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Submitted by
Vincent Fowler
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bow Cycle | | Strengths: | For a rider my weight - 230lbs (rugby boy) the King is very strong. Compared to what I was use to riding, the King is VERY light (25lbs). I ride her like a stole her and she continues to put up with my abuse. When kept in tune, a super quiet drive train. A great factory component group for me (XTR/Avid/Rock Shox/Fox). The lock-out fork and Fox Float-RC shock really compliment my ride. I ride it work (keep it in my office) and I ride it on the trails… we’ve got a close relationship. | | Weaknesses: | My Fox-Float RC shock crapped out on me and had to be rebuilt - but that's not Kona's fault. I tinker with the King a bit more than I do with my hard tail - to keep her running tip top... Is that a weakness? I call it love. | | Similar Products Used: | None - I've been riding my Kona Kilauea since 97. Now I choose which bike to ride depending on the ride. It's great to have choices. | | Bike Setup: | Factory set-up with two exceptions – I added Time Carbon pedals, and put on a Specialized Body-Geometry Comp seat to complete the package. | | Bottom Line: | I considered a few bikes... I chose Kona for three reasons. #1 - Bow Cycle treats me very well now matter how much money I’m spending that day. #2 - I had a blast trying out the King, I’ve had a lot of fun on this bike since then and more to come. It's my first full squishy ride and I don't regret it one bit. And #3 - Kona has never done me wrong. On top of that, Kona in part, is a Canadian company. That’s not to say other aren’t good… I love supporting Canadian products whenever I can. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete Marth
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City UT usa
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | st | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Canyon Cycles, SLC | | Strengths: | Easton front tri./cart.bearing main pivot/rocker pivot.
Superlight. Beautiful 4-bar design at a good price.
Snappy, quick, and fast... | | Weaknesses: | Too light a frameset for those over 200 (maybe) I am
about 210, and ride almost daily to the tune of 2-3k/yr,
and snapped the drive-side swingarm in half rocketing
thru a twisty compression after about a year and 2.5k
miles. Kona took good care of me, and replaced
the swingarm, but for those riders who are big, or those
who get "out there" in the backcountry, you had better
be a lightweight rider, or you could break this frame
like I did in one year. Also snapped the top shock mount
bolt on this frame a month earlier, and it bent the left
side rocker arm and messed up the shock mount spacers.
Kona fixed me up with this ok as well. Something to
think about for all you big boys out there considering
this frameset...pm
| | Similar Products Used: | Kona BEAR/ GT idrive/ GT LTS1/ macstrut designs all kinds. | | Bike Setup: | Mars air/high qual. xc parts...25lbs-18"frame. | | Bottom Line: | Superb choice for race-heads, smaller and lighter riders,
or for those riding 2 days a week. Can't beat the price
or the design or quality.
If you are big, ride ALOT, and ride really rough
stuff, I would NOT suggest buying this frame. IF you
are the above, buy the BEAR frame. This is one sweet
ride!!!! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Benjamin
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bell Rock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Internet | | Strengths: | Looks, linkage, style points | | Similar Products Used: | None, my first full boing | | Bike Setup: | Custom: xfly 100, xt/xtr drive train, generic riser, easton ea70 seatpost, old mavic wheelset | | Bottom Line: | This is my first full suspension and I will never go back to another aluminum hardtail like I road before. I went with 100mm up front and am very happy that I did. It is a good match to the 3 inch rear travel. Rides faster and with less lower back pain than my stumpjumper under all conditions including uphill. Rear triangle seems to be pretty stiff laterally. This is a sweet bike, and face it, Kona makes cooler bikes than all the big brands. Peace | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric mauro
a Cross Country Rider
from anchorage alaska
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | powerline | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4500.00 | | Purchased At: | dale at kona (the man) | | Strengths: | this bike is the best bike i have ever ridden! any thing i give this bike it takes. the kik is light fast and responsive. i have had kiks in the past but this is the best by far. | | Weaknesses: | absolutly nothing! | | Similar Products Used: | ellsworth truth | | Bike Setup: | rock shock sid sl, easton monkey light, 9.0sl front and rear derallures, 9.0sl shifter, richy wcs stem, action tech ti bottom bracket, race face sl head set, race face next crank, xtr casset, frog pedals, 9.0sl hubs, ds1 xc rims wheel smith spokes, ti salsa skewers, ti bolt kit,selle flight ti saddle, easton ct2 post, and save the best for last, hope mini disc's | | Bottom Line: | fast great reponsive bike that will take you where you need to go. the guys at kona are the best too. buy it if you want a bike to race and freeride the rest of the time or doin' some urban assult. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Boston | | Strengths: | Light, strong, kicks @ss all-around. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | XTR: front der, rear der, shifter/brake levers. XT: brakes. Syncros: bar and big box rims. Kore stem. Chris King Headset. RockShox SID SL. Fox Float Race rearshock. | | Bottom Line: | Nothing else (XC bikes) compares, period. You can't go wrong with the Kikapu. I beat on the bike and it begs for more. Makes you want to go faster and faster. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Wragg
a Cross Country Rider
from Marlow, UK
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Next One | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Care, High Wycombe | | Strengths: | Similar review to previous one. I did a lot of research & it came down to Extralite or Trek. Chose Kona KK frame & kitted it out myself. I weigh 80 kilos & ride XC. The bike weighs 26 pounds with disk brakes & pedals & it's done 500 miles in 15 weeks including Wales & the Alps. Works fantastic! Fox shock is excellent, bike was carried up Alpine mountains & hammered down no problem. | | Weaknesses: | None found but I only bought the frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Extralite, Marin Mount Vision | | Bike Setup: | Pace Forks, Hope Disk brakes, Hope hubs, Race Face, XT, Chris King, Middleburn, X-Lite. | | Bottom Line: | 4 inches front & 3 inches of travel at the back. Excellent lightweight XC bike. DOing the Red Bull 24 hour race tomorrow & looking forward to it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Denis
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, On, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Loop | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycles | | Strengths: | Components, weigth, look, ride | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Bike Setup: | stock with Time pedals | | Bottom Line: | After months of research, the King came at the top of my list, second was the Fuel 100, and third Klein Adept pro.
The King won because of its weigth and components (XT cranks vic Bontranger). Had a hard time finding one from my LBS, had to go to a shop where they didnt mind putting the effort at finding one for me.
This bike is brand new with only a few miles on it. So far, the ride is extremely nice, will be taking it for a good ride tomorrow and will post the result of a 50km X-country ride.
Just wanted to be the first at something, and posting the first review of the King is good enough for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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