Bought frame used for God knows how long built up with up to date parts 27lbs ! And will keep up with the best while hauling a 220lb ex Marine for 40 mile xc rides! Kona was ahead of the times when they come up with this frame. Elsworth eat your heart out
Rating:
Recommendation:
Yes I would recommend it to a friend
Submitted by Moishe Lettvin - 9/4/2003 9:27:39 AM
Pros:
Amazing handling, fairly lightweight, durable.
Cons:
After one summer of riding, none.
Time Used:
3 Months
Comments:
I bought a King Kikapu frame in late June and I've been riding the heck out of it since. The first time I rode this bike on a moderately technical, fast trail -- Preston Railroad Grade in Issaquah, WA -- I was absolutely blown away by the handling. It sounds cliche, but I could clean sections on this bike that I'd never been able to ride before.
I recently completed the Shenandoah 100, a 100 mile mountain bike race with 12,500 feet of climbing, on this bike. Any slight inefficiency added by the rear suspension was more than compensated for by the comfort and handling -- after 12 hours in the saddle, I was still able to blast downhills, and my lower back was much less sore than after similar rides on a hardtail.
I weigh about 220 pounds, and I've put over 600 miles on this frame in the past two months, and the bushings and bearings on the suspension are as tight as the day I bought the frame. That bodes well for long-term reliability.
In short, I would /highly/ recommend this frame to anyone interested in a good, fast cross-country oriented frame. I never thought I'd ride a full-suspension bike on long rides but this bike completely changed my mind.
