New to "real" bicycling, inquiry about Kona Scrap
#1
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Hey, I have a couple of questions about the scrap (I have done a forum search beforehand) and XC'ing/"Urban Assault" in general. So anyway, I'm pretty much of a noob. Of course I've owned a bike and so forth, but I've never really appreciated it until I got to try a Kona Stuff at the local bikestore... So anywho, I invite everyone, amateur as veteran to dispense your little pearls of wisdom, replies that are not necessarily about the Kona Scrap are also appreciated (for example, why biking is such a good hobby) although I would prefer to have my questions answered as well . To start the question fest up...
1. How well of a first bike is the Kona Scrap, really? Should I pay a little more for a better bike? As said, the bike will mostly be used for going down stairs, jump, sidewalks etc. (So called Urban Assault, correct me if I'm wrong) and maybe the occational hike on forest paths.
2. I'm 6ft tall, 132 lbs, which size frame should I pick IYO?
3. How much maintenance will the bike require, how many times will I have to service it (retune and the likes) and what is the first part that will break?
4. When the stuff breaks, what brand of parts should I replace it with?
5. Should I change tires to something with less roll resistance? If so, what type (I would prefer to have SOME XC potential)
I think that is it for now, thanks.
1. How well of a first bike is the Kona Scrap, really? Should I pay a little more for a better bike? As said, the bike will mostly be used for going down stairs, jump, sidewalks etc. (So called Urban Assault, correct me if I'm wrong) and maybe the occational hike on forest paths.
2. I'm 6ft tall, 132 lbs, which size frame should I pick IYO?
3. How much maintenance will the bike require, how many times will I have to service it (retune and the likes) and what is the first part that will break?
4. When the stuff breaks, what brand of parts should I replace it with?
5. Should I change tires to something with less roll resistance? If so, what type (I would prefer to have SOME XC potential)
I think that is it for now, thanks.
#2
Wildman
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The Scrap seems like a worthy beginner bike considering your riding style. If it is Street or paved riding you will do, yeah I would almost certainly get some less mountainy tires. If you might take it on trails, maybe not full slicks, but maybe some hybrid tires.
Frame size, at your height, the 17 inch seems about right.
As far as which parts will break first. Depends I guess. The highest wear parts are gonna be the rear derailur, and maybe the shifters, or chain. If it was me, the first thing to be upgraded would be the alivio rear, and the shifters.
The bike should require your average maintenance. Lube the fork, Keep the drive train greased up, make sure all the nuts and bolts are tight, the normal stuff.
Otherwise, take it for a spin, make sure it fits, and may the best bike win!
Frame size, at your height, the 17 inch seems about right.
As far as which parts will break first. Depends I guess. The highest wear parts are gonna be the rear derailur, and maybe the shifters, or chain. If it was me, the first thing to be upgraded would be the alivio rear, and the shifters.
The bike should require your average maintenance. Lube the fork, Keep the drive train greased up, make sure all the nuts and bolts are tight, the normal stuff.
Otherwise, take it for a spin, make sure it fits, and may the best bike win!
#3
ride like theres not 2mrw
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1. I have no clue, so I can't help you there. I use my Trek Bruiser as an urban assault bike, its pretty good, although, I should be using it more on dirt.
2. We could reccomend numbers all day, but in the end, you'll be the one buying it/using it so you get what you're comfortable with.
3. It depends on your riding style, and how much you ride. I know for a lot of people, tires wear out before some of the components, but for others that actually use the components properly, it could be one of those. Maintenance should be done regularly, (depending on how much you ride once again), and a general look over it will make sure you're all right.
4. Replace parts with higher (quality/line-up) parts or equal parts. That makes sense, you don't want to down-grade.
5. Less rolling resistance street tires aren't that great for XC and vice versa. So, you'll probably want something in between. I can't name anything off the top of my head.
2. We could reccomend numbers all day, but in the end, you'll be the one buying it/using it so you get what you're comfortable with.
3. It depends on your riding style, and how much you ride. I know for a lot of people, tires wear out before some of the components, but for others that actually use the components properly, it could be one of those. Maintenance should be done regularly, (depending on how much you ride once again), and a general look over it will make sure you're all right.
4. Replace parts with higher (quality/line-up) parts or equal parts. That makes sense, you don't want to down-grade.
5. Less rolling resistance street tires aren't that great for XC and vice versa. So, you'll probably want something in between. I can't name anything off the top of my head.
#4
Senior Member
Originally Posted by kona_q_man
2. I'm 6ft tall, 132 lbs, which size frame should I pick IYO?
#5
Just give'er.
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Speaking from experience with kona bikes...esp. the 04 scrap.
1. How well of a first bike is the Kona Scrap, really? Should I pay a little more for a better bike? As said, the bike will mostly be used for going down stairs, jump, sidewalks etc. (So called Urban Assault, correct me if I'm wrong) and maybe the occational hike on forest paths.
You're paying a good amount already. The scrap is great as a begginner bike. Hardtails teach you to choose clean lines on trails as opposed to learning to plow over everything. This is arguable but many think that hardtails are good beginner bikes.
2. I'm 6ft tall, 132 lbs, which size frame should I pick IYO?
Choose one thats not too big. The scrap is meant to give you space. Try standing over the bike, does the top tube meet your groin? Make sure it doesn't. This saves your balls when you slip boht the pedals. land with your feet then. Small or medium gives some nice trick potential.
3. How much maintenance will the bike require, how many times will I have to service it (retune and the likes) and what is the first part that will break?
First part will depend on how you crash and what you do. I think the rims will give first, but they are always a good upgrade anyways. The maintainance on this is relatively low, in my opinion. Get some chain lube, and dial in your deraillers after inital use of the bike, which is usually when the cables stretch a bit.
4. When the stuff breaks, what brand of parts should I replace it with?
Depends on how deep your wallet is and what your future intent of the bike is. A few I'd suggest are Marzocchi or Rock Shox (Pike line, I hear is very nice), SRAM, FSA or Race Face, and Truvativ. Kona's own parts aren't half bad either. They can handle my friend jumping (230lb).
5. Should I change tires to something with less roll resistance? If so, what type (I would prefer to have SOME XC potential)
For street, yes you should. The Tiogas aren't bad, but I'd suggest K-Rads or Holy rollers. Don't get Road tires, or XC tires, they generally don't give the right grip for waht you will be doing. When you do do your stunts, keep your pressure in your tires at about 50-60 psi, preventing pinch flats, which when your tire sidewall folds over, under impact pressure and rips the tube open. The more pressure, the more it will stay open. However, the more pressure, the thinner the layer of the tube.
1. How well of a first bike is the Kona Scrap, really? Should I pay a little more for a better bike? As said, the bike will mostly be used for going down stairs, jump, sidewalks etc. (So called Urban Assault, correct me if I'm wrong) and maybe the occational hike on forest paths.
You're paying a good amount already. The scrap is great as a begginner bike. Hardtails teach you to choose clean lines on trails as opposed to learning to plow over everything. This is arguable but many think that hardtails are good beginner bikes.
2. I'm 6ft tall, 132 lbs, which size frame should I pick IYO?
Choose one thats not too big. The scrap is meant to give you space. Try standing over the bike, does the top tube meet your groin? Make sure it doesn't. This saves your balls when you slip boht the pedals. land with your feet then. Small or medium gives some nice trick potential.
3. How much maintenance will the bike require, how many times will I have to service it (retune and the likes) and what is the first part that will break?
First part will depend on how you crash and what you do. I think the rims will give first, but they are always a good upgrade anyways. The maintainance on this is relatively low, in my opinion. Get some chain lube, and dial in your deraillers after inital use of the bike, which is usually when the cables stretch a bit.
4. When the stuff breaks, what brand of parts should I replace it with?
Depends on how deep your wallet is and what your future intent of the bike is. A few I'd suggest are Marzocchi or Rock Shox (Pike line, I hear is very nice), SRAM, FSA or Race Face, and Truvativ. Kona's own parts aren't half bad either. They can handle my friend jumping (230lb).
5. Should I change tires to something with less roll resistance? If so, what type (I would prefer to have SOME XC potential)
For street, yes you should. The Tiogas aren't bad, but I'd suggest K-Rads or Holy rollers. Don't get Road tires, or XC tires, they generally don't give the right grip for waht you will be doing. When you do do your stunts, keep your pressure in your tires at about 50-60 psi, preventing pinch flats, which when your tire sidewall folds over, under impact pressure and rips the tube open. The more pressure, the more it will stay open. However, the more pressure, the thinner the layer of the tube.
#6
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On my Scrap I have broken:
2 right hand shifters
A seatpost
A chain
A cassette (was an x.9 casette)
The fork
The front hub
Not all of those were stock parts when they broke.
I'm 5'11" and perfectly happy with my 15.5" (medium) frame.
I've replaced nearly everything but the frame and cranks on my bike with higher end parts, and I still break things when I crash.
2 right hand shifters
A seatpost
A chain
A cassette (was an x.9 casette)
The fork
The front hub
Not all of those were stock parts when they broke.
I'm 5'11" and perfectly happy with my 15.5" (medium) frame.
I've replaced nearly everything but the frame and cranks on my bike with higher end parts, and I still break things when I crash.
#7
Just give'er.
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That's when you crash. Shifters don't break all the time dude, they are not weak. I think you're giving the dude an impression: this bike breaks apart for no real reason.
#8
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I know others have already given good replies, but heres my two pennies worth.
IMO I would say go for at least the medium, given your size. If you want to be able to ride it on trails every now and again, the bigger the size means the better it will be for this (ie easyier to peddle). However, the smaller it is the better it will be for tricks and general throwing around.
Check out https://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml - everything you need to know about looking after your bike.
As Chrispony said above you should aim to upgrade parts as they fail. Start buying magazines and doing searches of this forum (click where it says "search the forums" at the top of the page), this will give you opinions on kit. www.mtbr.com also has reviews of pretty much everything as does www.bikemagic.com
Hope that helps.
Originally Posted by kona_q_man
2. I'm 6ft tall, 132 lbs, which size frame should I pick IYO?
Originally Posted by kona_q_man
3. How much maintenance will the bike require, how many times will I have to service it (retune and the likes) and what is the first part that will break?
Originally Posted by kona_q_man
4. When the stuff breaks, what brand of parts should I replace it with?
Hope that helps.
#9
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Yes, I know! People say I look like I've been in a concentration camp! But on the other hand, skinny guys make great shotgunners.
OK, so here's a quick round up of the upgrades I think I'm going to replace later on, please comment:
Sun-Ringle Zuzu pedals (heard someone talk good about them)
Avid Mechanical brakes
Shimano or SRAM derailleurs (front/back)
New grips (don't like the stock ones)
New fork (Please recommend one that can defend it's own, while not making a burning hole in my pocket)
New rims (same as above
Race Face Next LP ISIS Crankset (Any good?)
Some new handlebar in carbon fibre (preferred)
I want to thank you all for the help I've got!
OK, so here's a quick round up of the upgrades I think I'm going to replace later on, please comment:
Sun-Ringle Zuzu pedals (heard someone talk good about them)
Avid Mechanical brakes
Shimano or SRAM derailleurs (front/back)
New grips (don't like the stock ones)
New fork (Please recommend one that can defend it's own, while not making a burning hole in my pocket)
New rims (same as above
Race Face Next LP ISIS Crankset (Any good?)
Some new handlebar in carbon fibre (preferred)
I want to thank you all for the help I've got!
#10
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I've heard nothing but good things about Avid Mech brakes. As for the derailleurs, I wouldn't waste money replacing the front one unless it brakes, its not as essential as the rear one. Grips are personal choice and personaly I like those that come on the Kona (I have them on my non-kona bike). As for fork, given your intended rideing style a Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 3 (a 2004 one can be found for less than $200) would suit.