Does Kona make good MTBs?

kaian said:

I'm thinking about buying a Kona Cinder Cone (2004 model) because I can get one for a good price. I don't know much about Kona bikes. Has anyone had experience with Konas or the Cinder Cone?

agh NOOOO i work in a bike shop and we dont sell konas but hear of so many of them breaking and then i dunno about where you are but here kona dont like warranty repairs/replacements

Thats funy, all I hear is good things.

moparchris said:

agh NOOOO i work in a bike shop and we dont sell konas but hear of so many of them breaking and then i dunno about where you are but here kona dont like warranty repairs/replacements

triguy98 said:

Thats funy, all I hear is good things.

yeah well everyone seems to like them, but we hget so many broken ones coming in (frame problems not just gearing or anything) and i think they ride horribly.. but whatever

Well, I doubt I will break a bike frame. I weigh 110 lbs!

Anyway, trying to find a bike that fits that isn't $1200-$1300 and also isn't completely entry level has been hard for me. The Kona fits and I think the Giant Rainier might fit me as well, but I haven't riddent the Rainier yet. The bike shops around here don't have much for smaller people, so it's been tough to even find something in stock that I can try.

Are there certain Kona models that seem to break more often?

I had an older model Cinder Cone. Once I got on a Specialized and understood a little about frame flex, I got rid of my Kona. I didn't like the Kona's geometry either. The components that came standard on that model were better than other bikes' in that price range, though... If you're not sure, don't do it--get a Specialized. I don't think their brand recognition is good enough that you can get a decent resell value if you turn around and sell it.:o

Well, I would love to have a Specialized Stumpjumper, but $1100 is a lot for me to spend right now. The Stumpjumper WSD fits me really well and feels good. I have an older Specialized MTB and my road bike is an Allez. I am also looking at the Giant Rainier as an option at this point because the components are really nice on the '05. I just have to try one out to see how the fit is.

I have gotten to ride one of their king kilapu's and i liked the ride it feels alot like my "fuel 99" I think that you should go to konaworld.com and check it out on line

kaian said:

The Kona fits and I think the Giant Rainier might fit me as well, but I haven't riddent the Rainier yet.

whats the Giant Rainier (components ?) the Giant range they bring into NZ/Aus is different and we dont get the rainer here

Unfortunately, I think the Giant Rainier is going to be a little big for me. I stood over a Rincon and I had maybe an inch of standover, but that's with a 80mm fork. The guy at the shop said that the Rainier has a 100 mm fork and that would push the front of the bike up a little (giving me less standover space).

The Rainier has a SRAM X.7 rear derailleur, SRAM freewheel, Avid Mech. disc brakes, Easton bars, stem and seat post, Sun RhynoLite rims...

It has a lot of decent stuff for the money, but that isn't going to do me any good if it doesn't fit well. My biggest issue has been standover height. I don't even need tons - just enough in case I need to come off of my bike in a forward position for whatever reason.
So far, it looks like Kona might be it for me.

kaian said:

Unfortunately, I think the Giant Rainier is going to be a little big for me. I stood over a Rincon and I had maybe an inch of standover, but that's with a 80mm fork. The guy at the shop said that the Rainier has a 100 mm fork and that would push the front of the bike up a little (giving me less standover space).

The Rainier has a SRAM X.7 rear derailleur, SRAM freewheel, Avid Mech. disc brakes, Easton bars, stem and seat post, Sun RhynoLite rims...

It has a lot of decent stuff for the money, but that isn't going to do me any good if it doesn't fit well. My biggest issue has been standover height. I don't even need tons - just enough in case I need to come off of my bike in a forward position for whatever reason.
So far, it looks like Kona might be it for me.

how tall are you ?

i say if the specialised suits you well.. even if is going to cost more (how much more though?) go for it, yoiull be better in the long run having a bike thats probly going to last long and feel better to ride than have a bike that has lower spec components and a frame that dosnt fit you propperly.

myself.. id prefer to get a giant, they make really good bikes and over here are better for price compared to say specialised for the same spec bike also they make their own frames.. not like alot of otehr brans (specialised frames are made giant factorys) i dont know who makes kona but im pretty sure they dont make their own

but i wouldnt get anything even if it is cheaper if its not going to fit you how you want it to

I'm 5 feet tall. I have looked at women's specific bikes, but unfortunately, women's specific bikes are either low-end bikes or really high end bikes over $1,000. There doesn't seem to be a good middle option for those kind.

Well, the Kona Cinder Cone ('05) I am looking at is $760 (USD + tax) at my local LBS, which I think is a decent price. I did try the frame on a trainer and the guy fit the bike to me and everything and it felt good. Originally, I went to get fit for a closeout '04, but then when he called his distributor, the 5 they had left earlier in the week had already been purchased. 😠 But, the frame geometry felt just as comfy as the Stumpjumper. The Stumpjumper is $1100 (USD + tax) ! That's a lot of money to spend in my opinion. It's another $3-400! That's a huge difference. AND the LBS has agreed to swap out the Hayes Hydrolics for some Avid mech disc brakes (I don't want to deal with hydrolics). The Stumpjumper is disc compatible, but does not come with disc brakes. ??? I don't know. When I decided to look for a bike, I told myself I wouldn't spend over $800 because it's a lot of money and I'm not racing. I am riding for fun because I enjoy it!

Originally, I was going to get a Rockhopper Comp Disc, but then found out that they aren't making them in a 13" anymore.

This thread is the first time I've heard of people unhappy with Kona bikes.

I've ridden mostly kona and specialized, and like both brands.

But my impression of the bikes is, if you want to race, go specialized. If you want to have fun, buy a kona.

Well, I opted for a Kona Cinder Cone. I test rode a GF Tassajara and a Giant Rainier, but ultimately, the Kona felt the best. Treks didn't have enough options, Cannondales didn't fit and the Specialized bike I wanted (Stumpjumper) was a little too much money.

I felt like I had control over the Kona instead of the bike controlling me (which is how the Giant felt). I knew as soon as I got on it that it was right. Finally!

The Giant had a lot of good options and the guy at the shop was going to give me a SUPER great deal on it, but what can I say, it felt really stiff and bulky for some reason. Not that it is any heavier than other bikes - to pick it up, it's about average for the price, but the ride felt heavy and sluggish.

So...I'm happy! 😄 I can't wait to get out there and ride!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

one question.. what were the hayes brakes you swapped out the mech. brakes for ? id guess hayes sole which are about the same as some really good mechanicals, theyre not that great, unless it had a dual piston setup (probably the HFX-9's) your insane lol :p then again ive heard quite a few people (alway on forums like here, never in our shop) complaining about the hayes 9's being [censored], there are better brakes but theyre not bad for what they are, i actually have some and have had no problems, if i do ill just swap them out for probably some avids or maguras, whatevers better for the price

Yeah, they were the HFX-9s or whatever. I ended up getting Avid mechanical's. I know, I might be crazy, but I read MANY reviews of the Hayes brakes and a lot of people had issues with them AND hydraulics are more expensive to maintain. I am not a bike mechanic - I don't want to be bleeding brakes and all that. I would rather have something that's easy to maintain and easy for ME to adjust. The Avids stop great. I love them!

I would look at the Kona Dawgs. They have good suspension 4 the price nad the frame is really sttrong if u only way 110. U can buy bikes on Ebay if u have 2. I have a Cannondale Prophet and I got it 4 $600 on Ebay and it has a lefty and zero pedal bob. It is a 2005 model. I have ridden the Cinder cone (my friend has 1), and it has decent suspension. If i got it, I would switch out the fork 4 a dual crown rock shox or marzochhi. The cinder cone has ever so slight pedal bob, but u dont even notice it until u start 2 pedal hard uphill. When u ramp or do any drops it kind of bounces a little when u land, unlike my prophet...

I have a Kona cinder cone, well sort of, as I’ve changed the forks, pedals, brakes, saddle and seat post. But not the frame yet. It’s a great bike and it’s been around for over ten years so there must be something good about it.

I have a kona cinder cone and I love it. It is a great racing bike, crosscountry, and downhill. So i dont know what u 2 are bikkering about because it is a great bike. 😎

i agree its truly a great bike. The parts i've changed were partly born out of the need to customise to my style and partly because they enhanced a great frame. For instance i've put hope mini brakes and rock shox reba forks on.