Mountain Biking - Kona

Is a Kona Bear kinda like the Giant AC bikes? suitable for XC and freeriding type stuff?
Is a Stinky Primo to heavy for XC? I think I'm going to start saving for another bike and I want it to be good for XC, but not something with paper thin tubing,superlight better not go off that drop bike.

The Bear is ok for "light freeriding". I just would not do too many big drops to flat or a lot of dirt jumping on it. It is just a pumped up XC bike. The tubes may look the same as the Stinky tubes but they are not. The bear bikes weigh in the low 30's.
My Stinky weighs around 40 and I ride Xc on it. As long as there is not a lot of super steep, super long climbs I dont even notice the weight anymore. But if I still had the small chainring I dont think the climbs would bother me that much.

So as long as you dont plan on getting too wild the Bear bikes should be fine for you.

How big is a big drop? And how many dirt jumps is a lot?

Do you have a regular Stinky or a Stinky variation? I think the Stinky Primo is cool. The only difference I see in the Stinky and the Primo is the fork, and the wheels. The primo looks like it has 24 inch wheels while the Stinky looks like it has 26.

Originally posted by fubar5
How big is a big drop? And how many dirt jumps is a lot?

Well I would say 4 foot or over to flat would be just brutal for a bear. Well just jumping like you would on a normal XC ride is ok. But like going out to just dirt jump all day everyday would be to much for the bear.

Originally posted by fubar5
Do you have a regular Stinky or a Stinky variation? I think the Stinky Primo is cool. The only difference I see in the Stinky and the Primo is the fork, and the wheels. The primo looks like it has 24 inch wheels while the Stinky looks like it has 26.

I have a regular old Stinky. But I have done a lot of upgrades, so I call it a Stinky "Plus". :D For 2001 all the stinkys had the same frames and travel, the parts hung on them were just different. The 2001 Primo had a different rear shock also. For 2002 the frame is the same for all of them, but the Dee-lux and Primo have different linkage plates giving them 6" of travel. The 2002's also all have different shocks.
Also all the Stinkys no matter what year or model came with 26" wheels stock.

The 2000 Kona color scheme was awesome, I wish they hadn't changed. The Stinky 2002 is what I want. I'm applying for several jobs around town to see if I can get some cash flow.

People will give you a hard time about how heavy it is. 3 friends of mine would tell me I was dumb for getting a bike that heavy. One of them bought one last week and the other two have theirs coming in next Wednesday. After riding mine a few times they had to get one. The funny thing is all of our stinkys are going to look different:
Mine 2001 Stinky-Electric Green
Rick 2001.5 Stinky five-Dirt
Lloyd 2001.5 Stinky six-Purple
Scott 2002 Stinky D-Blue and Polished

I still have my hardtail for serious climbing, but I ride the stinky 99% of the time. You will love yours when you get it. Hands down the best bike I have ever rode, and I have had the chance to ride a lot of bikes. I have worked in shops off and on for the past 16 years. Save those pennies my man!

How much am I looking at?

Originally posted by Spic-Mick


The retail on the 2001 Stinky is $1600.00. I am not sure about the 2002 but should be same.

Hey Mick...Not a bad price at all.
After much soul searching...:rolleyes: I've decided to get a long travel bike instead of a road bike. I've heard way too many stories about people getting hit by cars.
Kona is definitely tops on my lists. I've looking at the Dee luxe

Originally posted by fubar5
How much am I looking at?

The retail on the 2001 Stinky is $1600.00. I am not sure about the 2002 but should be same.

Originally posted by Spic-Mick


The retail on the 2001 Stinky is $1600.00. I am not sure about the 2002 but should be same.

Coolio, that isn't bad at all. I'm gonna start right now.:D I think I might put a less expensive bike on my Fisher so a) I can start riding sooner and b) I can put money towards a Stinky. No more soda or junk food for me!!!

Originally posted by Joe Pozer


Hey Mick...Not a bad price at all.
After much soul searching...:rolleyes: I've decided to get a long travel bike instead of a road bike. I've heard way too many stories about people getting hit by cars.
Kona is definitely tops on my lists. I've looking at the Dee luxe

The Dee-lux is about $2600 or $2700.

Originally posted by Spic-Mick


The Dee-lux is about $2600 or $2700.

Agh!! To much for me. Looks like a stinky is my soul mate.

I've got a picture of the Stinky put up right behind my piggy bank.

Lets see, 6' drops to flat, 12 count stair gaps... on my bear...

Originally posted by sparticus
Lets see, 6' drops to flat, 12 count stair gaps... on my bear...

Ummm...this thread is over 2 years old...why bring it back to talk about a bike that doesn't even exist anymore ;) Also yep the bear can handle light freeriding, great bike even though it was rebadged. :)

Hmmm.... weird Thanks for pointing that out Mael, I was all excited about a bear, then realized after reading your post, its a beer I want.... hmmmm Happy Dominion Day to ya...
One Kilkenny cummin up, er or down.

oh yeah...kilkenny...hmmmmmm after my ride I might have to crack a cold one myself :D

If you spec a Stinky right you can get the weight down to 30lbs and still beable to huck it off drops and jump it with out any worries.

The Bear frame will handle light freeriding and makes a great xc bike. My wife rides one and it handles all types of riding well.

Can't go wrong gettin' in the grove.:beer: