Kona Caldera 2004

2004 Kona Caldera - what do you think ??

The specs are as follows:

Kona 7005 Butted Aluminum Butted
Marzocchi EXR Pro Coil 100mm
VP-A71
Shimano FC-M445 Hollowtech Octalink
44/32/22
Shimano BB-ES30
Shimano M505 clipless
Shimano CN-HG53
Shimano Deore (11-32 9 speed)
Shimano Deore
Shimano Deore XT
Shimano Deore
Kona Aluminum Riser
TruVativ XR
Kona Jack****
Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 XC
Hayes Hydraulic HFX-9 XC
Shimano HB-M475 disc
Shimano FH-M475 disc
Stainless 15g fr/14g rr
Tioga Terra Firma 26 x 1.95
Mavic XM 117 Disc
Kona Comfort Comp
Kona Thumb
Kona QR
Red/Black
27.6 lbs

what are you going to use it for?
How much does it cost?

MTB, cross country trails etc, road (2-3 x a week, cycling across london, around 15 miles) + lotsa phun.

I bought it this morning - £750 (originally £850). Got a LCC and Evans discount + 5 yr warranty + lifetime warranty for frame + lights.

I'm worried about the choice of handle bar + stem and lack of XT/LX components, but I'm 47kg in weight so prob don't need such a strong bike with expensive components. I can always upgrade in teh future.

Would loved to have bought the kula or explosif but there >£1300.

I guess I'm after some reassurance - did i just blow my money ?

sounds like you bought a decent bike for what you are using it for. This might be to expensive a bike for a beginner, but you seem to know what you are doing. 27.6 lbs is to heavy for me, but you can always lighten the load with upgrading. Many people say the 'zokes shocks are worth the weight...

-percious

Nice bike, bro. Kona make great frames.

If you want to lose some weight on your bike look at the bars, stem, saddle and get some kevlar-beaded tyres.

__________________
nick.

www.nickcoyne.com

The bike man has offered to upgrade the stem and bars for £50. I have no idea what the make is - what do you think ?

By the way, thansk for the advice.
Tina

Depends if the bars/stem fit you. Also depends what you are upgrading to. A good stem can cost US $80 (what's the exchange rate?) And you can get a light bar for $30-50 more. Your biggest weight savings come not with the bar, but with the wheels.

at a price though...

__________________
nick.

www.nickcoyne.com

mmmm...nice bike.

i was seriously considering an '03 caldera (on sale) but i got the cinder cone instead. so ive got mech instead of hydraulics, no clipless pedals yet... but essentially the same bike. you'll love it.

i rode over a bee's nest this past weekend...5 stings...so much fun.