Must-haves for Kona Hoss Dee-lux?

[Duncan]

"D T W .../\..." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:ui9je.11822$KQ6.6662@trndny02...
> "Bob in Oregon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Specialized does not make such a bike for my price range.
>
>
> Yo Bob, Don't sweat it, buy the Kona.
>
> You could remind whoever you buy it from that your a big guy and that the
> wheels/ spokes could be trued up a bit to survive the stress you'll be
> giving them. It would only take a few minutes on a truing stand to be
sure
> that all the spokes are tightened to spec.

Personaly I'd recomend replacing all the spokes. I've had a couple of sets
of dodgey machine built wheels in the past and the problem does not seem to
go away no matter how well/often they're retensioned.
The only fix I've found is a new set of spokes.
If you're not going to be too far away to limp home give the stock spokes a
go, you could get lucky. One broken spoke you may not notice until you get
home, two will make a pretty wobbly wheel but much more than that will
require some creative tensioning to get the wheel ridable back to base.

 

[JD]

Dan wrote:
> "JD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > spokes. Tell me this "dan", would you not see a broken spoke as a
> > problem after three hours of climbing up to get to and two minutes
into
> > a world class singletrack downhill? If you say that's not a
problem, I
> > call you either a fool, or a liar.
> >
> > JD
> >
>
>
> yeah it's a problem but show me a bike that doesn't have one.


Define "problem", "dan". A crappy wheelset is at the pinnacle of
"problem" when it comes to bicycles. If your wheels don't turn, you
aren't going anywhere. There is no excuse for kona (though you keep
attempting to make them) to use crappy spokes in their spec, except to
make money off of foolish persons who buy their bikes.

> Ok, to appease the fool - Bob In Oregon, you may wish to change all
the
> spokes on the wheelset. or you could just ride it and be happy with
the
> purchase.


Tell us all how bub can afford to essentially rebuild the whole
wheelset, "dan". When's the last time you paid retail for two full
sets of spokes? I wonder if bub's wheelbuilding skills can help him
defray the cost of having a wheelset properly built? You're only
fooling yourself and other fools, "dan".

As far as having a dependable clydesdale rig goes, bub may be better
off on a rigid singlespeed.

JD

 

[[email protected]]

Duncan wrote:
>
> Personaly I'd recomend replacing all the spokes. I've had a couple
of sets
> of dodgey machine built wheels in the past and the problem does not
seem to
> go away no matter how well/often they're retensioned.

This guy seems to be worried by the cost of the thing. Start talking
about quality wheelsets, and the cost factor goes up.

Hell, just go ahead and price a set of quality double-butted SS spokes.
Like DT Swiss, for instance. Add nipples in there, and labor to build
up two wheels.

Now, add that to the cost of the bike, and see if there's some other
bike out there that comes with a quality wheelset that might be in that
price range. Even for a 300# guy, a Specialized Enduro would probably
do a decent job.

I've always felt that Kona is expensive for what you get. I am a big
fan of Marin and Specialized, so that colors my opinions.

E.P.

 

[JD]

[email protected] wrote:
> I've always felt that Kona is expensive for what you get. I am a big
> fan of Marin and Specialized, so that colors my opinions.


At least you're coloring with Sharpies, while others in this thread are
coloring with Crayola nubs.

JD

 

[Bob in Oregon]

My local bike guy is steering me perhaps towards a Gary Fisher now. He
is thinking an upgraded Tassajara with Sunn Rhyno Lites and a stiffer
spring. But now Im looking more at the GED, which seems to be extremely
beefy 130mm of travel. Basically, I have 1200 to spend, including lid,
lock and gloves. Now Im not sure how to go:

Kona Hoss Dee-lux stock
Fish Tassajara Disc with Sunn Ryno Lites and a stiffer spring
Fish GED stock

 

[[email protected]]

Bob in Oregon wrote:
> My local bike guy is steering me perhaps towards a Gary Fisher now.
He
> is thinking an upgraded Tassajara with Sunn Rhyno Lites and a stiffer
> spring. But now Im looking more at the GED, which seems to be
extremely
> beefy 130mm of travel. Basically, I have 1200 to spend, including
lid,
> lock and gloves. Now Im not sure how to go:
>
> Kona Hoss Dee-lux stock
> Fish Tassajara Disc with Sunn Ryno Lites and a stiffer spring
> Fish GED stock

Marin Pine Mountain/Eldritch Grade?

