4500 or Blast?
 

Hello,

I am looking to get a Trek 4500 or a Kona Blast. The kona shocks don't seem that great, but they have the hydraulic breaks. The Trek has mechanical discs and Suntour shocks that I'm not that familiar with.

Can anyone advise on which setup looks better?

Kona Blast
Frame sizes 14", 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 22"
Frame tubing Kona All-Mountain Aluminum Butted (7005)
Rear Shock N/A
Fork RockShox DART 2 w/Turnkey 100mm
Headset TH
Crankarms FSA Alpha Drive Powerdrive (14-16=170, 17-22=175mm)
Chainrings 42/32/22
B/B FSA Powerdrive
Pedals Wellgo LU-A9
Chain KMC HG40
Freewheel Shimano HG50 (11-32, 8spd)
F/D Shimano Acera
R/D Shimano Deore
Shifters Shimano Acera
Handlebar Kona XC/BC Riser (31.8mm x 660mm Wide)
Stem Kona XC/BC (6°± ; 14-16=75mm, 17-19=90mm, 20-22=105mm)
Grips Kona Race Light
Brakes Tektro Auriga Comp Hydraulic Disc 7" fr / 6" rr
Brake Levers Tektro Auriga Comp Hydraulic
Front hub Formula Disc
Rear hub Shimano M475 Disc
Spokes Stainless 14g
Tires Maxxis Aspen 26 x 2.1
Rims Alex Ace-18
Saddle WTB Speed V Sport SE
Seatpost Kona Thumb
Seat clamp Kona QR
Color Black/Teal

Trek 4500
Frame Alpha Black Aluminum w/semi-integrated head tube, formed down tube w/integrated gusset, formed top tube, monostay seatstay, forged dropouts w/rack and fender mounts, replaceable derailleur hanger
Front Suspension Suntour SF10-XCM-PM-HLO w/coil spring, preload, lockout, 100mm
Wheels
Wheels Shimano M475-L hubs; Bontrager Ranger rims
Tires Bontrager Jones XR, 26x2.25" front, 26x2.20" rear
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano M410, 8 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano M310
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Crank Shimano M361 42/32/22
Cassette SRAM PG830 11-32, 8 speed
Pedals Wellgo alloy platform
Saddle Bontrager Race Lux
Seat Post Bontrager SSR, 31.6mm, 20mm offset
Handlebars Bontrager SSR, 25mm rise, 6 degree bend
Stem Bontrager SSR, 10 degree
Headset VP-A42E, 1-1/8" semi-integrated, sealed
Brakeset Avid BB-5, mechanical disc w/Pro Max levers

I personally would go with the Trek. I bought a Trek 6000 and it has been a very good bike for the money. The specs between the bikes are very similar. I actually prefer mechanical brakes to hydraullic and provided you set the BB.5's up properly with fixed pad close to the rotor, they will stop abruptly. At this price point and since the components are so similiar, try to catch a test ride. Fit...I will repeat Fit is the most important thing.
Go with the bike that speaks to your heart and rides the best. To me Trek makes the best inexpensive hardtail.
Good Luck.

I had a trek before and really liked it. I am just curious about other brands. Hoping to ride the kona this next weekend.

I'd go with the Kona, The Kona blast has a decent frame, (I've ridden a friends) It seems to be a lot burlier than a 4500.
(I've ridden a 4500, and own a 3900.)
I love my Kona, Definitely a company I want to stay with.

the kona has a slightly better fs, the avid brakes are much better than the tektro even though they are mechanical. I prefer mechanical anyway (I had a bad experience with hydros) its all preference really. the rest is just gravy really. I am partial to Trek, some people like Kona better. You should test ride both bikes and see which one feels better to you.

Is there any particular way to tell which frame is better? I'm also considering the Trek 6000 and Kona Cinder Cone.

It's really going to be six of one / half-dozen of the other. However, if it were me, I'd go with the Blast over the 4500. Since you're a West Coast rider, I think you'll find a west coast bike more suited to you. On the whole, Treks are set up for East Coast, tight woods, pick-your-way-through riding and the frame geometry shows in a steep 70.5° head tube angle. The Blast has a more relaxed 68.5° HTA that is going to be more adept and confidence-inspiring (IMO) for the terrain we have out here.

Thank you all for your replies :)