Mountain Bikes > 500 GBP to 599 GBP Mountain Bikes

Kona Kula

Advantages: Great handling, climbs like a mountain goat
Disadvantages: Can be a handfull on rough, fast decents

To date I've owned three Kona Kulas, spanning a perod of nearly ten years. I've ridden 100km marathons on one, ridden the trails of South Wales on one, and commuted on one, so from that you could surmise that I like the bike. Well yes I do, but as technology has moved on is there still a place for the Kona Kula in todays market place? When it comes to riding fast, smooth singletrack, either up hill or down, the Kula is superb. The bike climbs very, ...
...Leith Hill in Surrey. Real Kona Kula territory. Smooth trails with lots of technical singletrack. Just the sort of place this bike was meant for. Now I'm living in South Wales, where the trails are a lot rougher. Guss what, I bought a full suspention, the Kulas brother, The King. I still take the Kula out around Afan Argoed now and again, just to remind me what it's like to ride a "real bike", but I have to admit that the rocks have to a degree ...

Greasylake 22.12.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kona Kula

Unbeatable value

Advantages: Low price, low weight, huge travel, tough frame, 27 gears, lockout
Disadvantages: Poorly set-up gears

I've recently purchased a banshee after a few years of not owning a mountain bike. The online reviews of the bike claimed it was superb value for money considering the price tag of £499. So, you can imagine how pleased i was to get a 2007 ex-display model for £239.99 in a recent 20% off sale. Suspension Tough Suntour Epicon forks up at the front are air-sprung with adjustable rebound and lockout. When the sag is set correctly for your weight, they ...
...punishing drops, with no obvious kickback or excessive dive. The X-Fustion Glyde RL rear shock may not be as sophisticated, but it absorbs even rather harsh bumps well, while the lockout is a must if using the bike on paved surfaces. Brakes Tektro IO mechanical discs on 180mm rotors are near the bottom of the Tektro range, but they are powerful enough, with just enough feedback to prevent locking up unnecessarily. Gears The only criticism here ...

Jack_cheese 14.05.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Carrera Banshee

Bombproof hardtail from Canada

Advantages: Robust build and a superb frame
Disadvantages: Average forks brakes and cranks. Also not the lightest

...the ride more than makes up for all of that. Kona have managed to make the handling agile and yet stable with good stand over clearance. Add to that good Canadian build quality with components that are built to last and good mud clearance and you cannot go wrong. ...

bobbit139 25.08.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Kona Cinder Cone

Felt Q620

Advantages: Good components, Good Frame, comforatble ride, handles well
Disadvantages: None so far

...many people have heard of Felt so its pretty hard to find out about their bikes and find reviews from people who have ridden them before. I find it is a very well built bike that is comfortable to ride both on and off road. I find the frame extremely good especially if you are looking to upgrade components in the future instead of buying a whole new bike although it does come standard with dedent enough components with Shimano derailers and shifters. ...

fasted22 27.04.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Felt Q620 Disc

Gt Aggressor XC2 Grate ride

Advantages: good spec
Disadvantages: tyres

This bike has a really good spec, XT rear mech excellent proformer the only thing that lets it down is the tyres they are a bit prone to punctures when used on road and are really only for off road use. i think that the forks are a bit on the heavy side but still work grate. for the price range would be hard to beat this spec. in my opinion the bike rides really well on cross country trails and is vary smooth and well balanced. i have used my bike ...

cartbeales 26.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of GT Aggressor XC2 Mountain Bike