Silva

me and my buddy are buying new bikes because we got the crazy idea that we wanted to jump longer and futher than ever before, and our old bikes are kinda scampy so they break down easy

here is the thing, he is certain that specialized bighit3 is better than KONA Stab Deluxe, but im not so sure

allthough the bighit costs 27000,- NOK and the Stab is 24000,- NOK

could i please get some opinions about theese to wonders?

Thanks, Silva

vw addict

One thing is certain, they are both super heavy.

Silva

Heres 2 pictures

Silva

yes i know. a little under 20kg
but the bikes are good for dirtjumping and downhill

Maelstrom 

They aren't good for djing. To much suspension. But dh bikes they are...and heavy they need to be.

to be honest its a tossup. Both great bikes, designs are different one acts like a single pivot and the other is a horst linkage 4 bar. Similar components.

What does you lbs carry and which lbs is better with offering warranties?

Silva

English please =) lbs?

Silva

what suspension build is better for what?

Maelstrom 

Local bike shop.

4 bar is commonly considered better especially for beginner to intermediate riders who tend to ride their brakes. Pros can get away with single pivot style designs because they really don't use them so the poor performance of brake jack/squat doesn't occur.

Keeping in mind the kona you have in the picture has a brake therpy arm so that doesn't matter either.

These are equal, pick the one you can get and which you think is prettier

trevor

personally I like the looks of the specialized better

trevor

arghh sorry bout the double post I think I hit the button twice...

Silva

i think kona has a better look its something out of the normal

literocola

I have a Kona Stab, and buddy has the big hit.
GO KONA! That bike can take 30 foot drops like its like riding off a curb. Its fast, handles like a frekkin Ducati, and loves to be airborne. I would never buy a Big Hit after riding my buddys.
There are many reasons why you should go Kona.
Floting rear disk brake.
5 point rear suspension points, and all have monster ball bearings. Big Hit does not. Look at the diffrence on the Kona's to the Big Hit. See the bearing diffrence at the points?
Geometry is much better for downhill action on the Kona, you have better chance of not going head over heals when hauling mad arse downhill on a huge decent. Since these arnt made for going up, only down.
And, its a frekkin Kona!

Maelstrom 

Don't even touch the durability card lit. Bighit is undoubtedly the most durable bike made. I doubt anyone who has been in this business for a few years would argue that. Claim bearing this and bearing that is just crap. Outside of BMX and other boutique companies that is.

The rest of your points at least have merrit.

literocola

Bullshat whistler. Kona durability is far better than Specialized. Kona was formed by guys who knew how to make bikes last, especially under riders that enjoy beating the crud out of their rides.
You should know, bieng in Whistler and all, they sponser so many events that come there.
Its like the diffrence between a Specialized Hardrock and the Kona Cowan for hardtails. Dont see any pro's running a specialized hardrock, or any P series. But you will see a handfull of Kona's.
Specialized was lucky to pick up Berracloth, but he also designed his own frame, and not using a BigHit or a Demo9. The frame he uses is not availbale to the public. But you can go out and buy a bike that Kona's pro riders are using. Carlin Dunn (Stab) John Cowan (Cowan) Paul Bass (Stinky winner of 2 Crankworks, Whistler BC) Dave Watson (Stab)
Not to even mention Kona's Euro team.
Specilized is trying to make their way into the Hucking/North Shore/ Big Air scene; but are not making much leway. Specialized leads the way for your "average" rider; Novice riders choose Specialized.

Maelstrom 

haha...now I know there is no need to listen to you...all your pros have disposable bikes, the bike (all pros) are on a replacement program. Anyways not gonna argue, you are wrong and quoting what pros ride is assinine...I know very well the quality of kona but discounting the bighit series is just plain ignorant.

ciao

literocola

ignorant yes.
But, Ill stand behind Kona till the day I die.

trevor

Kona fanboy... nah just kiddin, Im sure no matter what bike you get you will be way more than happy. I really have an urge to just try out one of those DH bikes for a day, they look so amazing and Ive never even sat on one. Then again there is absolutly NO use for a DH bike in Manitoba.... its flatter than a pancake. I always check the bikes out at my LBS though, their so narly.

konaguy1123

the kona looks prettier. and they are pretty durable. i dont think you will have a problem with either of them

Silva

this is what i like guys! literocola & maelstrom fighting
telling alot of good and bad stuff about both bikes.. keep on fighting
im learning from it haha

Drunken Chicken

One thing Maelstrom, I thought single pivots weren't very sensitive? I just find it strange because I always thought of the Kona Stab Deelux to be a sensitive bike as it was made for DH but then you say it acts like a single pivot and that kind of confuses me.

mtnbiker66

[QUOTE=literocola]I have a Kona Stab, and buddy has the big hit.
GO KONA! That bike can take 30 foot drops like its like riding off a curb.QUOTE]

Do you have pics or a vid of you doing that? It would be cool to see it.

literocola

Hell no, you wont catch me huckin over any fire roads. Seen it done up in Durango, and Winter Park. Some guys are just nuts. Had a near death experience about a year ago doing some freeride, and was behind my buddy haulin nuts. Next thing I know, hes on the brakes and I laughed and kept on going. Well, there was a good 20' cliff there, launched off it just praying to god I make it alive. Prepaied for impact, hit, and destoryed my wheelset, spokes everywhere, rotors bent to shat, frame... A ok. Somehow managed to walk away from the incident with no major problems other than wrists and ankles in pain; the bike my Kona.

....but... I could steal a pic and claim it as me? would that suit ya.. mabye I'll steal your Santa Cruze for a day, and get you some real disk brakes, no more cable.

Silva

i just saw a downhill movie called Roam, and funny enough... i didnt see one single KONA bike :S

literocola

Go watch Unchained

Maelstrom 

Single pivots, like all bikes, can be made to be very sensative. It depends on pivot location, design and the shock installed. The pivot location, shock ratio and type of shock used gives it a very very plush feel to it. The stinky which uses the same basic design principles with a platform shock and different pivot locations is less plush, one step further is the King Kikapu which again is the same design, uses a stiff platform shock/air and has slightly different pivot locations as well as I believe a different shock ratio, feels entirely different.

It also depends what you mean by sensative, but I am assuming you are referring to sticking to trails and negative travel as thats what concerns generally downhillers.

btw I am not saying one is better than the other. Kona's kick ass, but to say bighits don't when they are a proven design and strength, is just stupid.