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Submitted by
anthony barford
a Weekend Warrior
from CAnberra, ACT, Oz
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | ?? | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2560.00 | | Purchased At: | s/hand frame, new xt full kit | | Strengths: | Got the King Kikapu from a bloke at work.(AU$450.00) About 2000 year model (with disk brake mounts). Parts fully worn out, so replaced everything except seat / post and forks (rockshock judy xc). Rides well, is sure footed and easy to steer. Components unbelievably good! | | Weaknesses: | Bouncy. As a new MTB, takes some getting used to. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche, bike shop spare ... | | Bike Setup: | Full 2008 XT kit (f/r sets, hp wheels, hydraulic discs, shifters, levers); ritchey flat bar; mission-x headset, ranchero rubber | | Bottom Line: | Started out as a 'low cost' commuter (so my Giant TCR-C1 roadie wasn't left out on the street), but it all soon added up. Shimano XT gear fantastic, service however appalling. (took 7 months to get the parts!). (Shimano, are you listening?). I use it as a commuter on road/path; forest trail and am learning to ride on single track. The bike can handle much rougher country than I can so far, but I feel safe at > 40km/h on a fire trail dh, so getting better. Would like a bit lighter, but then another full carbon was too expensive. Great bike, took to the upgrade beautifully. Bike is far better than I am (new to MTB, but experienced roadie). Definitely worth it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Craddock
a Weekend Warrior
from UK, Kent
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Local trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Frame !!! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7000 | | Bike Setup: | XTR 2004 Crank, Rear Mech, chain, cassete, rear brake. XT shifters and front Mech. Hope hubs, headset. Mono Mini Front 180mm. Race Face Stem, Seat. Ti Seatpost, Scewers. Fizik Seat. Fox 100RLC Forx, Fox Float rear shock. Race face Stem etc.. | | Bottom Line: | 98 King kik bought on Ebay. Great spec, although I have changed the Pace forks for some Fox 100RLC's and updated a few items.
Basically I love this bike. Went on a VERY rough 1 mile downhill trail today and kicked ass. Arrived at the bottom a good 60seconds before the Kona Stinky rider.
The frame and setup I have is supreme - I have never had such a responsive ride as this. It just gives me so much confidence. I was shredding the trail, and by the end my thumbs were killing me, I had been gripping my Yeti lockons so hard. This bike is a point and click. I pointed it and it just went where I told it to. I was just holding on for dear life, the King Kik never let me down. When I feel out of control the bike just carries on.
Uphill its the best, Im pretty heavy but still came out at the top of a 1/2 mile climb before the lighter riders. The fox lockouts help loads. My FS can become a rigid at the flick of two switches. A downhill monster and a rigid climber all in one. Best of both worlds.
Amazing. My Frame is the 98 version - I would never think of selling it. I have a 180mm Hope Mono Mini on the front and an XTR V on the back. Who needs more.
I love it - Recommended !!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew levick
a Racer
from concord, nh
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the gas can loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | climbs like a mountain goat, yet soakes up the hit on a downhill. strong grupo | | Weaknesses: | frame flex and not disc break mount | | Similar Products Used: | trek fuel 100, gf sugar giant nrs | | Bike Setup: | stock rear shock, z2 superfly fork, monkey lite xc bar bontrager race stem, wtb speev v seat, rhino lite rear rim with stock hub and an xtr cassete, x517 front rim with xt hub, xtr rear derailure and lx front with xt shifters, break levers and breaks. tioga factory dh tire in the back and a nokian gazzalodie mud 2.3 up from | | Bottom Line: | this bike is a beast. its stable in turns, regardless of a small amout of flex. i am a 6'1" 165 lb racer, and this bike, a medium, fits perfectly. not bob in a sprint or durring a long climb, due to the unified rear end and 4 bar linkage. the bike can take anything, i have been freeriding on it latly and it can take up to 6-7 foot drop. the weight is not bad, and the only problem i have is with the lack of a rear disc break mount, but v-breaks a lighter anyway. i z2 superfly is the smoothest fork i have ever ridden, and it feels lighter than a sid race, and stiffer then any other fork out there. i an taking one flaming roadie off just because of the frame flex, but then again i should add a flameiong roadie for the killer paint job, bomber orange. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Salikan
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt jumps and any 5" drop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$855.00 | | Purchased At: | cheapskates consignment store | | Strengths: | what can i say? it can withstand any 5' drop! i really like the small frame 2! | | Weaknesses: | the paint is scraped on the opposite side from where you would normally get chainslap (don't ask why, i bought it used), and 4" isn't enough for me (but i'm only 13). | | Similar Products Used: | hello, i'm 13, how many $2600 bikes do u think i've tried? | | Bike Setup: | stock accept for pedals, tires, stem, rear shock and soon to b fork. | | Bottom Line: | wow! 5'! if u can find a good condition 98' nowadays, and u like XC, FR, DH or even just trail riding, buy this bike!!! maybe even off me, i'm gonna b a DH rider and will need 2 upgrade sometime! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Graham
a Racer
from Guelph Ont. Canada
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Strengths: | This bike rocks.It does what it is made to do | | Weaknesses: | There are no weaknesses | | Similar Products Used: | I ride my King for fun and race my explosif | | Bike Setup: | all good stuff | | Bottom Line: | Buy it if you like it if you don't who cares.As long as the trails are good let's all just have fun.Hope you read my posting because I believe it is not what you ride but how much fun you had.I race for team Gears N Beers so party on dudes and dudets | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Cross Country Rider
from manchester,nh,usa
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | bike barn in manchester nh -usa | | Strengths: | parts r great I just changed the bar and the originial head set just died last summer so i got a chris king hs,kore riser bars,azonic shorty stem and 636 pedals i added | | Weaknesses: | the year they made my bike they made an interupted seat stay more flex in frame than one without but still it rocks looks like a custom bike | | Similar Products Used: | none really like this first high end bike since i got a good deal on it only because i had a trade-in the shop dosent take tradeins but 4 me they did since i take really good care of my bike | | Bike Setup: | sigma wireless puter,sdh seat kore h-bars azonic shorty stem 636 peddals goretex shift cables the rest is still stock alsoi am one of those guys that waxes his bike 2001 works great easier to clean bike after just keep it off the rims!!! | | Bottom Line: | its a good bike but i was pissed cause the next year they came out with disc brakes and a sdg saddle my front shock wich came stock rules changed the oil oncerear shock is fox alps air wich is great also.but the frame has too much flex because it is an interupted seat-stay made with easton aluminam. thats the bottom line | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
broken arm
a Cross Country Rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | components, tough frame
| | Weaknesses: | hmmm.. not much | | Similar Products Used: | specialized fsr, lot's of hardtails | | Bike Setup: | stock except for shimano 636 pedals | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, I have never had a better ride. I paid $1200 canadian for it too which is about $700 US. I got it used from a friend who had ridden it about 10 times so I got a really good deal. I am really impressed with the air shock, I had no idea it would be that good of a ride. I am not the lightest guy either so I thought I would have trouble with it but damn it's good. If you can get as good of a deal as I did...BUY ONE!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
I am not go ing to tell
a Weekend Warrior
from n\a
Date Reviewed: June 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
all bin 2 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
weekends | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
up down and all a rown | | Bike Setup: |
kona[king kahuna]shock[bomers] | | Bottom Line: | ug | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
juan montoy
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, British Columbia
Date Reviewed: March 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
i bought a 99 king a little while ago and love it. i was kind of doubtful about going full-suspension as i had been on a klein before and probably anything short of another klein or a cannondale would feel forgiving. the extra weight was a concern, but i thought that i had to get one some time just to see what it's about - never looked back. the trails out here are indescribeable unless you've actually rode them. i've rode all over canada and the US and have never found nastier terrain than what i've found here on the north shore on on vancouver island at the hartland mountain bike park or further up in bamberton. true testing ground for any ride. if you don't break it here, you won't break it anywhere; if you can ride here, you can ride anywhere. that's what the king does; it rides. this thing eats up everything in its path. technical riding was never so painless; just hope that i don't lose my skills being so pampered on this machine. definitely helps on the downhills, that's a given; but, where i can feel the most improvement is on the root and rock infested, muddy, uneven up and downs of west coast rainforests. you don't have to think so much about what's under your bike and can start concentrating on what's ahead. on technical climbs, it f#ckin' magic. trying to get up a no-stop steep filled with roots, foot high boulders, a stream comin' down it and come across a log in the middle with the rocks piled up behind it? no problem; just give'r, lift the bars and peddle like mad; the thing will carry you right over. try doing that on any hardtail. won't happen; you'll hit it with your rear tire, tear off the moss and spin your way to a step down and the choice of walking up or walking down to try again. think you can lift the rear over? good luck cause your front's not going anywhere there. the geometry of the konas make it easy to pull up the bars. i'd suggest putting a riser on it anyway. got mine fully spec'd with race face gear, michelins, mavic x517c's, dt swiss, an sdg saddle (nothing better), atom bombs (f#cking amazing - don't get the superfly unless you want to spend half your ride times in the garage and don't even think of going for rock shox - unreliable and flimbsy) and xtr (except the bottom bracket which is a synchros) and have it down to just over 27. yeah, it's not that light but somehow you don't feel it other than riding to the trails. once you hit the trail, that weight is gone. it's light to lift cause it's all spung and somehow the geometry puts me in a climbing position that keeps me at the front of the pack of fs's and full suspensions. that's for me i guess but i'm sure that you can set yourself up. i still have my old klein for racing but i don't think i'll be on it much. i'd give it ten if i could. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cam
a cross-country rider
from Walkerton Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: January 30, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Alright, after all these months, this bike keeps getting better and better. It must have needed a extended break in period? I flipped the stem, added a straight bar, bike tight stubs barends, and it is a excellent ride. After messing with the pressure in the rear shock, I have seem to got it so that it is still plush without any bob. Perfect so to speak. So after my last reveiw when I was a bit mad I got that bike and gave it a 3, it really deserves to get a better rating. All is well except cable routing, which is a little weird....
This is great trail bike despite what I said earlier, so take a look at one down at your local shop, and see for yourself!=o)
Cam | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Durt Ryder
a cross-country rider
from The Hills
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have ridden my King Kikapu for about six months now and have found it a worthy cross country bike. This mutt, produced by mating URTs and link bikes, has some weird characteristics. It gets stiffer when you stand, like a URT, but not as stiff as the sweetspots. I like to keep the pressure in the Alps 5R low so that it sits halfway through its travel when I am seated - this way I can modulate the effective spring rate by putting more or less weigh on the saddle. On big hits I transfer my weight to my feet and the shock, now stiffer, doesn't bottom. When I'm cruisin' on moderately smooth surfaces I sit, and the rear becomes Coupe DeVille-with-all-options soft. Link bikes are less finicky for DH but a King will easily smoke them up the hills and through the singletrack since the unified drivetrain is very efficient. It is also active under braking thanks to a couple extra links. Oh yeah, the best park about this bike is the geometry! Unlike many long travel bikes, the King is a lethal machine in tense situations. It's prowess on tight technical trails is equal to that of a hardtail, maybe greater since those 4 inches erase any mistakes and allow for some creative navigation. All querks aside, it's a fantastic trailbike that will fulfill all expectations. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cam
a weekend warrior
from Walkerton Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I purchased my Kona U'hu (same frame as Kikapu)a few weeks ago after being sold on the test ride. Later did I find out that this bike bobs like hell under power. When you ride the rough with a smooth pedal stroke, the chain seems to skip during the time that the shock is compressing. That caused a few memorable moments! A bobmer Z-2 came stock on my bike. I liked the way it works but not the weight. It is a tad flexy as well. Overall, I like the bike, but it seems better for a downhill run rather then just bombing around on the local trails or XC racing. I give the Kona 3 chilis. If you like this bike---->Remember. Mine is for sale!!!!!! $1200?
Cam | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grabber
a downhiller
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: August 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Kona makes some pretty fun bikes, and the Kikapu is one of them. But after 16 months of riding, what am i supposed to say when the frame cracks and the jury is still out on a replacement frame?.
I know of two other Kikapu's that have snapped on or behind the headtube welds within the last 5 months.
That said, after adjusting the washers in the 5R Fox for faster rebound the bike was a blast, just waiting, waiting, waiting for a new frame!
It'll be 5 stars when i get a new bike | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a downhiller
from Worthing, UK
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have a '97 Kikapu and I'm very happy with it. I've done many downhill races on it, huge jumps like 10 ft doubles and it handles it with ease. I've fitted a custom 6' rocker arm with a RS super deluxe and boy does it rock!. This is a very good bike for downhilling, and jumping, just don't try and use it for cross-country, it's a DH bike ok??? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christoph Schmidt
a weekend warrior
from Germany
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought a King Kikapu in June 98 and in my opinion it´s a very hot bike. The fork (Bomber Z1) is a dream of damping and the rear works very good, too. Biking is much more easier because you have a lot of control. I have a lot of fun with it and I think it was a very good choice to buy a Kona King Kikapu. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MaCbEtH
a downhiller
from Sydney, Australia baby.
