[Closed] Anyone got a Kona Honzo?

MrTall was getting one i think, have search through his posts

its in bits in his garage waiting for his friendly home mechcanic to slap it all together for him.. I felt weight of frame ( 6.5 lbs) but it didn't feel too heavy , that is for a 20in long .

top tip. for the headset cups, if doing self build you WILL need H bottom cup ( if using Hope mix and match ) not F as some people here, or even the shop that sold it him said..

[url= http://www.hopetech.com/webtop/modules/_repository/documents/HOPEHEADSETS2011Web.pdf ]hope headset info[/url]

Yep,

Being built at the moment - if him up there will get off his fat arse and come around and sort it out..... 😉

Bedmaker off here has one and it was his thread that set me off buying one

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-bike-sort-of-nich-but-not-really

Seems a nice frame but it'll not be ridden until the weekend so no idea how it rides etc. All the research i found before i pulled the trigger was positive though.

Looking forward to hearing how it rides. I'm 6ft5 - do you reckon a 20L is the way to go? Where did you get yours from out of interest? Ta.

Dexter, got mine at Bothy Bikes, same as Bedmaker.

20L is 'probably' (fingers crossed!!) just about big enough for me in the seat tube. Top tube seems liek it should be fine as although it's shorter than my other HT 29ers, it's marginally longer than my Salsa Big Mama FS and i'm comfortable on that.

Full bikes are for sale at Cyclestore.co.uk with 10% off (no idea about stock though) but i think the spec is very poor (£1600 HT and they give you an Alivio shifter!!!) Mine has cost me a smidge more than a full rrp bike but it's of a far better spec.

You'd be welcome to have a go on it (once it's built) if you're ever around the Midlands?

Is Mick adding tiger/zebra stripes to it too?

I'm off to look at the Kona range tonight at the Harrogate show, Im liking the Kona stuff at the moment but prices seem steep.

I must admit it's an expensive frame considering it's just a basic steel frame but there's not a lot of choice out there for this kind of bike and everything else is pricy as well.

On-One will no doubt do something along these lines at some stage and it'll be half the price.

I like the look of the Singular Buzzard but don't know about the frame sizing and didn't want to wait until the summer.

Rocketdog - there's already one too many Tiger striped bikes in the midlands - i won't be allowing a second one!

Can anyone verify the 35.5lbs claim [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Kona-Steps-It-Up-For-2012-First-Look-at-the-New-Gravity-Lineup.html ]here[/url]?

That is one heavy hardtail...

It wouldn't surprise me at all given the low spec. The wheels are meant to be particularly heavy from what i read in the reviews.

I got mine mostly built up last night and weighed it at a shade under 28lbs. That was without pedals or brakes (calipers/hoses/levers - the 203/180 discs are already on the wheels).

So i reckon it should sneak in under 30lbs which seems to be par for the course on all my XL bikes.

If i'm honest i can't see any reason not to go frame only on the Honzo as you could build a far better bike using well sourced decent kit for less than they are asking.

Looking forward to testing it soon though as i'm really liking the look of it now it's almost finished.

pictures man, pictures!

In much the same way as he needs Mick's technical assistance in finishing the build - there is no way he's capable of posting pics on here.

He's a good bloke, but inept on so many levels.

Harsh but true.... 😳

Bike is now built and weighed in at 29.80lbs with pedals which i'm happy enough with. Still need to fiddle with a few bits (gear cable length, stem needs to be black, steerer needs one more trim and order my XT brakes to replace the deores i've put on off my SS in the meantime).

Saddle looks really high in a picture of it but looks fine in real life.

Rocketdog, if you have no objections i can email you a few pics later and you can add them to the thread if you like?

Looking forward to riding it in earnest but it's unlikely to be this weekend now.

Okey doke rocketdoguk(at)gmail(dot)com

I wanna see these pics too.

Will you be able to stand far enough back to be able to get the saddle in the picture you big tall freak ? 😉

I love you too Si 🙂

Pics will have to be tomorrow now as it was dark outside when i got back from my ride (not on the Honzo) due to a puncture (it seems the Stans sealant in my tubes could not cope with a single mighty thorn).

