Buying a cheaper frame and interested in a Kona that is not available frame only in UK, but apparently is in Europe (and US but tax etc make it not worth it). Any suggestions for friendly dealers on the continent?
[url] http://www.alticoopvtt.com [/url]
A tad cheaper than RPP and they take credit card too.
Tell them you are calling on my behalf. What is it you want I might be able to help too.
cheers
Juan
Hi Juan
Kona 2011 Unit frame in 18".
Ouch... I'll give them a ring, see if it's available, work out the postage and let you know. But you'll have to call them to make the order 😉
I appreciate that! 😀
No worries 😉
ok there is one unit in 18 left in the european stock. Be aware it's a 29ers. Retail price is 360 of our euros (RPP400€).
Not sure about the postage though...
HTH
Could you order me a Kona Abra Cadabra in 18 at the same time please 😉
Cheers for that 😀 - definantly a new 2011 white frame? Who do I contact? (e-mail in my profile).
clink call the shop directly.
phone number is 00334 93 98 68 28.
Says you are calling on my behalf.
Splash man give them a ring. Shame you want a 18 there is a test one in 17 going for cheap 😉
Juan - stop trying to tease me !
I know that a 17" will be too small me luckily.
Can't wait to actually see one in a shop over here and throw a leg over it 🙂
Well I should tell you I test rode it a couple of times then... And you obviously don't want to know my opinion about it 😉
lol - there seems to be very little feedback about them yet. I don't think they could have sold many of the 2010 models.
There still isn't any pricing available for the 2011 models in the UK.
Go on then - tell me all about it.............
ok I tested a cadrbra with a couple of changed bits and bob. First you need to have it well set up, I mean very well it makes a hell of a difference. I was lucky a client of my LBS wanted an "official" test ride. The said client was about my weight. So the bike has been set up for me ;).
General impression. Bike was built with some of LBS owner's kit. I didn't like the stem/shitty carbon bar from easton combo. But that is a very personal thing (and they are not the std ones).
The ride ;)now You notice the difference in the behaviour (would the word work be more appropriate) of the rear suspension between seated, standing up and pushing the pedals, and dh position. It's quite amazing I have to say. When you stand up you really notice that the bike is good for pedalling, very stiff and with a very short travel. And when you push the saddle down for some going with the gravity action, same thing happens. You feel the "magic" 😉 rear suspension works very well and you really do feel the extra travel. What you don't notice is the change in the magic link. That is quite amazing. It's very smooth and feel so natural like magically (yes this word again 😉 swapping between two bikes. What I hated however is the head angle. Way way way too steep for my liking. It's very XC like. You have 2.5 solutions to fix that. First one is to fit a 160 mm fork. That would be a shame considering how well the float 32 that comes bog standard works. Second solution use a cane creek headset, the one that gives you slacker angle. Second and half solution, drill the linkage plate à la karim amour. I wouldn't risk it (apparently Bart, the warranty boy, has ask(ed) kona to have new plates made to correct the angle). The head angle is the only thing I don't like with the bike. If you want a do it all bike this one may well be the one. The rear end really is just magic...
Juan, can you send me some southern French sunshine, i will pay postage 🙂
Juan - thanks for that summary on it. It just makes me want one even more to replace the aging Dawg I have. I have read that the key to getting it to ride sweetly is setting the magic link.
In terms of the head angle I understand they have slackened it slightly for the 2011 model from 69 to 68 degrees. Some other minor changes as well.
<Starts jumping up and down> I WANT ONE NOW 🙂
This one.....
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well splash man the LBS has been telling to the very good customers to wait for the green one 😉
Does it help if I tell it pedals much better than a dawg. And goes down much faster too 😉
BTW my LBS are usually below RPP 😉
Well I'm lucky as I run my Dawg with up to 150mm on the front as its so solid. This makes it lovely and slack on the downs but a bit twitchy on the climbs at times.
I'm looking forward to riding something that pedals like my Hei Hei on the up and like the Dawg on the downs. That would make me very happy 🙂
I'll have to check the exchange rates when (if) they finally release the UK prices.
had a go on an "abra" on saturday
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5049803177_c3aecc9b57.jp g" target="_blank">
Just realised this was a couple of weeks old now, but if the OP is still looking:
[url= http://www.biker-boarder.de/shopware/Kona-2010-Unit-frame-Metallic-Dark-Green_detail_9738_2.html ]bike-boarder.de[/url]