I just bought a used Kona Bear (2002) which was, more or less, the model
renamed the Dawgmatic. I took it out today for its first ride, through the
Pine Barrens, though it's built for more aggressive terrain. Kona calls it
their "Back Country" bike; the frame is in a niche between their
full-suspension XC bikes and their really robust downhill and freeride
bikes. The Bear (and Dawgmatic) should do quite well on moderately hilly
terrain with lots of roots and rocks. It will do better on the downhill than
on the uphill. The Bear's riding position is more upright than that of a XC
racing bike. The Bear also has a heftier frame. It's not for sprinting or
rapid climbing. The full suspension absorbs some of the pedaling energy; a
better rear shock might fix that. The last time I rode the Pine Barren
trails was on a hardtail; my legs were significantly more tired after a day
of riding the full-suspension Bear than they were on the hardtail. At one
point, I hopped onto my son's Trek 8000 and he took the Bear; I sprinted and
the Trek felt almost weightless beneath me after several hours on the Bear.
Comparable (not in price or looks or style, but maybe in geometry, riding
position, terrain niche): Ellsworth Id.
Timo
"drumbum" <
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>
> so any suggestions?
>
>
> --
> drumbum
>