I'll put the seat down to a more normal level so i don't get called names and i'll take the bike out of my garden as i don't think i could cope with a STW garden scrutiny..... 🙂

I've got one and love it so far.

Weight - yes it's a heavy frame but I don't think it's really a big deal. A carbon race frame will be about 3.5 lbs lighter and a weightweenie build on one of these will give a total weight of say 21 lbs. Transfer that build to a Honzo and you have a 24.5lb bike you can go XC racing on if you wish. 🙂

I think lighter wheels and fast rolling tyres make far more difference to ride than a few pounds sitting on the frame.
It flies downhill, which is the priority as far as I am concerned and it feels nice and stiff pedalling and cornering hard.

Micarms is right, I said in a previous thread the bottom cup is F but it's the H, I should have checked before posting shite.

The spec on the full bike looks a bit pants right enuff.

As promised
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6787025027_5e02bfc54f_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6787025027_5e02bfc54f_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/6787025027/ ]Honzo 002.jpg[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6787024991_2c2fe13926_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6787024991_2c2fe13926_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/6787024991/ ]Honzo 005.jpg[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6787024977_bfbfff3cd2_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6787024977_bfbfff3cd2_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/6787024977/ ]Honzo 004.jpg[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr

Looks nice - can't believe that a 20L could look so 'normal'!

Now just have to decide to get a Honzo, or get into more debt and get a Norco Shinobi or a Spec Camber 29er...

it's very "new Scandal" i thought

Cheers for putting the pics up RD.

It would look less normal if the saddle was up at the correct height for me which is a few inches higher but then i have stupidly long legs even for my height (6'7"). It was 'amended' for the purposes of showing it on the net. Note the valves and logos are lined up....

I've cut the steerer down twice already but will probably take a bit more off once i've had a few rides on it and checked the fit. I'll also put a proper stem on it as it's an old spare one on there at the moment to check the reach before i bought another.

Can't ride it yet though as there's a weird problem with the fork and tyre clearance. I'm used to the lowers on Reba 29ers not being dead centred but it seems worse on this one and the tyre rubs on the lower disc side quite badly with only a 2.25" tyre. However, it seems fine when i turned the wheel around to check the dish so it could be the wheel (both fork and wheels are brand new?). Will get the LBS to check the wheel and try a few others in there as well.

Mr Tall - are you anywhere near the South East? I'd love to try the 20L for size. I have promised myself that I won't buy bikes until I've at least sat on them, and preferably ridden on local trails, after too many costly mistakes (anyone want to buy an XL Swift...)

I'm afraid not Dexter but i'm 'only' in the Midlands if you ever pass by this way (10 miles south of Brum).

Annoyingly i've not ridden it myself yet due to the dodgy fork so i can't even say if it's worth the trip!

Has anyone else had any time on a Honzo? My bike itch needs to be satisfied and I can't get a demo before I buy so need all the advice I can get.

Only had 3 rides on mine but love it. Built up to be a surprisingly reasonable weight too.

mods? - can you close this thread please?

the honzo is a stupid bike, but i want one and this thread isn't helping.

ta.

how does it climb with that bendy-back seat tube + short chainstay? - do you wheelie off the back as soon as it get's steep, or is it ok ackshully? (I had a speccy enduro for a while, it was nearly perfect for me, but the stupid seat angle meant it had to go.)

I'm sat with mine looking at me from across the lounge. It's taunting me to ride it but because i've got stupid mis-aligned Reba forks on it i can't. It's very annoying.

Forks going to Fishers on Monday so hopefully i'll get out on it soon.
All i can say is that on the 2 epic 400m journeys i've taken it on to the LBS it's excelled on the downs (off the kerb) and easily taken the climbs (back up the kerb the other side). I can't see how it'll be any worse off road 😉

I just missed the cheap jan deal at Cyclestore.co.uk which is a bit gutting but they also give 10% of the price in bits - what's the best way of losing weight from the stock bike for £160? I'm thinking an SLX chainset and the rest on some tubeless kit...

Climbs well. ST angle isn't daft on mine (effective angle dependent on saddle height), and the big BB drop helps keep the nose down.

Dexter, for the cost of the full build i'd go for a frame only and build it up yourself.

With some savvy shopping i reckon you could get a full build for less than the rrp.

I reckon mine was around £1600-£1700 and weighs over 5lbs less than the stock model. My drivetrain came from Rose bikes (XT/XTR), forks from 29squadron, wheels from CRC (half price Sun Ringles) and then other bargain bits from CRC.

If you're happy with a SLX level build i reckon you'd save at least £200 and even more if you use the classifieds/ebay.

I really like that bike.
Looks surprisingly normal - ie not like a 29er.
Perhaps thats a function of the frame size.

Mr Tall, I totally agree but due to other pressures I haven't got the time or the inclination to build a bike at the moment. Will see if I can get any other online deals.

Would be interested to hear how it compares to a Singular Swift as that's my only real 29er experience to date.

Is that position for the chain guide right?

Only asking as I had no end of issues the other night with the chain coming off, may've been the the sub zero temps making the much freeze and loose tension in the chain though.

No idea if the chain guide is correct, as ever with Superstar stuff, a basic instruction sheet seems a bit beyond them.....

I've also not ridden it in anger yet so no idea if the guide is any good. I may also switch from the XT middle ring to a non ramped ring which should help if the chain comes off at all.

Mr Tall - are they the forks you got from 29squadron? I'm about to do the same (but with 140mm) and don't really want some bent forks...

Hi Dexter, sorry, only just seen your post.

I contacted 29squadron and they say they are aware of the problem but have never experienced it before so i may just be the unlucky one (although my 2009 120mm maxle rebas are also out of alignment just not quite as badly).

I have sent mine off to Fishers via my LBS as i was told by both LBS and 29squadron that Fishers UK will deal with a warranty claim.

I also emailed Fishers direct several days ago but have heard nothing from them at all which speaks volumes for their customer service.

Are you putting 140mm onto a Honzo frame or something else?

Well Fishers may not have answered my emails but i don't mind seeing as they have returned my forks to my LBS today with brand new lowers after they were only sent away on Tuesday. Can't argue with that service!

They agree that the lowers were wrong and it was obviously no problem that i'd bought the forks abroad instead of the UK.

So hopefully i may actually be able to get out on the Honzo for a proper test ride this weekend. Assuming the new lowers are ok of course..... 🙂

hmmmmm, am thinking about some forks for the Swift but the issues with rockshox keep popping up lately and are putting me off. Need to have a dig about and see what other options there are that don't involve selling a kidney...might involve buying a new frame that'll take tapered forks though 🙄 🙂

Have just bought a 20L frame, some 140mm Revelations and some tubeless wheels - looking forward to building her up! Quick headset question - will [url= http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=539 ]this[/url] work with the honzo? Also, is the seat collar included with the frame?

Good effort.

Where did you find the Revelations??? The only 140mm forks i could find were the Reba's on 29squadron?

Unsure about that headset Dexter as it seems to be zero stack whereas the Honzo takes a zero stack upper and a normal lower one.

I used the Hope pick and mix ones from Merlin which have a 10% discount at the moment up until Valentines day and work out around £54 (bit less if you use quidco etc).

And the frame does come with a qr seatclamp.

Hope your forks are ok, my brand new replacement lowers are marginally better than the first set but the 2.2" Nevegals still rub so i'm going to have an interesting conversation with Fishers this week.....

Ta for the headset info. Got the frame and fork at Hibike.de for about 900euros which I didn't think was too bad. There are really low stocks of Honzos across Europe until May and I got one of the last 3 20L frames. A second set of bent lowers is either bad luck or bad qc, hope you get it sorted.

Good work DB. When does it arrive?

Hi Sam, wheels already delivered, frame fork and tyres sometime in next 10 days...just in time for that demo day!

