Linkage bike reliability?
 

I've always had single pivot bikes (C-Dales for all the bashers) and have no problems at all with the pivot points. My question is, what problems, if any, have any of you all had with linkage bikes such as Kona, Ellsworth, etc? I've heard some problems with bigger folks flexing bushing and the like. The few guys I ride with who have linkage bikes have all gone to bearings in the pivots. Some even went back to Cannondales because they were tired of always fixing the moving parts.
I'm trying to convince myself to buy something other than the Prophet even though I've had great luck with all my C-dales and love the Lefty fork. Several of my buddies have them and absolutely love them so I'm not really getting any help from them!
I'm mainly looking at the Kona Dawg. I've never ridden at 4 -bar linkage type bike so I have a lot of shopping to do. Looking at the $1500 to $2000 range for the next bike unless I can talk Mama into and Ellsworth. 4 to 5 inches is all the travel I want. Still like riding uphill. :beer:

You would have to beat me silly to ride anything but a Horst Link 4-bar link suspension design. BTW, I'm about 250-260 lbs. Bearings at all pivots are good, but not necessary. Look at Turner Bikes. No bearings at all. Zircal bushings.

I think your fear is unjustified. The only thing is a frequent bolt tightness check takes a little longer.

The Dawg is a nice bike. $2,000 will buy you an Ellsworth FRAME ONLY!

I'm a big fan of Specialized bikes. Check out their Enduro line-up for a great bike.

At the risk of getting bashed here, I say, if you like the feel of your Cannondale's and like the feel of the Prophet, Iwould take it over the Kona. The Kona suspension system i a faux bar system, it acts the same as a single pivot basically. However there is very little to be afraid of in terms of linkages with multiple pivots. If you look after the bike, even with minimal maintenance the bearing will last a fair while.

My Enduro has taken five years of abuse on all kinds of extremely technical, rocky trails, as well as light urban assault and hasn't had problems. I don't weigh very much though, and I tend to be pretty smooth. My friend has a Kona Dawg, not sure of the year, and the bolt that connects the shock to the pivot snapped while riding. I'm not sure if it was overtightening or what, but he is a fairly big guy so the forces involved are significant.

rode the dawg primo and the prophet. I think you should rock the prophet, I have seen some weird chain line issues with the 05 dawg, which required kona sending out spacers. I don't mean to bash Kona, I dig the ride, but of you go dawg, I think you should wait for the 06. and personally i think that a nice XTRd out prophet is a more fun ride, much more nimble IMHO.