Kona 2009 Launch - Big Travel Machines
by Tyler Maine
Aug 28, 2008
With 88 bikes in their line up, Kona has a lot of styles to cover. Thankfully here at Pinkbike, we're more concerned with their gravity offerings for 2009.
Here's a look at the Stinky, the Stinky Deluxe, the Minxy and the Stab Supreme:
Here's a look at the Stinky, the Stinky Deluxe, the Minxy and the Stab Supreme:
Ladies freeriding is an ever growing portion of the freeride market and bikes that help meet their needs are always welcome. For 2009 Kona is unveiling the Minxy and it is for all you lady rippers out there. It's based around the Stinky, but with ladies in mind-lighter tubing, women specific parts, tweeked geometry and a lower stand over height are all part of the new package.
Sticking with the Stinky line of bikes lets have a look at the entry level Stinky Six, coming in at $1999 CDN. The Stinky Six is the only 6 inch travel version in the Stinky line up. It is built with budget in mind for those that want to climb up to their descents-only one in the line up to feature a granny gear too. This is the do all of the Stinky line up.
The Stinky Deluxe is the abuse ready offering for 2009, with 7 inches front and back thanks to a Marzocchi 66 RC3 Fork and a Marzocchi ROCO TST shock. Kona/Brake Therapy floating disk brake system cut out the brake jack from the gnarliest of descents. The 1.5" head tube adds some strength to the front end. The all new rocker arms add strength to the package, while the laser etched alloy fasteners let us know just how much torque to apply when tightening the whole thing done. The bold color mix really stands out too.
From a visual stand point, the 2009 Kona Stab Supreme was my favorite bike in the line up-simply stunning to look at. This is their flag ship downhill race machine with no holds bared on the parts package. Full Shimano SAINT drive train and brakes, Marzocchi 888 RC3 WC fork, Race Face parts, DOPE Floating rear brake, ya that parts list goes on and on. The new rear drop up will work with any 150x12mm rear hub.
Show and tell of the 2009 Kona Bikes and off we go riding:
After the show and tell was over and lunch was consumed it was time to take a few bikes out on the mountain. Kona hired some guides and we all got to head up the peak chair for our afternoon ride on the Khyber trail. To say it was hot out would be an understatement, I was dying, but wow the views from up there were oh so worth it!
By the time we got down to Creekside a few of us were pretty tired, so I was super happy when Francisco told me that his wife was coming to pick him up and that there was room for 3 more-Done I am in! Unfortunately for us, we got pulled over for a seat belt infraction on Lou's part. Ok maybe had to do with me yelling out the window to a buddy, but Lou got the seat belt ticket-sorry Lou.
The day ended back where it all began at the Kona tent and trailer at the base of the bike park.
You can check out the Shonky and the Bass HERE.
Please visit www.konaworld.com to learn more.
-Tyler "Brule" Maine
Canadian Retail of $2299
 |  |  |
Sticking with the Stinky line of bikes lets have a look at the entry level Stinky Six, coming in at $1999 CDN. The Stinky Six is the only 6 inch travel version in the Stinky line up. It is built with budget in mind for those that want to climb up to their descents-only one in the line up to feature a granny gear too. This is the do all of the Stinky line up.
 |  |  |
The Stinky Deluxe is the abuse ready offering for 2009, with 7 inches front and back thanks to a Marzocchi 66 RC3 Fork and a Marzocchi ROCO TST shock. Kona/Brake Therapy floating disk brake system cut out the brake jack from the gnarliest of descents. The 1.5" head tube adds some strength to the front end. The all new rocker arms add strength to the package, while the laser etched alloy fasteners let us know just how much torque to apply when tightening the whole thing done. The bold color mix really stands out too.
Canadian Retail $3999
 |  |  |
From a visual stand point, the 2009 Kona Stab Supreme was my favorite bike in the line up-simply stunning to look at. This is their flag ship downhill race machine with no holds bared on the parts package. Full Shimano SAINT drive train and brakes, Marzocchi 888 RC3 WC fork, Race Face parts, DOPE Floating rear brake, ya that parts list goes on and on. The new rear drop up will work with any 150x12mm rear hub.
Canadian retail of $5999
 |  |  |  |
After the show and tell was over and lunch was consumed it was time to take a few bikes out on the mountain. Kona hired some guides and we all got to head up the peak chair for our afternoon ride on the Khyber trail. To say it was hot out would be an understatement, I was dying, but wow the views from up there were oh so worth it!
Up we go to the Peak
By the time we got down to Creekside a few of us were pretty tired, so I was super happy when Francisco told me that his wife was coming to pick him up and that there was room for 3 more-Done I am in! Unfortunately for us, we got pulled over for a seat belt infraction on Lou's part. Ok maybe had to do with me yelling out the window to a buddy, but Lou got the seat belt ticket-sorry Lou.
The day ended back where it all began at the Kona tent and trailer at the base of the bike park.
You can check out the Shonky and the Bass HERE.
Please visit www.konaworld.com to learn more.
-Tyler "Brule" Maine
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143 Comments
- + 52
philipstonier
(Aug 28, 2008 at 0:18)
its good to see kona changing the frames abit, i mean by got its been at least 10 year of vertually the same thing with different names
looks like the fourth guy riding down puts some nice scratches on the bike; hits a rock then a second later biffs it lol.
personaly i think they seem like they will perform better but i like a bike to look like a machine not a toy.
why are you cad's hating on the kona bikes... they are canadian. they are the grandfather of freeride bikes. but im going to stick to american bike companies like specialized and trek and black market and gary fisher and giant.
dno why people hate kona's because they are the same design for like 10 years, why change something that works?. fair enough the 06-08 stinky's sucked abit but looks like the 09 are back to the good old 04/05 style
88 bikes in their line up and all use the same suspension design. (ok the full sus ones) knew someone would burn me bout hard-tails
Seriously, Kona never innovate on nothing, open your eyes! Trek have the same system but with many improvements, alway minimum 5 lbs less than this and have same price, so why buy a Kona enh? This big corporation sit on ther fat ass and do nothing great but burn your precious bucks!
Wee, it looks to me as if someone has stumbled over a bucket of white paint over there... Some parts are okay... but for f**ksake... Not the whole bike... The color of the stab looks soo damn ugly... It looks like a pimp bike for wannabes riding down the city streets with a hucking bike without actually knowing, what it was built for... Get over this white shit... The 2005 line up was just great... the colors, the tubing, the parts... lets spray a bike for bikers...
Actually you will probably win a first prize with the stinky dee... I think it is the ugliest color i have seen in the last 16 years of riding. Well done.
That is a way of getting attention as well...
Actually you will probably win a first prize with the stinky dee... I think it is the ugliest color i have seen in the last 16 years of riding. Well done.
That is a way of getting attention as well...
wow, you're making a lot of stink about a color scheme, just cause it's white, doesnt mean people are gonna buy it just to pose on, you ever think that maybe trends are followed to maximize profits?
I know for sure that I will never buy a Kona. They have to be the ugliest bikes out. Look at the graphics! Barf!
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2406028/
With the stickers removed this don't get any better! Ugly as H E double hockey sticks!
With the stickers removed this don't get any better! Ugly as H E double hockey sticks!
this ones for the testers, do the 2009 888 on the stab seem to be an improvement from the drastic fail of 2008 marzocchi forks?
The issue with 08 zocchi was the reliability, hardly something you are going to see about from a product launch?
Only 2-3 people at the launch were on 2009 Stabs, while the rest were riding Coilairs. I had no issues with the 888 during the afternoon of riding, but like joedaho said, it's long term not a few hours.
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The konas have looked fairly similiar for the past few years- maybe different angled top tubes and alike but essentially the same. Would be nice to see something a bit different from such a big company- perhaps follow norcos footsteps (for example) who have made a massive effort with their aesthetics over the last year or so.
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Although a big Kona fan, I think their logo this year is SHIT!
I prefer the old, military style one.
I prefer the old, military style one.
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Kona was nowhere in 08 in DH and will continue to be nowhere until they invest in a new frame design that doesn't weigh the earth and pedal like a donkey - still sure plenty will buy it just because its white!
More to the point Barel wasn't riding for them this year and Tracey Moseley just isn't that good compared to the younger batch of female riders
Kona is becoming bullshit...Go see in Broken Bikes in "photos" and you'll see, almost every broken bike is from kona...and they're ugly..Too bad Kona..You've lost the goodness
yeah,and allmost every broken fork is Boxxer or the other RS...
does it mean they are shit??
no...
but...
RS are shit
does it mean they are shit??
no...
but...
RS are shit
Shit bikes, about time they changed the design, if it was a timeless suspension design then fine, but it does have many flaws. About time for a change!
Whatya talkin about - the 4 bar suspension design is a clssic. The only thing that's more of 'timeless suspension design' is single pivot.
bike i like the most from Kona is the brown hybrid station wagon with the longboard for a rack.(128.9) flowing the Hawaii colours, with a name like Kona.....yawn i get it.
I think those bikes keep getting cooler and cooler every year... only thing i don't like is the new logo
seriously, are they still making 60lb tanks because they're too lazy to do any quality control or innovative design work? what do those beasties weigh?
konas frames are lightyears behind other frames. only good thing they have is the marketing office. always same shit with uglier and uglier graphics. overpriced too.
the biggest change which i can see, is that the right chainstay is no longer polished. Maybe this is just for the pre-production bikes. this was always the most important unique selling point for kona's imho.
The colours and decals of the new range are terrible. I hope this is the last year we see white.
Yes, I think 06 was the classic year for the Stab Supreme and the Stinky Primo. 07 was the year of the last and best Coiler range.
The 09 Stinky Six is obviously the replacement for the Coiler but I don't think it looks as good. I'm sorry, but I can't stand curved top tubes. What's wrong with the good ol'low slung straight tube with a seat tube gusset?
On the subject of curved tubes the new Norco DH has to be the ugliest thing I've seen in years - it makes the new Konas look stunning.
Yes, I think 06 was the classic year for the Stab Supreme and the Stinky Primo. 07 was the year of the last and best Coiler range.
The 09 Stinky Six is obviously the replacement for the Coiler but I don't think it looks as good. I'm sorry, but I can't stand curved top tubes. What's wrong with the good ol'low slung straight tube with a seat tube gusset?
On the subject of curved tubes the new Norco DH has to be the ugliest thing I've seen in years - it makes the new Konas look stunning.
Most of you seem to not know what the heck you are talking about as they change something framewise nearly every year, it is called "refinement". If it ain't broke, don't fix it! IMO, best new 09 change is the new pivot mounting bolts with torquing-guidelines, NO MORE exposed bearing rings,YEAH! White is dope regardless of what some say.
Right, that is why they have sold thousands of bikes over the course of ten years! Once you get comfortable with the four-bar suspension, you don't want anything else.
You said it - there's nothin' wrong with Kona four bar suspension. I don't like the 09 paint jobs much but love Kona bikes for the ride.
The Minxy looks cute! And I like the all white on the Stab! Just cant say much about the decals - woahhhhh easy on the bright colours!!
I was never a real big fan of Kona.. they'll never get my money and this proves it. Oh well.. to each their own.
bollocks, its nice for a change but the old colours were a hell of alot better, all white? wtf???i think they forget its a downhill bike, its eventually just gona go light brown anyway !?!?
accually, those bikes aren't that bad. Great parts, Fabien Barel inspired geo. and I'd be willing to bet that the colors will be changeable for those who wine about white
Wow, Kona sure seems to be in the-line-of-fire for a lot of peoples negativety... And we all know were it comes from... one person talks Kona down and then the next person does the same thing w/o ever taking a Kona out for a spin. I know first-hand they are a great company... if they were not, they would not have 88 bikes in their line-up to choose from. Kona has a bike for everything... that is what I call a diverse, on-the-ball company. If Transition was not around, I would be riding a Kona hands down.
