Kona Fire Mountain

Kona build some brilliant bikes... freeride, downhill, cross country, road and recreational. The Kona Fire Mountain is recreational also marketed as an entry-level Cross Country mountain bike. I bought the 2005 model for £450 in Halfords but I've seen the 2006 model for just £400 online at Evans Cycles. Older models can still be bought brand new from various suppliers and get knocked down dramatically in price.

Now, I've owned this ...
...the bottom end of the Kona range. The brakes are disc, which is good, as it gives great stopping power, but these are not fluid control brakes... they're cable controlled and brake 'cables' do have a tendency to stretch and will therefore need adjusting from time to time. The handlebar supplied, I felt, was not quite long enough (...I'm 5'11" so shorter riders may be fine with it) and had to be changed for a more controlled ride. The frame is ... more

Kona build some brilliant bikes... freeride, downhill, cross country, road and recreational. The Kona Fire Mountain is recreational also marketed as an entry-level Cross Country mountain bike. I bought the 2005 model for £450 in Halfords but I've seen the 2006 model for just £400 online at Evans Cycles. Older models can still be bought brand new from various suppliers and get knocked down dramatically in price.

Now, I've owned this bike since May 05 and use it daily for travelling to and fro, and in that respect it's a very good machine, lightweight, quick and it looks great. But you have to remember that this bike is very much at the bottom end of the Kona range. The brakes are disc, which is good, as it gives great stopping power, but these are not fluid control brakes... they're cable controlled and brake 'cables' do have a tendency to stretch and will therefore need adjusting from time to time. The handlebar supplied, I felt, was not quite long enough (...I'm 5'11" so shorter riders may be fine with it) and had to be changed for a more controlled ride. The frame is lightweight, like a cross country frame, which is perfect for getting uphill and down dale but it is not suited to any more vigorous forms of mountain biking. Do not try 'downhilling' or 'freeriding' on this bike... it's not designed for it, it will break, and so will you. The Fire Mountain is also blessed with a very nice Marzocchi MZ front fork giving almost 4 inches of front suspension which has given me no problems at all, and is probably where a lot of your money goes. It's quality components like this that give Konas their higher price.

In summary, I would always recommend Kona bikes, but if you want one to chuck around, jump off cliffs and win races then this one is'nt it. This bike is ideal for riding to work, your girlfriends, round your mates house, on road or even track... it will feel good and get you there quick, but that's it... and like any decent bike you will have to look after it if you want it to last.  

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