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Submitted by
Lorne Cameron
a Weekend Warrior
from Glasgow, UK
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay.co.uk (price in £) | | Strengths: | Frame
Cranks
Price | | Weaknesses: | Weight
Alivio drivetrain
Brakes
Rims | | Similar Products Used: | Various hardtails | | Bike Setup: | Fork: Manitou Black Elite
Chain device: Blackspire NS-1
Brakes: Hope Mono Mini
Wheels: Mavic 521CD on Deore
Everything else stock
Photo: http://www.pinkbike.com/modules/photo/?op=view&image=245395 | | Bottom Line: | I bought this as my first serious bike. I was looking for a solid frame with components that I could upgrade with time and that's exactly what I got. The cromoly frame is totally rock solid - it's taken everything I've thrown at it. The components aren't great at all but they are definately usable - I rode the bike stock for two months before upgrading the fork and then another month before changing anything else. I'm still using the Alivio rear mech/casette/chain but those are my next upgrades. As far as rigid forks go, the Kona DJ is awesome if you want to keep it. The cranks are very good for a bike of this price - I've seen Hussefelts on full-on downhill bikes. The frame is a bit on the heavy side but that's the price you pay for strength - I don't notice it at all now. The wheels are pretty poor - I put mine out of true pretty easily doing drops of no more than 3ft to flat concrete (maybe I got a bad build?) and broke the rear at the seam hopping up a curb awkwardly.
But don't get me wrong, for the price you're paying it is an awesome bike. If you're just getting into riding seriously and looking for a solid frame that you can build on then I highly recomend it. Definately a bike that can grow with you. You can set it up for trials, freeride or street and it will be awesome for any of them. The frame looks a LOT better than any pictures you see on shop websites or konaworld.com - take a look at the link above for a photo of my setup.
Definately a 5 for value, 4 overall considering the components. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
the anonymous
a Weekend Warrior
from bissoe, cornwall, england
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | downhill course at poldise valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | relative deals in bikes | | Strengths: | very strong! seriously, ive had it for a week and i can really feel the difference to my old bike (it wasnt really suppost to be for jumping) it really gives you a sense of security and the weight gives you lots of controll in the air. | | Weaknesses: | not too nice for nose diving onto the front forks. i usually like to nose dive a little into the landings on a dirt jump but cos i havnt changed the rigid forks on it (and im not going to) if you over jump you really feel it. but then again it does somehow kinda keep you on when you muck up. | | Similar Products Used: | not really similar but i just stoped riding a GT OUTPOST. good good for speed but dont jump it. | | Bike Setup: | how it came. look on the kona website (www.konaworld.com) and go to 2003 BIKES then go to OUT OF BOUNDS HARDTAILS and its the same components as the 2003 model. | | Bottom Line: | overall its a wicked ride. and the rigid kona jump forks give you a real feel for the bike and whats goin on. really it is for out of bounds riders like myself who like a fun ride but you can use it for anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | Strong, Stable as hell. | | Weaknesses: | Rigid fork, cheap components (Alivio) | | Bike Setup: | Standard except for MX Comp fork and Race face cranks | | Bottom Line: | (Price given in UK £)
Great frame to hang better components onto. Real confidence building bike - handles anything you can throw at it.
Heavy though - 35lb or so... I haven't found this all that much of a problem most of the time, but I have done looooong climbs on this, and they're not that enjoyable... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sal Sharma
a Weekend Warrior
from Des, Moines Iowa
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Brick Yards | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | WheelWorld | | Strengths: | Everything about this is strong. I got the frame only from Wheelworld for really damn cheap. I rode a lot of urban on this frame and held up great. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Hardtails | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Kona Scab, 2003 dirt jumpers, Race Face cranks/BB, LX companents D521, XT hubs | | Bottom Line: | I repeatedly went off drops about 4-6 feet high with most landings to flat. This frame woorked great. I even tried to go 9 feet to flat once....i crashed horribly but he frame was just fine. But for some reason i went of a 5.5 foot ledge and i crashed and go up only to find my rear wheel out of the frame and the chainstays were bent in. That confused me but other than that the frame was great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
c-dog money
a Downhiller
from Montana
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | blue mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | This thing is strength, the frame can handle anything. I break alot of frames but not this one. God I love steel. | | Weaknesses: | fitting hope discs was a little tricky had to file some material of brake mounts not much though. not a serious problem | | Similar Products Used: | trek, GT, specialized p-series also rocks! | | Bike Setup: | Zyzzx fork, hope C2 discs ryno-lite deore disc wheels, hussefelt cranks race face free-ride bb, primo pedals sram 9.0sl drivetrtain single ring front ninespeed rear, race face bar, syncros post, luvseat | | Bottom Line: | So far I've broken, a raceface turbine crank arm, a shimano 646 pedal, snapped the spindle of a un-72 bottom bracket, desstroyed a ryno lite rear rim, blew a damper on the ZYZZX, and bent a ritchey seat post. The frame has laughed at all of this and hasnt suffered a bit i have beat the hell out of it in every imagineable way and not a single problem. as for the initial parts spec i dunno I bought this as a frameset, and it kicks a$$, the problem with the brakes mounting was minor and may have been due to the brakes it was easily fixed and does not affect the bike at all now. great product highly reccomend to anyone looking for an indestructible ride and loves the feel of steel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
toms cool
a Weekend Warrior
from chch
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | jumps | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | some guy | | Strengths: | the frame looks cool and it is strong ,nice and heavy too | | Weaknesses: | tire clearance is only 2.10 | | Similar Products Used: | all sorts of sh1t | | Bike Setup: | kona scab with psylos | | Bottom Line: | this bike is awsome some people may say it weighs to much so did i until i rode it it is a bit heavy but you dont really notice infact the weight keeps you stable in the air so you can do all sorts of tricks , i never liked jumping before i got this bike,the geometry on this frame make it the ultimate jumpinng machine.best thing i ever bought,,,,,,,,,any one who sais they have broken this are bullsh1tting | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from Newbury
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Earlier i raved about how strong it was blah blah....
Handling and the same stuff i mentioned earlier. | | Weaknesses: | Well i have just cracked the frame where the dropouts meet the main frame.... And i now know of several people with the 2001? scab hu have had this problem. Im hopefully gonna have it covered under warantee and then will decide whether to keep the bike or not. | | Bike Setup: | As stock. | | Bottom Line: | Well lush bike but i guess there are a fair few issues about quality of welding here, having said that i have rided hard since the crack formed and nowt more has happened. If you are considering buying a scab think very carefully about whther u want to run the risk of these problems. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arron Peat
a Weekend Warrior
from Chelmsford
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | P.O.R.C | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Winstanleys | | Strengths: | V nice to jump.
excellent value
Handles V Well
Feels solid and looks great | | Weaknesses: | Noticed a small crack one the frame where the dropouts meet the main tube. But don't let this put you off it has taken alot of sh.it!!! I hear that kona are good about warranty claims though so if it snaps it don't matter i'll get a nice new frame!
Steel rusts!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Trek bruiser | | Bike Setup: | Mx Comp forks
Hope mini front, Hope M2 rear
Taken off front mech and changed rear shifter.
| | Bottom Line: | A great bike overall go out and buy it.
I'd give it 4.5 flamin red chillies for overall rating
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Day
a Downhiller
from Dorset
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Winstanleys | | Strengths: | Amazing frame and components and looks and ride feel and just about everything | | Weaknesses: | Pedals are not very grippy and shifters may not ne to everyones taste but you wouldent expect anything more for the price. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | standard at the moment but getting, 02 pslo xc's and planet x pedals and XT gears. Chain device and hope mini's. | | Bottom Line: | This bike kicks ass and will do anything you want it to. I think itis amaking. If you havent ridden one, you should. It is amazing. It looks good, is very strong and and is by far the best thing I have ever ridden. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil the freerider blakeway
a Downhiller
from sutton coldfield, Birmingham,UK
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | x trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | sunset cycles | | Strengths: | bombproof bike, generally good components, strong rims and frame, amazeingley good V brakes for such a CHEAP BIKE ! | | Weaknesses: | Peadals arent that grippy.Chainring too small for downhill.Not that light but not heavey. | | Similar Products Used: | Planet X little audrey jump setup | | Bike Setup: | as stock but with some marzocchi bommers and getting a DMR chain device and bigger chainring on it | | Bottom Line: | Very good jump bike for such a cheap price.put some suspension forks on and its 10 times better unless yourve got hardey wrists. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mat
a
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | dunno | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Cafe | | Strengths: | AWESOME 4130 chromoly frame. it can't be beat in terms of value or strength. the parts spec is passable.
the for rules. the stem is sweet. | | Weaknesses: | the crappy drivetrain and shift/brake pods | | Similar Products Used: | none, really | | Bike Setup: | all stock except: square taper RaceFace Turbine cranks, BlackSpire Ring God, Marzocchi DJ1 QR20+, Pazzaz ATB092 DH stem, Kore Strictly-D bars | | Bottom Line: | the bike rules. it's built to jump and do ds type stuff. the handling is spot on. it's stong as hell and I'd never expect to break it.
with a shorter stem and a taller fork it's a dream to wheelie and jump
this thing loves freeriding and urban and could easily be raced slalom | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The biblins | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | strength the masses of it
ride
cranks
brakes | | Weaknesses: | the pedals are not grippy and the chainrings up front are
made of really soft metal
ave buckled the rear rim but that was only cos i bailed out of a Superman and landed knees first on the wheel, have managed to put it back in line very easy, it was only a small buckle. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek bruiser
| | Bike Setup: | as stock but with primo pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike has been made to be ridden hard. It rips up anything you point it at and you can nail anything with a grin due to the confidence it can give you. The weight is not an issue as the bike plummets downhill and is a solid as a rock in the air when you want it to be. I have ridden drops, street, trails and skate parks and in the three months i have had it my riding has been taken to a new level.
YOU WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO BREAK THIS BIKE.
I recommend that you keepwith the rigid fork rather than shelling out for a new sus one. Your riding will thank you for it and i have done 5ft plus drops rigid so dont use that as an excuse.
This bike is for anyone and everyone who wants to ride hard.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johno
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Beauty Dh Course | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Total Rush/Dick Heads | | Strengths: | Everything Looks, strength ,Geometry ,just a sick bike! | | Weaknesses: | Easily chipped paint maybe?!? | | Similar Products Used: | GT outpost trail | | Bike Setup: | 02 scab, 110mm Dirt Jump2 forks , Avid 03 ball beaing disks, DMR V-8 pedals ,Avid SD7 levers, Michelin Hot-s tyres, 321disc wheels (mavic) | | Bottom Line: | Ever since i saw this bike i new it was sick and could just see it with all teh stuff i got on it now! It rides like a dream and is indestructible! I've done 5 foot drops on it and done absolutely nothing it is as solid as a rock! I'm not going to waste heaps of your time but i would really recommend this bike to any serious hard tail free rider!
Thank Kona for bringing such a sick bike onto the market!
For value and Overall i'm going to give this bike 5 flamin turds coz it really kicks ass! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kimron
a Downhiller
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Firelane 5 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Just about everything. Great geometry, stiff, sick ass urban/freeride bike. You should buy it. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing, except maybe weight. No, not even weight. | | Similar Products Used: | this and that | | Bike Setup: | '01 Z3.5 QR20, Hussefelt DH Cranks, LX & Alivio, Deore mechanical discs. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a great deal, and a great frame, super strong and perfect for jumping, hucking, dropping, freeriding, just about everything you can throw at it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Weekend Warrior
from toronto, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | urban | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Strengths: | solid frame, good components for the price. | | Weaknesses: | with the upgrades i've done.......none. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized p.3 | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi dirt jumper 2, avid mechanical disc brakes(they rock), specialized hard rock tires, race face prodigy dh crank, avid single digit 5 levers, funn launch pad saddle, shimano lx cassette, shifters, front and rear derailleur, and an answer protaper handlebar. | | Bottom Line: | this bike is sweet, it craves to be thrown around and if invest enough cash into it you to can have the ultimate urban assault bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ian
a Downhiller
from edinburgh
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anything techincal | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Strengths: | rides well, good components, strong (in THEORY) | | Weaknesses: | mine has two cracks after 3 months riding | | Similar Products Used: | azonic DS1 | | Bike Setup: | as stock | | Bottom Line: | Well, i loved this bike but i'm disappointed at how quickly it has cracked. I know it isn't designed for downhilling, but its not like i go fast, and my arms are usually so sore that i roll the jumps anyway.
