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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - What Bike to Buy
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Kona Bear, Mt Vision, FSR or Tomac 98 Special... (5 posts)
|  Kona Bear, Mt Vision, FSR or Tomac 98 Special... | carolinaviking
Sep 19, 2003 10:25 AM | | I am looking at getting my first full susser. I have been considering the Specialized FSR/Stumpjumper/Enduro, Santa Cruz Superlight, Tomac 98 Special, Kona Bear/Dawg and Marin Mount Vision. Whatever bike I choose, it will be used, not new, and may be just the frame...I am an Ebay junkie. I was very interested in the 2000-2002 FSR design from Specialized, but am concerned about durability, maintenance, short travel and low bb height. The frames are the least expensive, tho. The Superlight is enticing, but the reality is that it is out of my price range...the only ones I can afford are 01 or earlier, and I hear the bolt that anchors the swingarm is problematic. The Tomac was flavor of the month last week, but there are very few reviews and some indicate build quality is suspect as well as problematic wide seatstays. I know very little about the handling characteristics of the Tomac, but some say it is awesome. I know the least about the Marin, but I did ride a rental in a parking lot once and liked the geometry. I have heard mostly good things about this bike. Also, reviews on this bike are almost non-existent. The bike I have really wanted all along is the Kona Bear, but it may be overkill for what I will be doing. I will be living in southern Sweden where there are only little, rolling hills and the singletrack is very technical with lots of roots, rocks and loose soil. Plus, it will be wet and cold (frozen shock??). Perhaps a 3-inch travel FSR would be the best option, but when I rode the Kona Bear (in the parking lot also, not on a trail) it felt FABULOUS! The geometry was better than any bike I had ever been on, and there are nearly 60 reviews of the Bear and an overall rating of 4.79, so it sounds like a nice ride. Everyone I have met that has one gushes about it, tho it isn't the fastest rig on the slopes. I weigh 175, am 5'9" and will be doing predominantly long, leisurely rides with my dog and wife, not racing. Plus, I will be riding at least three times a week, so it must be well-built. At this point, the two front runners are the Bear and the Mt Vision. Any advice? Thanks to all!
Scott |
| re: Kona Bear, Mt Vision, FSR or Tomac 98 Special... | RandyM
Sep 20, 2003 12:18 PM | | The Kona bear is a good choice. You will do well with a trail bike from the information you have given. The upright riding position is comfortable. Quote "Rolling hills and the singletrack is very technical with lots of roots, rocks and loose soil" This is Kona's playground.
An opion from a Dawg owner. |
| second vote for the Dawg | Dropout
Sep 21, 2003 7:12 PM | | I rode a Marin Alpine Trail TARA bike, and switched to a Dawg Deelux this year. The difference is huge. The biggest improvement for me was the geometry, the Marin just never felt right, while the Dawg fits me and my riding style perfectly. Even though the kona specs look similar to other bikes, the way kona makes their geometry really does provide a special ride.
The suspension on the kona also seems more active to me. When climbing the back end of my TARA seemed to skip across obstacles, while the kona seems to absorb more while climbing. I also had a lot of trouble setting up my Marin so the rear suspension didn't pogo me over the handlebars in compression rollers, this has not been a problem with the kona.
Bottom line for me: I liked the marin, but I love the kona. |
| Tomacs are overpriced and overrated. Get the Kona. nm | dog_dawg
Sep 22, 2003 12:23 PM | | nm |
| out of the three.. | drumstix
Sep 22, 2003 8:52 PM | | Id get the Kona, seam to be well built, I had plans to try a Bear and get a Romic shock, just didnt know if only 4" was right for me and my area, currently riding a 6" bike. Kona's have a certain draw and coolness that not to many production bikes or companies can touch, even some high end bikes dont have that draw, they just plain look cool! |
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