Kona Bicycle Co. 1999 Hoo-Ha

Price Paid:  $600.00 at a store

Favorite Ride:
The one i'm on at the time

Bike Setup:
As purchased, but with Time clipless pedals.

Summary:
It is great fun to ride! Fast fast fast.

Strengths:
Smooth ride, Fits me - I'm 6'5". Does exactly what they made it to do. I've commuted with it and entered charity rides. Wow.

Weaknesses:
Keeping the gears tuned. I'm also think of a lighter seat post, stem, derailleur group and handle bar. But it may be too much to spend on this bike.

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
Great bike, great price. If you don't mind adjusting to the reversed shifting system, and you have the money, this is one of the best bikes for the money.

Strengths:
Feels solid and the shifting is quite smooth.
Not everyone in the world owns one.

Weaknesses:
Everyone has mentioned the reversal of the rapid fire shifting mechanism. But I found the adjustment pretty easy to make. However, some of my friends were a bit annoyed by the reversal.

Similar Products Used:
None

Favorite Ride:
NA

Bike Setup:
Bone stock at the moment

Summary:
This is hardley the Ma and Pa, lets go for a two block trip hybrid. It's basically a road bike with city cruising class.
It is stiffer and better suited to the stop and go of commuteing. That and rapid fire make it great for a hill ladin city such as Seattle, SanFransico or the like. My fine German car is out of commission and this bike has not let me down in the slightest!

Kona has created a new, stylish and very practical class of bikes.

Strengths:
Very light overall for it's supossed classification. Feels very rigid too, I feel as if all my power is going straight down and off the wheel, and thats w/o toe clips. The stock wheels are fantastic and the coffee bar handle is a nice touch.

Weaknesses:
As mentioned in an earlier reveiw, the drive adjustment is reversed, a bit odd, but it works. There is plenty of good gear ratios but a few seem worthless, but thats petty considering its geared allot better than any hybrid I know of.

Similar Products Used:
None

Favorite Ride:
Mill Creek Streamway

Bike Setup:
Standard

Summary:
This ain't your mama's or papa's bike. It's for serious athletes who want to do a lot of riding without being scrunched over on a road bike and who want to go faster than a mountain bike. Great frame, sound components and speedy wheels--but why did they go with that shift direction. 5 stars in spite of this!! Not recommended for couch potatoes who want to remain couch potatoes!!!

Strengths:
Very quick for a hybrid. Smooth shifts. Light aluminum double-butted frame. Great saddle.

Weaknesses:
Only one after 200 miles: rapid fire shift works opposite every other shift pattern and is confusing as hell. This bike may be a hybrid, but it's a serious bike so I don't know what Kona was thinking when they did this!

Similar Products Used:
Univega Via Montego, Specialized, Trek 7000MTB