Submitted by
trarahumara
a Weekend Warrior
from chihuahua, mexico Date Reviewed: November 14, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Taxco Living Room Drive Through
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Strengths:
Great front and rear suspension;
Reasonable enough weight;
Good all around bike;
Great braking system;
Feels balanced and maneuvers well;
Tires quite adequate for mountain trails
Weaknesses:
Sissified look betrays how good this bike is for mountain trail riding
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel EX7
Giant NRS3
Proflex Beast
Bike Setup:
Standard Configuration
Bottom Line:
Bike is great all-around. Good climber and great control on the downhills. Components range from good to very good. High bottom bracket takes a little getting used to, but will surely clear just about everything out there. Solid feel, responsive. This bike is really cool, except the look could be a lot more aggressive looking. Great bike for weekend warriors who like to grind it out on long uphills, and let it rip on winding down or cross-country trails.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
craig
a Cross Country Rider
from rochester, mn Date Reviewed: July 29, 2008
Favorite Trail:
maah daah hey
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
frame only
Strengths:
can take a beat down
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
blur
Bike Setup:
717/with WTB hubs/marzocchi/sram x-9
Bottom Line:
this review is for the 2002 kona bear. the bear was kona's original 'backcountry' full suspension trail bike. i have ridden this bike over 4000 miles, off road over the past six years. i weigh 220. the new design uses better tubing (lighter) but the geometry and handling are very similar. this bike climbs great, decents like an anvil and can handle miles and miles of singletrack. after about 3,500 miles i had to replace my swingarm. it had a hairline crack in it. kona shipped out the new one right away! the new one was much stronger (they must have redesigned it).
bottom line: this is a great bike in an outstanding package. not as sexy as a turner, santa cruz or ellsworth, but just as tough and rideable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luis Nogueira
a Racer
from Portugal Date Reviewed: February 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
The next one
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1800.00
Purchased At:
Ofimoto bike shop (Portugal)
Strengths:
Well,it´s a Kona... handling;light frame;stability;inteligent spec;colors
Weaknesses:
High bottom bracket (i´ll get used to it) Some heavy components Makes me go faster that I want to,sometimes...
The waiting was worth it! This is my first xc Kona,and I love it from the first moment...It has a great frame,so you can upgrade it,some components are a bit heavy,but this is a awsome bike,great handling and comfort for a 4" bike Still getting used to the high bottom bracket,but,hey,I come from a Specialized...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Cabool , MO USA Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Queen City Cycles Springfield, MO
Strengths:
Very light, well balanced, quick out of the saddle. Bike climbs very well and decends nice too. It is not a big hit bike but it rides much smoother than your average cross country bike without comprimising efficiency during pedaling.
Weaknesses:
Cannot find a weakness at this time. Smoothest riding bike I have ever ridden.
Similar Products Used:
Used to own a Trek dual suspension and would never consider buying another one.
Bike Setup:
I just set up the front and rear suspension by manufacturers recomendations given my current body weight.
Bottom Line:
Don't buy another bike without considering and test riding a Kona first. Very comfortable, light, dependable bike. The bike just eats up the Ozark mountains.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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