Strengths: Unbreakable. I've ridden this thing five days a week for four years and put around 8000 miles on it, and it hasn't missed a beat. It got stolen within the first couple of months that I owned it, and I miraculously managed to retrieve it with a big dent in the downtube where someone pried off the U-lock. No signs of metal fatigue whatsoever, and I've ridden it full-throttle. Steel is real.
Really good value for the money--there's some higher-end components on it, such as the threadless stem, hollowed-out Tektro brakes, and excellent Project 2 fork. The more aggressive, longer and frame geometry makes the Yee-Ha look and ride like a much more expensive bike, plus that makes it perfect for long-limbed goons like me. Nice wide gear ratio (Shimano/Suntour mountain/road mix) let me climb the most ridiculous ascents in North Carolina and still keep up with the roadies scrunched over expensive carbon fiber machines on flat city highways.
Pretty light for what it is. Kona tech spec sheet puts the 18" complete bike with all stock components at 26.5 lbs. The aluminum-framed Hoo-Ha only saves you 0.3 lbs, and given my dented downtube experience, I'm glad I went with steel.
Weaknesses: As someone else said in their review, a bright-red shiny Yee-Ha looks like a much more expensive bike. As I said in "strengths", mine was stolen during the first two months I had it, and I miraculously recovered it. Don't plan on being as lucky as I was. I've since uglied-it-up quite a bit with bumper stickers and scratches. (The paint chips easily; that's another weakness.)
Shimano Nexave/Acera components aren't the greatest or the lightest, and seem to need to be tuned up frequently, but you could certainly upgrade them.
Stock Velo Plush comfort saddle was a comfy but a bit too bulky and heavy, and the vinyl wore through pretty quickly--replaced it with a Nashbar-branded Velo Comp Ti. (I tried several saddles before coming back to Velo, but I think I'll stick with them from now on.)
Kona Mooseknuckle grips loosened and began slipping almost immediately and eventually wore holes through down to the metal.
Bottom Line:
If you only ever own one bike, this would be an excellent choice. It can do anything, and it takes a bashing and keeps on thrashing. Looks and rides like a much more expensive bike. I take it off-road with fat knobby tires, though most of the time it is my fearless city steed with 25mm kevlar-belted slicks. I've been planning on trying cyclocross racing with it with thin knobbies at some point.
Kona doesn't name their hybrids with *-Ha names anymore; they're now the "Dew" series, so if you're in the market for a new one now, I'd gather you couldn't go wrong with a get a Dew, Dew Deluxe, or if funds are unlimited, a Dr. Dew.
Similar Products Used: Iron Horse Adventure, Marin Muir Woods, older Trek MTN Trail hybrid.
Bike Setup: Cheng Shin 25mm kevlar-belted slicks (Nashbar Prima 2 Plus)
WTB Allterrainasaurus 700x30/32
WTB Allterrainasuarus 700x40/42
(I sometimes use a combination of the two sizes of Allterrainasaurus)
Second wheelset (Rigida Phoenix/Sovos and SRAM 5.0 cassette) for easy tire swapouts
Nashbar City Sport 2 pedals (platform on one side, SPD on the other)
Nashbar double-sided SPD Special pedals
Velo Plush Comp Ti (Nashbar Ti Rail Saddle)
Nashbar Super Grips
Stock drivetrain
Strengths: A good, cheap bike. It's quick and nimble, and the components, while cheap, work really well together. Sure, it's not aluminum. And sure, it doesn't have shocks. And sure, it doesn't look macho. But it's a great bike for the city and cottage.
Weaknesses: The hilarious 'post moderne' suspension seat post is absolutely uselss. And the pedals are pretty chincy.
Bottom Line:
Effective and well thought out. It's a great bike for the person with no pretense. If you own a compact car, fly economy, and like natural fibres in your clothes, this is the bike for you. You won't impress your friends--except with your good sense.
