Submitted by
Frederico
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2009
Strengths: - light,comfortable and solid frame
-low gravity center therefore very easy to control at high speeds. very stable perfect for singletrack
- beautiful paint job classic kona
- brakes
Weaknesses: - The standard components are not worth the frame (fork crank handlebar and saddle) if you buy a kula and you want to take the most out of it you must buy a new fork at least.
Bottom Line:
If you wannt to buy a bike to be fast on the mountain(uphill downhill and single track) but you can't afford a carbon fiber or scandium frame this is the choice to go forget about scott cannondales specialized etc.
Similar Products Used: Scott scale 30, Gt zaskar carbon expert and kona coiler
Bike Setup: fox 32 rlc fork, Full shimano xt set and ritchey WCS flat handelbar.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Pan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003
Strengths: Very good nothing bad about it
Weaknesses: The paint is a little flaky
Bottom Line:
Had a Cinder Cone, then a '95 Kula - frame snapped where the seat-tube meets down-tube. Kona replaced with a '98, no questions asked. Excellent for technical, fast stuff, don't jump off rocks / hack down mountains too fast if you're heavy !
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, AB
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002
Strengths: It's light as a feather, it handles singletrack better than your wildest dreams could, it climbs like a mountain goat, AND it's incredibly stable at any speed. Oh yeah - the bombers take all the shakin for you - trust them and they'll do wonders for you. Buy this bike.
Weaknesses: Thought hard about this - but I can't think of a single weakness. Buy this bike.
Bottom Line:
If the frame is in good shape, (don't worry about paint, I'm talking about fractures) and if you can afford it, buy it. If you can't afford it, sell some stuff, then buy it (I got mine used, at a fraction of the original price). Make sure it's tuned up properly, strap a helmet on, and get ready to rediscover mountain biking.
Trouble is, the bike is so light your friends on their posy downhill bikes won't stand a chance in keeping up to you. If big drops are what you're after, get (or just rent) a full-on downhill bike. Better yet, try bungy jumping.
Ride it hard and fast on any singletrack. Hop or ride over logs that might be in your way. Trust the Bomber shocks - they'll take up insane amounts of abuse, and keep you stable in situations you might never have thought possible (I know, trust me). Easy on the v-brakes - I did a forward flip trying to avoid an unexpected car. Somehow I managed to land on my feet though.
Steep climb ahead? Gear down, put your but in the seat, pull on the handlebar ends, and pedal steady. You'll make it if anyone can, and since the bike's so light, you'll have energy to spare at the top.
Oh yeah, if you don't like the colour, get a life. It's the ride that matters. Kona rules.
Bike Setup: Pretty much a stock '98 - I only replace parts when they need replacing. If you have to upgrade, you have the wrong bike.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Phillip sanders
a Weekend Warrior
from yorkshire, england
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002
Strengths: Light and strong, handle's like a sun of a gun, easy riding position, feels great looks even better!
Weaknesses: Paint! (Be carefull)
Bottom Line:
In my opinion this bike is the coolist thing on the plannet, especially when riding down palm beach jumping benches and pulling off 360's off of 6 foot walls! Who's yor daddy!
Bike Setup: standard with some big mamma azonics and dmr v12's.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Bucks Co Pa
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2002
Strengths: geometry, weight
Weaknesses: maybe the paint
Bottom Line:
I found this bike when I was looking for a Kona 853 frame, it was built up nice but barely used - one ride and I was sold.
This thing climbs great, and accelarates sweetly, stiff aluminum - But, it seems much more forgiving than my previous AL frames, it lets me steer through technical stuff I used to have to just bounce through.
I've had die-hard steel guys try this bike and they loved it. I'm looking for an extra frameset now so when this beats I can build another. I'd skip the SID and go back to Marzocchi though.
Light/reasonable price -and it works great, try one.
Strengths: lightweight, good easton ultralite frame, good ridingposition ror xc-racing and climbing hills
Weaknesses: Forks attachment is not ahead-kind-of-a-system, 96´Rockshock Judy XC is heavy(1,7kg), original brakes, Magura HS11, are good at wet and dirt, but not enough effective on good weather.
Bike Setup: Original except Magura HS33 and some stuff , that has broken like crancks
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Stoneham, MA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2000
Strengths: You name it, it does it!
Weaknesses: None whatsoever.
Bottom Line:
No matter what it is you enjoy most when you ride, the Kona Kula will make it feel like the very first time. This bike does it all and does it very, very well. On this bike climbing is fun, downhills are scary fast, and the most technical rocky/rooty sections are gobbled up as the awesome geometry of the Kula works for you, always. If you haven't figured it out by now, buy a Kula, or be past by one!
Bike Setup: Marzocci Z.2 Atom Bombs, Sugino cranks, XT F/R derailers and V-brakes, Specialized stem and tires, Lookin' seat.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Warner
a Cross Country Rider
from Newcastle, UK
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000
Strengths: Light and strong. Decent spec, too.
Weaknesses: Ummm, the paint chips quite easily. Changed the bars & pedals. Cables frayed very quickly & needed replacing.
Bottom Line:
Light and rigid bike. Good climber, and good downhill too. All-round decent bike....shame Kona have downgraded the Y2K bike to LX, rather than the XT/XTR mix of the 98/99 bike.
Bike Setup: 98 Kula, XT/XTR, Orange flat bars & bar ends, Shim 545 pedals, X517 wheels for XC, D521s for play. Avid Flakjacket cables. Use more condition specific tyres.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary D
a Cross-Country Rider
from Grand Rapids, MI
Date Reviewed: December 15, 1999
Strengths: Geometry is awesome. It took some getting used to, but once you get dialed-in it rocks.
Weaknesses: Tires (Tioga XC Slicks were terrible), Stem/Headset are cheap.
Bottom Line:
Love the bike! Once I changed the tires, shifters and pedals I found my match. This bike was worth every penny.
Bike Setup: '99 Kula frame, Z2 Atom Bomb Fork (plush but heavy), SRAM grip shift 9.0SL (fantastic!) + Conti double-fighters make this one fast ride.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin McGovern
a Cross-Country Rider
from Gainesville, FL
Date Reviewed: December 5, 1999
Strengths: Everything. I'm 6', 160 lbs. and I feel as if I was born on this bike. I ride a 1998 19 Kula and it feels like it's part of you when you ride.
Weaknesses: I haven't had any problems yet.
Bottom Line:
You can't go wrong with this bike. If any of these people ahve had problems with a Kula it's their own screw-up that caused it. The Kula is definately worth every penny.
KICKS THE ARSE OFF ALL COMPETITION! KONA WILL BLOW ALL THOSE BIG COMPANIES AWAY WITH THEIR '00 LINES!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THE DUDE BELOW ME THINKING WHEN HE PUT MONSTER T'S ON THIS FRAME? NO WONDER THE GOD DAMN HEAD TUBE SNAPPED!
Bike Setup: set up as trials bike with maguras hs33
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Share
a Cross-Country Rider
from Berks, UK. now Menlo Park, CA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 1999
Strengths: Superb for climbing, technical single-track and downhill
Weaknesses: frames tend to crack a lot
Bottom Line:
Had a Cinder Cone, then a '95 Kula - frame snapped where the seat-tube meets down-tube. Kona replaced with a '98, no questions asked. Excellent for technical, fast stuff, don't jump off rocks / hack down mountains too fast if you're heavy !
Submitted by
Peter Foster
a Cross-Country Rider
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: August 13, 1999
Strengths: Light Frame, Climbs techy trails like a mtn goat, just damn fun to ride!!!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
KONA BIKES KICK!!! Frame alignment is almost always spot on even with the less expensive bikes. Who wants a large main-streem company like Trek or Specialized when you can have a Kona?
Favorite Trail: Anything on Mt. Eldon (Flagstaff, AZ)
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: Marin steel bike
Bike Setup: '98 frame w/ atom bomb and XTR
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Kuala Lumpur
Date Reviewed: July 12, 1999
Strengths: Nippy, fast, light, great for climbing and downhil, stable
Weaknesses: small cockpit
Bottom Line:
Great bike, makes me wanna ride it again and again. Very lively, feels aliveeeee!@@#!! Just plain Great ride. Kona Rules, bought myself another Kona (Explosif) to try, will review later.
Hi !
I put the frame in 3 differents scales and show me the same weight...well different in the Kona website !
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