I rode the hoss the other day. I liked it alot but it was an 18 and felt kinda cramped. I'm still thinking about going back and seeing if he has a 19 or 20 and ride it. Does it have a shorter chainstay. To me it looked a little bit longer than the Scirocco but hey if you say it's badass and its a lot cheaper than the scirocco I might look into it a bit more. Do you have the Hoss or the Hoss dee-lux and if you have the Hoss how do you like the mech bikes? I have heard some neg. things about them.

what about a long stem?

I don't know about this year but it might have the short chainstays. It should.

You misunderstood. I have the 2002 roast which is what the 2004 hoss is.

Oh and I don't like mech brakes from 2002. They may be better now but I use hydros only now.

Ahhh ok. Yeah I might go the longer stem route. I kind of rushed out of that place but I fell over on one of there bikes and tore my knee all up. The bike was fine, I used my fallin skills to protect it. But it was hard to cover up my bleeding knee. I should go back in there and ride it again. I think the falling part was more embarrassing than anything.
How is the Roast the Hoss now? They just used the say frame and rebadaged it?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=roast

Read post 89 I think. I posted to hooligan what kona did in 2003

And do you think the Hoss can take as much abuse as the scirocco and how do the geometry of the 2 compare. The scirocco seems to have a much more traditional frame as in that its more XC set up rather than DJ or FR. Does the Hoss have that XC set up?

The hoss isn't THAT xc. I think with a 5in fork is sits a 69degree HA. Which is the same as the scirocco. I think the scirocco might be stronger and more overbuilt and can take a longer travel fork in the future. Rate up to a 7in fork ;)

My roast is a 19" which, compared to the 19" scirocco is identical in every way. Biggest diff is the fork limitation. Oh and I think Banshee has a better warranty.

Awesome read up. I always trust you opinion higher than anyone elses. So you think the Hoss, which is really a roast, could handle some hardcore ass riding? To me it looks like a very solid bike. Probably give it a longer stem on the 18in being that I think the 20in is going to be too big. My GF tarpon I have now is a 19.5" and it seems a little too big for me. I know you hate GF's but how does the geometry differ from Kona? I just need to go ride the Hoss again. If you suggest the Hoss as much as the Scirocco then I might go ahead and get the Hoss. The scirocco is really nice but its expensive and if the Hoss is just as tough, I could put the money I save from the scirocco into the Hoss. Yes?

I am sure the hoss can handle a good amount of abuse. The scirocco is still stronger but really it is overkill unless you are going big. The hoss should be more than enough frme wise.

Take the money you save on the hoss and buy better parts (replace at shop..might save money by saying you want a better fork) or drivetrain etc...I would rather a short bike (18" with a long stem)...

Very true Maelstrom. I could def. replace with a better fork for sure. How does the Marz Dirt Jam Comp hold up? and is it worth it to go for the Hoss Dee-lux to basically just get the Marz Dirt Jam Pro?

Of course the Dee-lux comes with hayes hydro's while the Hoss has a mech's. Do the mech's hold up alright?

It will be a strong fork. Nothing special ride wise. I would personally buy the standard hoss and upgrade the fork right away. Then upgrade other parts as they break :)

Mechs are decent to start on. Upgrade later when you ourride the mechs :)

I ride a hoss and well it hasn't broken yet and I feel safe on the bike and I'm a BIG boy...sooo strength is not an issue. If I had to the chance to do it over again I think I'd get the hoss, not the hoss dee-lux and upgrade as I want to..I am OK with the fork, but mine (the exr pro, 04 model) is spongey versus springy, which I dislike.