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Kona Unit X stack height

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takeouttonys

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I bought a Kona Unit X in 2020 as my first mountain bike. Rode it around the trails outside my home here in Portland, Oregon. I also took a trip out to Ashville, NC and did a bunch of riding around the Dupont State Forest area on a friend's full suspension. I decided I'm going to stick with it so I splurged on a Ripmo AF recently, its probably all the bike I will ever need.

Now when I ride the Unit I really notice the lower stack height, I feel more stretched forward and bent over. Both it and the Ripmo are size large, I'm 5'10" with a 32" insteam. Both bikes have the same reach according to the geo specs, but the stack on the Unit is 606mm vs 629mm on the Ripmo. I'm currently using all the spacers that came with the Unit, so I guess the stack would be a bit more? To get it up higher are my other solutions a different pair of handle bars or a fork with a longer steering tube?
 
#2 ·
takeouttonys said:
I bought a Kona Unit X in 2020 as my first mountain bike. Rode it around the trails outside my home here in Portland, Oregon. I also took a trip out to Ashville, NC and did a bunch of riding around the Dupont State Forest area on a friend's full suspension. I decided I'm going to stick with it so I splurged on a Ripmo AF recently, its probably all the bike I will ever need.

Now when I ride the Unit I really notice the lower stack height, I feel more stretched forward and bent over. Both it and the Ripmo are size large, I'm 5'10" with a 32" insteam. Both bikes have the same reach according to the geo specs, but the stack on the Unit is 606mm vs 629mm on the Ripmo. I'm currently using all the spacers that came with the Unit, so I guess the stack would be a bit more? To get it up higher are my other solutions a different pair of handle bars or a fork with a longer steering tube?
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First, you're comparing two very very different bikes, they're not meant to fit the same way. One is not right or wrong, it's just about personal preference and optimizing that bike for your needs.

It depends on how much higher you're attempting to get? Yes, riser handlebars are the quickest/easiest way to get your hands up higher. A 30-40mm riser will be a significant change for instance.

If you're looking to get higher than that you may find that you start running out of cable/housing at some point, depending on how much cable slack you have to work with.

There are riser handlebars available with 50-100mm of rise too if you're looking to make a bigger jump? I wouldn't swap the fork unless you were making a change to a suspension fork or something, in which case Kona recommends a maximum fork length of 100mm for the Unit just FYI.
 
#4 ·
I have a 2020 large Unit (so to speak). Like my Honzo, compared to my large Druid, the thing is HUGE. Massive. Reach, stack height, basically everything but wheelbase (that said, I have the dropouts slammed forward on both bikes). Konas are tailor made for me. Always have been. I’ve owned over 15 (and still own 6) and every single one has been a custom fit for me. I find it odd you find the stack height lacking. These are towering bikes.

Edit: I am talking from trail feel, not geo charts.
 
#5 ·
I would agree the stack is low but I've never had it be a problem with my 21 unit x while riding. I can feel the difference for sure but it's never been a comfort issue and I think the forward geometry helps in a lot of mtb situations. An Adjustable or high-degree stem plus some riser bars could make it feel more equalized, and I have seen units set up that way before.
 
#6 ·
I asked Kona this specific question and they said NOT to put a significantly longer fork on the Unit. in my case, i was asking about putting a 120mm suspension fork on it, which is more like a 500mm a-c length. however, the fork on that bike is 470mm. that's a short little fork. I would think that a more common 480–485 fork would be fine. they just don't want you over-forking it into a trail bike and ripping the head tube off. if you want a tapered fork, I would think Surly, Tandell, or Pipedream would be good options.

otherwise, you need a taller handlebar or a shorter-reach stem. with a bike that low in the front, there's no reason to keep a low rise bar on there. look into something that's actually tall, like a Surly Sunrise Bar or splurge on a Doom Bar.

I know a local guy who rides a rigid Unit with massive tires. he's pretty tall and has some huge riser bar on it. it looks weird at first but it makes total sense when you see how very low that front end is.

use the BB as a reference point when measuring these things, not the ground. you don't put your feet on the ground when riding a bicycle, unless something has gone very wrong.

related rant: why can't we call a handlebar a handlebar? it's not plural. a normal bicycle does not have more than one handlebar on it. it's one unit, usually made from one piece of material. don't get me started on "forks."
 
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