Kona Caldera 2008 - Do you own one?

craigmcc1982

Hi,

I'm leaning towards purchasing it, but was just wondering if anyone had been out on the trails on one and what their thoughts were?

It received an average review on this particular site so I am hesitant to splash the cash!

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... a-08-28222

blister pus

Remember that's reviewing a Caldera at £700+ - you're getting one at £450. The review would be entirely different with 450 price tag.

craigmcc1982

Very true mate but again I'd like to hear how people have got on with the bike just so that I can have a bit more piece of mind!

blister pus

The bike radar reviewer wrote the piece having test ridden the Caldera. And there was a thread the other day with at least one Caldera owner saying how he liked his ride and recommended the original poster of the thread went ahead and bought one too (the bike shop offered him one at a reduced price of 560). He was happy, the spec he ended up with was well above the Cindercone they were originally going to sell him.

Post was 3./ 4 days ago, have a look back to about page 5 or so. Bike shop concerned was singletrackbikes if i recall.

passout

I thought the review was favourable. A mate has one and really likes it, nice bike with a decent spec.

craigmcc1982

Favourable in some respects but he seemed to dwell on the negatives more than the positives.

Just look at the intro!

"The Caldera’s legendary Kona geometry delivers equally legendary Kona handling, topped off with a reasonable spec. However, that spec and the package’s performance can’t live up to the ‘back country’ and ‘all-mountain’ tags."

passout

Surely that just suggests that it isn't an all mountain MTB - which it clearly isn't with that amount of travel. It's a trail bike I'd say. He is saying that Kona have put the wrong badge on it i.e. their marketing is some what mis representative. Still a good bike.

blister pus

Yeah but you're taking that out of context a litte, further on he says:

The Caldera heads up the Canadian company’s ‘back country’ hardtail range, combining a decent-looking spec with a head-turning price tag.

It’s enough to make us start questioning Kona’s ‘back country’ tag. After all, a slightly reluctant 100mm fork and 2.1in tyres aren’t exactly what all-mountain dreams are made of.

But even if it falls short of ‘back country’ claims, the Caldera is still an accomplished and good value trail bike.

Meaning he considers it overpriced and under spec'd at £700+ as a back country / all mountain bike. But more trail riding orientated.

What kind of riding will you be doing in general? ...trail riding type stuff you said in the other thread.

And you're picking yours up for what? £450?

craigmcc1982

Will be doing a lot of trail-riding and as I mentioned before the country is full of mountains!

Whilst I won't be looking to do much downhilling, there is a distinct possibility that the majority of these trails will involve a lot of DH work due to the landscape of the country. I'm worried about how he has described the bike and it's inability to handle the big hits that will no doubt come my way.

I need to be sure that the bike is capable of taking the hits on what will no doubt be rocky, mountainous terrain interwoven with fast singletrack.

I will be able to buy an 18" bike at a local dealership for £450 equivalent and then will look to upgrade the components as I develop my skills.

blister pus

Look at it this way; at £450 it's a good buy and remains a good buy whatever. It will suit heavy trail riding as well as the next mid priced trail orientated hardtail, if a little under spec'd to be considered a 'back country' / 'all mountain' bike. Yes, you could upgrade as you go along, the Tora fork should last a good while but you could change other stuff...

But at the same time you could keep your money in your pocket, save a little, and get a more appropriate full suspension all mountain bike that will really cover you for years to come, but not at £450. If your budget is around the 500 mark you're limited whatever.

passout

My mate rides his in the Lakes and has no problems - it can handle big hits. With the possible exception of the tyres.

Generally hardtails don't do All Mountain very well anywa IMO.
I'd buy it.

craigmcc1982

Thanks gents for the informative replies, it's always a pleasure to read informed comments designed to aid my decision-making process.

With regards to Blister Pus' comment about saving up for a full suspension bike, I'm only likely to be in Korea for another 18 months at the most and then my tenure is up. I've set aside £500 to cover me for now as I don't want to spend too much and not give it the proper time and attention.

A mid-ranged bike will allow me to commute through the traffic whilst also hitting the mountains at the weekends. There is a notable MTB community in Seoul but most tend to be American military who are heavily into the DH scene, which is good for them but I want to improve my XC skills and then perhaps develop my DH skills. That is why the fork is such an important consideration for me as it may need to take big DH hits.

