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Submitted by
Saša
a Weekend Warrior
from Croatia
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Štraus d.o.o. Karlovac | | Strengths: | Frame, brakes, brake levers... | | Weaknesses: | Fork, stock tyres | | Similar Products Used: | Wheeler Pro 39 | | Bike Setup: | Stock,except the tyres. | | Bottom Line: | I'm what you call a weekend driver, and i just love to roam the woods. No extreme riding, here in there some jumps, but nothing you would call extreme. Keeping that in mind, this bike is perfect. After 2 weeks, and some muddy wood tracks, i decided it is time to change the tyres. I put on a couple of RITCHEY Z-Max Comp's and gained a much more grip. The fork...well, change it!
Marzocchi MX, or AM series should do just fine, but finally it all depends how much money are you ready to spend. I haven't upgrade it yet, but gonna. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brett ackerman
a Weekend Warrior
from lethbridge, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 150 | | Strengths: | Solid bike, very light, last bike is a ten year old CCM | | Weaknesses: | Front suntour shocks weak, but I am 250lbs and ride like I stole it. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I needed an affordable quality bike and this does it. It's no dirt jumper, but I am not a small rider and this bike is solid. my last ride was broken and fixed so many times the frame was all that was origial, and this bike is already more solid. I have tried some decent drops, 5ft, and this bike handles it great. I'm no pro but this bike rides great and and seems to handle a little bit of rough stuff alright. good entry level or weekend warrior ride!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kev Cm
a Cross Country Rider
from St-Bruno, canada,
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Dm cyclo | | Strengths: | Weight, quality vs price, good in general for someone who ride for fun. | | Weaknesses: | what we call the 'plateau' front derailleur suck and we alwaxy need to screw up the bolt that fix everything. The fork is not SO bad but it's a little too basic. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing for the moment. | | Bike Setup: | Stock bike, but I changed the 'plateau'. | | Bottom Line: | Its a good bike if you dont wanna do competition, if u just ride for funn in trails and or road. Im using this bike since 2 years and it's ok. I'm verry suprized that the frame is still in good condition after all the things this bike survive to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kev
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Afan Forest park Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Dave Bater Cycles, Bristol | | Strengths: | Solid frame, good beginners componentry | | Weaknesses: | Crap fork, tyres and pedals | | Similar Products Used: | GT avalanche | | Bike Setup: | Stock + marzocchi MX comp air 105mm fork. Panaracer Fire XC pro tyres, new pedals, Easton EA50 finishing kit | | Bottom Line: | This review is following on from my previous one before I had upgraded the bike. I now have a lighter more responsive bike which feels better on the trails I am now riding. Still quite heavy but at least it feels solid. I dunno what that guy is saying about it being designed for BMX style riding. I think Kona know what they're designing bikes for and this is a XC bike. The frame is almost exactly the same shape as their top end XC bikes. Stick a few upgrades on it and you have a nice ride, but I won't be dirt jumping or BMX racing on it, that's for sure. The bike really excels on fast, semi-smooth singletrack where it can be thrown into corners and sometimes the little extra weight helps your confidence going downhill. Buy, upgrade and enjoy! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Avon Timberland Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Dave Bater Cycles, Bristol | | Strengths: | Very comfortable ride and strong as hell frame. Nice gear set up, strong crank and chainrings etc. | | Weaknesses: | Suntour fork is virtually useless but I haven't the cash the upgrade. I would love to smash it up on the drive if I had my way. Wheels feel a bit weak and the tyres have zero grip on wet muddy trails. Too heavy for technical trails. | | Similar Products Used: | GT avalanche | | Bike Setup: | Standard | | Bottom Line: | Although there are some irritating weaknesses(fork), I am pleased with the bike. It feels solid and comfortable to ride, particularly at high speeds. Easy to control on dry terrain but a nightmare in the wet...I think I need to upgrade wheels and tyres. Love the Kona style design and graphics, and the bike just feels good to ride. As an introduction to off road riding, which I needed a year ago when I bought it, its great but I seriously need to tweak it now I have a bit more experience and I want to ride more demanding trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
roger
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | Strength of construction good all-round setup, gears responsive easy ride. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing jumps out, I found the seat did not suit me,front suspension adequate but not stunning.Price in U.K. | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | 27 gear verson with added velo crossbow seat | | Bottom Line: | can't go wrong with a kona | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darin
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakewood, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Gorge, Western NY | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Purchased At: | Century Cycle, Rocky River, OH | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting and extremely comfortable. Great seat, great tires. Good grip on the pedals and handlebars. | | Weaknesses: | Causes severe leg/joint pain and various other abrasions/bruises from pedaling up and down trails and riverbeds all day.
| | Similar Products Used: | Trek, GT | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | It's a just add mudd great off-roader! Bike came with excellent components (grips/seat/tires/pedals) so I didn't have to do any accessory shopping. Decent weight for climbing up and down ledges/inclines. So far there have been no mechanical malfunctions. It's the perfect entry-level bike that'll take a serious beating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rasmus
a Cross Country Rider
from Vetlanda,Sweden
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | no with this bike..... | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | borrowed from a friend | | Strengths: | Cheap, feels like a real kona. Nice tires. Comfy saddle. | | Weaknesses: | Most components are low budget and suck. Suntour fork is really bad, doesn't soak up any bumps at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona blast(i really recommend that bike) | | Bike Setup: | Don't know because it wasn't mine. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is for beginners only. Most components suck, like i said before. But it's cheap, very cheap for a kona. I also like the tires. It feels like a kona but it isn't.....it's low budget bike for beginners. But just because it's cheap it hasn't to be bad....but this one is. I think it only last for 2 years of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K-LUV
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, Co.
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$290.00 | | Purchased At: | Grand West Outfitters | | Strengths: | Frame, crankset, and rear derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | The fork. It is too stiff for trail riding. OK for the streets,but you would need something more plush. I plan on upgrading to a Marzocchi. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock and Rockhopper, Gary Fisher Tassajara, Giant Iguana, and Trek 6500. | | Bike Setup: | Easton EA50 handlebar, Titec stem, Shimano Deore shifters and brakes w/levers, Deore 9 spd cassette, Sram 9 spd chain(upgraded from 24spd to 27spd), Selle Italia Flite saddle, and Michelin Wild Gripper City tires. | | Bottom Line: | It's a Kona! That means a great ride. After riding off road a few times I decided to turn this bike into a street machine, since I already have an awsome Haro that I ride on the trails. The frame is very nice. A lot of the components are cheap. So it's very upgradeable. The fork is OK for street riding, but if you plan on doing any trail riding with this bike, you MUST upgrade the fork. It comes with a Deore 9spd R/D which is an excuse to upgrade. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Lloyd
a Cross Country Rider
from PEI Canada
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any city | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$225.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay.ca | | Strengths: | Great body geometry for long rides and racing (21"), frame is light but still can take a beating, looks phat, and has the Kona name on it. | | Weaknesses: | Fork turned to garbage after a few months, and the rims folded soon after that... After 5,000km everything has been replaced except for the headset and stem. Now the bike is an awesome racer and looks super-cool. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock FS A-1 (19") | | Bike Setup: | EA70 bar, XTR derailleurs, Magura H-33 hyrdo brakes, titec hellbent seatpost, Rino lite rims, Shimano clipless cleats, Marzocchi EXR, and Spech. Nimbus kevlar slicks. | | Bottom Line: | Not the best bike for XC, but for ripping around town and racing on light trails nothing comes close. The size of the bike makes it a great racer and with the right brakes and tires there is no bike that can stop faster. I recommend this bike for riding around, but it is still lightweight and a more beefy bike should be used for rougher XC riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kim
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$518.00 | | Strengths: | good strong frame, cool color. | | Weaknesses: | gears are CRAP! i took it through the back country and could barely change my gears after i was done! Had tune ups and the gears still dont work well! I am a bit dissapointed as this is my first time buying a fairly expensive bike...could have been better for the $750 canadian dolars I spent! | | Bike Setup: | everything that came with the 2002 kona firemountain..nothing added | | Bottom Line: | nice looking 'KONA brand' bike , but could have been better for $ spent! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Jackson
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin.TX, USA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$385.00 | | Purchased At: | OZONE | | Strengths: | NONE! | | Weaknesses: | Come with horrible shocks. The Front Derailer that is assebled with it is too crappy to be leave I could change gears after my second ride. The handle bars crimped competely when I stood up to peddle up hill! | | Similar Products Used: | other random mtb bikes | | Bottom Line: | Basically this is a piss poor excuse for a bike I got it on sell at Ozone in austin and have had nothing but trouble. I do not shop at the shop anymore either because they didn't want to think anything was wrong with the bike after I brought it in after my second ride. Spend a little more and get a better bike because it will definetly save you money in the long run! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Cornwall
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Idiless | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike chain | | Strengths: | The Product is a KONA wich means a quallity ride. it is a bike that is ment to be built up so chuck out all the crappy bits a replace em when you can. | | Weaknesses: | the price is a bit steep but i live in the UK where eveything is expensive. Chuck the foks down a hole and replace em. and the same with the pedals and the tyres. sounds alot. but when u done that u will have a quallity stead. | | Similar Products Used: | specilized Hardrock comp | | Bike Setup: | Kona fire mountain, new padels (Azonic Fusuion), New fork ( rockshok Psylo xc, new rims and tyres mavic d521cd and magura hs 33 | | Bottom Line: | Get rid of the s*it*y bits and you will had a good bike at the end worth more than what you paid for it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Hebert
a Cross Country Rider
from Kelowna
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | i didn't buy it, it was my friends | | Strengths: | NONE!! | | Weaknesses: | ALL!!! | | Similar Products Used: | NONE the bike is to crappy | | Bike Setup: | stolk | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE SUX MAN I WOULDN'T RECOMENED THIS BIKE TO MY 5 YEAR OLD SISTER. I BOTTEMED OUT HIS SHOX GOIN DOWN A 10 STAIR!!!!!!
IT SERIOSLY SUX | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Pocatello, ID
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountan Mann | | Strengths: | Solid Frame, Price, Smooth Gering system. | | Weaknesses: | chain had some problems but that got fixed promptly and free of charge. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4100 (2003) | | Bottom Line: | This is an exelent mid-range bike. The solid frame is defanently a plus as are the shocks (perfect to take the bite off some of smaller drops). The alumanum frame is also nice weight wise, seeing as I avrage any where from 1,500 to 3,000 miles a year on road. Over all for the price of $300 would I buy another one? Yes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dude cool
a Weekend Warrior
from land of da welshies
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Sumerset | | Strengths: | Frame,tyres | | Weaknesses: | fork | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky severn | | Bike Setup: | default | | Bottom Line: | The Kona fire mountain is a very good bike. Its suspention is a little porr considering what else you can get at this range, but otherwise, its an excellent bike. Its a cool colour and rides like a dream. I would recommend it to anybody who likes mountain bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Steveton Bicycle | | Strengths: | strong frame, decent cranks, deore rd, fairly nice ride, and it's a kona! | | Weaknesses: | rims and fork could have been better | | Similar Products Used: | norco wolverine | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this bike is recomended for trail riding but it sure does take a beating, strong frame and great cranks, the suntour fork actually do a decent job, tho i still would upgrade them asap, have had this bike for less than a week, no problems yet, nothing beats it in it's prce range, worth every penny, if ur looking for an entry level bike or just want to try the sport of mountain biking have a look at this bike, kona makes great rides! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philipp
a Cross Country Rider
from Rocky Mountains
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Near to Yellowstone | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Tires, low quality riser bar, shock... | | Similar Products Used: | GT, Scott, Wheeler, Bianchi | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike is not pretty good if you are a cross-country rider. The frame is made for Dual slalom and BMX. I would buy a new shock because this one doesn`t respond very well to rough terrain. The riser bar looks cheap and poor and it`s pretty hard to climb. Better buy new tyres if you don`t want to have flat tires on your first ride. I DON`T RECOMMEND THIS BIKE. It`s not worth the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank DuCett
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Lauderdlae
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | A1A along the beach | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun n Sea Sport | | Strengths: | Overall value | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | TREK 4500
SPECIALIZED Hard Rock, Rock Hopper
| | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Outstanding value, bike was on sale for $ 230.00 !!!!!
This is the best road bike I have ever had, I will try some off road one day, perhaps.
You could take this bike to the store, on a tour, around the world or whereever, this is the type of touring bikes people tried to build in the 1970's, but even better, more reliable and much less expensive.
This is as good as a bike needs to ever be, even better.
This is as good as a bike can be, and it's built by capitalists and not communists as well.
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