Submitted by
kenny gunn
a Downhiller
from canada bc Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
north shore+whistler
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
700
Strengths:
back shox dosent move lots going up hill pivot system works well!!! light!!
Weaknesses:
frame too light. i weigh 100 pounds and the bike broke in less then i month, and im a beginer (13 year old boy)
Similar Products Used:
mano mano
Bike Setup:
noleen chubby 6" mrp 46 tooth chain gide xtr cranks fox chox magora blue hydro
Bottom Line:
dont take it dh!! xc only
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SPUD LEE
a Weekend Warrior
from PROVO, UTARD Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Strengths:
99 MOKO COMPONENT GRUPPO WAS QUITE REASONABLE. WOULD RATHER HAR FT AND REAR XL HUBS. VERY FUN BIKE
Weaknesses:
SEAT TUBE PIVOT WELD ISSUES
Similar Products Used:
SPECIALIZED FSR - TOO STIFF STRICTLY XC ORIENTED, NO WHERE CLOSE TO FREERIDE. ROCK MOUNTAIN GREAT FRAMESETS BUT NOT PLUSH ENOUGH.
Bike Setup:
99 ATOM BOMB, TOTALLY XT DRIVELINE, AVID 5.0 BRAKES, MAVIX 221, PANARACER FIRE TYRES.
Bottom Line:
99 MOKO FRAME, STRIPPED IT WEIGHS A RESPECTABLE 6LBS 6OZ PER US POSTAL SCALE BOTH TRIANGLES AND REAR SHOCK. PERSONALLY I DONT WISH TO RIDE A FRAME ANY LIGHTER, THIS IS ALREADY LIGHT ENOUGH. I WANT SEVERAL YEARS OF RELIABILITY! THIS HAS BEEN A FUN BIKE. IF YOU RIDE IT OFF ROAD, BE SURE YOUR FRAME HAS THE LUGGING AROUND THE SEAT TUBE PIVOTS OR IT CAN BE EXPECTED TO BREAK EVENTUALLY AND BE A WARRANTY ISSUE DUE TO MFR DEFECT.
THE PRIOR COMPLAINTS BOUT SQUEAKS ARE ALL IN THE COMPONENTS HUNG ON THE BIKE AND LESS THAN OPTIMAL PERSONAL BIKE MAINTENANCE. LEARN BASIC BIKE MAINTENANCE AND DONT TRUST IT TO THE LBS.
LOTS OF CLIMBING HERE AND THUS LOTS OF DOWNHILLS. THIS IS A GREAT GREAT ALL ROUND BIKE. I WOULD LIKE TO RIDE THIS FRAME WITH 70 DEGREE HEAD ANGLE AND SEE HOW DOWNHILL STABILITY CHANGES WHEN COMPARED TO 71 DEGREES (WITH Z2 A BOMB FORK) WHICH GETS SKETCHY IN MODERATE SPEED ROCKY DESCENTS. EVENTUALLY ILL DROP A 100MM MARZOCCHI AND LET U KNOW.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sindre
a Downhiller
from oslo, norway Date Reviewed: June 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
dirty little secrets
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
bikes & boards
Strengths:
the best dual suspension bike. ready for disc brakes. frame geometry fits me very good. the fox racing shox. maybee the coolest looks i`ve ever seen (after the jr.t upgrade).
Weaknesses:
noisefull bike. my pedals broke after 1 year. the original bomber z2 is too bad for this bike. rims are not very stiff.
Bottom Line:
this is the funnyest bike i have ever ridden. now i have got a new bomber jr.T and new bmx pedals. maybee the kona stinky would fit me better, i have turn into a downhiller
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robbie
a Weekend Warrior
from Oslo,Norway Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Super ride, good handling,looks.
Weaknesses:
noisy,(why does it creak like my grandmother???) poor brakes Heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Trek y33 , Klein attitude
Bike Setup:
XTR V brakes, spox wheelset,
Bottom Line:
Great bike,cool looks,loved the plush handling. The atom`s are simply the works!!!! Fox rear shox are nice, but more rear travel would be great. Set up withspox wheelset and xtr brakes, made it handle even better,made my friend on his vrx 300 look bad!!(this counts alone for 3 chillies!!!! ) Can someone PLEASE tell Kona to ship it with som decent tyres. semi-sliks are %¤"#&%% hopeless
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from england Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000
Favorite Trail:
garburn pass at night
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
value,looks, super plush handling
Weaknesses:
why in gods name does the seat stay keep cracking???????
Similar Products Used:
demo`d specialised,jeckyl 3000sl
Bike Setup:
28" club roost bars,hope xc2 with pro levers,hope sport hubs on mavic 317 disc rims,dt spokes, z1 bams, xtr shifters and rear mech, selle saddle,time attack pedals, veceloraptors f+r.
Bottom Line:
this thing is the mutts nuts to ride, it climbs well, tramps on along the straight and narrow, and goes downhill aswell as anything else i`ve hammered down the local trails. i was mortified to find a hairline crack in thee seat stay (close to the joint at the axle stay) this was quite worring as the bike was only 2 months old.to cut a long story short i was without my bikr for two weeks whilst waiting for kona to sort the warranty claim out. now i`ve got it back i`m constantly checking the whole bike for cracks and seem to have lost all confidence in the bike. having spent £1200 on extras i guess i should have bought a dale!! that`s not to say the kona is a bad bike, cause it is up there with the best of em,i just don`t trust it anymore. if anyone else has had simmilar problems feel free to mail me at jandsarah@hotmail.com.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan Nobels
a Cross Country Rider
from Waterloo, CA Date Reviewed: September 27, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Speed River Cycles (Guelph)
Strengths:
I have to say the turner-like FS setup that Kona uses does the trick. (It is also a structurally poor design - read on)
Weaknesses:
The Avid 50's - after several months got very sloppy. Avid 2.5s are just as good if not better all around.
The frame broke after 11 months. More than a month later, I'm still waiting on a replacement (this alone should discrourage anybody who doesn't work for a welding shop from buying any kona). I'm told the replacement will be the same frame which means I'm just going to have to buy a new bike so I don't have to go through another 4-5 week bikeless stint next year when the new frame fails in the same spot.
The bike is heavy and isn't the best in tight handling situations or in super-steep climbs. When it wasn't breaking apart - it was a decent bike.
Bike Setup:
Stock w. Bontranger Tires
Bottom Line:
This is an addendum to my review from last year and a caution to ANYBODY thinking of buying a 99 Kona FS bike. **DON'T**. You'll notice at least one other reviewer has had this same frame break below the middle pivot and I've heard of this happening to others as well. This was a fatigue failure (as opposed to breaking from simple abuse and overloading) - indicating poor stress distibutions in the frame and a potentially serious design flaw. The 2000 design is supposedly improved though the addition of a gusset - I'll give Kona that much.
I expected better quality and MUCH BETTER SERVICE out of Kona. My warranty claim will end up taking over a month to process which is completely unacceptable and a good reason for anybody to reconsider the purchase of any Kona bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a
from Salt Lake, UT USA Date Reviewed: May 31, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Good all arounder. Quality construction. Performed great on Moab's Slickrock.
Weaknesses:
Noisy when descending from chain slap compared to my old high swing arm ProFlex. Cheap OEM wheels. Not enough wheel travel. Requires smooth pedal stroke to keep from bouncing during steep, in the saddle climbes.
Speedplay pedals I put on are AWESOME!!! I will never ride anything else. Any negative stuff you here about these babies is BS. Value rating high because dealer knocked off $500 cause its a 99.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from UK Date Reviewed: May 1, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Good ride
Weaknesses:
welds
Similar Products Used:
GT LTS3 Hardtails
Bike Setup:
Stock but with XC risers and WTB velociraptors
Bottom Line:
I was getting used to the bike after riding it for 4 weeks, whenever I could and so far it seemed really good. The back brake seems prone to causing skids unless you keep your weight over the back wheel, more so than my old bikes. The suspension is great going down but uphills were noit quite so good.
So far so good....
But riding along a path I heard this horrible clang and the bike sagged under me. I got off and the seat tube had snapped right through just below the weld for the rocker pivot. I notice that the 2000 models have a reinforcing gusset exactly where it happened. I have taken it in and am hoping to get it back soon as without it I am bikeless and depressed
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ED PARRY
a Cross Country Rider
from WALES Date Reviewed: March 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:
CROSS COUNTRY
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
SUPER HANDLING, CLIMBS SUPERBLY, AND I LOVE THE SUSPENSION FORKS.
Weaknesses:
SLIGHTLY HEAVY BUT MAKES LITLE DIFFERENCE AS THE HANDLING AND CLIMBING ABILITY IS SO GOOD..
Similar Products Used:
TREK VRX2000
Bike Setup:
XTR REAR DERAILER XT FRONT DERAILER AVID 1.9L BRAKE LEAVERS FOX SPRING SHOCK RITCEY CLIPLESS PEDALS XT REAR HUB
Bottom Line:
OUTSTANDING ALL ROUND BIKE...THE KONA FOUR BAR LINKAGE WORKS WELL AND I FIND IT MUCH BETTER THAN A SINGLE PIVOT BIKE..VERY SMOOTH RIDE..YOU JUST WONT WANT TO GET OUT OF THE SADDLE..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Flash
a
from Canterbury UK Date Reviewed: March 10, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
The best handling bike I have ever ridden. High standard components. Very useable suspension setup.
Weaknesses:
Straight bars not my first choice on this kind of bike. Semi slick tyres useless in UK mud (and not much good for going up steps either)
Similar Products Used:
Marin Rift Zone Cannondale Super V Specialized FSR Orange Mr XC
Bike Setup:
Mostly stock but with Kona riser bars swqapped for original Richie strait bars.
Bottom Line:
It doesn't seem that many bike manufacturers can match Kona for the sheer rideability of their bikes. (My opinion based on test rides). The Mokomoko is a well developed bike with all the right features for trail riding and XC racing. The rear suspension is very effective and doesn't suffer from the lateral flex of single pivot designs I tried. Although there are plenty of good bikes on the market, many of them fall down on one dodgy feature or another but the Mokomoko is totally sorted. Love it to bits.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dom
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey,England Date Reviewed: February 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
North Downs
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Good components Well-known name Climbs well Descends well
Weaknesses:
Tyres - semi slicks. In England? Puhleeeease! UK prices but got mine in sale - last century's model,
Similar Products Used:
Trek 950 (6yrs) Specialized Stumpy FSR (test)
Bike Setup:
(Stock '99 Mokomoko) Marzochi Atom Bombs Fox Air R LX/XT combo DT Avid 50's Mavic 222s Tioga Psychos (swapped from stock Factory Slicks)
Bottom Line:
First time out the rear shock collapsed which was total crap, halfway up Holmbury Hill. But now, all fixed, and this is an amazing bike! After 6yrs on a rigid hardtail I took some persuading to take the full bouncer plunge, but it was well worth it. I mostly ride forest trails and bridleways - ie mud, hard earth crisscrossed with roots, and sand. The stock components are very good - Atom Bomb shock works well, climbing over angled roots and rocks that would have spilled me on the rigid bike, and the rear shock, after the initial problem softens the ride nicely and allows everything to speed up. I have the rear set stiff with no rebound damping. Weight is OK at about 27lbs. Add 6-7lbs of water in a full Camelbak and spending another £1500 to lose a max of 4lbs bike-weight makes little sense for a non-pro. A good all-round bouncer that won't need upgrading for a long while. Would have got 5 chilis if not for the blown shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Waterloo, Ontario Date Reviewed: September 30, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Big Elbow Loop, Kananaskis, AB
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Beautiful suspension setup Climbs like a hardtail Love the Atom Bombs Nice Paint Job The Avid 50's are super nice
Weaknesses:
- Heavy. This just makes it even more satisfying when you blow by that hardtail fanatic with a $5000/20lb bike who tried to convince you not to go FS but only because he knew how jealous he'd be of your squishy new steed. - That air shock won't last but its nice.- Expensive. Get a deal if you can but it's tough with Konas...- Somewhat tail heavy.- The slicks are OK but not great.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR Comp & Stumpjumper Rocky Mountain Element GT I-Drives
Bike Setup:
(Stock '99 Mokomoko) Marzochi Atom Bombs Fox Air R LX/XT combo DT Avid 50's Mavic 222s Tioga Slicks
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. With a few upgrades it'll be light enough to be 'raceable'. Super on the climbs and hugs the ground when things get crazy. Give one a try. 5 hot ones...
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeff deam
a Cross-Country Rider
from glendale,az Date Reviewed: June 26, 1999
Favorite Trail:
bell rock loop - sedona, az
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
solid bike. great looking. fox shock and marzocchi atom bomb
Weaknesses:
frame cracked at seatpost linkage. kona replaced with beefed up frame.
Similar Products Used:
gt xcr 3000 i drive
Bike Setup:
fox shock marzocchi z2 atom bomb avid brakes, titec berzerker dh seat, raceface stem and handlebar. ritchey ocr rock rims and continental navigator 1.9 tires.
Bottom Line:
great bike, a little heavy, climbs like a goat. one of the best color schemes on any bike i've seen.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eirik Folkedal
a Weekend Warrior
from Kopervik, Norway Date Reviewed: June 9, 1999
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
('98 frameset): -The Fox shock is great! -light -can take some punishment -ready for disc's
Weaknesses:
-can't buy the frameset (had to take in the whole bike, then take it apart and put it back together at the shop) -not too stiff -not too much mud clearance with 3 wide tires -I would've like to have 2 more travel
Similar Products Used:
-GT STS 1000 -Santa Cruz Heckler -GT XCR something -Santa Cruz Super 8 -GT Lobo -Trek Team Issue DH -DBS Cyber Track FS (that one really is really bad!!)
Bike Setup:
Fork: RST Mozo Pro 4,5 w/speedsprings Rear Shock: Fox Vanilla R R.derailleur: '95 xt Front: none -> single chainring Hubs: Formula Rims: Mavic D121 Brakes: XT vee's Tires: Tioga Factory DH 3 Cranks: FSA Sidewinder Chainring: Syncros Hardcore Saddle: SDG Ventura Comp Seat Pin: Kona thingy Stem: Roox Danny stem +++ ...This is e-nuff I think
Bottom Line:
I love my bike! I'm going to buy those plates that Goldtec makes, that makes yer travel go larger :) ...just hav e 2 get the money... If yer going 2 get a bike... get the Stinky Dee Lux... It comes as a frame set, and got the travel... would have waited 4 it if i knew it came... I give my ride 4 burning bike haters.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Old Timer
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, British Columbia Date Reviewed: May 29, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Hartland & Millstream Highlands
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Plush, Bombproof, Tuneable. Great parts selection particularly the Marzocchi Z2 Atom Bomb.
Weaknesses:
No real weaknesses uncovered. Slightly heavier than some other FS models in the same price range (although not noticeable when riding). If weight's an issue buy the King Kikapu (same frameset with an upgraded, lighter parts selection)
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR Comp, Rocky Mountain Element Race
Bike Setup:
Stock except Easton riser bar, Shimano 545's, Race Face headset and Tioga XC's
Bottom Line:
This bike (the '99) is built solid and handles like a dream. It feels solid and smooth. The conservative Turner 4 bar linkage design seems to make sense. I waited 3 months to post to make sure I got past the honeymoon period. I like this bike more every time I ride it. It has given me the confidence and ability to ride things I couldn't in the past. I'm also very impressed with Kona's customer service. They stand behind their products and care about their customers.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron
a Cross-Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: May 29, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Whatever's around
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Everything except the tires.
Weaknesses:
The Tioga semi-slicks
Similar Products Used:
Mantra, FSR XC, Element Race, Cannondale Raven
Bike Setup:
Comes stock with the Z2 Atom Bomb and the Vanilla R. Both are awesome and provided great dampning and smoothness over the rocks and ruts I encountered. I upgraded some of the parts. I put Cook Bros. F series cranks, Mavic 517 wheelset w/XT hubs. A Kore stem with riser bar, XT brakes, and Race Face XY seatpost.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike! The only downside I have now is the semi-slicks but that is minor. I did notice one thing and I'm not yet sure if it's the pedals, BB, or the cranks but about midway through my ride today I would hear a creaking noise when I was pedaling hard. I hope it's nothing major. I've only had this ride for two days but went on a big excursion today so I wanted to put in my review. Right now I'm giving it a 5 because my ass felt like it could stay in the seat all day. Climbing was a breeze (gotta make sure the weight stays up front). And downhill was even breezier. This bike rules! However, if this squeaking I'm hearing persists and the shop can't fix it or has no answers for it, I'll re-review and lower my rating. But as for now I'm totally stoked on Kona.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fox
a Cross-Country Rider
from Chicago, IL Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Kettle Morraine
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light, fast, EXCELLENT suspension balance f/r, can't beat the Bomber
To get the weight own an the performance up, I swapped on Bontrager Race wheels w/ 9-speed XT, GripShift 9.0 SL, Avid ArchRival 50's, Race Face Cranks, WTB headset, Bontrager bar and stem - got the weight down to 26.5, and the bike is pure fun!