Interesting how new Kona's only are rated on the new paintjobs they have. Ah wait! That's the only thing they change every year!
I beg to disagree- a large stock of bikes does not make a good company, just a company great at marketing. At one time Cannondale was a large company, and so was Schwinn. I have watched Kona grow first hand in BC. Yes they are a nice company with good people working there but they do not have a real design component to their company and it shows- no innovation just selling a repackaged 4 bar linkage year after year.
Nothing! It is actually 4 bar. Faux bar is a term used by people who think you have to have a Horst-Link to call it 4 bar. This will probably get a swag of comments. Anyways whatever you want to call it the Kona suspension design is tried & proven there isn't any reason to change it (apart from marketing). If all you people who hang shite on Kona were to look around you'd find that a lot of dual suspension bikes on the market are single pivot or 4 bar without Horst-Link.
I think its good to see some bike/parts companies trying to get a little style into their product. I think this sport needs some snowboard/motocross style because like it or not MTBers are the geeks of extreme sports. Good to see that starting to change. Oh and btw you can wash your bike... that way it stays purtty an white.
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Great looking color schemes - better than the '09 Norco's in my opinion. I don't think there is anything wrong with Konas....I bet more people have started their 'career' so to speak riding a Stinky than any other bike out there.
'05 Kona Coiler in either emergency green or electric blue with the military letters...doesn't get any better looking than that. I agree...these new one's make me ashamed to say I ride a Kona...even if it is a cool 05 model.
HOLY SHITTTT kona finally is putting some quality drive train parts on thier bikes and it actually looks like it will hold up
Dope! you can send the green one to me, I'll write another review or something... PM me for address!
man it seems that more people are bitchin about what the bikes color is. you sound like a bunch of girls. you can change the f**king color. its called paint. it been around for a while. kona put out some nice bikes and people just wanna bitch about the color.... wow
Kona has a kick-ass marketing department that is somehow able to convince people to buy the same old design year after year. Honestly - those guys are geniuses! Their suspension is outdated and performance wise, these bikes get left behind. Just look at that "Brake therapy" floating brake thing - stick on another goofy chunk of metal to compensate for a flawed design. Do you buy your bike for the paintjob? Or how it rides?
Kona summed up in a nutshell - shitty designs/service but flashy cool marketing. I think the Ute is their best bike this year HAHA
I buy a bike for how it rides - that's why I've got a Kona Coiler! Rather than outdated I'd say the suspension design is an all time classic. Gee whiz the same company that designed the floating brake for Kona also make them for Turner, Ellsworth, Trek, Santa Cruz, Cove, Intense, Banshee, Marin, Cannondale, Giant, Yeti, Iron Horse, Specialized, Orange, Tomac, Foes, GT and others. Could it be that no suspesion design completely eliminates brake jack?
The DW link suspension on the IH eliminates, or comes close to stopping brake jack(I ride one). This without the two pound bar added to the frame. I do have Gemini too, and that sucker is the king of brake jack.
My Kona Brake Therapy kit weighed in at exactly 1 pound. Some suspension designs do a pretty good job at reducing brake jack (like your IH)- the point I'm making is that no design is perfect and if Kona don't see a need to change theirs, so be it.
Right on mon, 1 pound for brake therapy isn't bad at all. Thanks for the insight on this as I was wondering about that bar. I agree with you that there is no one perfect design that would fit everyone. I personally like Konas' and would consider getting one in the future.
kona bikes are the shit,i got an 04 stinky and i love it and my opinion konas bikes are only getting better
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ive never been a big kona fan but that stab supreme looks awesome. especially with that paint scheme
konas are f*cking good bikes but as i said, they will eventually go light brown(yh u can wash them) but there not gona stay stain free 4eva !
the only somewhat nice bike is the stinky delux(paint wise), if they got rid of their stupid logo and put back the old military writin on that lime green. itd look great
It would be nice to see Kona come up with a rear suspension design that doesn't require bolt on after market parts to make it work.
Gee whiz the same company that designed the floating brake for Kona also make them for Santa Cruz, Tomac, Turner, Ellsworth, Cove, Intense, Banshee,
Marin, Cannondale, Giant, Yeti, Orange, Iron Horse, Specialized, GT, and many more. I wonder why? Could it be that no suspension design completely eliminates brake jack?
Marin, Cannondale, Giant, Yeti, Orange, Iron Horse, Specialized, GT, and many more. I wonder why? Could it be that no suspension design completely eliminates brake jack?
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Seriously, Kona never innovate on nothing, open your eyes! Trek have the same system but with many improvements, alway minimum 5 lbs less than this and have same price, so why buy a Kona enh? This big corporation sit on ther fat ass and do nothing great but burn your precious bucks!
You reckon Kona is a big corporation? You got it backwards. I wonder which frame is gonna last longer - the Kona or the lightweight Trek?
i love kona and i always new that they would come back and have some more sweet bikes i hope that who ever is cussing at kona gets there asses kicked
I Kinda like the new kona look.
but I would personally spend the extra cash and get a Transition.
but i've riden kona's before and have had no problem
and i think the new design is overall preety sic
but I would personally spend the extra cash and get a Transition.
but i've riden kona's before and have had no problem
and i think the new design is overall preety sic
never cared for konas and as far as Im concerned the stab the stab looks like a really f*ckin ugly knock off of the new trek sessions, And they dont possess half the technology that trek applied to their sessions.
UMM? all this whites , gone a bit - sh$te,!!and i don t think there built like tanks,either,i ll stick with me 06 coiler!
it's good that some of the bikes have changed, but the stab and stinky just
look like they had a paint job and they call it a whole new bike.
And ownagedh, (the dude up there^), there not that great of bikes.
I'll skip
look like they had a paint job and they call it a whole new bike.
And ownagedh, (the dude up there^), there not that great of bikes.
I'll skip
I have owned 6 Konas.
in this time the have not made any significant change to their suspension design, while everyone else is evolving in leaps and bounds.
It's time for kona to hire a couple engineers instead of a marketing team.
it's either that or slowly disappear.
how many new Konas have you seen at whistler?
I won't be buying a kona until the have a proper engineer on the payroll.
in this time the have not made any significant change to their suspension design, while everyone else is evolving in leaps and bounds.
It's time for kona to hire a couple engineers instead of a marketing team.
it's either that or slowly disappear.
how many new Konas have you seen at whistler?
I won't be buying a kona until the have a proper engineer on the payroll.
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They don't look bad, not bad at all...
If anything I give kona credit for keeping their own style. You know, the one that all the brands had when the riding culture wasn't 50 percent crap.
These days being 'innovative' can be just as generic as staying the same.
If anything I give kona credit for keeping their own style. You know, the one that all the brands had when the riding culture wasn't 50 percent crap.
These days being 'innovative' can be just as generic as staying the same.
what a shit video.
hopefull the 09's will be a bit stronger and flex less but from what ive seen, apart frrom the nubes riding lol
but kona need to earn there rep back, have you noticed all there riders are leaving :O i wonder why?
hopefull the 09's will be a bit stronger and flex less but from what ive seen, apart frrom the nubes riding lol
but kona need to earn there rep back, have you noticed all there riders are leaving :O i wonder why?
'09 marzocchi's looks good than the '08 graphics.. but still the '07 line up is way much better, keep it simple, having too much graphics on forks, frames and having different color schemes doesn't looks good at all when you put all of them in one bike set up..
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same "OLD" shit! I'm for cad, after all, I own a Banshee, but c'mon already! It's time for a change!
I was looking thru this, and seen all the comments about kona.
So i thought id write a lil something.
I ride a 06 primo with 66..
I like it, alot.
As for the new kona's...
I don't really like the new decals that much.
i like this years better..
And the marzocchi's i dislike there decals completely...
It seems like kona doesn't make to many changes to there frames lately.
The 1.5 headtube is allright i guess..
It's could that they made the singarms more beasly i think.
It would be nice to see them work on the weight of the bikes..
everything else looks allright.. but that is my opinon!
Uhmm.. about the new paint jobs... They are kind of bright don't ya think. And they look so bare. like. it would be cool if kona added a bit of something around the headtube area. I see alo of people putting stickers and stuff in that area and so do i. haha.
I seen someone say that kona's are always breaking, haha..
Well i guess that is true too.. I mean ive seen alot of broken ones before and i broke my swingarm last year on mine.
So basically, i think kona should start improving on more things on there bikes... It's pretty much the same thing every year. give or take a part or part of the frame.. A lot of other companies are comming out with new ideas all the time. and yah..
haha, that's all i got peeps.
Peace out.
So i thought id write a lil something.
I ride a 06 primo with 66..
I like it, alot.
As for the new kona's...
I don't really like the new decals that much.
i like this years better..
And the marzocchi's i dislike there decals completely...
It seems like kona doesn't make to many changes to there frames lately.
The 1.5 headtube is allright i guess..
It's could that they made the singarms more beasly i think.
It would be nice to see them work on the weight of the bikes..
everything else looks allright.. but that is my opinon!
Uhmm.. about the new paint jobs... They are kind of bright don't ya think. And they look so bare. like. it would be cool if kona added a bit of something around the headtube area. I see alo of people putting stickers and stuff in that area and so do i. haha.
I seen someone say that kona's are always breaking, haha..
Well i guess that is true too.. I mean ive seen alot of broken ones before and i broke my swingarm last year on mine.
So basically, i think kona should start improving on more things on there bikes... It's pretty much the same thing every year. give or take a part or part of the frame.. A lot of other companies are comming out with new ideas all the time. and yah..
haha, that's all i got peeps.
Peace out.
Guess what that new logo ain't. Reminds me of the old (like late 80s early 90s) logos on the Lava domes and Killeuau's when they were THE SHIT! I personally am rocking on a 2001 Deelux. Love it because it is tough as nails. Although I have to say that I am looking at a few new bikes not of the kona Design as there are definitely limitations with the "Faux-bar" design. The D.O.P.E system cures a huge head ache but not on the Six (first seen in 2001 as a mid season release as the biggest travel stinky with the first 6" single crown ever a special ed. Z3. That bike was purple and ugly! ha ha ah! Sorry Ryan.) The dope system adds a lot of weight if you wan to ride up (and if you ride most anywhere you have to a some point). The new magic link is intriguing but I think I'll wait to see how that pans out. And NEVERSTOPRIDING I can't say for sure but moving a pivot on a mm or two and changing the tubing may not be what people meant by "new frame design".
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i still think kona bikes are weird looking, i wonder if they ride just as bad as i thought the others did :S hope not
i cannot stand kona. they always use the same design, and never change anything. all they use is 4-bar. everyone i have known that have had a kona has worried about breaking them, or rattling them apart. plus, they have some of the worst brake jack ever, unles you buy a floating brake, which costs something in the neighborhood of $500. konas are sh*t. that is not up for debate
I was looking thru this, and seen all the comments about kona.
So i thought id write a lil something.
I ride a 06 primo with 66..
I like it, alot.
As for the new kona's...
I don't really like the new decals that much.
i like this years better..
And the marzocchi's i dislike there decals completely...
It seems like kona doesn't make to many changes to there frames lately.
