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Submitted by
Dillon
a Downhiller
from roberts creek, bc, canada
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | $1899 | | Strengths: | super strong frame | | Weaknesses: | its a bit heavy for xc but i only race with the school team and the rest of the time im doing freeriding/dh and
dont like the hayes disc brakes for where i live(have to keep getting half calipers cuz the siezed up)
the shocks are bad if u do any jumps that are bigger then 2ft and drops | | Similar Products Used: | other bikes | | Bike Setup: | 02 kona roast, stout 2.6 inch tires,avid bb7 disc brakes(8 inch rotar) 2005 marzocchi 66vf | | Bottom Line: | awsome bike had it since it was new and only complant is the brakes and the shocks! but if u have this bike and want to upgrade the fork get 66vf they are the best for for this bike! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brodirt
a Cross Country Rider
from White Plains, NY
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | built like a frikkin tank...and I know cuz I break bikes, and I havent broken this one. Gorgeous burnt amber (yes a crayola reference) color. | | Weaknesses: | None so far, except if you take into account the fact that once you ride a Kona you must adopt the Kona attitude and you may not want to do so even though you love their bikes. | | Similar Products Used: | Jamis hardtail and dualie | | Bike Setup: | Xt drivetrain and hubs, Mavic rims, race face BB crank stem bash guard and post, FSA headset, Manitou Black Elite 100-120 fork, Avid BB mech discs 6" front 8" rear. | | Bottom Line: | Fun fun fun. I set it up to and ride it pretty much xcountry only. Got this dirt jumper cuz I heard I couldnt break it and I have broken several other hardtail xcountry frames before including a steel Jamis (may it rest in pieces), and the rumors were right, I cant and I try. It is fast, nimble, fun, rides hard, takes abuse and can even climb. I admit it is overkill for a xcountry bike but for my very hard style and my hard east coast trails I am happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcio
a
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great geometry, like the forged stuff (yoke, etc), pretty stiff; great value in a bike, BUT - see below | | Weaknesses: | The top tube buckled, with no prior dents, dings or scratches. Failed right where the tube's at its thinnest (they vary the wall thickness), where the profile goes from squarish to roundish. Pretty disappointing. A friend of mine had the same problem on his Stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | stuff, 5hun | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike, but if you're a heavier guy (I'm 210 lb) and ride hard, you might want to look for a little 'beefier' frame - hard to describe. The weakness is in the thin sections of tube, not the joints.
Otherwise, go for it - it's rad. But change the tires and look at getting a new fork, or at least expect to buy another when the stock fork breaks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Joseph Morrissey III
a Racer
from Beverly Farms Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | The Red Dot | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Gearworks Cyclry Leominster Ma | | Strengths: | The Frame...YOU CANNOT DESTROY THIS THING!!! NO FLEX! Im 6' and 230. Lynnwoods,Haahaa! Sharkstooth...Just Bring it!!!
This is the PRO WRESTLER OF FRAMES. The 73 Buick Centurion of Frames | | Weaknesses: | The original spec. Aspirated sphinchter muscles!! The marsucki fork,Gimp wheels,Poser crankset,Oh the most important thing!!!! WHAT NUMBNUTS THOUGHT UP THE KRAPPY COPPER COLOR? John Deere Green, Desert Sand, Flat Black, or
Caterpillar yellow thats more like it. | | Similar Products Used: | An Azonic and a Specialized P2 | | Bike Setup: | Azonic 454 crankset with 4 SKF Bearings,36 spoke
Rinolites,8" Hayes F&R,Ti Axel Marzochi front hub,Stock stem,saddle,post, Prisonbar-X steering stick,XT rear hub with Solid Ti axel and Ti Nuts, Bombshell BadBetty W/Hand made Cartriges ( Oil and Nitrogen Charged ), Flak Jacket Cables, 36 tooth upfront w/mrp guide, Weirwolf 2.5 F&R or Maxis Wet scream F&R. | | Bottom Line: | The most Bang for the buck frame!!! Great for chasing Roadies up RT 127 from Beverly to Gloucester or Playing up on whats remaining of Bowridge. Manouvers like its on rails
great for trying to run over the walkers in Lynnwoods( Ever watch RollerDerby?) THIS BIKE WAS MADE FOR MOUNTAIN CROSS!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikeme
a
from los angeles
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | closeout | | Strengths: | Nice frame, forged bits with beef and geometry for big stumpy-legged fat dudes, err clydes that is, who want to do it all. Climb long, clean switchbacks, drop the drops, descend like water flowing, and thrash the office park on the same bike. Playful, powerful, makes you do things you shouldn't. | | Weaknesses: | Spec at this price point is a joke, really. Deore mech, bottom-of-the-line nearly unadjustable marzocchi exc and hayes mechanicals on a $1200 hardtail? Tires were bad, warped, heavy, flexy sidewalls even at 55lbs, didn't grip anything all that well and snakebit at 40lbs, frequently tossed pebbles at paint-chipping and welt-raising velocity. Graphics unsubtle (but easily remedied). Hayes levers rattle and reach adjustment is nominal. Fork low on oil from factory, squeaky until first oil change, probably won't last the year. | | Similar Products Used: | Most hardtails from Specialized, Trek, Fisher, Rocky Mountain, Bianchi from 500 to 1200. | | Bike Setup: | Stock 'cept rear, feet and ground interfaces. Wtb speed v saddle, 636 pedals, and mutanoraptor race 2.4s. | | Bottom Line: | Great frame, good bike for the indecisive / without room for separate XC and play hardtails. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skelliot
a
from West sussex
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Sklicycle ones | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The frame is pretty strong and is really smooth over trails of any size. The pait work is pretty good too. | | Weaknesses: | The seat post has a tendancy to slip no matter how tight the clamp is. The bars could have been a bit stronger. They bent after 4 months. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | d321 with hope xc hubs. Azonic 545 cranks and mrp wc2. Azonic bars. DJ3 forks. | | Bottom Line: | A really nice bike tp ride. I have heard that the original forks are pooooo and they could have been better but i have never riden with them only DJ2 and then 3. The frame is definately worth it and maybe the whole bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james harvey
a Weekend Warrior
from chelmsford; essex
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | sheep hills, california | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | chelmer cycles, chelmsford, essex | | Strengths: | good frame, good componentary, best paint work | | Weaknesses: | forks | | Similar Products Used: | trek bruiser 2 | | Bike Setup: | jump | | Bottom Line: | this bike is the best jump/duel bike ever, the year 2000 model is the best cos of the frame colour. get one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike B
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxfordshire England
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Sun MTB | | Strengths: | Real good frame, nice and strong. Had no problems yet. Components seemed to have lasted so far. We shall see eh!! | | Weaknesses: | The front forks the are sh**e. Thats the only thing that lets this bike down. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Caldera. Azonic DS-1 | | Bike Setup: | XTR front and rea mechs. XTR Shifters. Hope Mini Disc brakes front and rear. Mavic D321 CD rims on hope bulb titanium hubs front and rear. Bomber Z1 f | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, a few things needed to be changed. Expensive for the components you get. But a great frame, strong and reliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe bob homes
a Downhiller
from Chilliack, British Coumbia
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | krack addic | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Jacks Cycle | | Strengths: | is very srrong and light. it can take a lot of punishment.
| | Weaknesses: | the tires ware down very fast and they pop easy | | Similar Products Used: | velo sport | | Bike Setup: | good | | Bottom Line: | it is a very durable bike and is very easy to controll and can take a big beating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from fort collins, co, usa
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$390.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheelworld.com | | Strengths: | Frame rocks, super stiff, great angles for hucking, handles 5" well. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found one yet | | Similar Products Used: | 98' Specialized Rockhopper comp | | Bike Setup: | Race Face riser bars, ODI lock-on grips, Fox Vanilla 125's in the front, Azonic shorty stem, Kona post, Azonic Hot Seat, Rhinolytes with Tioga 2.1 DH, Avid mechanical discs front & rear, LX drivetrain with Blackspire BashGuard, clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | Love it so far, I got used to hucks with a full suspension, but snapped it in half... the hardtail frames were cheaper, but it turns out to be just as reliable, and the take-off feels so much more controlled with a hardtail this sweet! 5" forks feel great on this, thinking wider tires might help some too. Haven't been off-road yet, so can't testify to how it climbs, but I imagine it rips downhill! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
corey
a Weekend Warrior
from washington, DC
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | DC urban | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR classifieds | | Strengths: | unbreakable. | | Weaknesses: | doo-doo brown color | | Similar Products Used: | giant xTc | | Bike Setup: | 5" marzocchi Z1 MCR, bonty mustang rims, panaracer fire DH | | Bottom Line: | fairly light and incredibly strong. bought this frame-only deal from the MTBR classifieds for a great price and love it. i'm about 200lbs and ride mostly urban. loading dock drops, stairs, dirt jumps... i fear no breakage from this frame. highly recommended! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ben hart
a Downhiller
from sd
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$938.00 | | Purchased At: | acme bicycles | | Strengths: | good geometry and fairly beefy set up
the frame seems to be good sh*t | | Weaknesses: | most of the components i have broken and replaced with in the three months i've owned it.
the fork is an ernomous heaping pile of dog dung | | Similar Products Used: | gt | | Bike Setup: |
17” Kona Roast frame
Kona Jacksh*t pedals/ grips
Kona Clump stem
Interloc seat post
SDG seat
SRAM chain
Bombshell Wicked Wendy 5” QR20 fork
Hayes mechanical disc brakes (8” front and 6” rear)
FSA X-drive crankset
Blackspire 22T chainring
Truvativ Hussefelt bash ring
Shimano 105 shorty rear derailler (best downill/urban/tech trail derailler in the world. and it's a road derailler. i found out about it through ben at unrealcycles.com. check 'em out they are it!)
front wheel:
Chris King 20 mm disc hub
14 gauge Swiss spokes
brass nipples
Sun Singletrack rim
Intense DH tube
Tioga Factory DH 2.3 rear (it was on sale so i bough two)
rear wheel:
XT disc hub
15 gauge Swiss spokes
brass nipples
Sun Doublewide rim
Intense DH tube
Tioga Factory DH 2.3 rear | | Bottom Line: | it is a good frame and i frickin LOVE my bike. it was a good value, but if you ride hard, i mean REAL HARD, look elsewhere. after three months i have poured another 1600 bucks into it due to breaks and rebuilds. save yourself the time and money and go get a bombshell sputnik. it is a better frame and the complete bike is almost indentical to my existing set up, but for only 1300 bucks! or have ben from unrealcycles.com build you a BADA** hardtail! 4 chilis for the frame but the bike is what i'm rating soooooo.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a
from Richmond,BC,Canada
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Strengths: | -strong frame
-kool looks
-basically everything | | Weaknesses: | -fork could be a little better
-disc's are very loud | | Similar Products Used: | 02 Kona Stuff, Norco Sasquach | | Bike Setup: | Stock (for now) saving up for better fork | | Bottom Line: | great over all bike good for cross country and can be used for so DH to. Great Bike for the money. Get This Bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie Gonzalez
a Downhiller
from Berkeley, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tish Tang DH | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Revolution Bicycle Repair | | Strengths: | i put the bike together piece by piece.. so as far as the frame goes.. its rockin!! soo strong and great geometry for gettin' crazy!! | | Weaknesses: | no weakensses i can think of in the frame.. | | Bike Setup: | 4inch Marzocchi Mr. T Triple crown fork w/20mm thru axel, Hayes Disk, Black Spire chain guide w/medium ring, WTB wheelset, phat tires w/Intense DH tubes... | | Bottom Line: | the bottom line is that this bike is super fun!! ive been riding it at Northstar at Tahoe and it ripps!! the bike just wants to tear through all the narly stuff and on the berms it just sprints right out, leaving the kids on the big bikes all looking sad ... on the jumps its great.. i took it on a Dual Slalom course and it felt right at home.. and hitting the streets of San Fransisco was killer fun too.. i was even able to climb some of the hills with it...
anyone who wants to build up a killer rig but wants a frame that is relatively inexpensive, needs to buy this one.. buy the frame and spend the rest on a nice fork!!!
im in love with my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Racer
from Whistler Bc, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | River Runs through it | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove Bikes | | Strengths: | Geometry, frame strength and rims | | Weaknesses: | Forks | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stuff | | Bike Setup: | Stock (for now) | | Bottom Line: | I searched high and low for a bike that would allow me to do the tricks and riding I want. I need to downhill, xc, technical and just about anything else. The geormetry of the frame is perfect for any situation except for possibly extreme vertical climbs. Being 6'5 and 270 this bike has held up to all the abuse I can give it in whistler.
