Submitted by
Ian Black
a Weekend Warrior
from Wrexham, North Wales
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2008
Strengths: Sweet handling, strong & light
Weaknesses: Poor original spec, no replaceable dropout/disc mounts
Bottom Line:
Replaced wheels, forks, shifters & brakes before riding. This was the best all round hardtail I have owned. Unfortunately just found a huge crack in headtube/downtube junction so will be retiring it after 12 years of heavy use.
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Coventry, UK
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Strengths: Very good frame, light, great to ride and versatile
Weaknesses: Groupset was quite low spec for the price of the bike, but the money was clearly spent in the frame
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike brand new in 1997, and I'm still riding it over 9 years later. I've used it for just about everything, XC, DH, dirt jump, trials and street. The last few years have been all trials, and I amazed the frame is still in one piece. Top quality bike, built to last.
Bike Setup: Koa Frame, P2 JF forks, DMR rims with Shimano Hubs, Magura HS33s, Shimano roadie rear mech, and other trialsy bits.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sue
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2006
Strengths: Light weight; sporty.
Weaknesses: Abused & malfunctioning components (from prior over-use, I'm guessing) and the paint job is pretty dinged up, too.
Bottom Line:
I'd like to restore this puppy to its original condition. Will somebody tell me (a) how much the Kona Koa cost new and (b) what the original wheel configuration was? Any other words of wisdom about this model would be greatly appreciated--for instance, *when* was the Kona Koa new? 1997? Earlier? Thanks for your responses--I'm anxious to hear from you.
Submitted by
skyler
a Downhiller
from portland, oregon
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2004
Strengths: Really light,very strong, takes a beating and still rides better than any other bike ive used.
Weaknesses: None that i could tell, other than i didnt like the factory seat on it.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike, especially if you get it at a great price. i dont think i will need to be getting another bike for awhile,and if i have to replace i would just get another kona!best hardtail bikes you can get!
Submitted by
Charles New
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxford, England
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2003
Strengths: Great ride. Had it for ages and it still looks and rides brilliantly. Seems to soak up whatever I throw at it. Have added various bits and pieces over the years but its never let me down.
Weaknesses: None. It kicks arse!
Bottom Line:
Great first ride, it'll last you forever! Even if I get a new bike I'd keep this one! Can't recommend it enough. Simply awesome.
Similar Products Used: Other Konas (ultimate hardtails!)
Bike Setup: X-Lite riser bars with X-Lite Titanium Bar Bungs, short stem, Titec Beserkr saddle, Replaced pedals and new Tyres. Hopefully gonna add some Z1 Bomber forks soon.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Manitoba
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
Strengths: Nice and light, easy to handle,great bike for beginner,fast,strong,fun
Weaknesses: stx rc components upgrade needed to xt,nicer seat would be nice
Bottom Line:
Great bike to start with had many great times with it and still do when i get the time to ride.This bike will not stear you wrong great handleing with great price.This bike taught me alot on how ride an handle a bike on various terrians.I just upgraded to 2003 Caldrea this year but i would'nt trade my old buddy for nothing
Similar Products Used: ,lava dome ,blast,fire mountain
Bike Setup: added dore xt brakes and shifts and gears set up to bike and marzoochi exr 3.15 with kore elite and bontrager crowbar. Pretty much stock all way around accept for the xt and fork and disc brakes i added .
Strengths: Fast, strong, reliable, goes most places i take it. very smooth road rideing
Weaknesses: gears need adjusting quite often
Bottom Line:
THIS IS NOT A DOWN HILL BIKE SO DONT USE IT AS ONE OTHER WISE ITS BOUND TO BREAK. Saying this bike is crap is complete and utter rubbish. This is a great bike (providing you dont abuse it) for normal road or mild offroad use. Its withstood every bump and knock ive thrown at it, and ive thrown sum belive me. Stick some front suspension on it and it will handle much more than it already does.
Strengths: Light, nice paint. just to be clear it's a 21" TT with a 13-14"ST
Weaknesses: flexy, Project 2 fork is too flexy and does not have enough rake, frame headtube snapped off. That's right, it snapped oof
Bottom Line:
If you ride XC, this is a good frame to start out with, if you ride trials or dirt jump, forget about it, the headtube broke clean of because the tubes are simply not thick enough to handle abuse.
Submitted by
Konakicks
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002
Strengths: Everything, Excellent Hard tail mountian Bike all around.
Weaknesses: my seat sucked through it out! got it with no shocks. still riding with the old kona fork.
Bottom Line:
For the Buck, It rides smooth, nothing comes undone after a long beating. I would advise people if you find one cheep snag it. Can't Go wrong with an old KONA KOA.
Bike Setup: stock, Still all the original parts, except for the seat. the Forks were taken off before I got it and have not bothered to change this mean machine.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Moses
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002
Strengths: Frame geometry, pretty light, sweet paint job. I have beat the crap out of it and had no problems
Weaknesses: None really.
Bottom Line:
I broke my bike and was strapped for cash one day when I saw this at a garage sale for $150. I eventually upgraded most of the parts and it has been an awesome bike so far.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale M-2000??(don't remember) and a few cheap bikes also.
Bike Setup: Rock Shocks Judy XC, XT drivetrain, Rhyno Lite rims, Hutchinson Python tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Suneil Curwen
a Cross Country Rider
from Milton Keynes
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2001
Strengths: More durable than a Kenyan long distance runner. Faster than a 100 metre sprinter. Handles like sex starved nymphomaniac - a F___ing animal. As you can tell, i cut my teeth on this bike bake in '97 and i haven't looked back since. It taught me how to climb and leave all my friends for dust. Have upgraded most of the components (STX-RC) to XT, slapped on some M-747s an SDG Ventura Comp saddle, Mavic 517 sups, 9-spd, and still run the original, yes, original P2s (man these forks are an institution - rigid rocks). I'll never sell this baby, she's here to stay however in a couple of weeks i'm retiring her for something that i hope is going to be as much fun!
Weaknesses: So light that when i bunny hop i have to wear an air mask and warn air traffic control.
Bottom Line:
If you ever get to own one you'll know why me and everyone else loves this bike - awesome, awesome ride, you'll test your skills to the limit on this rigid beast.
I agree with others comments that this is a great novice bike - it'll teach you how to ride and you'll have instant confidence when you first ride it, but i'd add that even when you've got 1000s of miles under you belt and have probably purchased a full sus machine, that you still ride this one and hold a special place in your heart for it as you remember it making a mochery of the meanest trails you eveer tested yourself on. One more thing, you haven't climbed until you've climbed on a Koa! Eat my dust, know it.
Submitted by
Alex Gray
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001
Strengths: Strong light 7005 alu hardtail frame, very easy to set up a good combo and ride
Weaknesses: not disc ready
Bottom Line:
light, fun, strong and goes hard for a hardtail!! good for ametures who like a good ride or what ever tickles ur famcy.the light stiff frame makes u feel tuff and u feel like u can just ride forever. if u can get ur hands on this frame u wont be disappointed i highly recommend.oh yeah and like all konas the paint job kicks!
Bike Setup: azonic bar and shorty stem,rst hi 5 forks, stx rc & lx deore comp, single chain ring 39t, ritchey 2.35,mavic rims, fat platforms and dmr chain guide
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
thom
a Weekend Warrior
from bartonville,il.usa
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000
Strengths: frame,geometry,componets not bad for price,wheels ok also
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
this bike rocks.handles singletrack like a dream.it climbs like a homesick angel and descends equally well.it is a 16 inch frame and with computer, bottle cage,and suspension seatpost it weighs 24.5lbs.i love this rig.konas in general are second to none.
Bike Setup: heavily upgraded,manitou sx ti fork,xt front and rear derraileur,lx crank,sram 8.0 attack shifters,xt vee brakes,kore stem,517s with xt hubs,use xcr suspension seatpost,sdg saddle
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Craig Weir
a Racer
from Tecumseh,Ont,Cdn
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2000
Strengths: Light, Good value for a beginner
Weaknesses: came with cheapo Zoke suspension forks
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this is a great bike. It taught me alot about how to handle a bike. I'm sorry to say I upgraded the frame to a Manitou HT but still have the Kona with hopes to build it into a dual slalom bike which it would be great for. My frame came in a sky blue and looked great. I highly recomend this bike for the beginner/novice biker. Enjoy
a freind of mine at work has a 1992 kona koa. he curently has a non sup fork in it. hes intrested in buying my oem fork which is a 1 1/8 threadless. i was wondering short of mesure Read More »
Just got my new seat post and I wanted to share it with you guy's. It's made out of Hawaiian curly koa wood. I wanted something different for my current build that added a little m Read More »
Just got my new seat post for my current build. As you can see it's made out of curly koa and is a bit on the heavy side. I wanted something different and would also add a little m Read More »
Hi, I got a guy selling a Kona Koa approx. 2002 model, for $75. The bike needs a little work, shocks are bad. Is this worth picking up to restore.
I'm very much a beginner and c Read More »