I wanted to make sure that it was a bike that I could develop these skills on and then perhaps when I return home or move to China, which seems likely, upgrade to a model of a higher standard.

passout

Sounds ideal for you then. For £450 you'll be getting a really nice frame.

I did a little cycling in Japan when I taught English there - hardly saw another human being up in the mountains. Total contrast to Kyoto itself. Sounds exciting - enjoy your travels.

craigmcc1982

Thanks Passout for your kind words.

I work for a University here in Korea and contracts tend to be only 2 years long. Fortunately, my wife is Chinese so I'll be able to go and work there when I'm finished with the Korean chapter of my life! In no rush to come back to the UK!

I'm sure you were the same when purchasing your bike, looking at every possible angle and then coming to an informed decision.

I appreciate yours and Blister Pus' help.

Thanks guys.

JakeWC

If you've only got £500 to spend you won't get a better bike for the money. If you buy an all-mountain hardtail for that price it will be heavy and basic. I've owned a Caldera and the frame is good for the money, the fork is ok (I swapped it for a Reba when funds allowed) and the rest of the spec is decent enough, and a tyre swap is pretty cheap. Most of the criticism directed at Kona is that they are slightly underspecced for the money. Considering the price you are able to get it for it's a great deal. It's more than capable of handling anything you are likely to throw it at (unless you are in to 5ft drops and dirt jumps) and the geometry is great. Buy it.

craigmcc1982

Hi Jake,

Thanks for the comment.

I posted a link a few days ago to determine the best bike for my budget and recieved a handful of replies.

http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/foru ... t=12620359

I appreciate that you believe the Kona to be my best option at £500 but there were a few other contenders.

Marin Palisades Trail 2008

http://www.cyclesuk.com/139-201081

Not sure if the Marzocchi's would be better than the Tora's on the Kona?

GT Avalanche 1.0D 2009

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=10206

Trek 6500 V 2009 (No disc brakes)

http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... gory_id=80

Kona Kula 2008 Spec
http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.p ... gory_id=20

The Kula stretches my budget to its max but if it were the best of the bunch then I would be more than happy to get it.

blister pus

Recent Marzocchi forks have a pretty lousy rep for reliability if you read around, at least you know what you're getting with a Tora. There's no denying the Kula has the better fork out of them all but assuming the Caldera spec is the same as it is over here (don't know) then overall, fork aside, they are pretty similar. So I just don't see paying the extra £430 (at the average 856) for the kula is necessary for what you want or what you get, and a Recon 100mm fork certainly isn't worth paying an extra 430 notes for - keep the money in your pocket and when you've destroyed the Tora, upgrade it....still cheaper and you'd still have a decent frame and have money over to upgrade other things like tyres and wheels.

The more you reason it out, the clearer things become, the Caldera is the deal to go for by a good way (assuming spec is the same as over here). Just make sure you don't lose out on it procrastinating too long like some others on here have done.

Enjoy soaking in some glorious Korean mountainside .....with the extra cash saved buy yourself a decent hydration pack, be far more beneficial.

craigmcc1982

Th spec is the same the world over and I believe these bikes have been sourced from America.

The Kula 08 would work out at around £600 here which is £150 more than the Caldera but if the fork isn't worth it, I'll just get the Caldera.

It's a public holiday here today but i'll be going to look at it tomorrow and see if I can try the Caldera out.

Cheers for all of your input.

blister pus

£150 difference puts a different slant on things. If the Tora is a 302 then I'd be inclined to pay the extra and get the kula with Recon.

craigmcc1982

Hence the trouble I've had trying to make a decision!

blister pus

It's not so complex. If it's a Tora 302 (as opposed to 318) then I'd pay the extra for the Kula with Recon as it saves you the hassle of a fork upgrade later. If it was a Caldera with Tora 318 I'd buy that at 450 and keep the money and spend elsewhere.

craigmcc1982

Well it's a Caldera with a Tora 302 coil fork for £450.

The Kula has a similar spec but has a Recon SL 100m fork that will be more useful as you've mentioned. More of an investment at £600.

Luckily they're both in the same shop so i'll go and give them a go tomorrow.

blister pus

And I think that's the only way you're going to come to a final decision too, it's as it should be. You probably won't notice the difference in overall spec difference between the two but you will in the fork when it comes to hitting a decent trail.