame geometry, lively handling coupled with the damping characteristics of steel, make this a great addition to your bike collection...but I'll warn you that you'll find yourself riding your other bikes less and less...
Similar Products Used: First SS owned - converted by the Unit. But I've ridden others.
Bike Setup: I've been customizing over the past year. Only thing still stock is the SDG seat and RF Prodigy XC set w/bashguard. CK headset, custom CK wheelset, 105mm Marzocchi EXC Pro w/ ETA, RF Prodigy stem, Paul Love Linear Brakes, Thompson seatpost, Shimano 959 pedals.
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Submitted by
Geoffrey Buhl
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003
Strengths: Light weight, strong frame and components. It climbs very well, and has improved my skills.
Weaknesses: No suspension at all. Long rides can be rough on the arms and neck.
Bottom Line:
I wanted to try out a single speed, and got a nice deal on this Kona. I enjoy riding it quite a bike. It climbs much better than I thought it would. Santa cruz is pretty hilly, but I can get up pretty good. It is light, fast, and responsive, and it has made me a better MTB rider. I rip on my hardtail now. However, the rigid front fork can be pretty brutal. Because of this, it would take a stout set of arms to make it an everyday mountainbike. It's a damn good bike now. After I add front suspension, it will be awesome. Maybe my everyday bike.
Submitted by
jrock
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2003
Strengths: Excellent Frame with Race Face cranks and Mavic Wheels. Affordability.
Weaknesses: Cheap rear hub with 15mm bolt instead of the hex key bolt. Cheap, heavy pedals.
Bottom Line:
Most single speed frames start at the price of this complete bike so you can't beat the deal. The frame is made out of the same material as thier top-end xcountry steel hardtail so it's great to build on and upgrading the components to customize your ride is half the fun anyway. KONA did a great job of creating a bike for those wanting to find out what all the 1x1 hype is all about. I'm hooked. Check out Sears for a stubby 15mm wrench for your toolkit.
Similar Products Used: '95 Kona Lava Dome '99 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp
Bike Setup: Stock except for Easton Stem, IRC Mythos 2.1 tires Plan on adding a suspension fork and new grips soon.
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Submitted by
Ian Mitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, England
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003
Strengths: Lovely, well made, steel frame, singlespeed specific with horizontal dropouts and that Kona geometry. Fast and light. Project 2 rigid forks: pinpoint accuracy after sus forks. Great spec for the cash, inc. Race Face ISIS cranks and bashring, SDG saddle, Koski bars, stem and seatpost, avid sd5 brakes
Weaknesses: Forks seem very stiff, but maybe thats because i'm used to the comfort of suspension ;) Orange paint may put some off, but looks better in real life. Wheels seem a little cheap, but should do the job until you upgrade to handbuilt ones.
Bottom Line:
A quick, light, well specced steel singlespeed. How old skool can you get? This bike rides like all Konas (spot on), but without the hassle of gears. Its not going to be for everybody. If you've never ridden single, convert your current bike before jumping in the deep end. Anyone who has ridden singlespeed and loved it, or looking for a second bike to blast round the singletrack for a few hours can do a lot worse than look at a Unit. And remember, if you're on a singlespeed there's no shame in pushing!
Similar Products Used: Old alu Giant built up to a singlespeed. Converting your current / spare bike to singlespeed is a great way to see if you like it or not, and you can do it for next to nothing.
Bike Setup: Race Face low riser bar, RF Prodigy stem, USE XCR seatpost, deore / mavic 618 front wheel, dmr revolver / mavic 618 rear wheel, ODI lockon grips, acs claw freewheel (the best).
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Submitted by
Ian Mitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, England
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003
Strengths: Lovely, well made, steel frame, singlespeed specific with horizontal dropouts and that Kona geometry. Fast and light. Project 2 rigid forks: pinpoint accuracy after sus forks. Great spec for the cash, inc. Race Face ISIS cranks and bashring, SDG saddle, Koski bars, stem and seatpost, avid sd5 brakes
Weaknesses: Forks seem very stiff, but maybe thats because i'm used to the comfort of suspension ;) Orange paint may put some off, but looks better in real life. Wheels seem a little cheap, but should do the job until you upgrade to handbuilt ones.
Bottom Line:
A quick, light, well specced steel singlespeed. How old skool can you get? This bike rides like all Konas (spot on), but without the hassle of gears. Its not going to be for everybody. If you've never ridden single, convert your current bike before jumping in the deep end. Anyone who has ridden singlespeed and loved it, or looking for a second bike to blast round the singletrack for a few hours can do a lot worse than look at a Unit. And remember, if you're on a singlespeed there's no shame in pushing!
Similar Products Used: Old alu Giant built up to a singlespeed. Converting your current / spare bike to singlespeed is a great way to see if you like it or not, and you can do it for next to nothing.
Bike Setup: Race Face low riser bar, RF Prodigy stem, USE XCR seatpost, deore / mavic 618 front wheel, dmr revolver / mavic 618 rear wheel, ODI lockon grips, acs claw freewheel (the best).
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Submitted by
ingmar
a Weekend Warrior
from hannover
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003
Strengths: frame, color, brakes, seatpost, stem, handlebar, only one gear, simply a sweet ride
Weaknesses: price, grips
Bottom Line:
the unit is a beautiful singlespeed bike. a blast to ride (and i ride it nearly every day). the fork is a little bit to stiff for a downhill race and the grips suck but who cares... i would buy it again :-) unfortunately it's a little bit overprized here in europe :-(
