Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

2017 Kona Unit - verdict?

Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 438 Posts
#28 ·
I can't wait to ride one, I am pretty much sold, just want to spend more time on a demo 27.5+ before I buy. I can demo a trek Stache but I know I will want to buy that things probably over the Unit but $$$$$ falling short. I love my 2015 Trek Superfly but looking to get back into steel. How are there not more reviews or info. Maybe singlespeed forum?
 
#30 ·
Got my 2017 Kona Unit a few weeks ago and love it. I'm a big guy 6'5" 300lb so wanted to get back to a nice solid steel rigid bike that could take my beating. Now understand I got the bike with the intention of lots of changes, upgrades and gears. I'm just a bit picky and know what works for me vs smaller lighter guys. Also I liked the versatility that Kona built into this frame.

Base:
2017 XL Kona Unit

Upgrades:
hand built (by me) wheels Bitex 6 pawl hubs (108 points of engagement) laced with Sapim laser butted spokes to WTB Scraper I45 rims.
Origin 8 space bar (AKA marry bar clone)
X7 rear derailer and shifter
11x36 cassette
WTB 3.0 Bridger front tire
XT trail pedals
Orange seal tubeless
Halo hex bolt skewers

Present weight: 28lb

Possible future plans:
XT 11 speed 11x46. Soon as money allows
Wolf tooth oval chain ring? kinda want to try it.
WTB Ranger tires? unless something better is out when what I got wears down.
Rear through axle? seams solid as it is not sure its needed.
Carbon fork? Would like the weight savings but not sure I want the failure.
 
#31 ·
TrailMasonJones said:
Wolf tooth oval chain ring? kinda want to try it.
Click to expand...
Very nice build. Love the burly looks of it.
And I can whole heartedly recommend oval rings. I was sceptical first, but I'm running 34T oval one up on my Honzo (with 11-42 out back), and it is amazing how much traction you get, and how much longer your legs can deliver.

i can also recommend to extend the 11-36 cassette with a 42T cog, assuming you'd like to test this as well.
hope this helps.
 
#32 ·
Rynee said:
Very nice build. Love the burly looks of it.
And I can whole heartedly recommend oval rings. I was sceptical first, but I'm running 34T oval one up on my Honzo (with 11-42 out back), and it is amazing how much traction you get, and how much longer your legs can deliver.

i can also recommend to extend the 11-36 cassette with a 42T cog, assuming you'd like to test this as well.
hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks Loving the bike and pimping it out a bit more than I would normally. I'm digging the matte green and black base colors with a little blue bling to match the Kona decals just enough to make it pop.

My next upgrade will be taking it from a well worn 10 group to 11 with 11-46. Would like to add the Oval as well but not sure its available for the FSA comet cranks. haven't done a lot of looking yet though.
 
#34 ·
Got a real good deal on the full bike as I'm the trail steward for the shop managers favorite trail. The only additional Money out of my pocket on the bike was the wheels all other parts were in the bin and the 3.0 Bridger was a straight trade to a friend that had just gotten a Heller and wanted to get some better rolling on the rear.

I am hell on wheels so the original wheels were slated as a back up set from the beginning. This way I have an extra set sitting in the car just in case on bike trips ect. I have a backup set of wheels for every bike I own.

The Alex rims are OK at 40mm inner width but the hubs are silly low engagement for a bike sold as single speed. with the new wheel set I took almost 2lbs of the bike.

As for the scrapper rims I like them. They have a good weight to stiffness and if you match them with a WTB tire they will hold without sealant just fine. Hell I set them up with a floor pump.
 
#36 ·
Driverfound337 said:
2lbs! Guess upgrade is in my future.....
Click to expand...
I went to the limit of how light I thought I could go. I have built wheels for years and am very, very, very picky about them and the proper build tension ect. I also ruff check true/round after every ride. So you might not be able to shave off quite as much as I did but you could get close with a shop built set.
 
#38 ·
The rear derailer cable runs down the down tube and under the bottom bracket. It has some housing zip tie brazes to tie to until you get to the 3rd of the 5 water bottle mounts. you can simply use eyelet cable ties like I show here.

after the bottom bracket there are 3 mounts on the bottom of the chain stay however I prefer to go old school with a tube wrap chain stay protector. so the housing is sitting in the mounts but just warped in place.
I have the drop out sliders slammed full forward there are some alignment bolts that I did not install as they are not needed with this arrangement. the sliders make it very easy to go back to single speed as a trailside repair.
plenty of rear clearance with the 2.8 on the 45mm inner rim a friend of mine is running a large unit with 3.35s on 35mm rims and still has ok clearance.
and the fork has loads of room left with the 3.0s on I45 rims
 
#39 ·
Steel, rigid, SS, 27.5+ and a great price

mtnbkrmike said:
What do you guys think of the new Unit? Any thoughts on the switch to 27.5+ tires?
Click to expand...
i haven't ridden a unit, or a 27.5+ but it sure looks like a fine combination. I just bumped my front tire up to a 2.35 from 2.15 and I can't believe the difference in handling on my trails.
Not so much for the suspension crowd but for the SS rigid folk, hell yeah.
I noticed it the other day on their website and can't stop thinking about the damn thing.

Where am i gonna hide this so my wife doesn't see the new bike?
 
#40 ·
Crankyone said:
i haven't ridden a unit, or a 27.5+ but it sure looks like a fine combination. I just bumped my front tire up to a 2.35 from 2.15 and I can't believe the difference in handling on my trails.
Not so much for the suspension crowd but for the SS rigid folk, hell yeah.
I noticed it the other day on their website and can't stop thinking about the damn thing.

Where am i gonna hide this so my wife doesn't see the new bike?
Click to expand...
I can blame the change for me on my fat bike. I was happy with my 29r then I started to play with the fatty and loved the traction and how I could just dive into corners without the fear of my front tire washing out. But I hated the overall weight and resistance if the big tires. With the 27.5+ setup your bridging that gap getting damn close to the rollover of 29r and close to the traction of a fatty.
 
21 - 40 of 438 Posts
About this Discussion
437 Replies
80 Participants
Last post:
Funoutside
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion