o0wnij

Hey guys, I'm pretty new to bikes and was wondering what you guys thought about the K2 Zed 4.0 2006 edition. The statistics of this bike are as follows:

Frame: Reflex Mountain, 6061 aluminum, replaceable hanger and disc brake mount
Fork: Answer Manitou Axel Super FFD-R, 100mm travel, with oil damping and rebound adjuster
Rear Shock: N/A
Front Derailleur: SRAM X-Gen
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X-7
Shifters: SRAM X-7 Trigger
Brakes Levers: Hayes Sole
Brakes: Hayes Sole hydraulic discs
Chain: KMC Z9000
Crankset: Truvativ 5D, Powerspline, 22/32/44T
Cassette: SRAM PG-950 cassette, 11-32T, nine speed
Pedals: Alloy MTB

Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Powerspline, sealed cartridge
Headset: 1 1/8" threadless, Intellaset style
Saddle: WTB Pure V Comp
Seat Post: Aluminum microadjust, 350mm
Handlebar: Butted alloy riser bar
Grips: WTB Moto
Stem: Alloy threadless
Tires: WTB Mutano Raptor 26x2.14"
Wheelset: Sun CR-18 double-wall rims, Shimano disc-specific hubs and 32 black stainless spokes / wheel
Weight: 30.6 lbs.
Color: Smoke

The retail is apparently $900, but it is being sold at $499. Is this a steal?? Should I get this bike so that I can commute to work on a daily basis? Thank you muchos.


https://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.8293/.f

snowranger

I've got the k2 mod 3.0 that I use for commuting. It weighs about 21 lbs, and is pretty fast. The middle chain ring was weak and had to be replaced, but other than that no problems. K2 is one of those mass-produced Taiwanese bikes like most other Treks, Giants, etc. out there.

30 lbs is on the heavy side, and you shouldn't need front shocks for commuting.

o0wnij

Are the parts on the 4.0 'good'? As I am new to this biking scene, I have no idea if the components are any good. Thank you for your response snowranger!

dr. nate

I have a K2 road bike, I like it so far.

cgchambers

I have ridden a K2 Razorback (Mountain bike) for years, love it

o0wnij

Why is it that not many people buy K2's? I searched the forum for K2 reviews and the search found zero!

bsyptak

Not a lot of people buy K2 bikes because not a lot of shops sell K2 bikes.

If your commute is more than 4 or 5 miles, that 30 lb bike is going to bum you out.

The components are not too bad. You can get reviews on probably all of the components online.

dr. nate

Yeah, I haven't really seen any shops around me selling them. I bought mine from REI.

-Nate

hubcap

I think the K2 Enemy is a pretty nice cyclocross bike that would work pretty well for commuting.

I wouldn't want to commute on that mountain bike though.

snowranger

Not familiar with SRAM parts, so I can't comment. I bought mine from REI because of the unlimited satisfaction guarantee policy. You can order online from them and pick it up in store without shipping charges.

dynaryder

That price is a steal for that bike. Two things though. First,for the street you'll want to ditch the knobbie tires for some proper street ones. I'm partial to Michelin Transworld Citys and Specialized Nimbus Flak Jackets in 1.5" and Vittoria Adventures in 1.75". Save the knobbies in case you want to ride off road or in the snow. Second,you don't really need that fork for the street. I'm going to guess it can be locked solid,but when time/finances permit I'd recommend swapping it for a rigid fork to save weight and increase efficiency.

acroy

this is a good deal for the price. Nice hydro brakes, nice drivetrain, decent shock. My wife has been riding a lower-end K2 for a few years and we have been happy with it. As others have said, it's a far-east mass-produced bike, prolly made under contract by Giant or someone. Nothing special but can't really go wrong either.

That said, make sure you want to commute on a mtn bike - I do (a 4" travel front-suspended slick-tired bike), but most commuters are on road bikes or hybrids. I would be too but the "pavement" i ride is nasty and i just plain feel more secure & safe on the mtb.

Markok765

I use a K2 Attack.

I find it good for offroad/mountain stuff.

Someone commented on it today.

o0wnij

If you guys had to choose, would you get the K2 Astro 5.0? or the Trek 7.5 fx disc?

The specs for Astral are:
Frame: Reflex Road, butted 6061 aluminum, with flat oval top tube and replaceable hanger Fork: Dynamic Carbon Damping carbon fiber straight blades with chromoly steerer tube Rear Shock: N/A Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-R443, for flat bar road bikes Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra Shifters: Shimano R-440 Rapidfire Plus, for flat bar road bikes Brakes Levers: Alloy MTB levers Brakes: Alloy, short-arm linear pull Chain: KMC Z9000 Crankset: Truvativ Isoflow Road, 30/42/52T Cassette: SRAM PG-950 cassette, 12-26T, nine speed Pedals: Road with steel rear cage, toe clips and straps Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Powerspline, sealed cartridge Headset: 1 1/8" threadless, Intellaset style Saddle: K2 Road Sport, with gel padding and dual material cover Seat Post: Aluminum microadjust, 300mm Handlebar: Alloy flat bar, 580mm wide, with ergonomic alloy bar ends Grips: Dual-density MTB design Stem: Alloy threadless Tires: Kenda Kwest, 700Cx28mm Wheelset: alco DRX 2000 double-wall rims, alloy double-sealed hubs and 32 stainless spokes / wheel Weight: 24.8 lbs. Color: Charcoal


The specs for Trek are:
Frame FX Alpha Hydroformed Aluminum Fork Bontrager Satellite Plus, carbon Wheels Wheels Bontrager SSR Tires Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x32c Drivetrain Shifters Shimano Deore, 9 speed Front Derailleur Shimano Deore Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra Crank Shimano M443 Octalink 48/36/26 Cassette SRAM PG950 11-26, 9 speed Pedals Alloy Components Saddle Bontrager Race Basic Lux Seat Post Bontrager Sport Handlebars Bontrager Crowbar Sport, 25mm rise Stem Bontrager Select, 10 degree Headset Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed Brakeset Avid SD-3 w/Tektro levers

The price points to Trek, but I think the components in the K2 may be slightly better... What are your thoughts ?

bsyptak

You say 7.5fx disc, but the specs are for the v-brake model. Which one do you mean? I'll assume the v-brake model.

I'd say they are basically identical specwise. Comes down to fit, feel, price, weight, color.

idcruiserman

I'm on my 3rd K2. IMO they are well spec'd for the price. I just bought the Apache 5.0 from Randall Scott. It has similar level parts. I decided to upgrade the brakes after reading many bad reviews of the Hayes Sole. That being said, I wouldn't commute on a mountain bike.

snowranger

The Astral 5.0 has road bike geometry and the 7.5fx does not. That makes a pretty big difference in feel.

voileauciel

I used to build them at Sports Authority. They're not bad, but the frames are heavy, as has already been noted. The welds aren't as pretty as a Bianchi or a Specialized, but for commuting, it definitely has the advantage of being an lesser-known marque.

Buy it and ride it into the ground!

ShinyBiker

Thanks.

I seem to remember a thread about SA K2s that were not found on the official k2 site. Are they the same bikes just rebadged?

voileauciel

They might very well have been...we had mostly their cruiser models in stock, and a few mountain bikes from them as well. Their hybrids, when we had them, were on the website. But you know how it goes with these big-box retailers: Schwinn makes the varsity specifically for the X-Marts, and so on and so forth.

As far as I know, the K2s that we sold were made by Kent, though I cannot be 100% certain of that.

I do know, however, that I never had one come back with problems. Now, Mongoose and some of the other generic brands were a whole different story.....

dynaryder

I think both the Astral and 7.5 are a bit pricey for the specs. Kona's Dews,Jamis' Codas,and REI's Big Buzz are all in the same price range and specced better.

Sethro69

I'm trying to find part of the upper swing arm for this 2.0 the painted part ( red & black with a silver stripe) it's cracked at the bearing housing, want to know if parts are still available, can't get in touch with anyone at K2 bikes? Are they still open? Also, what's a good (affordable)replacement shock for the factory noleen sport shock

alan s 

It is generally frowned upon raising 11 y.o. zombie threads. Suggest trying mechanics subforum.