Kona decisions.

Dilla

Well hi everyone! I'm Dilla, from New Zealand and about to buy my first big boy bike (not really, just first as an 'adult')

So I'm utterly lost, I used to ride when I was younger, downhill tracks nothing too serious just mucking around etc. My current needs are fitness related in that I need to get fit and I figure just buy a bike and start hitting the road, I will most definitely be wanting to take it off road it's just it won't be my primary use of it.
So here lies the problem.

I'm torn between three models of Kona, the Unit, Kahuna and Precept.

The Unit: http://www.konaworld.com/unit.cfm

No, gears, no suspension.. Interesting. Looks like a great ride, but I'm worried about a SS. Never done it before, how will that be on the road runs? The Frame is nice.

The Precept: http://www.konaworld.com/precept.cfm
FS - Total overkill?

Kahuna: http://www.konaworld.com/kahuna.cfm
Hard tail - seems to be the middle ground here. looks like a really good bike.

So I'd take all three, they're all within a few hundred of each other Unit being the cheapest through to the Precept. I'd never thought about not having gears before, I'd love to get the Unit and work the roads for a few months, then later down the track buy some decent Suspension for it instead of the RockShox on the Kahuna. The Unit appeals the most, it's got the most potential in my eyes it's just I've never known anyone who had a single speed for purely flat riding.

Anyway any knowledgeable weighing in on this would be hugely appreciated!

Lewis A

Can you test ride them and see which you like more?

The Rookie

SS as your first serious bike is a bad idea, it would be the Kahuna for me.

cooldad

Kia Ora.

For what you want I'd agree about the Kahuna.

But for a bit of road riding and gentle off road

http://www.konaworld.com/mahuna.cfm

Jomox

The Kahuna would fit your needs best.

rockmonkeysc

Kahuna

Cqc

Whilst the kahuna would fit your needs best, it's appalling value compared to most kona bikes, the precept would be overkill although it is excellent value, and whilst the unit would be the one I would go for and the one in my eyes with the most potential, you will definitely find it hard work if you're a begginner

cooldad

A rigid single speed has potential for what, exactly?

rockmonkeysc

cooldad wrote:

A rigid single speed has potential for what, exactly?

Looking fashionably crap?

jiahuolila

SS as your first serious bike is a bad idea, it would be the Kahuna for me.

Clank

Cqc wrote:

Whilst the kahuna would fit your needs best, it's appalling value compared to most kona bikes, the precept would be overkill although it is excellent value, and whilst the unit would be the one I would go for and the one in my eyes with the most potential, you will definitely find it hard work if you're a begginner

These arguements are invalid*. Here's why......

800 quid. No gears, rigid fork. And a frame that can't be uprgaded to take gears.

An extra 300 for the Kahuna buys the XC32 fork (not bad) and a full deore groupset (which is pretty good, espeically in the braking department).

The Precept has a lousy fork, a lousy rear shock, low spec drive train and pretty poor brakes.

Seriously Dilla, if you think a Kona is the best for you, I'd be looking at trying the Kahuna first.

*Go back to STW and repeat 100 times 'Not everyone feels the need to look like a hispter'

Jomox

cooldad wrote:

A rigid single speed has potential for what, exactly?

Rigid SS makes a great blast around bike.

Cqc

Jomox wrote:

cooldad wrote:

A rigid single speed has potential for what, exactly?

Rigid SS makes a great blast around bike.

and low maintenance and if you can fit 3" tires, you've got yourself a overweight-fat bike. The kahuna has nothing special about it.

cooldad

Jomox wrote:

cooldad wrote:

A rigid single speed has potential for what, exactly?

Rigid SS makes a great blast around bike.

And that's what the OP's looking for is it? I do not think potential means what you thing it means.

Jomox

Nope, bad bike for the op ^.

snotty badger

Clank wrote:

Cqc wrote:

Whilst the kahuna would fit your needs best, it's appalling value compared to most kona bikes, the precept would be overkill although it is excellent value, and whilst the unit would be the one I would go for and the one in my eyes with the most potential, you will definitely find it hard work if you're a begginner

These arguements are invalid*. Here's why......

800 quid. No gears, rigid fork. And a frame that can't be uprgaded to take gears.

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The frame has a full set of cable stops, just requires a different drive side dropout.

I have a Unit, it's great, I probably wouldn't recommend it as a first and only mtb though.

I ride in the Lake Distict for what it's worth. I enjoy the rigid fork but also have some Rebas so I can chop and change.

Dilla

And thats why I came to the pros!
Thanks for all the replies it's been very insightful, based on the general consensus here the Kahuna looks the most likely, I was just trying to maximise my spend, i.e I'd be happy to spend a bit more whatever to have something that would serve me well not as just a beginner.
Re the Unit, the bike store guys I spoke to gave me the impression that the frame of the Unit was really good as in it would be possible to buy that and say spend the difference on the bikes on upgrading the stock parts of the unit, e.g spend $2700 nzd on the Kahuna or $2000 on the Unit and a grand on the trim etc.

Being in NZ makes everything more difficult, the market is a lot smaller, there isn't a massive abundance of choice in brands and most are incredibly expensive or rubbish.

I was also under the impression that the Units could be converted to have gears, pricey sure but definitely possible.

Will be buying something within the next month, any more tips are very welcome! probably not wanting to spend more than 1000£ (so about 3k US) brand not fussed.

Anyway merry Christmas everyone!

Chunkers1980

3k US is not 1K £, more 1.5K US