Mountain Biking - What everyone loves to hate: Which 29er frame thread!

Ok, so for ~300 I am looking at a Kona Unit 2-9, Explosif 2-9, or a Karate Monkey. The Kona's have sliding dropouts which is nice for running discs, but all three are disc compatible. The Karate Monkey includes a rigid fork for the price and is available locally. Both the Explosif and Surly are more versatile in easily being set up as ss (most likely) or geared. Am I missing any major benefit of the Unit? It seems the explosif and karate monkey seem to be better options, especially since they are all comparable in price.
What am I not taking into account when looking at these?
Which would you rather have (for you personally, in your situation were you looking at them) and why?

Oh, and so I don't forget, all would be built up for general singletrack xc, maximum drops of up to 2 feet, but primarily keeping both wheels on the ground.

Soma Juice! :D

I think you need a BCD Inevitable (http://bcdracing.com/psycho-billy-cadillac/inedible.htm).

If I ever find one of those for 300 used I promise I will snap it right up ;)

I can't say enough good things about my ASTRIX Rook.

monkey

friggin thing rides like a bike. I have problems putting miles on my
other mtb's because I like the monkey so much. even my litespeed hardtail
is gathering cobwebs

Have you had any problem with discs vs. chain tension?

Have you had any problem with discs vs. chain tension?

the monkey has a der tab
you can run a long chain and singleator

problem solved


but no i never had a prob it is geared

I can't say enough good things about my ASTRIX Rook.

HI to all! I usually post on the C&V forum, but I primarily mountain bike. I'm buying an Astrix Rook frame from a friend, who tells me that this Rook is the only blue one in the world. They usually are red, he says, but he was able to get a blue one shipped to him from Taiwan. He only tells me great things about the Rook, I can't wait to get it and build it up! When I get it next week, I'll post a pic.

geek

Vassago Bandersnatch

Anxious to see it. Astrix is an interesting company.

Grab one of these...there are a few riders in our club that have them...excellent quality and can't beat the price.

http://www.irocycle.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=110

I really love my Karate Monkey, and I have friends that ride the Kona Unit and Vassago Jabberwocky. The Jabberwocky is the lightest of the bunch but none are really light weight. I like the dropouts on the Unit so I would probably go with that. But all of them are very capable.