2012 Kona Cinder Cone v 2012 GT Avalanche 1.0

jw85

I'm buying a new bike and i'm stuck between the GT & Kona. Can someone advise me as to which is the better bike/spec?

cooldad

And the spec is?

jw85

sorry spec is;

GT Avalanche 1.0 Mountain Bike 2012 - Full Spec

Frame DOUBLE BUTTED 6061-T6 ALUMINUM, TRIPLE TRIANGLE, ZEROSTACK HEAD TUBE, POST MOUNT DISC
Fork ROCK SHOX XC30 TK Mg, 100mm, HYDRAULICALLY DAMPING, MAGNESIUM LOWER, POST MOUNT, TK LOCK OUT, REBOUND ADJUST,
Chainset FSA GAMMA DRIVE MEGA EXO, 42/32/24T, 3x10
Bottom Bracket FSA MEGA EXO
Front Derailleur SHIMANO DEORE, FD-M590
Rear Derailleur SHIMANO DEORE XT, RD-M780-SGS 10spd
Chain KMC X10
Rims ALL TERRA HP17 DISC, DOUBLE WALL
Tyres Front: MAXXIS SPHINX 26x2.10" Rear: MAXXIS SPHINX 26x1.95"
Front Hub ALL TERRA ALLOY DISC
Rear Hub ALL TERRA ALLOY CASSETTE DISC
Front Brake AVID ELIXIR 1, 160mm ROTOR
Rear Brake AVID ELIXIR 1, 160mm ROTOR
Headset FSA NO.10, ZEROSTACK
Seat post ALL TERRA ALLOY MICRO-ADJUST


Kona Cinder Cone Mountain Bike 2012 - Full Spec

Frame Material Kona Race Light 7005 Aluminum Butted
Sizes 14", 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 22"
Rear Shock N/A
Fork RockShox Recon TK 100mm
Crankarms Shimano M521
Chainrings 42/34/24
B/B Shimano
Pedals Wellgo LU-A9
Chain Shimano HG53
Freewheel Shimano HG50 11-34 9 spd
F/D Shimano Alivio
R/D Shimano SLX SGS
Shifters Shimano Alivio
Brake Calipers Avid Elixir 1
Front Brake Rotor Avid G2 180mm
Rear Brake Rotor Avid G2 160mm
Brake Levers Avid Elixir 1
Headset TH No. 10
Handlebar Kona XC/BC Riser
Stem Kona XC/Road
Seatpost Kona Double Clamp w/offset
Seat Clamp Kona QR
Grips Kona Race Light
Saddle WTB Valcon Sport SE
Front Hub Formula Disc
Rear Hub Shimano M475 Disc
Spokes Stainless 15g fr / 14g rr
Rims Mavic XM119
Front Tire Maxxis Aspen 26x2.1
Rear Tire Maxxis Aspen 26x2.1
Paint Color Blue/Blue/White

cooldad

The Kona, just for the fork really.

cooldad

You don't give a budget though. What else have you looked at?

jw85

The gt is £750 and the kona is £800. My budget is £800 max so would like to get as good as spec as possible. These are the two bikes I quite like but I'm open to other suggestions. Are the forks on the kona much better? Thanks for the advice!!

cooldad

If it was my money I'd look at this
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s2p3484
or this
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

or a bit more travel
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab2

Or a bit chunkier - nice
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab2

All worth considering.

cooldad

But SS is the bargain expert.

apreading

oooh - that XTC2 looks nice from Pauls Cycles. Think my money would be going on that if I was you.

jw85

Thanks for the advice. Basically theres better bikes for my budget then the two I've mentioned?! I like the giant too.

jw85

Any other advice from anyone on what I should choose for around £750-£800?? Is the giant alot better then the GT and Kona? Really want to get a bike a.s.a.p but don't want to rush onto somthing that is overpriced for what it is.

jw85

Right it's a toss up between the Kona and the giant - can somebody tell me which is the better bike pleasssseeeeee! I'm guesing it must be the giant as it was originally £1299 but I'm a complete newbe so I don't know for sure. If I get good, which will be most competent/robust at riding red and black runs on uk trail courses??

Btw Really appreciate the suggestions cooldad!

drtobiasfunke

I would say the Giant is the better bike.

Also worth considering is the more expensive boardman £850 but you can knock it down to £775 if you reserve online and use NUSMAY12 code at checkout.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab2

jw85

Giant xtc 2 spec

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s2p3484

cameronb

I was considering the kona myself but in the end went an extra £200 and got the trek 6500, mainly for fact that forks (rebas at £350 rrp) and elixir 3 brakes and other components made it worth that extra and seems a lot better bike.

jw85

That Trek 6500 looks a nice bike, however my budget is maxed out at £800. So I'm going to take cooldads recomendation and get the Giant xtc 2. After doing a bit of digging it seems to be decent value. And despite the well speced voodoos and boardmans at halfords I much prefer the look of the giant (I'm aware I may recieve critisism for factoring appearance into my decision!!).

The last bit of advice I need is the size of frame to get. I know you should really try the bike for size prior to buying, but unfortunately the shop is not near where I live so I can't, and i'm prepared to risk it! I'm 6 foot 2 inches tall - can someone advise please? Thanks again.