As for the forks. They aren't the best but they still work well for ob. Ride em till they break and then through on a better pair. For 1500$ there isn't a better bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt bodman
a Downhiller
from cambridge,mass,usa
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$787.00 | | Purchased At: | ata cycle | | Strengths: | real strong, comes with good components , and it handles real well . great urban bike , if your a freerider on a budget then this bike is great | | Weaknesses: | the freakin crank fell off one day when i was f!#ckin riding to school!! the chainring is like tin, it bent and i dont even know how , all i was doing that day was drops , urban drops (the bike only comes in one color) | | Similar Products Used: | kona stuff | | Bike Setup: | roast, dj2 fork, a front avid mechanical, everything else is stock | | Bottom Line: | this bike is great (except for the component weaknesses)it has been my favorite bike ive had , not cheap , i love it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Bennett
a Weekend Warrior
from taylors lakes, victoria, australia
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | not tellin | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | city cycles | | Strengths: | this bike is sweeet!!! ive had it for 1 day and im hooked!! everything just goes together so well on this bike the bombers take a hell of a pounding and the frame is super strong. The deore shifters are amazing.. u can hardly tell u've changed gear their that smooth... amazing kona ore on a good one with this bike =) | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | shogun trail breaker 3 :s <<< SH*TY BIKE!!<<<< | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | if ure lookin 4 a super stong hard tail to thrash around definatly give the roast a look ;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Norco Rider
a Downhiller
from Kelowna B.C.
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | urban | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$1649.00 | | Purchased At: | didn't purchase | | Strengths: | Sure, this bike has a decent frame, a bashgaurd, and a nice paintjob. | | Weaknesses: | Take a look at the fork on this bike - it's an EXR. That's the only Marzocchi that is built in Taiwan. This fork is an absolute piece of crap, and I cannot believe that Kona actually put this fork on a 1600 dollar hardtail. To put it in perspective, this fork is worse than the z.5 that was on the STUFF last year. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 Kona Roast, 2001 Norco 125cc, 2002 Norco 4Hun (my bike), 2001 Kona Stinky Primo, 2002 Norco Sasquatch | | Bottom Line: | I urge anyone even considering buying this bike to take a second look at the value. You are getting a fork intended for light XC riding on a bike intended for "out of bounds" riding. If you think you are going to even try jumping, urban, or anything even resembling the Shore, disregard this bike. Look at a Norco Sasquatch - better parts (Z.1 Wedge), comes in good sizes for DJ (13" and 14"), and $500 less than the roast. Don't give in to a brand name and buy a Kona. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daryl Mmmmm
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria,BC,Canada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | A-Line | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Tough, great looking bike.
Geometry: Great angles with a 4"-5" fork. Top tube length on the 15" frame is long enough that I don't feel cramped in the cockpit (I'm 5'10"), and the standover clearance is great enough to make this bike great for trials and dirtjumping.
| | Weaknesses: | Some of the stock components got to go: The seatpost is a single bolt type, I broke 2 bolts in one ride, and 3 in a week. Switch it for a two-bolt micro-adjust post. The Tioga tires were very dissapointing. I got pinch flats running 40psi! I tossed the Tiogas with the paper thin sidewalls and opted for FiberCeramic Rokko 2.4 DH. I would have liked to get the Tioga 'FATT 66' 2.3 DH tires, but the Rokkos were half the price. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first 'out of bounds' or freeride hardtail, I like it a lot. | | Bike Setup: | 15" Frame (the best size). Hope XC2 Discs, Rokko FiberCeramic 2.4" tires. Stock fork, cranks, shifters, derailers, etc. etc. | | Bottom Line: | Good looking bike. Tough construction. Super fun to ride.
This bike is super fun to dirtjump on. It is easy to move around and do trialsy urban assault type riding. I can't wait to get over to Vancouver and ride this bike on the 'Shore'. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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