africanimpi

Hi all,

Would really love some advice please. I need to choose one of the two bikes below. Have owned 2 specialized bikes before but some mates have Konas and rate them. The kona is £50 pound more expensive but its an insurance claim, so not fussed about price. Have £1000 to spend in total.



2006 Kona Kula £899

Frame: Kona 7005 Butted Aluminium Race
Fork: Marzocchi EXR 1 Lock-Up
Gears: Shimano XT rear derailleur and shimano Deore front
Shifters: Shimano Deore SL
Chainset: RaceFace Ride XC ISIS with 22 32 and 44 tooth chainrings
Brakes: Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 XC Disc brakes
Wheels: King Kong disc front hub shimano disc rear with Sun DS2-XC rims
Tyres: Nokian NBX Lite 2.2
Handle Bars: WTB CXC Riser
Stem: WTB CXC
Saddle: WTB Rocket V Sport
Seatpost: WTB CXC


2006 Speacialized rockhopper pro disc £849

Frame: A1 Premium Aluminium double butted front triangle with externally machined frame designed for 100mm travel fork forged drop outs with replaceable derailleur hanger and reinforced disc mount disc only
Forks: Rock Shox Recon 351SL Air 100mm travel Motion Control damping alloy steerer lock out and rebound adjustment disc only
Gears: Shimano XT rear derailleur and Deore front
Shifters: Shimano Deore 9-speed
Chainset: Shimano Cobra Hollowtech Octalink with 22 32 and 44 tooth chainrings
Brakes: Avid Juicy 5 hydraulic disc 160mm Polygon rotor
Wheels: Specialized disc front hub and shimano M475 rear with Mavic XM-317 Disc rims
Tyres: Specialized Fast Trek
Handlebars: Specialized XC Low Rise
Stem: 3D forged CNC machined
Saddle: Specialized Body Geometry Sport MTB with hollow Cr-Mo rails super light foam
Seatpost: 2014 butted alloy

gromitz49948

Test ride because it matters most what feels better to you.

The components are pretty even

Siu Blue Wind

Oooooo I was in that same situation. Specialized, Kona. Specialilzed, Kona. Both felt good, and so it had to come down to service. I ended up getting the Kona because the LBS that had the Specialized had the shifter cables twisted. And when I pointed that out they laughed and said "Oh that must have been Bobby. He was probably on something. Figures!" Well I high tailed it out of there (I can't believe they said that in front of me). I was leaning more toward the Kona anyway, because that was the origingal bike I wanted until I saw the Specialized. But the Kona people were really professional. Service, before and after purchase. Bike has not had any problems at all. Everything is perfect. Remember, service DOES count in the long run.

never

What do you mean "twisted"? It is fine if your derailleur cables cross (i.e., make an X) on their way down the downtube.

I have both Kona and Specialized bikes and like both. Specialized has a much better frame warranty. Ride them back to back then make a decision. Get the one that feels most comfortable.

Siu Blue Wind

The cables did not make an X. They.....it was more like they were twisted upon each other three times. Like you would do with a twist tie on bread. The other bikes, same models did not have this twist. The man there said that would be a problem due to cables rubbing against each other in such a tight twist. Bike had a problem shifting. It would try and then go back. I know that it can be adjusted, it was more of the attitude that Bobby could have been "high" when building the bike. I wouldn't want Bobby building MY bike and his co workers laughing about it. No no no. Not for me!

never

Well that's not good...sounds like you made the right choice to stay away from that bike shop!

Specializerider

i would test ride both of them thats how i got my specialized but then if u like both in my opinion i would go with the kona

zx108

*edit*for 06 they have a rockhopper pro and a rockhopper pro all mountain, in 04 there was just a rockhopper pro. i would go with a test ride on this one. or if there is a component on either one that you really like.