Post Moderne Bracer MTB Suspension Seatpost

Advantages: Good quality components, well built.
Disadvantages: Rather heavy, front suspension.

...Not a bad bike at all, but it's failing is that it can't make up it's mind if it's one thing or the other. It's set up to be a light use MTB / rough towpath bike with semi-knobbly tyres, front suspension and a bouncy seatpost. As a MTB, it's too frail, as a city commuter it's too heavy and bouncy. It's ideal use would be taking the kids for Sunday rides around forestry trails. Using mine for a 10 mile hilly commute, mainly on cycle paths, I felt mine was let down by the front suspension and the poor Tioga tyres. I changed the tyres to semi-slicks which helped, and swapped the seat post to a solid one to which let me put the power down better. The front suspension still made the bike far heavier than it needed to be (36 lb including a rack) and the suspension saps your effort when pedalling hard. Along the flat this wan't too much... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Price, Ride, Street Cred !!
Disadvantages: Hard seat for long rides !

...Having used an MBK Raider hartdail for the last 10 years, and seeing all this new suspension technology coming in, I was tempted to purchase a new Mountain Bike. After looking at all the options :- hardtail, front suspension only, front and rear suspension, I decided to go for the Claud Butler Karve Full Suspension Bike. The price was £400, and for this you get an all alloy frame and rear swingarm, front Suntour MG81 with preload adjusters and disc mounts, rear RS-I alloy shock, Alivio 24 speed with Acera STI shifters, front Grimeca cable disk brake, rear Vuelta alloy 'v' brake, Tioga aheadset, Vuelta tyres and Airline 1 rims, Zoom stem, QR front and rear, QR seatpost plus Tioga Multi Control 2 seat with Kevlar sided panels (which can be a bit painful on long rides! ) (phew !!). The ride itself it very lively, giving great control... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Fork with lockout, hydraulic disc brakes and rigid FSA crankset
Disadvantages: No travel adjustment on fork, lighter options for the money

...basic when compared to other offerings from Hope but they do provide extremely reliable, strong braking power regardless of conditions. The Maxxis Ignitor tyres provide uncompromised grip and durability. The FSA Alpha Drive Powerdrive is an extremely rigid and reliable Crankset at this price range. Customers will be reassured to know that other componentry like the stem, Seatpost etc are all Kona branded. The Kona Cinder Cone is a very impressive XC thoroughbred. While the bike is often described as 'upgradeable', anyone who wanted an entry-level MTB to thrash around their local trails has stumbled across the right product. However, if you require a lighter bike for XC racing then you might be better served going for a Kinesis or Rock Lobster frame and building up your own bike. With hydraulic disc brakes, a Deore gearing group set... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful