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Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Stratford on Avon , UK
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Cleeve Hill and Welcombe Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Light Chassis
Reliable Forks - Bottom end SR Suntour XCC does just enough
Great at speed ( for the price )
Keeps on going despite the abuse!
Continually amazes friends with better, and far more expensive bikes!
Versatile Setup - although rubbish components - mean a rider can tackle everything from roads to downhill with confidence ( but don't push it too far ! )
A great intro bike that will take most you can chuck at it before you upgrade
| | Weaknesses: | Weak SR Suntour Chainset ( replaced with the same after 1 year ).
Not overly happy at low speed skilled sections.. geometry gets a little jittery. | | Similar Products Used: | 95' Marin Bear Valley
98' Marin Palisades Trail
| | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | A really decent introduction to the fun-crazed world of mtb - the bike will put up with most things , but just don't push it beyond it's capability. Upgrade , or spend more!
I love it - just keeps on going......Upgrade it if you can!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Horton
a Cross Country Rider
from Bedfordshire, England
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Exmoor, Sommerset | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | *Exelent frame (about 9.5 lbs)
*nice forks, take bumps well
*Sr Suntour cranks, and forks
*Worth upgraded Parts
*Alloy Wheels
*Very Grippy Wheels
*Shifters work well
*brakes are strong but very smooth
*Graphics are painted on then laquered over making them seemless and very visable
*Comfy saddle
*Bears the KONA brand (everyone has heard of them, right?) | | Weaknesses: | *Basic SIS fron derailier
*Mid Range rear derailier
*Forks somestimes are a bit too soft
*Cheapish Pedals
*gears needed some, considerable adjusting | | Similar Products Used: | Carrera LRS3 (Full Sus.) | | Bike Setup: | As standard at this moment in time, i plan to stick some hayes hydraulic disks on and some more upmarket pedals, derailiers, forks and a better rear cassette | | Bottom Line: | This bike is exelent for benginners wanting to get used to off road riding, its very light and will rocket up any hill providing you use enough force. I have found this bike also performs quite well on tarmac so would be quite useful for commuters. The fram is the star point of this bike, it is so light and though it is very much so worth upgraded components.
i recently was riding on gravel and a rather large peice flicked up, missed my mudgaurd and hit my frame ringing out, i stopped, dreading that i might see a big lump of colour missing but infact there was no damage i could see, very tough.
i give this bike 5 chilis for value (£224.99)
and 4 for overall rating as the components pack could be a little better.
* a very good beginner bike * | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dez
a Weekend Warrior
from vegreville,alberta,canada
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the ones that r down hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | river vally cycle | | Strengths: | the frame,brakes,crank and comfy seat | | Weaknesses: | front suspension (evin the rock shock judy c is better than the front stock suspension) | | Similar Products Used: | ? | | Bike Setup: | stock -but im planning to upgrade the front suspension and put on a disk on the front | | Bottom Line: | it is a good all around bike,light,easy to ride and good for like a little bit of every thing ,the guys at river valley cycle said that i would rouine the bike if i used it for free ride but so far the bike is holding up great | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yeung
a Weekend Warrior
from uk
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | halfords | | Strengths: | price
responsive frame, good handling | | Weaknesses: | rubbish components | | Similar Products Used: | loads of mtbs from £200 to £3000 (used to work in a bike shop) | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | i bought this bike to replace an orange aluminium O which got trashed after about8 years of use. that thing cost me nearly 1000quid back in '94 as opposed to £160 for this. the geat thing is that the general ride quality, handling and responsiveness of this kona aint far off my old bike.(only complaint is that the steering is a bit ponderous at low speed. ) thats progress for u then.
its a pity that the components fitted to the bike are rubbish but u cant really complain for the price i paid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ross Martin
a Downhiller
from Crawley, England
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere that looks good! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles | | Strengths: | Great frame. Looks good. Very light. | | Weaknesses: | Very cheap components. Paint scratches easily because of cable rub. No disk mounts for future upgrades. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stuff. DMR Trailstar. Club Roost Stinger Evo. Kona Scrap. Raleigh Ameya. Saracen Vex. Saracen Havoc. | | Bike Setup: | Original frame (obviously!), Marzocchi Bomber EXR, Hope M4 (front), Sun Ditch Witch Wheels, Shimano XT shifters. | | Bottom Line: | Good if your just getting into mountain biking and don't want to ride too hard. But if your looking for a strong jump or freeride bike, this definately isn't for you. Most of the components will need upgrading for whatever type of riding you do. Look to spend around £300 to get the bike up to standard. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wee bill mcmaster
a Weekend Warrior
from larne,co.antrim,n.ireland
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | carnfunnock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | ARMSTRONGS BIKEDOCK N.I. | | Strengths: | GREAT FRAME,SHARP BRAKES,EXCELENT RIDE/FEEL
| | Weaknesses: | I'VE HAD THE FORK BOTTOM-OUT A TIME OR TWO.DEINITE UPGRADE IN THE FUTURE!.BRAKE LEVERS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SNAP. | | Bike Setup: | AS I BOUGHT IT. | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE IS AN EXCELLENT ENTRY LEVEL/XC STARTER BIKE.IT CLIMBS WELL,LOOKS WELL AND PERFORMS WELL.
I'LL KEEP THIS BIKE,BECAUSE WITH A FEW SENSIBLE UPGRADES[FORKS,RIMS,SHIFTERS,PEDALS.]IT'S AS GOOD WEE HARDTAIL!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neeek
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans, Waterloo | | Strengths: | Great frame, looks nice. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels aren't that hot. And the rear hub is VERY cheap - why isn't there a cassette hub on a bike like this? | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Totally stock, save for a new bar-stem combo. | | Bottom Line: | Bought this bike for my girlfriend. Advertised at GBP250, so I thought it was worth a look. She liked it, and I bought it.
Basically, it's sound. It's not a decent MTB, but it's got a good frame that's worth a few upgrades. I'm just going to hand down all my old parts from my bike as I replace things, and then I hope this little Kona will great.
First thing to replace is the forks, followed by wheels. Then who knows?
Nice and cheap, good way to get into the sport, and I think it's very upgradable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Gould
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | N/A | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords Bike Hut | | Strengths: | A great light frame, generally comfortable bike, cool gripshift max gears, and nice forks (needed to be loosened a bit first though) | | Weaknesses: | People say the brake levers aren't sturdy enough but they work fine for me. Oh, and to the guy who said it only does flat pavements, you must be a bit "chubby" as the Lana'i will crumple under the obese. Ho ho ho. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialised Hard Rock, Scott USA Yecora. | | Bike Setup: | The Original Lana'i | | Bottom Line: | I used to have a crappy bike but things have changed. The Lana'i gives you a smooth and extremely comfortable and pleasant ride, the gripshift kicks ass, and the thing looks sweet in the dark grey and red colour!
This bike is the shiz!!! I am new to Kona, but after this I'm definitely going to stick to them. This is a must buy for anyone wanting a decent suspension bike that is comfortable to ride.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Melamed
a Weekend Warrior
from Bloomington, IN
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Nebo Ridge, Story, IN | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bloomington Bicycle and Fitness | | Strengths: | I think it's amazing that $300 buys a MTB from a reputable manufacturer at a real bike shop. Maybe the experts find ways this bike falls short, but I'm a middle-aged beginning rider and this bike has me out on the trails. It can handle anything I can manage, and will for a long time. Sure, if I make 6-foot drops I'll probably damage something, but thats not what I'm out there for. | | Weaknesses: | Brake levers could be sturdier. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Fire Mountain; Specialized Hardrock | | Bottom Line: | A great value in a beginning bike--will get you out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ross Martin
a Downhiller
from Crawley
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tilgate Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles | | Strengths: | Good strong frame. Looks OK too. | | Weaknesses: | Everything else. I have had it for about 2 months and the axle has already broken. This bike is just about OK for riding on a flat pavement but don't try anything else!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stuff (Wicked) | | Bike Setup: | The original Lanai. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is just about OK for riding on a flat pavement but don't try anything else!!! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Walker
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada (EH)
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hartland dump | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Russ Hayes Bike Shop | | Weaknesses: | rims,shifters,brake levers, shocks | | Similar Products Used: | ??? | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a geat bike for all around fun wether your on a hill or just for hopping some jumps. The bike would perform alot better if it had an upgrade of shocks brake levers and rims because ive already tocoad the rims from it just from a 5ft drop. If you are a biggener and looking for a non-expesnsive mountain bike this Kona is the pick | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ade macey
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | dartmoor | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | halfords | | Strengths: | great frame, butted lightweight, handling . about 5 yrs ago
you would have paid the asking price for the frame alone.
aheadset system. last of all that kona ride and feel... | | Weaknesses: | everything else. totaly crap brakes mainly due to plastic leavers. steel riser bar, completly wrong gearing on rear cassette complete pants... | | Similar Products Used: | saracen ridgid bike | | Bike Setup: | coda stem ritchey forcelite, vector saddle, stx rc chainset
515 pedals lx bb kalloy seatpost panaracer tyres etc etc | | Bottom Line: | i bought this bike to put all the bits from my old one as i think the frame is worth upgrades. kona use this same frame way up the range and that says alot. also a hardtail at 27lbs for £299.99 is great value. only one thing not quite right it says it should be 6061 alloy but mine has a sticker on it that says 7005 weird..
a great bike for beginners and also a great frame to upgrade
on so there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Mick
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath | | Strengths: | Lightweight aluminum frame, Kona quality, cheap price. | | Weaknesses: | Suntour forks are great for city and light/medium x-country but would upgrade for serious riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose rockadile. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded forks to Judy SL. | | Bottom Line: | For the money this is a bad-ass bike. Its lightweight, looks good, and performs awesome with a fork upgrade. Recommended!!
Oh-ya, the description states it has a cro-mo frame, but mine has a 6061 aluminum frame, hmmmmm.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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