Specialized Hardrock/Rockhopper/Stumpjumper?

Now, if you're just picking Kona and Fisher because that's all your
current bike shop has, I'd shop around a little. Hell, you're in
Oregon. Portland has like 20,000 bike shops, right?

Now, here's some out-of-the-box thinking - buy used. More bike for the
money, if you shop well.

Think about a steel-framed bike, too (cough *Marin* cough.)

I am sure that if you go with Marin, you'll be very pleased.

Now, please tell me you don't live in Corvallis - the bike shops there
just don't have the selection that you need. But there are some nice
bars there, LOL.

E.P. (bummed a room from my bro there one summer)

 

[Dan]

Lets go back to the beginning shall we "JD"?

"Bob in Oregon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am something of a novice rider. I had a Giant Sedona in college and
> bombed a few trails on Moscow Mountain in Idaho. That was almost 15
> years ago. Then I weighed in at a slim 190lbs. Now, married with two
> kids, I tip the scales at 296! I am 6'3". So I have decided to get a
> Kona Hoss Dee-lux at the end of the month.

"I have decided to get a Kona Hoss Dee-lux at the end of the month."

There is no request for suggestions on what to buy here. He has made his
decision and it's his to make, and it's not a bad bike.

>
> I know next to nothing about components. Apart from a good Kryptonite
> lock and a breezy lid, what other items would you consider essential?
> Are there any components of the bike that should be replaced
> immediatley? I will be riding to and from work (to lose that 100 extra
> pounds) and will be riding trails on the weekends.

"Are there any components of the bike that should be replaced immediatley?"

We have deducted that the spokes should be replaced imediately. There is no
indication that cost is an issue in this post so suggesting replacing all
the spokes is a perfectly fine answer.

>
> Thanks in advance!
>

Bob In Oregon - I note you've now put a maximum price out there, and you've
opened up to different bike suggestions, cool. I've no doubt you'll end up
with the right choice at the end of the day.

 

[JD]

Dan wrote:
> Lets go back to the beginning shall we "JD"?
>
> "Bob in Oregon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> "I have decided to get a Kona Hoss Dee-lux at the end of the month."
>
> There is no request for suggestions on what to buy here. He has made his
> decision and it's his to make, and it's not a bad bike.

You say it's not a bad bike and I say it's a POS. I have every right
to bag on anyone's bicycle purchase decision if they post it in a
public forum, especially when it is explained why their choice is
uninformed at best. Hence bub's statement: "I know next to nothing
about components."

Thanks for playing, "dan". Is your last name Vo2lker?

JD

 

[Dan]

"JD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Dan wrote:
>> Lets go back to the beginning shall we "JD"?
>>
>> "Bob in Oregon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> "I have decided to get a Kona Hoss Dee-lux at the end of the month."
>>
>> There is no request for suggestions on what to buy here. He has made his
>> decision and it's his to make, and it's not a bad bike.
>
> You say it's not a bad bike and I say it's a POS. I have every right
> to bag on anyone's bicycle purchase decision if they post it in a
> public forum, especially when it is explained why their choice is
> uninformed at best. Hence bub's statement: "I know next to nothing
> about components."
>
> Thanks for playing, "dan". Is your last name Vo2lker?
>
> JD
>

Nope, but Dan is my first name so there's no need to encase it in quote
marks.

 

[Bob in Oregon]

Got it. Tassajara Disc, Marzocchi MX Comp Air ETA, Bontrager Big Earl
shoes, and a nice fatty RX seat for my "Big Air" ****.

 

[Slash]

On 9 Jun 2005 08:37:42 -0700, "JD" <[email protected]> scribbled:

>
>
>Bob in Oregon wrote:
>> Got it. Tassajara Disc, Marzocchi MX Comp Air ETA, Bontrager Big Earl
>> shoes, and a nice fatty RX seat for my "Big Air" ****.
>
>
>Now ride it until you break it.
>
>JD

And then upgrade it and repeat the process!

-Slash
--
"Ebert Victorious"
-The Onion

 

[Bob in Oregon]

Hmmm... Ive noticed that now, since adding the Big Earl tires, I only
have about 2" of standover clearance with sneakers on. Is this enough?