08 Trek 6300 or 07 Kona Caldera?

ewand

Hi - I've just got back into cycling from years away from the saddle, and figured it's time to ditch the 8-year-old Trek entry level MTB in favour of something modern, with a reasonable suspension fork that will take me to work & back on a canal towpath, with the odd weekend foray into more adventurous places.

My LBS has been great - I've test ridden a Giant XTC 4.5 (£500), a new Trek 6300 (£600)and a Kona Caldera, which is reduced from £750 to £630.

I was originally planning to go for the Giant but the Trek just felt nicer and I think it looks the dog's with its Bontrager rims etc. I suppose I'm looking for opinions of those in the know regarding the specs of the Trek vs the Kona (http://www.trekbike.co.uk/news/?catid=1 ... 1&archive= and http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2k7bikes/caldera_2k7.php).

The 6300 looks like a lightly upgraded 2007 Trek 6000, with a slightly higher range fork but not much else. LBS says the new 2008 6000 is actually a downgrade from the 2007 model, so it looks like they're making an extra price point in their range (I'd guess £500 for the new 6000 and £600 for the 6300, rather than £550 for the old 6000).

The Kona felt good on the short test, but since it's already reduced in price, my negotiation position will be pretty much "so do you want to buy it then?" whereas with the Trek, I'll be able to get some kit chucked in for free... I can stretch to the Kona's £630 (which, if it gets me a £750 bike seems like a bargain) but since I'm not exactly planning to race the thing, I wonder if I'd be better saving a bit of cash and spending the money on something else.

Thanks in advance - I've only just found BikeRadar, and loving all the really helpful (and amusing) posts, tips, articles etc.

cheers
Ewan

Andy B

The Kona has a very poor spec, I'd avoid it, the forks are terrible. Marzocchi MZ forks on a £750 bike is beyond a joke, it's a plain rip off.

The Giant is better, but the Trek 6300 seems to have the best spec's of all 3 of your choices & by the sound of it it's the one you preferred on the test ride.

ewand

Thanks Andy, I think you're talking me and myself into it

Apologies if this should have been asked first in the MTB Buying Advice forum... maybe some kind moderator could move it there?

drewcole81

The Marzocchi MZ forks on the Kona have been rated very high, for the price they are one of the best forks in the range, they are very smooth and work as they should all the time. The thing with Konas is that your paying for the frame more than the whole bike, if you see my meaning. The spec for the bars, stem, forks etc etc are pretty rubbish..

But, Kona have been making fantastic frames for ages now and they know what they are doing, I'd rather have a bike that i know the frame will take anything, the other parts can be changed as you go when they die.

If you want a well speced bike for a good price, i would get down to your local Halfords branch and check out the new Chris Boardman bikes, i've been looking into them myself and they are very very good for the money. just check out the link....

www.boardmanbikes.com

Scubar

I can tell you now the Marzocchi MZ forks are absolute garbage, i had them come on my Marin Hawkhill and i soon changed them over to some Rockshox, Even the Rockshox Toras are a nice improvement over them. I would have to say the Trek is the best of the bunch and if its the one you like then that should be the bike you go for.

drewcole81

I think you should look at the type of riding your going to do to what fork you really need?

You dont need a mega boucy fork if your just doing some gental riding.

allyharp

Drew is wrong the Marzocchi MZ series are slated constantly. Although personally I prefer a MZ over than a Rockshox Dart, you should be getting more for the £750 rrp of the Kona. Evans do the Caldera for £600 so if you were interested in that model your LBS should match that but the Trek does looks like a nice package.

drewcole81

Alright, what forks are as good if not better thatn the MZ for the same price?

The reviews i have read all say that for the money they are great.
I cant be wrong as its personal preferance to what you like, some people dont like the feel of a more expensive shock, if it does the job then whats the problem with a cheaper shock?

You have the Dart on your bike.

ewand

OK, I'm just back from the LBS having bought the Trek

They had some more 08 models come in and they looked really nice - the 8500 particularly.

Thanks for the advice all Now to get the bike kitted up and go and enjoy the sunshine!