The 1.5 headtube is allright i guess..
It's could that they made the singarms more beasly i think.
It would be nice to see them work on the weight of the bikes..
everything else looks allright.. but that is my opinon!
Uhmm.. about the new paint jobs... They are kind of bright don't ya think. And they look so bare. like. it would be cool if kona added a bit of something around the headtube area. I see alo of people putting stickers and stuff in that area and so do i. haha.
I seen someone say that kona's are always breaking, haha..
Well i guess that is true too.. I mean ive seen alot of broken ones before and i broke my swingarm last year on mine.
So basically, i think kona should start improving on more things on there bikes... It's pretty much the same thing every year. give or take a part or part of the frame.. A lot of other companies are comming out with new ideas all the time. and yah..
haha, that's all i got peeps.
Peace out.
So i thought id write a lil something.
I ride a 06 primo with 66..
I like it, alot.
As for the new kona's...
I don't really like the new decals that much.
i like this years better..
And the marzocchi's i dislike there decals completely...
It seems like kona doesn't make to many changes to there frames lately.
The 1.5 headtube is allright i guess..
It's could that they made the singarms more beasly i think.
It would be nice to see them work on the weight of the bikes..
everything else looks allright.. but that is my opinon!
Uhmm.. about the new paint jobs... They are kind of bright don't ya think. And they look so bare. like. it would be cool if kona added a bit of something around the headtube area. I see alo of people putting stickers and stuff in that area and so do i. haha.
I seen someone say that kona's are always breaking, haha..
Well i guess that is true too.. I mean ive seen alot of broken ones before and i broke my swingarm last year on mine.
So basically, i think kona should start improving on more things on there bikes... It's pretty much the same thing every year. give or take a part or part of the frame.. A lot of other companies are comming out with new ideas all the time. and yah..
haha, that's all i got peeps.
Peace out.
i cannot stand kona. they always use the same design, and never change anything. all they use is 4-bar. everyone i have known that have had a kona has worried about breaking them, or rattling them apart. plus, they have some of the worst brake jack ever, unles you buy a floating brake, which costs something in the neighborhood of $500. konas are sh*t. that is not up for debate
take a close look and you will see a lot has changed on these bikes over the years.
First think you should notice is the much shorter chain stay length, spot on head angle and the 1.5 head tube.
i would like to see people really understand suspension systems.. No suspension system, except for a floatingbrake equiped rear end will ever eliminate brake induced suspension lock-up.Sure some come close (giant, vpp, Ironhorse), but none eliminate it...except for floaring brakes.
No stop the "Fuax" bar bull... horst link doesn't work as well as people want to believe... infact because of the pivot on the chainstay before the rear axle the system contributes to sloppy rear end, premature wearing of bearings and depending on additional bearing platements can cause failure in your shock because of lateral movoment on the rear end...
Kona recognizes this, and have thus in my opinion built the strongest rear end, and to make it top notch added a floating brake so you get the best of both worlds... rock solid bike that will last, and forever putting to rest the issue of brake induced lock-up!
before you start hating... educate yourself!
First think you should notice is the much shorter chain stay length, spot on head angle and the 1.5 head tube.
i would like to see people really understand suspension systems.. No suspension system, except for a floatingbrake equiped rear end will ever eliminate brake induced suspension lock-up.Sure some come close (giant, vpp, Ironhorse), but none eliminate it...except for floaring brakes.
No stop the "Fuax" bar bull... horst link doesn't work as well as people want to believe... infact because of the pivot on the chainstay before the rear axle the system contributes to sloppy rear end, premature wearing of bearings and depending on additional bearing platements can cause failure in your shock because of lateral movoment on the rear end...
Kona recognizes this, and have thus in my opinion built the strongest rear end, and to make it top notch added a floating brake so you get the best of both worlds... rock solid bike that will last, and forever putting to rest the issue of brake induced lock-up!
before you start hating... educate yourself!
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