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I can't find a 'Stab' review spot, so I'll do it here. I've had mine for over 6 mths now and can therefore say that this bike absolutely rips. The frame has a Vanilla R shock and has an undescribably sweet level of plushness and superb handling. The Jr T's are sick, but could use more travel and a thru-axle (I'm saying this after my QR broke at the Aussy DH nats and my arm broke.) If you wanna race dh competitively without speding big $$$ Get A KONA STAB mate!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul - Erik
a weekend warrior
from Austria- STYRIA, Graz
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I tested a friend's King and it was love at first ride.I'll buy it in about a week from now (just the frame & bomber).I really like the geometry but I think the fox-shock rebounds too slow (I'd exchange it for a Rockshox superdeluxe if I had the money).I only dislike one thing about the bike, the paintjob(varnish or what ever it's called) sucks.It's just too bad that all the bike here are so expensive. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred
a weekend warrior
from Laval, Que.
Date Reviewed: April 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a good bike but it weights too much. I have a lot of difficulty to climb, but it could be because i became too fat during the winter a I never had a lot of muscle. If you buy one don't forget to change the seatpost; mine bent after two days(and i'm not THAT fat!)
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a downhiller
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I currently have a customised 1997 Kona U'hu, which if you don't already know, is the same as the King Kikapu but with Bomber Z2s and a grade lower in some components. I have set it up more for downhill, for example I run all the jazz such as IRC Missiles / IRC Kujus, Mavic 121 ceramics, almost full XT, chain tensioners, 40mm stem, etc... As probably everybody would agree, the U'hu, (or KK) is not ideal for ‘serious’ (professional) downhilling, for a few basic and obvious reasons. Even though the suspension action is superb, as is the performance of the Bombers up front, the travel is relatively limited and the frames are not reinforced in the appropriate places to accommodate triple-clamp forks, for example. This is of course irrelevant to most, as these Konas perform exceptionally at almost all types of riding.
Seeming I am riding more and more down hills than up them, you may ask why I bought one. The main reason why I chose the Kona was, at the time my riding style was much more sedate and oriented towards trail riding than serious downhilling (or cross country), so the Kona provided everything I desired.
I don't know if this is a problem experienced by any other U'hu rider, but my rear shock (Alps 4) always had ridiculously slow rebound, even after changing to less viscous, thinner oil. I wasn't very happy with it, though it didn't bother me too much whilst I was only riding at sane speeds, it was not what I expected. Recently however, after a short term swap with a friend of his new Bomber Z1 Bams and XTR V-brakes, I competed in my first 'official' downhill race and was looking upon my rear shock very pessimistically (it had been rebounding slowly for the past year) just before the race. However , after a very short run on the downhill, the shock ‘broke in’, and now it is working magic. The action is similar to a friends Norco VPS-1 rear suspension at medium hits, however the air shock is less sensitive at lower speeds. To silence any critic, for example the cynic BO (-so), who wrote elsewhere, the Kona easily outperforms even a GT, and I know, as I have extensively ridden a Z1 Bomber equipped LTS-2 and new LTS dual sport with Jr T’s etc. It is also superior to all others I have ridden, for example, Specialised, Mongoose, Giant ATX-980, etc.
In conclusion, I wouldn’t chose another bike (at the same price) than a Kona, as it is the ideal ‘weekend-warrior’ bike which can hold its head up in any crowd. They look wonderful, ride magically, are light (light enough it get to the top of the downhill, anyway), fast and are well priced. Therefore I give them the maximum number of hot chillies, as do the others (except BOgan). Now I feel better! End sermon… (write to me if you need to hear more!)
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anders Lunde
a weekend warrior
from Norway
Date Reviewed: March 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought my bike june 1997 and since then has had more fun on a bike than the previous ten year riding bikes. This bike can do whatever you try to do: upphill, downhill, cross-country etc. Sure it's not a bike for weight-weenies, but for us everyday bikers who want do do it all it's just brilliant.
Also, here in Norway Kona is one of the best priced bikes around. Bikes that cost the same as the King in USA, usually costs around $1000 more than the King.
The Azonic bars felt a bit wide in the beginning and I considered to shorten it a bit, but after a while it felt perfect and I'm very happy that I didn't cut it. What I did was to fit a short Syncros stem to get the weight a bit more sentral on the bike when I ride. I'm also considering to replace the V's with some Hope discs, at least up front. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sid
a downhiller
from Dunedin, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I'v wroked in a top bike shop for some time now and we are the only stockist of kona's in dunedin. I'v riden the KONA-KIG KIKAPU Befor it come on to the maket in new zealand and I loved it from as soon as it come out of the box. The look and the feel of this bike is out of this world, just a f**k that i cant buy it. But there is only one other bike that will beat it for down hill.......
