Level Freeride

Advantages: Quick, nippy, lightweight bike.
Disadvantages: Ride it too hard and it will break.

...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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: probably one of the best boards on the market
Disadvantages: Won't except anything less than full throttle

.... Aggression Core: The core of the board is made up of wood and carbon which makes it nice and light RideGlide Sintered Fusion Base: For speed you just can’t beat this base. Instead of being totally flat the base of the board is slightly textured which traps air under the board and lets it float over the snow, crazy eh?! Hybrid Fiberglass (Tri and Biaxial) The outer fibre glass shell of the board has the fibres running in 3 directions, therefore strength in all directions and protects your core. CarbonEx and Aramid Reinforcement: To give strength and stiffness to the board, this is what gives you the pop! Overall Well I have no really complaints about this board it is the ultimate all mountain machine, it really does kick ass. If you are a progressing intermediate who leans towards freeriding and want a board to take you to the next level... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Quick, nippy, lightweight bike.
Disadvantages: Ride it too hard and it will break.

...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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: exelent value for money, very strong can take some abuse
Disadvantages: the overall bike is quite heavy, and has bad saddle

...I bought the 2005 model Fire Mountain in the beginning of last year. I rode it XC for a good 3 months after purchase. The bike performed well, has a good gear ratio (has capability to go extremely fast, and get up the steepest of hills). But the comfort was not great, especial on longer rides. I found myself having to stop not because I was tiered or out of breath, but because I was in so much pain I had no choice. In the summer I rode some slightly more aggressive terrain dropping of ledges, riding light DH freeride trails the bike seemed to handle it ok. The only part of my bike that didn't was my bars when I stacked it going to fast and bent them. I've gone back to Xcing now and all the components are still going strong. componaents: the fork make this a smooth ride for the price but the adjustability is not efective the disk brake... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Ease of turning, handling, style, following.
Disadvantages: None I can think of.

...I go to Sandown ski club ever week, and I always try to get the Salomon X-Screams. They are incredibly easy to turn, have a nice carving action, and are probably one of the best skis around. They have a huge free-ride following, and are used by beginners and experts alike. They are the skis by which all others are judged. The newer X-screams have the Prolink arms 'to guarantee ski/snow contact'. Wether it actually works is another matter... but it sounds and looks cool! So basically, these skis will suit anyone, especially those who are looking to improve their turning and confidence, and want to learn how to carve easily. Excellent skis!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful