Submitted by
Andrew George
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007
Strengths: VERY solid frame, decent LX, XT components. Crap stem. needed the long travel forks. The Bomber Z4's were to XC for my riding.
Weaknesses: Soft Bottom Bracket, lack of free ride front suspension as factory, crap factory peddles.
Bottom Line:
One word - AMAZING!!! This thing blows all my mates on 6" full suspension brand new Giant Reigns! One seriously solid frame and setup. The bike out rides me. It is light and easy to XC and ride up trails. Kills downhill all bar the full on extreme DH double diamond runs (more my skill though). This is a hoot to ride anywhere, it is such a free ride bike and has survived huge stacks and big drops and still wants more. I cannot rave on about how cool this machine is. I'm now lashing out on a Kona Coiler 07' as this machine is getting a tad old. Still love the ride though.
Similar Products Used: Marin Ricky Ridge, Giant Trance 2, Giant Reign 1 and 0, Kona Coiler (new toy)
Bike Setup: 1999 model with Foes F1 Wet One 6" USD double triple clamp forks, 8" Foes front disc, Hayes front brake, 30mm front axle, RaceFace BB, Redline BMX peddles, Billet CNC machined 75mm stem
Strengths: Light,Strong,Handles very nice,mines blue one and it looks very nice,
Weaknesses: Found none after 5 years
Bottom Line:
Great light weight frame handles like a dream as you would expect from a kona,ive done some quite heavy downhill stuff 20ft jumps loads of extreme cross country on this bike for years and its still in great condition, I love this bike more then any bike ive been on its simply awesome in my appien.
Its perfect setup as a XC bike,street,jump,light downhil bike or just a bike you can hammer!i lov the way when you go round a corner and think your going too fast but the bike just handles it like the corne is not there,(helps to have a good custom setup)
Ive been on a few new kona's and this is still my favourite.
Submitted by
brynan
a Weekend Warrior
from santa barbara, CA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2005
Strengths: solid frame, unmatched graphics
Weaknesses: not with Kona
Bottom Line:
Since 1997 has come and gone, and I doubt anyone will be considering buying a '97 Muni new at their LBS, I guess this review is more of a praise for my Muni-Mula which has served me so damn well for about 5 years... though since I bought it used in 2000ish, it has nothing original on it except the beeeeautiful red frame, which only after reading the reviews below did I figure out that my blushing bike mustve been a '97.
But anyway, to make this more than just a late-night bike worship story, I have to say that the frame has been put through a LOT of 5hit and never whimpered or cringed in battle. Ive made routine meter+ drops on it as a matter of course for year after year, bashed it into rocks at full speed, and used it as protection from angry dogs, curious wildlife, and shotgun carrying rednecks. All it has to show for wear is thousands of lovely little pock-marks from rocks once loved and lost, and some mullet hair fused into the paint. And my Muni-Mula must hear the whispered praise when we ride through town, cause shes still glowing bright red!!! I love Kona.
ps. right now my bikes in the shop having surgery... which is why im up in the middle of the night thinking about her... what if some nocturnal punk sees her through the back window and breaks in, lulled by the colors and teased by thoughts of riding through town getting stared at? damn... cant wait til they open so I can call and check up...
Similar Products Used: hahaha... ha... youre serious? I wouldnt CHEAT!
Bike Setup: tons of good stuff
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Hensel
a Weekend Warrior
from Des Moines
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Weaknesses: The bike had a rookie for a rider.
Bottom Line:
I bought this 97 off my brother a few months ago. It rocked. Other than the fact that I'm just a beginner this bike excelled on all levels. Went up and down hill with superb control and when I did wipe out, the bike held together nicely. I had some trouble in the sand, but that could have been due to my rookieness. Handled the mud with no problem. If your new to this like me, this could be the bike for you.
Bike Setup: nice z1 drop offs with a dh stem and handlebar.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Lanhart
a Cross Country Rider
from Burnsville, MN
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2000
Strengths: Great value for the price, light, great handling, quality construction, lifetime guarantee, good customer service.
Weaknesses: None that I'm aware of yet.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike!! I've put over 17,000 miles on it with about 4,000 of it on serious single track and I've done some racing in the last two years. No complaints at all. I may never get rid of it! If you can get one at a good price, buy it. It's a great bike for beginners through advanced. You'll love the way it handles, especially on rough terrain or downhills. Plus, you fly up the hills.
Similar Products Used: Diamondback Topanga was my only other bike.