Good good 🙂

Can anyone give me the length of the top tube (actual) on a 20Long Honzo frame? Think I have been sent a 20" by mistake...

Thanks to Bart, the geo figures for the Honzo are:

20L actual top tube length is 24.25". 20" is 23.25/5".

^ Glad to be of help, can't wait to see your build!

Finally got my 20L Honzo built and she is awesome. The first bike that feels like it fits my 6ft5 frame for a long time.
Built with 140mm revelations, tubeless wheels, flat sunline bars and a 50mm thomson stem. Just need to save up for some gears next.

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Cool! Bigger pics?

How about these...
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Needs new pedals too. If anyone is interested it handles like a slack 26er; the best hardtail I've ever ridden and this build was about £1200.

One more (wrong iso settings, so sorry for the crappy quality) [img] [/img]

That looks awesome. Loving the white Revelations.

How is the clearance with the lower headset cup (CC40) and the Revelation knobs on the fork leg? There's been talk on Mtbr.com that the clearance is minimal, or that I might even not clear the downtube with the CC40 and Revelation.

Care to snap a pic of the clearance? I'm building mine next week finally and will be using the same fork (Revelation RLT 140) and the Cane Creek 40 series headset.

Did you weigh it yet? What dropper post are you using?

Cheers!

There is at least 1.5cm clearance between fork knobs and the downtube, I'll try and take a pic tomorrow. No weight as yet but will do next time I'm in my lbs. Post is an old Crank Bros Joplin that has seen better days but does the job. I know I'm biased but I think it looks awesome, not too much like a clown bike at all!

Looking good, looking forward to giving it a whirl.

needs bar-end plugs 😉 but apart from that it looks nice!

First month report: Apart from a dodgy bearing in the front wheel I can honestly say that this bike has converted me from 26 to 29 inch wheels. The Enduro hasn't left the shed and apart from occasionally wanting a bit of squish out the back (saving for SJ evo 29er already) and some gears (anyone selling a 1x10 drivetrain?) this is as quick as the Enduro for most of my SE England riding.

lFinally it's done!!!

So after an introduction into the "All-Mountain" segment last year and a quick season on [url= http://forums.mtbr.com/all-mountain/my-transition-transam-let-me-show-you-696234.html ]my previous bike[/url] , I was itching for a new 29er bike, especially one that fit me right, as the Transition TransAM ended up feeling too small for me @ 6'4". Just a quick ride around the neighborhood tonight on the Honzo and things are looking great this season. :thumbsup:

- 2012 Kona Honzo frame, 20 Long
- 2012 Fox 34 Talas 29 140/110 FIT RLC
- Cane Creek 40 headset cups
- Sun Ringle Charger Expert wheelset, sans stickers
- 2.4 Maxxis Ardent / 2.25 Maxxis Ardent, tubeless, Stans sealant
- Shimano SLX M665 brakes 203/180mm rotors
- Shimano SLX M665 crank
- Shimano XT M770 BB
- e.13 Guidering 32T
- Shimano SLX M662 GS rear derailleur
- Shimano HG-61 12-36 cassette
- Shimano SLX M660 Rapidfire shifter
- MRP Lopes SL chainguide
- Chromag Fubars OSX, 780mm wide, 25mm rise
- ODI Oury lock-on grips
- Thomson X4 50mm stem
- 2012 Rockshox Reverb 420x125mm post
- WTB Deva SLT saddle
- Point1 Racing Podium pedals
- Chromag QR seat clamp
- Chromag QR rear wheel skewer

31.13 lbs

Under 30 lbs would have been nice, but the last minute component changes were so worth it IMO (the Fox 34 and the Reverb post). And it's still lighter than my previous bike, so it's all good!

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Eurospek - how do you find the Honzo? It's the best bike I've owned I think, not touched my Enduro since I built the Honzo up.

I would have to agree, definitely the best bike I've owned. Blows the Transition TransAM out of the water that I rode previously. Sizing is also spot on, on paper a 26" ETT sounds massive but when you ride it, it feels so good.