Bottom Line:
Terrific ride - I'm sold on FS now, and Kona is a great company! The 99 version of the MokoMoko is an even better buy than my 98, with a sweet parts selection to go with an excellent frame. The Fox/Bomber combo is one of the most balanced XC suspension setups I've ridden.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Potts
a Cross-Country Rider
from Squamish B.C. Date Reviewed: May 16, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Very soft ride.
Weaknesses:
It could come with somthing other than semi-slicks.
Similar Products Used:
none come close
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
All around performance was great.One plush yummy ride.Climbs like a goat on crack.I just had to put riser-bars and good noby tires on it.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from Calgary Date Reviewed: May 5, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Mist Creek Trail, Alberta
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Bombproof and highly responsive.
Weaknesses:
none unless you're a total weight freak.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Manomano, Kona Stinky Five, K2 Beast, Fisher Level Betty, Trek Y-22, Santa Cruz Heckler, DaVinci Bonzai
Bike Setup:
Azonic World Force Riser bar (1.5 rise, 26 width), CODA Calamari Grips, Kona DH 80 mm Stem, Shimano XT headset, Sun Rhyno Lite (f), Bontrager ASYM Ceramic (r), AC Racecranks, Race Face Rings, Wellgo 804 downhill pedals, Marzocchi Z2 fork, SDG Ventura Comp saddle, Race Face XY Seatpost, IRC Kujo DH 2.25 Tires, Shimano XT brakes, Avid levers, LX shifters and rear derailler, XT front derailler, XT Bottom Bracket, STX-RC Rear Hub, Kona Java The Hub Front Hub, Gore-Tex cables all mounted on an Easton Elite Aluminum frame.
Bottom Line:
This is a killer trail bike able to handle the tightest and demanding singletrack.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Thompson
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia Date Reviewed: April 2, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Ball Burnished, reliable
Weaknesses:
someone stole it
Similar Products Used:
Manitou Full susppension
Bike Setup:
Full 1999 Xt
Bottom Line:
Stolen. Love another 16 ball burnished
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a cross-country rider
from Boulder, Colorado Date Reviewed: February 9, 1999
Bottom Line:
I have been riding the '98 for 6 months and love it! This is my first venture into full suspension and I'm sold. The bike is solid and comfortable with no bobbing on climbs. Thanks to Kona for fitting the bike with great suspension (Fox and Marzzochi). I haven't been this excited to ride in a long time and now I'm even faster.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a cross-country rider
from Chicago Date Reviewed: January 16, 1999
Bottom Line:
I bought the 98 ball-burnished version as well, and swapped full XTR, Race Face cranks, Bontrager bar w/ Stubs, and an SDG Comp Ti saddle from my hardtail. This bike is fantastic. Great control, super plush. I never thought a full suspension could climb and handle this well. My hardtail has been relegated to city duty - I'll never go back for off-road!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hardcore
a downhiller
from canada Date Reviewed: January 7, 1999
Bottom Line:
My friend got a 98 version of mokomoko and it is a kicking ass bike.It is super plush fo that much travel.But a sweet bike.I could see if you lighten the bike up a little then you could race xc.But I almost think you could ride it for like a cadet or somethin downhill.(cadets are the younger guys)It is quite heavy the only problem.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Thompson
a weekend warrior
from Sydney, NSW Australia Date Reviewed: November 17, 1998
Bottom Line:
Bought 1998 version. Loved the Ball Burnished Colour. Upgraded to full 99 XT. Put Oury Grips. Changed bars to Control Tech with Control Stiks. 747 Pedals. Brought weight down. Bike took months to come to Australia as Aust Importer doesn't normally bring them in, then had to wait for 99 XT. Very happy with bike, not super light, but practical.
Overall Rating:
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