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Howeler
a cross-country rider
from Carlsbad California
Date Reviewed: March 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
OK its been almost a year since I bought this bike. One word: FUN!!
It's the sweetest ride I've owned so far. I've been riding FS bikes for 6 years now, and this bike plain old rips!....I live in SoCal where the terrain is brutal. The bikes motors over anything in it's way. It's not the lightest, but the whole bike seems to read my mind. Point it and GO! I was going to buy a GT LTS, but after one ride on it in Big Bear at the Norba Nationals..I got the King.
The Kona boys really know how to build a fun bike. Im fully STOKED!...If you can afford one BUY IT! You won't regret it. One neg: ditch the Kona treads and buy some IRC Missles! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
taco
a cross-country rider
from Honolulu
Date Reviewed: February 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is nothing less than a total pleasure to ride. I bought a 97 frame on sale for $895 and built it up about two months ago. It weighs in at just over 26 pounds which is not too bad for a full suspension bike. I could probably drop another pound by going to kevlar bead tires. You can check out the spec's of my bike at my site.The King Kikapu climbs like a mountain goat and will take on anything the trail has to offer. Going downhill is just a matter of pointing the bike in the directing you want to go and holding on for dear life. (I'm a former HT rider) The linkage/ URT suspension design takes the best of both design styles. It is a fully active suspension with very little pogoing or loss of power in the climbs. The suspension is working whether you are in the saddle or standing on the pedels. All this provided by one of the best shocks in the industry, the Fox Alps 4r (5r on the newer models).I did a lot of research before going with this bike. Came close to getting the Uzzi SL ($1950 for the frame at my LBS) or the Santa Cruz Heckler (at a lower price than the Kikapu), but neither had the same ride quality to cost that the Kikapu has (my opinion). The King Kikapu may not be the best downhill FS bike, but it is the perfect bike for those of us who have to ride to the top of the mountain before coming back down. In reference to the post below, BO has not backed up his rating. One chile because he does'nt like the name? And everything else about this bike sucks rocks? Checkout the spec's at konaword.com. Even the stock version is well spec'ed. BO's rating is unwarranted. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis Petten
a weekend warrior
from vancouver,bc.,canada
Date Reviewed: February 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I dunno, I guess I like it. Al right I LOVE IT. Mines a 97 so no paint chipping yet. The tires do really suck. I'm a happy camper. Apparently I need more wordsd in my reveiw!!!!!???The bike was light till I stuck some needed stuff on it. Still doesn't kill me to go up hill. For the price I am very pleased.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MattyJ
a downhiller
from Kapolei
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I own a 97 Kona U'hu. Basically the same as the king but with natural instead of polished swing arm. All in all an outstanding bike, lightweight,strong,and very plush once you get the rear dialed in and get a long travel upgrade kit for the Z2. One very satisfied customer. Not too shabby for a small company in the northwest. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thrash Boy
a downhiller
from Wellington
Date Reviewed: January 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike rocks. The 98' Kona King Kikapu is a floating drivetrain rising rate linkage suspension bike.
It comes stock with Bomber Z1, XTR, Fox Alps 5r....
The bike weighs 28.5 pounds, so it is placed on the trail riding downhill side of the game. However the
King climbs better than any hardtail I have ever ridden, including the Kona Explosif which is my
hardtail. It climbs so well because unlike other floating drivetrain bikes, remains active under pedaling,
standing up and braking. This means that you get all the benefits of a floating drivetrain (better shifting)
with no compromise. When the bike turns downhill the bombers eat up everything and the fox spits it
all out. With 4.3 inchs in the front and 3.75 inchs in the rear the travel is not quite balanced but the
quality is both ends are extremely plush. The best way to ride the bike is with an aggressive cornering
style, by weighting the outside and just leaning severly into the corners. The suspension helps bite the
tyres into the ground, so traction is hard to lose. This is only after you have ditched the crappy kona
treads that come stock. I run IRC missiles as the are just so beast. When the bike does slide out it is
very predicable with the rear going slowly but safely. When the rear gets fully out of control the front
nicely countersteers without sliding out. The bike is excellent for jumping as it not to heavy and the
dropped top tube is excellent for tabletops.
In singletrack the extra wide kona dh bar- probalbly the widest dh bar out there - gets a little sluggish
and hard to fit thru tight gaps, but again the dropped tube and kona geometry make the bike fairly
responsive.
The only negatives about this bike is the paint job, although it looks awesome orange and black, the
quality is s@$t. In the first month of owning the bike, the bombers are completely scratched, and the
frame has many chunks of paint missing.
Overall the best bike ever. | | Overall Rating: |
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