this bike just makes you want to go bigger and bigger!considering the amount of rear travel it is amazing!...it is also a decent race bike,,pretty light for a dh bike it feels very fast! Like it is nine years old now , and this bike in my opinion is just as good as the new bikes being made at the moment!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jed Anderson
a Downhiller
from England Date Reviewed: September 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
down
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
first of all - i bought just the frame but put 8' monsters on it... very strong frame and works perfect with monsters, ive had no problems doing 25ft drops and looking to go bigger.
Weaknesses:
only one problem with it really- i hate that my rear meach hits the frame when i land ....stuck some padding on the frame now and its fine tho.
Similar Products Used:
ATX1,Coyote DH3,Azonic Gravity,
Bike Setup:
03 monster T, halo sas 24' wheels 48spoke, also you can get a 220mm shock to give it 9' travel
Bottom Line:
I love it - best DH/freeride bike i've ridden - just perfect for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jamie M
a Downhiller
from Cornelius, Oregon Date Reviewed: November 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
A Line at Whistler
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
mtbr classifieds
Strengths:
Rear suspension design is great. Monster T front fork is also very stable. Bike gives you confidence to go bigger. bike turns very well and is very solid going into tight turns.
Weaknesses:
Welds around the head tube gusset. My frame has cracked on both sides of the head tube gussett and on the under side of where the down tube attaches to the head tube. I feel that the frame is beyond repair and it is also out of warranty period offered by kona. Another trouble spot has been the upper most pivot point of the rear suspension. When I purchased the bike, the threads were stripped out on both sides and it required replacing.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
maxxis tires, Monster T fork, Race Face Cranks and sprocket, Hayes hubs and brakes, Kona Stem and bars, odi lock on grip, xt rear and big boy seat
Bottom Line:
The bike worked great until the frame started to come apart. Be careful on this bike. I believe that is really does have some design weakness at the head tube. Inspect it carefully before and after going off anything higher than a curb. My frame broke after rolling over a very small obstacle. Maybe the monster T fork is too much for this frame to handle?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt L.
a Downhiller
from Santa Monica, C.A Date Reviewed: November 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
tits
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Kona dealer
Strengths:
Never had any problems from this bike ! Dropping up to 8' to flat!
Wonderful fun DH bike.I have had it for many years now doing hard DH runs at Big Bear.No worries about the bike.I believe in the linkage on this ride.It helps the pedaling & sprinting! Great for drops galore.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike bigkonarider
a Downhiller
from Knoxville ,TN ,,USA Date Reviewed: August 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
4x Jumps
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
local friend
Strengths:
Great pedaler--doesn't bob around town on urban rides at all
Avid 8"---01 Monster-T---Hussefelt cranks/guide---24" D-Wide rear wheel 2.6" Gazzi---26" D-Wide front 2.7" Mobster sr----80mm Stem---600# spring Fox-rc
Bottom Line:
Peadals great--suspension is working when it needs to be(not overly plush). stiff & stable frameset..Shifts perfect & doesn't throw chains! Best Freeride/DH bike i have ever had.It's a keeper !!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, Canada Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Lower/Ladies Only, Hot Cherry
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Pathways, Vancouver
Strengths:
Everything. Super-Plush (Monster-T/Fox Vanilla RC rocks!) Geometry is incredible, Nuke-proof strength, quiet, strong pivots, and the hayes hydrolics are the best.
Weaknesses:
A little heavy, but really...? Get a medium front ring and a Granny-Gear for the back for the uphills.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, Norcos, etc.
Bike Setup:
Stock baby, except for Intense DH 2.7 front, and 3.0 rear.
Bottom Line:
Find a well-kept used one now! This is THE bike if you really want to give 'er. I've never been more inspired to drop higher, huck bigger, and tackle steeper technical terrain. I thought it would take a while to adjust to the front end, nope, about 10 minutes and I was riding better than ever.
THE best bike. Period.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Perth, WA Australia Date Reviewed: September 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
York DH race course
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
2ND Hand
Strengths:
All of it, Monster T's Rock, Brakes are best and the wheels are sweet
Weaknesses:
Wider Spacing on rear dropouts and bolt up rear end would be nice
Similar Products Used:
Craftworks DHR205, Intense M1
Bike Setup:
Standard except DMR Speed Guide
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. No problem with anything once i had brakes and forks set up properly. Looks awesome too, the down tube is sic lookin. Every component is well suited to the frame and everything works well together.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy DeLaCroix
a Downhiller
from Boulder,Colorado Date Reviewed: August 27, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Keystone DH race course(Cowboy up, loggers way, punk rock, wild thing, river run
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Mtbr classifieds
Strengths:
Too many to type.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
rocky mountain RM6, santa cruz bullit
Bike Setup:
manitou x-vert carbon, 2.7 intense tires, fox vanilla rc, 8 inch rotor in front, 6in back.
Bottom Line:
A totally awesome DH bike. A very strong bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Ayers
a Downhiller
from Oxford Date Reviewed: July 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Astonhill.com
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Good Bike, Brilliant when new. likes too go very fast!
Weaknesses:
Im 15, and weigh 10 stone. i have snapped the chainstay, and craked the seat stay in the last week. Very heavy. Took Kona over 3 months too send the replacements.
Similar Products Used:
M1, SantaCruz Bullit, GT DHi
Bike Setup:
Whitebro ud180s, 4 pots, bulb/D321s, Middleburns and xtr.
Bottom Line:
great bike if you can afford to replace it after a year. Other than that when it is working it rides like a dream, with full travel use on most courses.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ouellet Alexandre
a Downhiller
from Cowansville/Quebec/Canada Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Bromont Quebec
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Cycles Mareille
Strengths:
Real stable, suspension works well, geometry rocks, pivots real strong
Weaknesses:
frame is cracking!!!! Kona did'nt warrantied it... 155lbs rider.... 6 months used: cracked over the head tube and the disc mount/rear drop out
Similar Products Used:
Hmmmm.... nothing works too well
Bike Setup:
Monster.t home made stainless steel headset/cnc home made stem/home made cnc chain guide/kona bar/fox rear shock/
Bottom Line:
pretty damn good bike except for the frame strenght... cheezy, would need some more gussets like the new ones Kona did'nt respect their warranty. It was my last kona ever.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dan rihm
a Racer
from manchester vermont usa Date Reviewed: October 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
killington dh, bromley dh
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
eiger bike shop (tested)
Strengths:
super plush, fells stable on all dowhills makes me fearless of any thing. When i tested it i was doing big drops, super techincal sections, and stair drops with ease the monster T is awsomE!!! it comes with everything you need out of the box great in the wide open or in the wettest, tightest muddyest singletrack out there
Weaknesses:
it feels heavy in the front end at under 5 mph, but as long as you keep it up to speed, the monster t feels as light as my xc fork, the faster you go, the lighter it feels (a little incentive to dust your oppents in the singletrack)
Similar Products Used:
kona stab primo ('00) foes dhs tube, tomac 204
Bike Setup:
Stock exept THE fenders (front and rear) intense 2.75 tire in front, 2.35 in rear odi lock on grips, avid rollamajig
Bottom Line:
if you want a bike theat feels fearless down anything, with lots of travel get this bike, the new stab primo has more travel, but with this you lose2 inches but the bike feels so much better then the new one because of the wieght. just remember to keep it at speed and the bomber monster t feels 6 pounds lighter. the haye brakes stop good in anything, just a great downhill machene capale of winning races on keep up the good work Kona!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Ayers
a Downhiller
from Oxford UK Date Reviewed: July 22, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Aston Hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Awesome bike. Makes Downhilling too easy, it makes you go a lot faster. It seems VERY strong
If you can put up with the extra weight, you'll love it. Someone below said it was hard through technical sections, yet at Aston Hill (most technical in south of England, similar to North Shore type trails) there is a really sharp set of switchbacks over roots which is easy, and full table tops are just sooo easy to pull. I was able to do all my normal tricks in less than an hour, from picking it up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Humphreys
a Downhiller
from Dublin Date Reviewed: February 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
"Bob & My Nads" Three Rock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
This bike is absoutly unbreakable! I managed to do a 9 ft drop on this with no problems
Weaknesses:
What product weaknesses?
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh DHO, Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
Hope Big Un's, Hope 4 pot DH brakes, Sun doublewide rims (24 inch rear rim), Gazallodi 3 inch tyres
Bottom Line:
Worth absoutly every penny! If you've got the money, dont bother shopping around, just buy this bike. This deserves 10 flamin chillis
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Downhiller
from Big Sky, Montana, USA Date Reviewed: January 23, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Tremblant, Canada
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
This bike is amazing! Strengths: Suspension, Geometry, components, SDG saddle!!!
What can I say, inside and out this bike is a work of art. Beautifully constructed, lots of CNC'd parts, Geometry is killer. There is hardly any pedal induced bobbing, suspension works beautifully. If you can't handle the Monster-T, get stronger! This fork rocks, extra though was put into every aspect of its construction. What a bike! Oh yeah, it is Mountaon Bike Action's "Downhill Bike of the Year." Five flamin chillies all the way!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Craig Sandstrom
a Racer
from Pocatello, Id Date Reviewed: January 2, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Free Riding
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Suspension will take anything you dish out.
Weaknesses:
Little heavy for local DH races, perfect for Nationals. Stock Tioga tires puncture easily.
Similar Products Used:
Stab
Bike Setup:
Stock everything
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money, you won't go wrong
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rohan Coghlan
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra, Austalia Date Reviewed: December 19, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Majura Pines
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Everything especially the great amount of travel if gives out.
Weaknesses:
A bit too heavy
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz super 8 Trek Pro Issue Mountain Cycle Shock Wave
Bike Setup:
As muchn travel as possible is the way to go.
Bottom Line:
Go out and buy one now.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Peat
a Racer
from sussex Engaland Date Reviewed: November 6, 1999
Favorite Trail:
electric curcus
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
one kick ass all round bike for every kind of riding
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Huffy
Bike Setup:
the works
Bottom Line:
My favorite bike that I cant afford however there is a catagory were I dream
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon
a Downhiller
from St. Louis Mo Date Reviewed: October 8, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Everything
Weaknesses:
nothing
Similar Products Used:
trek pro isuue DH
Bike Setup:
stock with boxxer pro
Bottom Line:
By far the BEST DOWNHILL BIKE ever!!!!! A must but for the downhill lunatic who will go down any hill. An excellent bike
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Minty
a Downhiller
from Cloud nine Date Reviewed: October 7, 1999
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Beautiful geometry, luvly handling, BABE MAGNET, can't feel the back end working
Weaknesses:
Makes downhilling too easy
Bottom Line:
Grest bike for those who like to think it's their skills that are letting them win. Not the bike!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean & Aileen
a Downhiller
from Towson, MD Date Reviewed: October 4, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Whitetail Ski Area
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Rock Solid Stable at speed, quick reflexes and handling in slow speed turns (switches and drop turns)...Easy to rail in high speed corners. Fork performance very transparent. feels like you are sitting in a bike and not on it.
Weaknesses:
Low Bottom Bracket height Can be a bear if you are hammering a rocky section. It likes to scrape bottom a lot...Watch seat height if the seat is too low it will smack the tire in full travel situations. Fork is very heavy.Weighed the bike and she weights 46 lbs.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Dare (we have 2 DH bikes)
Bike Setup:
Stock except Azonic Bar/Stem and Gazzy front tire with WTB MotoRaptor rear
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike for DH use. Makes mince meat of most anything, just watch the bb height issue. if you aren't strong lose the Monster T also. That fork can be a hinderance if you aren't strong. Otherwise a solid package.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
duncan
a Racer
from bristol, UK Date Reviewed: September 22, 1999
Favorite Trail:
bedgellert, wales
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
plush, fast, great brakes, well balanced
Weaknesses:
heavy, needs a lot of manhandling to chuck through tight low speed corners
run as standard kit, lowered oil height in forks, softer rear spring
Bottom Line:
this bike rules, forget the weight, learn the riding style to suit the bike, and just go. Ride stuff you didn't think possible, or ride the stuff you did faster. Depending upon the course adjusting the gearing should help compensate for the weight on the slower, more technical courses, but you need a new chain device if fitting a smaller front ring
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
patrick
a Racer
from calgary Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999
Favorite Trail:
canmore nordic center
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
rides smooth with no mechanical feel. monster-t really balances out rear. hayes hydraulic discs require minimal pressure. XT-XTR drivetrain is very nice. it is a very stable bike and ideal for open hills.
Weaknesses:
rides like a dirtbike, but merely a matter of preference.
Similar Products Used:
rocky mountain RM9
Bike Setup:
factory setup
Bottom Line:
sit down and buckle up. stab deelux deserves 5 chilies.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FRED DUBOIS
a Downhiller
from MONTREAL ,CANADA Date Reviewed: July 27, 1999
Favorite Trail:
coupe du monde . BROMONT
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
really fast ,realy stable and confidence inspiring. It realy moves with the trail even if the bike is on the slow steering side .
Weaknesses:
a bit overkill and heavy .
Similar Products Used:
khs team dh wheeler 8000 dzx
Bike Setup:
boxxer fork ,hope pro disk ,fox pigyback
Bottom Line:
this is the best bike that i've owned .Its like a carpet ride realy plush and controlable in the fast rocky stuff we have here in quebec. last time I went I even did 12 run and did not get any arm pumps. and yes you should drop the monster T for a boxxer on this bike because it does miracles and you will drop 5 lbs from the orinal spec.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
N.J. HARRISON
a Downhiller
from UK Date Reviewed: July 26, 1999
Favorite Trail:
SECRET LOCAL 1
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
SPEED, CONFIDENCE, 6FT CHUTE DROP-OFFS NO PROBLEMO. BALANCED SUSPENSION.
Weaknesses:
BUILD THE BIKE WITH YOUR OWN SPECK. I USE HOPE WHEELS+BRAKES WITH XTR/XT DRIVE THE REST IS NORMAL SPECK. IT WORKED OUT CHEAPER TO. IF I HAD TO FIND A WEAKNESS IT WOULD BE ME HOLDING THE BIKE BACK!
Similar Products Used:
MARIN DH LOBO
Bike Setup:
MONSTERS ARE SOOO SMOOTH REAR END SET UP FOR GROUND COVERED. USE HOPE HUBS AND BRAKES, THEY ARE BY FAR THE BEST.
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE LIMIT AND PAST IT, NOTHING I HAVE TRIED COMES CLOSE. BUILDING THE BIKE MYSELF SAVED ME £400 POUNDS.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Racer
from Calgary Date Reviewed: July 5, 1999
Favorite Trail:
The trai that Aaron built
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Super plush Raceface parts Drops and accelerates well
Weaknesses:
Heavy Hard to ride and steer Monster T hard on arms
Similar Products Used:
Turner Afterburner, Mr T
Bike Setup:
GT STS DH Boxxer Hope discs
Bottom Line:
This bike is big and powerful.... It really pushes the limits of a riders skill. I had trouble steering and negotiating turns because the bike was so big... But it would be wrong to give a bad review because my skills aren't on par with the capabilities of this bike!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vin
a Downhiller
from East Yorkshire Date Reviewed: May 25, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Peak District
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The bombproof construction, the overall spec, the acceleration downhill!
Weaknesses:
How dare they spec a crappy headset on a £3500 bike. Actual weight is 42lb, the brakes are either on or off, and dont pull the levers while the wheels are off!
Similar Products Used:
GT STS 1000 hybrid Marin DH Giant ATX1
Bike Setup:
175lb rider, forks 1 turn preload with rebound factory set, rear depends on terrain.
Bottom Line:
Go on treat yourself to the best DH bike out there! dont do things in halfs(okay it may be overkill for the UK but its fun fun fun!), aint had any problems yet!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Weekend Warrior
from arkansa Date Reviewed: May 7, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
fast
Weaknesses:
BIG BIKE
Similar Products Used:
all
Bike Setup:
BOUGHT IT AND SOLD IT FAST
Bottom Line:
THE WELDS ON THIS BIKE WERE VERY SLOPPY
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Graeme
a cross-country rider
from California Date Reviewed: November 4, 1998
Bottom Line:
I tried the 99 Stab DEE-Lux at a local bike shop and it was awesome. It is by far the nicest DH bike I have ever seen. Its rear and front suspentsion are super plush. You could fall off a 2 foot drop and bearly feel a thing. It may be heavy for all you XC riders but it is a great downhill bike.
Overall Rating:
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