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Submitted by
Delay1234
a Weekend Warrior
from Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything at Post Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | From friend | | Strengths: | Very light and quick bike. This bike climbs and sprints well. Light bike doesn't hurt as much when it lands on you after you go over the handle bars. Yay! | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of. I rode BMX bikes my whole life and this is my first mountain bike. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi bomber fork, Thompson stem, FSA headset, full XTR drive train, Race Face carbon fiber crank set, Mavic wheels, Avid BB7 mechanical discs....... | | Bottom Line: | Light fast bike. I ride this bike down trails that're not meant for hardtails and it does just fine. This bike is easy to manhandle down steep terrain and takes quite a beating. I'm not much for climbing and prefer downhill (I know, not really the right bike for downhill but a co-worker wanted to get rid of it) but this bike makes climbing easy and can handle what ever you want to throw at it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis, MN
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Hillside | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Ride quality, reasonable weight, simple but effective suspension system | | Weaknesses: | Odd seat post and front der. sizes... quibbles but these were not stock items for my local shop and had to turn to evilbay to complete the build | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher hard tails, Specialized Stumpy FSR, Fisher HiFi Deluxe, Trek Fuel 90, Trek Fuel EX 9, Kona King Kikapu | | Bike Setup: | Marz Marathon SL, Xtr Rear Der, XT front, Avid BB7 brakes, Mavic Crossride wheelset, Easton EC 90 bars and seatpost | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks: feel of steel for reasonable cost; eats small bumps like an active FS rig; rocks the uphills like a hardtail; it's a softail with some soul compared to buddies Salsa Dos Niner!
Overall I'm digging this bike. Steel smooths out the ride dramatically. The softail design east small rocks and roots with aplomb keeping you in control and upping the comfort factor dramatically. The geometry is NORBA race ready and spot on for twisty midwest single track. My only gripe is the odd seatpost and front derailleur specs and less than handsome graphics on the frame - good candidate for some quality powder coating!
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Submitted by
Wade McCormick
a Cross Country Rider
from San Marcos, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Alessandro Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Banannas | | Strengths: | Underrated manufacturer, extremely Light, Hi Hi Hi value, laughable inexpensive. Technologically advanced design. Local dealer provides excellent support. | | Weaknesses: | Softtail needs to "warm up" to work smoothly. Unattractive dropouts. | | Similar Products Used: | Over 10 other MTB's, steel, aluminum, carbon, including FS. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Team ST, Marzochhi Marathon SL 85, XTR, Flite SLR, Monkey Light, Sram Attack, SRAM 9.0 levers, Avid Mag, Ritchey Stem, Syncros Post, Crank Brothers, Cross Max, Mosquito 2.3 and under 24 lbs total wt. | | Bottom Line: | After 3 years of tricking out 2000 GT XCR 1000 to 25 lbs, a crack developed at the seat mast. Low on bucks, a Nevada dealer delivered, no tax or shipping, at $300.00. Swapped parts from XCR. First impression is that bike climbs over broken rock without loss of momentum (like FS). Cleaned sections that allways made trouble previous. Small amount of movement from ST, but much less objectionable than FS. The descent was total revelation. No overcycling of suspension on rough (like FS). Confidence inspiring, mostly same line options as FS. I'm 6'4", bike is XL. The design is compact and race oriented, sensitive to rider positioning. Using the Mosquito 2.35 tire gives even more shock absorbation, at 555gm Mfgrs wt), rolls easily and encourages rough lines. Faster everywhere, as unnecessary suspension overabsorbation and rebound are eliminated. The most highly touted modern FS bikes, stable this and that, are still far from perfect. This is a real world design, that works better more often than current crop of trendy bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pablo
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange, CA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Red Box Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | South Coast Cycles | | Strengths: | This is an excellent bike.
I was a hard-tail rider that did not want to go full suspension. The soft-tail design is a great compromise between the benefits of both.
I specifically wanted a steel frame because they last forever, and a good steel frame is as light as any aluminum frame. Additionally, steel provides a better ride. (in my opinion)
KHS Steel frame: (can you say 25yr warranty) won't get that with aluminum. | | Weaknesses: | The first frame I got the soft-tail mechanism creaked.
Fortunately, KHS was very responsive to my complaints and replaced the frame no questions asked. (great company)
Had some problems with the Grimecca disc brakes, which were eventually resolved by the Grimecca distributor.
| | Bike Setup: | XTR/LX
Grimecca System 8 disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I got a great deal on a great bike.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento CA
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Clementine loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | Nice and light, forgiving, nice geometry, takes the edge off the rough stuff, regular headset specs. | | Weaknesses: | Not sure how the rear is bonded to the front but hope it stays | | Similar Products Used: | Had the prior OXII true temper team ST. That frame Broke at the chain stay. KHY Team HT, Infusion MXC pro, NRS 1, Specialized Stumpjumper Hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | Z3 100 air fork, Xt rear, Attack shifters, Hayes disc, Race face LP cranks, 640mm flat bar, DT/Hugi wheelset, and ONZA CWA barends - sweetest part of the bike. | | Bottom Line: | Love the bike. I ride it more than my true hard tail now. Climbs like I were 50 lbs lighter and one cajone more of a man. The bonded frame has held up nicely. No complaints. Compared to the full cromo version, the alu front adds a nice bit of lateral stiffness. If you're considering a hardtail, get this instead.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger Ramjet
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra, Oztraylia
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Red Hill 7 second descent | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | maladjusted | | Strengths: | simple, retro, steel | | Weaknesses: | better shock would be nice - somthing with rebound damping perhaps, weight | | Similar Products Used: | steel and aluminium hardtails | | Bike Setup: | xt hubs and bb, freeride rear rim, LX v-brakes, deore 8sp drivetrain, bomber mxr coils | | Bottom Line: | last reviewer is my soul brother - retro and grouchy. i want a aluminium duallie - like NRS, but love the retro/steel durability & affordability of my KHS steed. its indestructible and has many advantages over pure hardtail - more compliance, more grip, more speed. i weep for the aluminium hardtail crew. i use this bike to commute/ride/race and only very occasionally wish i had more travel. no fears about crashing it :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vallie Atkinson
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseburg, Oregon, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | North Umpqua | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Waldrons Outdoor Sports | | Strengths: | Climbing. Traction. Efficiency. Simplicity. | | Weaknesses: | Not as plush as a full suspension bike on big hits. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR's, Cannondale Jekyll, Giant NRS, Specialized Epic. Specialized Enduro's. | | Bike Setup: | Cane Creek Wham Disc wheelset, Raceface Next LP crank, Avid mechanical discs, XTR deraillers. 8 speed XTR cassette and 8 speed XT shifters. Thomson stem and seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks. It is a design that gets little attention, but works very well.Kicks butt on the Specialized Epic. It has the strengths of a hardtail and full suspension, but not their weaknesses. Sprints like a hardtail, but does not beat you up like one. Can sit in the saddle over small rough bumps like on a suspension bike, but does not bob like one. Can attack out of the saddle like a hardtail, and gets better traction than a hardtail. Climbs better than any full suspension bike, and better than a hardtail, because it does not spin out. Descends better than a hardtail, and almost as good as an FSR. Rode an Epic FSR s-works for 3 days, and hated it. The Epic rides all harsh and choppy on little bumps, like a hardtail, but the Soft-tail rides smooth on those little bumps, and enhances traction much better than an Epic, or hardtail. This bike begs to be ridden aggressively. It accellerates very fast, and is glued to the ground up climbs. I may give up a little to a full suspension bike on rough downhills, but not much since I run a Z2 Atom Race 4" travel fork. This bike also has a steep seat angle that makes it easy to go from sitting to standing and back. I built mine up to be rugged and simple. I used 8 Speed XTR drivetrain. More durable than 9 speed. Used a coil fork with 4" travel. No air leaks here. Used Avid brakes. Good wet weather stopping, and no hydraulics to leak. Am right around 25 pounds. This bike feels like no other bike on the climbs, and still descends fairly well. This bike satisfies the tech head side of me, and also the retro-grouch side of me. If you like to climb, try one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derry Dasuki
a Weekend Warrior
from Cilegon, a warm town in tropical Indonesia
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Warung Cibangkong trail path | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$225.00 | | Purchased At: | Bagus Bike an LBS in Jakarta | | Strengths: | Frame is pretty light for a chromoly + Al mixed metal. That rear elastomer set is lighten up the punishment of hardtail while transmitting direct power to forward movement. No bob at all. And white creamy color with blue stripes... I love it (I was not buying this bike because of the color so it's a bonus for me...) | | Weaknesses: | I can't find a manual for maintaining (or maybe adjusting) the softail component, paint chips & scratch too easy, should KHS provide a frame with replaceble rear derailleur ..? (maybe not..) | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Iguana, Giant Rincon (demoed), Trek 4900, Specialized Hardrock Comp, Scott Comp racing, Scott Tampico (tested), and own not really similar -cause it's full sus- Kona Dawg | | Bike Setup: | Deore gear set with LX rear derailleur, Mavic 221 wheel shod with IRC Mythos tyre, R/F Prodigy stem holds a Funn raise bar, Hayes mech disc brake, Marzocchi EXR Air fork | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for a light and cheapo hardtail for my second bike. Good if it's ready for abussive treatment (I'm not that good rider to say abussive ride on a bike). I tried different bikes and by chance I struck with this small size KHS Team ST frame which really fit my 5'3" and 135 lbs size. I liked the softail set up (It has Al 7005 front triangle with chromoly rear)cos' I don't think I can handle pure hardtail chatter on my regular trail.
To my surprise this bike is not that bouncy, the softail chromoly rear really absorbing the track irregularities given there's no huge bump. Visually you would only see an inch or so travel but it's felt more than that.
It's getting wilder on the heavy trail with loose rocks though.
I think I became a better climber with this bike while not too far away from descending speed when I'm on my Dawg (it's not fair to compare descending prowess of a full-sus with a softail/hardtail anyway..). It's certainly take you up hill with less effort.
Small down side on cable routing for rear disc brake set up. Nothing provided to keep the cable neatly seated. Also disc brake mount surface (it's a steel part) is not smooth enough to seat the disc caliper. KHS really have to pay this little attention.
But overall I love this bike on my first few rides. (I will report back when I collect some kms -that's mileage for guys in the States).
This bike is good for serious XC or even all day rides off and on road. It's light and yet comfortable.
I won't use it for rocky trail with or even light freeriding, it's not for that purpose I guess. It'll still cover 80% of your xc rides. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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