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Submitted by
coldpack
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Rosa, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Ridge/South Burma Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Light and Stiff. Clean lines, stable at both fast and slow speeds. Way better climbing ability. Will never go back to full suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips easily which led to the rear Salsa Skewer to come out on a hard climb. Need to remember to grind of paint in rear dropout before installing rear wheel! | | Similar Products Used: | Leader 515 (19.5), Rocky Mountain ETSX (20.5) (full susp.) | | Bike Setup: | Fox Talus RL Fork, Raceface XC Crank, XTR Derailers, Avid Juicy 5 brakes, Sun/Ringle Disco wheelset, Thompson stem and post, Raceface Carbon Bars, WTB Tyres and Seat. | | Bottom Line: | A nice light build. Next step beyond this would be a Ti frame, but this bike is perfect....for now! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester MN
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Seven Mile | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | University Cycle | | Strengths: | Very nimble and fast as hell! Shifts clean, climbs smooth and quick. I used to ride a GF Opie and killed the front fork, bent the wheels, trashed the bottom bracket, and then got hit by a car, all in 10 months. So I found a friend selling his 2006 Kona for 500! so he could make rent. I trail the kula and ride it to class, it loves to take a beating and look look all sexy while my Fisher lays in pieces. O yeah, and she is a snap to pro tune. | | Weaknesses: | Like people before me said, the tires are soft. This does not make them bad tires, they are very sticky, it's built to race. Also, I have heard of people not riding their kula's enough and they often attack you while you sleep. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized stump jumper. | | Bike Setup: | Chopped a bit of the handle bars off (kept bumpin um on cars). Tossed on the Specialized mag platform pedels. Two cups of milk. Chain slap guard. Then added a bit of me, and rode. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line... Very good single track/trail bike. Quick and nimble, with the added bonus of being able to zip the streets too.
( This makes me want to ride it, but it's -20 out) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Young
a Weekend Warrior
from Bowmanville, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Ganaraska Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Toronto Bike Show | | Strengths: | Excellent in tight single track, climbs very well, light compared to my (very!) old bike. Looks great. | | Weaknesses: | None so far! To early to tell. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary fisher can't remember which one. | | Bike Setup: | Stock 07 Kula | | Bottom Line: | I rode alot this summer on my 14 year old Mongoose and decided its time for a new bike. A friend helped me choose this bike and I love it. It handles so well and is totaly predictable. The brakes work very well. It is very easy to ride and is smooth. I think it is a great bike for the money. I can't wait to get out there next summer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn MacNeil
a Weekend Warrior
from Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Seaton (for now) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Northern Cycle | | Strengths: | Good climber, good down hills, great in tight single track trails, and good braking. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy for my liking, but for the price thats what you get. | | Similar Products Used: | Treck 6700,Roacky Mountain Vortex 10. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for tires, Panracer Speedblaser RL's(to make it lighter) also Easton Carbonfibre Monky Lite XC handle bars(also to lighten up the bike). | | Bottom Line: | l just got back into mountain biking(out of it for ten years) tried a lot of bikes in this price range found that this was the best deal for me, Im 6ft 1, so l got a 19inch frame and love the geometry of this bike, l keep doing up grades to the bike hoping to make it lighter, l have had the bike for a weak now and put on 75 km so far l just can't get enough l love it, i am so hooked on riding again and it's all because of my KONA KULA. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark E
a Weekend Warrior
from Preston, Lancashire
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | black run - Coed Llandegla | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Strengths: | As a long-term retro Kona rider - pleased to "feel at home" with this classic geometry - great climber. Amazing Hayes 9 brakes. Strong wheels. I have the 2006 model with Marzocchi Gran Fondo 1s, they have had bad press but I am really pleased with them - good plush all rounders.
Very confident and "chuckable" at speed. | | Weaknesses: | Feels a bit twitchy at low speed (I must swap back to original rider bars!) Tyres are great for dry trails but lethal on wet rock - swap 'em asap. Although XT rear mech - the cheaper Deore front mech tends to require tuning regularly. Standard SPD pedals are pretty poor.
No major weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Cindercone / Explosif / Kilauea (love steel hardtails!)
| | Bike Setup: | As normal but with lower stem and flat bars - may explain twitching at low speeds. | | Bottom Line: | Good solid-feeling but also racy hard tail.
If you got the skills, this bike can deliver. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Mito, Japan
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Izu Oshima | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Japan | | Strengths: | Light weight, but durable frame and components.
Reliable fork (2005 model Fox Vanilla R). Stable on the climbs and smooth on the downhill with no brake shimers
Reasonable price range (40% off near the end of the season) | | Weaknesses: | Tires. I'd have to agree with other reviews. Tioga tires had very soft sidwalls and tended to flex when cornering and snakebite easily on rocks.
My seatpost bent from riding with a pack on.
Brake rotors warped easily ( I can't remember what make they were). | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Blizzard, Schwynn Mesa | | Bike Setup: | offroad: Mavic Crossmax wheels, Specialized Roll-x tubeless tires, spd pedals for racing. Onroad: slick tires, flat pedals, original wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | If you are not riding overly rocky trails, this bike can handle almost anything in terms of endurance and all mountain riding. The trails where I live in Japan are clay and as a result they are smooth and fast. I've ridden this bike on downhill trails as well as all mountain conditions. Even riding on Lava rock was not a problem. However, for endurance riding the Rocky Mountains, I think I would prefer a softail.
The one thousand dollars I paid was money well spent. It got me into endurance racing and has been my sole means of transportation for 2 years. I think I have ridden it almost every day. Its light enough to carry on the train so I can explore new trails and still get home before dark.
The new Kula has been downgraded to make room for the Kula Dulux and Supreme. After looking at the components I am a little dissapointed they moved away from the Fox fork as that was one of the main selling points for me. The Reba on the Kula Dulux might be alright (I've never ridde it), but I am not impressed with the Kula's new fork it doesnt feel the same.
Overall Kona has put a nice package together. I would like to see them make the bike a little lighter in the future with a better wheelset and carbon frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kev
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, Western Australia
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Hi-Way Cycles | | Strengths: | I have a 2005 model.
Looks good, strong brakes, quality components. I bought this to replace my Giant Rainier as I wanted a lighter, less common bike than a Giant, and I was very unimpressed with the Ranier's cable disc brakes. Konas are quite rare in Australia, Giants are everywhere! Tried an Avanti but it lacked character. The Kula instantly felt nicer to ride.
Nothing has broken and all I've had to change is a chain and cassette. | | Weaknesses: | Not as light as I thought, after trying a Giant XTC1, brake pads worn out after 6000km (or is that normal?). I'm selling it to pay for a new Ibis Mojo - my old backside needs a smoother ride! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant XTC1, Giant Ranier, Avanti | | Bike Setup: | Slick Conti tyres, bar ends, Specialized BG saddle. | | Bottom Line: | A good bike, but possibly a little heavy compared to the cometition. I've gone off hardtails and am going for comfort - not a criticism of the bike, just my old age! Has done over 6000km of commuting and the occasional trail without complaint. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Timmy
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | ABC bikes | | Strengths: | This bike is really light. First impressions are great brakes are strong, the geometry makes it soo much easier to climb those unbelevibly steep hills, when i mean easier i mean... really easy. The forks are pretty much the lowest spec in the fox range but work great. | | Weaknesses: | The paint job as said chips very easily i recommend that you should cover it in clear tape to preserve the frame. Tyres are absolutly usless. Change them immediatly. The easton riser bars are way... to wide for me ( i am planning to cut them )but the riser in the bars is great dispite the rather wide width. Downhills are done definatly out of the saddle. In rough rocky sections the hardtale design seems transfere all the bumps 99% through the bike and into your body. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant youkon (lasted me 3 years suprsingly) | | Bottom Line: | This is definatly a bike for cross country ers.. 101% pedal efficency. Great on steep long before seemed unacheivable climbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Moorhead Minnesota USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | North Country Scenic Trail, MN | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Paramount Sports | | Strengths: | This bike is very light weight for a disc-brake hardtail. It climbs like a mountain goat, and the Fox Vanilla-R fork is very capable and smooth. Oh, did I mention that this is one sexy bicycle? | | Weaknesses: | Other reviewers have noted that the paint finish chips very easily, and I may have to concur with this assessment: On my first off-road ride -a 70 miler on the North Country Scenic Trail- I noticed a paint chip. But fear not, fellow hyper-sensitive and metrosexual cyclists, the paint chip in no way affects the Kula's ride quality. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Cinder Cone; Specialized Stumpjumper; Trek Fuel. | | Bike Setup: | Stock: XT Rear, LX Front, with the sagaciously executed Fox Vanilla-R fork. | | Bottom Line: | This bicycle is simply resplendent: the Kula will serve well as a daily commuter, while keeping up (nicely) with much more expensive bikes on the trail. The frame is one of the most beautifully crafted ones that I've seen for the price range (and I'm used to beautifully crafted frames as my road bike is a Klein Quantum). The equipment mix is just smart, and the seat is sleek and very comfortable too. Kona's love of mountain biking culture really shines through this finely crafted bicycle.
I would recommend this bicycle for the serious weekend warrior and/or the daily commuter like myself. But hey, don't take my word for it; try the Kula for yourself.
Prosper & Be In Health | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stott Meister
a Cross Country Rider
from Southampton
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | The Hub Cycleworks, Soouthampton | | Strengths: | Frame - the eastlight tubes are stiff and light, feels like one component - paintjob is excellent (lots of comments =))
Forks - the Vanilla R's are smoooth and complement the frame in terms of weight and damping
Brakes - the Hayes 9's are great brakes - they need a small amount of setting up, but once you've done that, they are solid, smooth and really confidence inspiring. They don't complain in the wet and have nice progression.
Drive-train - XT/RACEFACE/LX mix is superb - solid, reliable shifting
Climbs and handles very well indeed | | Weaknesses: | Assembly quality - The muppets ate Kona threaded the bottom-bracket when assembled - spotted +/- 3mm play in cranks when cleaning - had to be returned to shop for fixing - 2 weeks =(
Seatpost - useless - moves all the time and requires constant adjustment
Tyres - absoloutely useless - very skittish on loose stuff and puncture very easliy - they WEAR like nothing I've ever seen...
| | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche, KONA Caldera, Spech R'hopper, Marin Nail Trail | | Bike Setup: | Stock other than slightly higher rise bar (6'1" on a 19" frame) and XT BB after Knona threaded the RACE FACE one. | | Bottom Line: | A fine bike for XC. Just completed Douth DOwns Way in a day on this bike and (other than my VERY sore bum), I didn't tire and the bike felt responsive right the way through the ride. INspires confidence downhill and climbs very well. For a die-hard hardtail fan like myself, I couldn't wish for anything better for the sub £1k I spent (great discount...) - I do think that £1250SRP is a little high for some of the components (agreed on fork upgrade AT THAT PRICE) but then KONA aren't known for value. Swop the tyres out straight away (at point of sale) and sort the seatpost out and you will have a fine bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from England
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lots | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Winstanleys | | Strengths: | Fantastic when it gets technical, pretty good climber, all parts are solid and durable. Love the paint job! The frame itself is a work of art. | | Weaknesses: | Slightly weighty. This may be down to the fact that Kona have speced a very strange fork for the intended use. Why a Vanilla when you can have an FRL or a Float? I replaced the tyres immediately. | | Bottom Line: | Solid performer. Bought it because of the price, got it for £1000, very good compared to what the opposition had to offer, it is a very solid performer, i race on it and love it. When it gets technical it is truely a fantastic machine, its just a bit weighty. I immidiately replaced the tyres for something lighter and better, then i added a flat bar and bar ends. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Racer
from Dartmouth
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Local shop | | Strengths: | This bike is awesome, I managed to try out a few different sizes and felt teh 17" although small for riding anywheres in teh trails has teh exact right wheel base to be ultra fast in the woods for me. Awesome bike for teh money | | Weaknesses: | the lock out is garbage and keeps moving as I pedal...I'll be in teh woods and it will brush up against a branch...and whoops there goes the 100mmm, the paint job is killer but man it is beat after very little ridding and these nokian tires SUCK, three months and I'm riding slicks now... | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized rockhopper, cinder cone, G.fish tass, | | Bike Setup: | only thing i changed ut was the worthless pedals to a nice set of pd540 and they are nice | | Bottom Line: | great deal period for me. this bike has more flex in the frame then I'm used to but then it is much lighter then my previous bikes as well. great value if you pay LESS then full retail and can be an awesome race bike once teh kinks are worked out. the brakes are great and one-two finger brakeing is possible. I really love the fact that they don't just hang a bunch of shimano parts on the bike and call it a day and teh company itself is pretty good to deal with for sure!!!
Kona has more then just dirt jump and downhill bikes boys and girls...lol
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Submitted by
Rob Oakes
a Cross Country Rider
from Hoddesdon, England
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Cycadelia | | Strengths: | Extremely light Easton frame, great Hayes HFX9 hydraulics, Mazz Bomber comp fork with ETA, paintjob looks the nuts and gets admiring comments ! | | Weaknesses: | Did not like the flat Easton bar so got dealer to stick on an Easton riser that looks and rides better for me on the 18" frame. I got mine a bit cheaper than retail but still paid way more than they pay in the US(not a product weakness just a moan!). | | Similar Products Used: | CinderCone, Caldera | | Bike Setup: | Stock apart from the riser. Will be getting some Goodridge hydralic hoses. | | Bottom Line: | If you're after a high performance hardtail with great spec as standard you can't go far wrong with the Kula. My previous bike was a £250 Halfords Carrera Vulcan, heavy, no sus, really basic. I brought the Kula only yesterday and rode the furthest I've ever ridden (combo of road/off road). I couldn't believe how easy and also how un-tired I was at the end of it. Okay, today my rear end is numb so I may get a sus seatpost but still this bike is a dream!
Never underestimate the difference a good lightweight, well specced bike can make to your enjoyment factor and confidence. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allan Moss
a Cross Country Rider
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1237.00 | | Purchased At: | Penny's Christchurch NZ | | Strengths: | Front Shocks Marzochi ETA, Good Brakes Hayes, Lightweight, Good Climber, Nimble and Responsive | | Weaknesses: | Bottom Bracket lasted only 2 months, weak paint job, seat post goes Creak Creak Creak, brake lever travel allen screws always come loose (needed locktight), Nokian Tyres act like slicks (no good for NZ trail conditions). Chain didn't last longer than 3 months either. | | Similar Products Used: | GTi-Drive (had one for 4 years, best full suspension uphiller I've tried) | | Bike Setup: | Truvatic Gigapipe bottom bracket, Titec XC Carbon seatpost, Time ATAC XC pedals, WTB velociraptor rear, Maxxis MOFO XC front tyres, Mavic F219 disk rear wheel, Connex 908 chain, end bars on handlebars. | | Bottom Line: | Great value for money as is, I only replaced the back wheel because I munted the original when it was on my car's bike rack (the bike didn't like being backed in to a low fencepost !)
Original tyres were no good for NZ conditions, I usually change tyres to suit the terrain I'm going on but would have no use ever for the Nokians apart from asphalt and I've got a road bike for that !
A new hardtail was tough on my 44 year old body after sponging for years on my i-Drive, so have softened the Easton frame's characteristics by adding a carbon seat post..... fantastic, now very smooth and comfortable! No more annoying seat post creaking now either.
Changed away from SPD's to Time ATAC, best pedals I've used, no more sore elbows from stalling falls.
A bit disapointed with paint job, scrathes and chips easily so have covered the whole bike with cleartape. Only one colour of touch up paint was supplied.
Bottom bracket didn't last very long at all. The retailer did the right thing and replaced the part but not after some dispute with the local Raceface Agent, hence the Truvativ replacement part. The chain should have lasted much longer too.
Having said all that, the bike handles very well, it's quick and responsive, very light and climbs exceptionally well. (I am 187 cm (6ft 1in) tall and this is a 20 inch frame).
I like the Marzochi Shocks, the ETA feature is great for uphill, could do with a handle bar realease though, saves reaching down one handed in races when I've forgotten to switch it back to 100mm ! Totally liveable with though.
All in all great value for money at the $1900 NZ price tag, although if I'd paid full retail of $2900 NZ I'd be more than disapointed with the paint job and bottom bracket.
Looks good, is quick, nice bike ! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny2Good
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Strengths: | Easton Ultralite tubing (made in the USA though the frame is assembled in taiwan). Great spec for the money: lots of Easton parts, Race Face cranks, Marzocchi MX comp w/eta fork, Hayes Hydraulic discs. This is about as little as you can spend on a bike ready to race right out of the box. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, but after I get it out for some serious trail riding I'll update. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Kona Cindercone w/Thompson stem and seatpost, Avid 5.0 rim brakes, Marzocchi X-Fly. | | Bike Setup: | Stock '04 Kula | | Bottom Line: | Low-end race spec, that sloping Kona frame, and Easton ultralite tubing, the next best thing to scandium, for under 1500.00. I'm giving it 5 flamin' chilis for a solid value with no obvious weaknesses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dewi Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from WALES
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Afan Argoed | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Rush, Porthcawl | | Strengths: | Great for tight and twisty single-track. Climbs like a dream. | | Weaknesses: | After 4 years of serious abuse the weld joining the top tube and seat tube failed. But a week later Kona had replaced the frame and I upgraded to a Kula Primo. | | Bike Setup: | Hope discs, mainly XT throughout, with Marzocchi MX Pro forks, xyo seat post, Easton carbon risers, Time pedals | | Bottom Line: | The Easton Ultralite framed Kula which I owned for 4 years was a great bike. Great in tight single-track and a very good climber. Could be a little skittish on bumpy downhills, but then it's a hard tail after all. The Scandium framed Kula Primo I now own is just as fast uphill and through the single-track, and is also less harsh over the rough stuff. I love this bike to bits. If you buy a Kona you won't be dissapointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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