Bike Setup: XT components all around, Mavic wheels, Rock Shox Q21R
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Neal
a Weekend Warrior
from Pacifica, Ca.
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2000
Strengths: z3-lite front shock, avid brake setup is one of the best (better then xt) xt rear derailer.
Weaknesses: Front derailer stx (sucks) upgrading to xtr. tires are a bit funky.
Bottom Line:
I got the bike used for 500.00 it was like new hardly ever used, the bike fly's up the hills great control comin down I love this bike it rocks!!! I have been thru the mud and major puddles and it doesent bog down a bit. For the price you can't beat it. For price and performance this one get's 5 flamin' chillis. Great bike to upgrade to for front suspension.
Similar Products Used: Diamond back, speacialized fsr, Trek 8000
Bike Setup: Marz. Z3 lite, lx cranks and chain rings, xt derailer, stx front derailer avid 2.0 brake setup, sdg seat, lx hubs. sun cr18 rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Eskelinen
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn Hills Michigan
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2000
Strengths: Climbs like a Mountain Goat!! Descends Awsome! Overall geometry begs for more!!! ANYTHING!!
Weaknesses: Original wheels had some issues! but LBS took care of that.
Bottom Line:
Mine is a 97' Muni-Mula that came with Judy T2, LX and STX RC components. This bike was Awesome as original. Had a blast riding it and trying to break it. Still have all the original parts just had to upgrade to make this bike ugly. This bike loves single track whether it is up or down. The more twisty the better. This bike is great for entry level riding/racing and able to handle upgrades. I love this frame!! If you are in the market, give it some serious consideration.
Bike Setup: Race Face stem, bar, cranks(next's),bb, 9.0SL shifter, brake levers, rear der., XT front der., XTR brakes, Bebop pedals. Chris King headset, 99 Manatou SX Ti,and Crossmax wheels. Nothing left original but the Frame!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kp
a Cross-Country Rider
from huntsville ala
Submitted by
Reid
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1999
Bottom Line:
I bought a '97 model in July of '97 as my first real mountain bike after getting old ones from my brother. It is super light, very agile, and a great deal for the CAN$1100 it cost. I hope and Im sure this thing will last me a long time. It's getting a litle sloppy, but nothing a wrench won't fix! This is an awesome bike. The stock RS Indy XC's are still pretty solid and plush, and the components are like new. Congratulations Kona, as always, on a job well done! I give you 5 flamin peppers for this work of art!
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Castlegar B.C
Date Reviewed: April 6, 1999
Strengths: Really nice frame. The bikes a nice weight for XC riding. It is holding up really good and i Love It
Weaknesses: It not kona fault but my shop had the rear derailer set wrong and the chain came on the spokes and wrecked the rear wheel. The bikes really nice but not a great climber
Bike Setup: 1999 kona muni mula Z-3 xt,lx and stx front derailer
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allan
a cross-country rider
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: March 10, 1999
Bottom Line:
I bought a 98 Muni Mula about six months ago so have had some quality ride time on it. The only complaints I have are the stock tires. The ENTER front tracks poorly even on dry hardpack and both front and rear loose all stability in dry sandy conditions. I haven't rode in muddy conditions so can't say if these tires are are a problem there, but highly recommend swapping them if you're going to predominantly ride in the sand and/or on dry hardpack.Otherwise, great, great bike.
I don't believe it is possible -whitin a reasonable ammount of time- to do more research than I did. But if you want go ahead, read magazines, consult books, test drive a million bikes with big brand names like Cannondale, Gary Fisher, Marin and so on. After you do all of that then call your local KONA dealer and buy from him the Muni Mulla. I found a brand new 1998 for $680 -a steal!!!- it was the last one in stock. The 1999 is very similar except for the shock that is a different type. So far I have ridden this bike for a couple months and I am loving every single second on it, the frame is light yet tough, it offers great control and is very responsive, a dream. TIP I asked the dealer to change the special clip pedals and put some good old standard ones since I could not afford the shoes right now. It would be nice to put a good suspension seat post but that is about it.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Speed
a cross-country rider
from Washington State
Date Reviewed: December 11, 1998
Bottom Line:
I bought the pre 1999 Nu Nu (which when I bought it was the painted Muni Mula) It has all the same components, but I got a deal on it for $730.00 with tax. So far I've been really pleased with the bike. It seems tailor made for the NW woods, is light and nimble, easy to pitch around, and a scream to ride. The Judy T2 shock needs some work (apparently I need the springs swapped) but I'm happy with the pruchase, ans customer service is fantastic with Kona.
