The 'classic' which bike thread - MTB's/Kona's

[AndyWoodall]

Time has come to stop using my 18 year (gulp) GT and having always wanted a Kona, this is where I've been looking.

At the approx £1000 mark, everyone considers a Cinder Cone...

http://www.konaworld.com/cinder_cone.cfm

But I've also been looking at the Kahuna...

http://www.konaworld.com/kahuna.cfm

Now, the whole 29inch thing is an entirely new development to me (I'm from the era of primary coloured suspension forks and anodised componentry), so I have nearly no knowledge of what that means. The very friendly local bike shop suggested they are faster, but harder to get going, as if this makes any difference to me, I've never been particularly fast!

Like most folks who don't entirely understand what they are looking at, my assumption was that extra £100 therefore made it better, however the LBS said the componentry and forks on the Cinder Cone are better, and indeed it felt lighter than the Kahuna. He also said the fork was better (air v coil - although coming from my GT with RS Quadra 21R's and their highly advanced elastomer gubbins, anything would feel advanced?).

So I'm torn, between the orange shinyness, more gears (really, does it matter?) and apparently less good spec of the Kahuna and the time tested, reliable and lighter (to my hands anyway) Cinder Cone. I literally have no sodding idea.

I mainly ride is forests, dirt tracks and disused railway lines. Going to have a go in the bike shop car park on my next visit, but would like to be armed with some PH opinions in the hope of making a halfway sensible decision.

Many thanks in advance!

[AndyWoodall]

Ha, as I'm so out of all the innovations and trends this last ten years, I have literally no idea what the deal is. I mean, when I bought my bike grip shift and yellow forks was about as cool as it got, now every things black and white and no bike shop wanting to sell to the enthusiast seems to have anything grip shifty at all. How things change.

So whats the deal, where did the 29er thing come from, and why are 'normal' wheels now 27.5 and not 26inch. I feel out of touch! LOL. OMG, totes amaze balls and all that.

[AndyWoodall]

Thanks Timbo, so exactly who and why are 29ers aimed at? What makes them a choice?

[AndyWoodall]

Found this rather excellent (if you're an idiot like me) guide on bike radar...

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/what-is-...

Still none the wiser about what to buy.

[AndyWoodall]

Interesting, thanks for the thoughts. Didn't expect the recommendation to look at steel, that was all one the way out in the 90's, I assumed it had gone for good.

And thanks for the 29er thoughts, a bit of reading of old issues of MBUK, MBR and What Mountain Bike have covered everything now I think. My only worry about the 29er is the weight, the Cinder Cone (a 27.5er) felt noticeably lighter.

That said, spec wise I'm confused, the Kahuna has pretty much deore all round, whereas the Cinder Cone has a mix up of SLX, alivio and other bits and bobs, which on paper look a poorer spec but the LBS did say the Cone was a 'better spec', I assume just down to the fork.

Generally speaking, both these bikes are going to be ace really compared with what I'm used to, so like a wise poster said, I'll go with the gut instinct, likely related to colour and just pick one.

[AndyWoodall]

Thanks for the experience, I see some posts indicate Kona (and other brands) have lost their way, who knows, the bikes look good to me.

When I was last into biking Kona were making nice riding, if expensive, bikes with really nicely built frames. I've no idea if that reputation is still there!

What's for sure, there's an even bigger array of choice now.

[AndyWoodall]

TedMaul said:

My 1st proper mtb was a 1999 Cinder Cone and regret selling it to this day

Could never quite stretch to one back in the day, so I had a GT (which was brilliant in its own way). Hence the nostalgia now.

[AndyWoodall]

TheBALDpuma said:

I've always thought of Kona bikes as being under specced and pricey.

Compare it to this On One linky which is £100 cheaper, and slightly better spec.

Yes, you are right in that case, the fork in particular is a model up from both the Cinder Cone and the Kahuna.

I'm getting lost in specs and comparisons, need to go have a ride of some of these as ultimately its down to feel. I always felt my friends Kona way back in 96 rode far better than my GT, as nice as that was.

[AndyWoodall]

TheBALDpuma said:

I've always thought of Kona bikes as being under specced and pricey.

Compare it to this On One linky which is £100 cheaper, and slightly better spec.

Just to expand on this, given what you and others have said about specs, I've been considering the Cube LTD 29er. Its bang on the same money as the Kahuna, but comes with a bits of XT and SLX groupset and a fork a few rungs up. Never heard of Cube, but so many of the shops I used to frequent for kit in the 90's now seem to stock them, which is a good sign. Will try and get to a shop to have a look and try.

I did however get a ride on the Cinder Cone and Kahuna in the LBS car park, both felt nice in as much as you can tell from a dozen laps of the car park. What strikes me is the change in cockpit ergnomics, I felt instantly comfy on both bikes, although my old GT does have a stupidly long stem for reasons I can no longer remember.

[AndyWoodall]

Well, after all that have ended up ordering this;



Even less subtle looking than the orange Kahuna, but the spec tempted me. Only downside is, haven't been able to try one in the correct size.