2012 Kona Satori Review

2012 Kona Satori

Straight out of the box

Kona Satori.wmv

Personal changes to bike so far:

Shimano M424 pedals

frame tape and wrapped chainstay

WTB Rocket V saddle

Geax Saguaro 29 2.2 tires with Project 321 anodized Stan's ZTR rims running as tubeless with rear tire turned in the traction direction. I switched the stock wheels out because I build wheels for a living. Hence the rolling billboard.

Bike as ridden with changes 30 pounds 9ounces. Stock weight including pedals was 31pounds 6 ounces.

OK folks 1st ride down and looking forward to the next ride. This bike climbs like an XC bike and descends like a DH bike.

Pedaled up and over frozen slippery roots, negotiated tight twisty turns and held it's own on the long pedal sections. Pointed down the mountain it just ate every thing up.

When Kona first started their 29'er line line they used the Rock Shox Reba forks. Later as the line progressed they used the Fox Float forks on the highend models. I don't have a prefference for either fork company. I have to say this Rock Shox Revalation just soaked up every thing from roots, holes and rocks. It felt pretty much bottom-less. The bike felt really well balanced.

Sram X7 2 x 10 crankset 26/39T with the 11/36T cassette and Sram X9 rear derail did not disappoint. Shifts were spot on. The Elixer 5 brakes worked just fine. I need to move them in a bit on the bars because I like 1 finger braking.

All in all at a $3100 USD price point you get so much bang (bike) for the buck it is hard to beat.

Let me get some more rides on it this week and I'll have some more info for you.

12/12/2011 Ok have had some more seat time on the bike:

The Satori really is an All-Mountain 29'er. It will pedal up hills like a champ for no other reason that to point it down hill and let her fly. This old girl will rock on a Super D course and your local weekend trails.

Yesterday we got in some really tight twisty turns and you could tell it had a slacker head tube angle that the XC style Hei Hei Supreme 29 that I've been riding. Had to use a litte more head and shoulders to get through the tight stuff. The frame is stiff enough that it handles ratchet cranks at the last minute to either get through the rest of that tight corner or to finish clearing that log with no problem.

With running the Sram 2 x 10 crankset over the rough stuff at speed I still haven't felt the need to make use of the ISCG tabs by using a chain system yet.

As far as the suspension goes it's clean, simple, feels well balanced and just eats up the nasty stuff. Enough said!

Apologies to all the Sasquatch hunters out there. That was not Big Foot on a bike the last few weeks. That was this 230# bike mechanic covered in mud and pine needles with a stupid grin on his face. That noise you heard was me trying to talk with a mouth full of mud.

04/28/12

Swapped out stock FSA headset. The constantly wet weather finally did it it. Replaced with a Chris King 11/8<1.5 inset tapered