I would send away for a warranty replacement, but i don't trust evans to deal with it quickly, so i'm gonna try buy myself a customised revell, i hear they are strong.
Someone pointed out that suspension forks would have helped stop it crack, but i wanna learn to ride without suspension so i ain't gonna fit any forks. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom clynes
a Weekend Warrior
from csg
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | hodgemoor, the dell | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Sunset Mountain Bikes | | Strengths: | This is a very good jump bike with the strongest rigid forks i've ever used! good riding position. disc break ready. VERY STRONG | | Weaknesses: | some may bot like the gearing, bit heavy, needs more tire clearance at tioga 2.1 are maxin on it. better standard drivetrain for money | | Similar Products Used: | tested planet - jackflash | | Bike Setup: | stock but hoping to get some marzocchi z.1's | | Bottom Line: | this is a very good jump bike forr the money and i got it for only £499 from sunset cycles. the rigid fork is amazing and better than any fork they could of put on it, they were leaving the rider to choose his favourite fork. gearing is an either love of loathe subject and i love it. even when i get a fork ill still swap between rigid and cushty. it is definately for a good rider or a confident starter whos dabbled a bit before. overall a very good bike that has high potential. four chillies nothing is perfect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeremy
a Downhiller
from dover NH
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | street | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle Bob's | | Strengths: | excellent goemetry, nice gussets | | Weaknesses: | the welds I guess, I broke the frame at the welds behind the seat clamp, a bit too flexi, but a nice heavy durable ride. | | Similar Products Used: | any hard tail, how can you not want to attack the streets with any hardtail ?? | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Scab frame with stock bars, stem & seat post, other than that I decked it out with a shiver single crown, hayes disc, rhynolites & gazzo jr.'s, 24 inch rear, kona chromaly cranks, an MRP guide that I took the outer ring off and put on a Kink bmx bash guard it's a great set up ! an all around assault machine | | Bottom Line: | Awesome....for 2 months, so what do I do ?? The frame will be warranteed, but I will probably just break another one ??
My choice is to switch it with a chute frame, that way I will get the stiffness with a bit less weight, and If this one breaks I guess I will just cough up the $1000 I don't want to spend and get one of the new breeds of hardtale frames,
For the buck the Scab is Awesome and I don't suspect that many get broken at all, especially if you don't ride of of 7 foot walls.
god bless ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J P
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC NY
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | ANYWHERE ANYTIME ANYPLACE | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | BAY RIDGE BIKE WORLD | | Strengths: | GREAT URBAN SPRAWLER, WELL BALANCED, JUMP YOUR BUTT OFF | | Weaknesses: | PEDALS NO GRIP | | Similar Products Used: | ANYTHING WITH 2 WHEELS | | Bike Setup: | ALL STOCK | | Bottom Line: | AT THIS PRICE RANGE YOU CAN NOT ASK FOR A BETTER PLAY BIKE.
I TOUR THE STREETS OF NYC LOOKING FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF BUILDINGS THAT WERE BUILT FOR THIS BIKE. STAIRS,CURBS,WALLS ,SMALL DOGS ETC. PROVE NO CHALLENGE TO THIS HEAVY (36 LBS) BUT BALANCED RIDE. THE STEEL FRAME AND FAT TIRES MAKES THIS A COMFORT CRUISER WITH BALLS. IF YOU GOT EM, THERE IS NOTHING THIS BIKE WON'T DO. NOTE: TRY A VARIETY A FRAME SIZES. IF YOU NORMALLY RIDE A 19 INCH GO DOWN TO A 15 OR EVEN A 13 ! THINK OF IT AS A BMX WITH GEARS.I RECOMMEND THIS BIKE FOR ANY MOUNTAIN RIDER IN A URBAN SETTING THAT CAN WALK OUT OF THIER HOUSE AND HAVE THE TRAILS AT THIER FEET. HAPPY LANDING'S !
I GIVE IT 5 FLAMIN FOR VALUE AND 10 FLAMIN FOR THE FUN FACTOR. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
me m
a Downhiller
from Luvigana
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | m | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | veb | | Strengths: | stiff, looks, splendid geometry for huge urban stuff as well as high jumps, drop offs, tehnical trails... in the woods | | Weaknesses: | virtually no tyre clearence (ca. 3mm with Tioga factory 2.1, but hey it's a huge tyre), paint is..a paint...make shure you have your chain stay taped or sth. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing can compare ( I actually had a ultra lite Easton hard tail frame with 130mm fork set up for freeriding and it survived all the abusse.... Easton is fine but flexy) | | Bike Setup: | 15in scab with z1's set at 130, stock parts | | Bottom Line: | It is a fine urban, "out of bonds" , slow-freeride rig. It is not sutable for riders who seek real speed(at least not a 15in one, it is too short and a hendelbar seems too short too), but is perfect for the jumpers(not only dirt). Of corse you can go fast but that is simply not what the bike was made for. It is the perfectly balanced and as strong as sh.. frame that is the hearth of this beauty. It seems unbreakable and the tubes look bigger in real as in a magazine. Geometry really works for me and my style of riding( I am 177cm high and have 80kg). Parts on the bike are and work well too. Do not worry about the shifters and stuf, the Alivio group breakes and works as well as XT it just wears quicker and is not as cool , hip, jupi chi chi shiny stuff. Rims seem fine for now and cranks too.
If you have or don't have money and are looking for a jumper that can do some basic trials and can cope with what you can not... lok no further. Forget about the chi chi aluminium stuff that is not as nearly as durable as crom-molibden. And if you want to go really fast.. you need 8 times the ammount of money or balls of steel (cro-mo). The bike is not as havy as people say... at least not for me and I rode a easton ultra lite frame. It makes jumping stairs and drop offs a poetry and is also capable of XC as well as freerideing. It is rer in consumer world to pay less than you get. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
$^%#@$%!
a
from St. Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | mmmmm...dont know | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | shop i work at | | Strengths: | Good standover clearance. insanely durable. nice Kona Geometry. Heavy. great stem/bar. | | Weaknesses: | At this price, who can complain. Get better parts when you brake the OEM. | | Similar Products Used: | None really compares. | | Bike Setup: | Scab 2002 frame. Z1 QR20 set at 110mm. Clump stem. DH bar. XT XTR drive. Hussefelt cranks. King h-set. tioga 2.1's. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike for Urban riding and it has proven to be both great handling and ultra durable. This bike is heavy, (35 Lbs) but that is a good thing. stable in the air and good for trials riding. I may never ride this bike to its full potential. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Downhiller
from New York
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Plattekill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | CK cycles | | Strengths: | stiff, looks badass with a fender, gussets are huge, and the geometry is perfect for hardcore trail riding and urban stuff | | Weaknesses: | the paint isnt great, i mean it looks sweet, but it chips really easily, be sure to put a chainstay guard on it | | Similar Products Used: | '01 Kona chute
| | Bike Setup: | '01 Psylo xc, THE fender, xt derailler, sun mammoth rims, hopefully soon some discs and raceface cranks | | Bottom Line: | i never thought that i would be doing 6-7 foot drops on a hardtail until i bought this frame, it is truly amazing what it has done to me as a rider. i used to only go to the local drops with my stab primo w/ 9 inches of travel and monster T's, but now i am clearing the same drops, some with absolutely horribley flat and even UPHILL landings, with this new rig. i love it. i ride XC on it and it climbs and descends very well. but definately be sure to zip tie an old tube or something onto the chainstay, because the chain will shred the paint right off. Other than that its a sweet ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ian
a Downhiller
from edinburgh
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | beinn lora | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | evans cycles uk | | Strengths: | perfect package for downhiller/jumper on a budget.
fantastic looks, amazing strength, bombproof wheels, great brakes, full steel construction | | Weaknesses: | not very grippy stock pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic ds1, but it had suspension and hydraulic discs | | Bike Setup: | As stock but with a chainstay mounted chain tensioner and dmr v8 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I knew i loved this bike when i saw it in the magazines, and the full steel construction attracted me cos i wanted something that could withstand my terrible downhilling and jumping.
It really is hard to fault this bike, the brakes have been fantastic from day one, really controllable power, and the alivio drivetrain has performed as faultlessly as the xtr drivetrain on my bianchi. The wheels especially have amazed me, machine built wheels on a £600 bike should not be this amazingly tough, i landed a jump with the bike vertically nose down (i'm a terrible jumper) and the front wheel was true as a dime, not to mention all the roots/rocks/rythm sections i've piled across. The back wheel is just as good, although it needs to be, there's spod all tyre clearance at the back. I should mention the tyres, i've never had tiogas before but these are excellent, really wide and grippy as hell, although i haven't tried them in mud.
I punctured both tubes within two days, but it was on sharp rocks that would have claimed nary an inner tube, so i just replaced them with fat gazzalodi tubes, which seem to be holding up. This does add more weight, but that shouldn't be an issue if you're buying this, i reckon (shaky maths) it weighs around 33 pounds, your arms will hurt at first!
It handles downhill brilliantly, the sharp angles and rigid forks, while punishing, reward you with amazing steering, and the combination of tyres and brakes make the rootiest steep a doddle.
The only trouble i have is manualing, but i've never been good at that anyway, the lack of suspension to ping me up is an added drawback. The bike sprints and corners like a dream, i'm nailing corners tht gave me trouble on a far more expensive full suspension bike.
I could go on but i think i've covered the main points, i should point out that i haven't owned the bike long, i have heard bad things about the hussefelt cranks although mine are fine, but a couple of downhill races should test the resiliance of the cheaper components, as well as my arms! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Downhiller
from ChCh,NZ
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Lava Flow DH | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1299.00 | | Purchased At: | Pennys ChCh | | Strengths: | stiff frame, steep head angle, cranks and bb, cheap! | | Weaknesses: | crap parts unless you upgrade them | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 Voodoo Shango | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Psylo xc tullio, mavic D521s, XT front disc, grimeca rear, SRAM rear derailleur, stx shifters otherwise stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is the S..t.with a 5 inch fork,its so steep when you're goin downhill you can damn near sit on the seat!Turns like a dream and can be ridden UP hill. Upgrade as much as possible when you buy or put all your good parts on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
frank
a
from Lansing Mi
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$225.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Stiff, big headtube gussett, aggressive stance | | Weaknesses: | Thin clear coat. Cheap seat clamp and QR. At first I just couldn't get it tight enough to hold, then the bushing fell out of the QR. Now I have to really reef on it to get it tight and seat usually drops down slowly anyway. One of these days I'll replace the collar and QR to be done with it. | | Similar Products Used: | I tried out a P3 and a Brass Monkey, but couldn't afford either | | Bike Setup: | Purchased frame from LBS. Have tried several forks, including rigid dirt jumping fork. Setteled on Judy XLC tripple crown 4" Its super stiff just like the bike.
Rhino Lites on LX hubs, Maxxis MOFO DH 2.3's, Avid SD7brakes and levers, 3 bolt Stiffy stem, Uncle Jessie bar,Berzerker seat, and Stylo SS cranks w/ DH splined BB. DK platforms | | Bottom Line: | Other than the seat collar and thin clear coat I really enjoy the bike. The stiff hardtail w/ 4" up front is just asking to be ridden hard and over crazy stuff. SS is a fun way to go with this bike because it keeps high clearance at the BB. It's made me a better rider by it's aggressive nature. It also blasts downhill. I rate value high because it's the cheapest freeride hardtail out there. Overall slightly less because of the annoying seat collar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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