2012 kona splice

[wheeljack87]

So recently I bought a 2011 specialized hardrock frame and suntour fork from a buddy of mine for $40. I dropped it off at the lbs and told them to make a parts list and order it... I went back a few days later to check on the list and they said that they could sell me a brand new kona or Fuji for the same price as the parts. They said they would rather see me on something with a warranty then on something that the fork could go out the next day. So they made me a heck of a deal on a 2012 kona splice. They took off $50 from the marked down price(being that its last years model) and they let me do an even trade on the factory xc tires for a pair of cst ousters.. $450 out the door. That day I went out for about 13.5 miles on the road and the following day I done some singletrack trails for about two hours. The bike rides amazing! I had no problems manualing it and doing bunny hops onto stuff. It handled the trails with no problem at all. The only two issues I've had so far is the suntour fork, the dampening doesn't seem to work but the lock out does just fine. And I have to re adjust the deraillers, lil bit of cable strech but that isn't anything of konas fault.. and btw, those cst ousters handle snow, mud and wet sand like it was nothing.love this new bike

[wheeljack87]

attached the same photo twice haha my bad.. as you can see in the first pic i hadn't even had time to take off those silly reflectors. they are long gone now ..

[wheeljack87]

i was going to wait a bit longer before i posted this and started talking about it but it has been pretty poopy outside the past few days. but this weekend i am going to do some more trails with it and have some better input on it. anyone else on here ride a splice?

[DEALAH]

Sweet deal... Nice bike man, congrats!

[wheeljack87]

Thanks man! I love the bike. I was affraid I wouldn't be able to throw it around like I could with my 26er back in the day, but after riding trails for two hours I can tell that if I can get enough air I think I can do some of my bmx tricks haha. The stock equipment on it does feel indestructible, the rims are super tough, but the rim itself weights just a few ounces less then some complete wheels. So those will be at the top of the list, along with a new seat and a new fork. The fork is super smooth and the lock out does great but the sag on it is about half way so I guess I get 40mm of travel on a bump. But I guess you need some sag so the wheel can drop out into holes and ruts and keep the tire on the ground at all times. The bike stock weighs 33 pounds, so that's not too bad, a fork and wheels will drop it down pretty good

[eb1888]

The Suntour fork upgrade to an air Raidon for 175 has been a good option.
If you want to upgrade your Suntour fork
Check the review on page 5.

[wheeljack87]

I have been looking at the raidon as an upgrade from the xcr, feature for feature, dollar for dollar, it seems to be a heavy weight contender for a spot on my parts list. But I do like to run parts into the ground before I replace/upgrade. I make sure I get every penny out of my purchase.

[BigWheeler]

It sounds like you got a great deal -- congrats! From your pictures it looks like you have your handlebars adjusted pretty high in relation to your seat. If that works for you, go for it, but you might want to think about either lowering the bars or raising the seat, or both. You might ride it for a while and then take it back in and see if your shop can help you make a few adjustments.

Enjoy the ride!

[wheeljack87]

I do all my own work.. my other bike is a 20" bmx, aftermarket frame up build, $2000 in it lol, I won't let a soul touch anything of mine. Lol I don't trust others. But yeah I ride with the seat down low. If I'm on the road I lift it up all the way but if I'm on a trail, I like to be all over the bike, down low, to the sides, all over. I like to ride it like my bmx, jump everything in sight and I hate having a seat get in my way, I am never in the saddle on trails. The guys at the lbs I bought it at thought I was crazy hahah. I just can't wrap my mind around how people can ride technical trails with the seat over the bars. I told the guys at the lbs that I was gonna order a shorter and taller stem, they were like Naw not happening... Lmao

[BigWheeler]

In that case, ride on!

[hdparrish]

I do all my own work.. my other bike is a 20" bmx, aftermarket frame up build, $2000 in it lol, I won't let a soul touch anything of mine. Lol I don't trust others. But yeah I ride with the seat down low. If I'm on the road I lift it up all the way but if I'm on a trail, I like to be all over the bike, down low, to the sides, all over. I like to ride it like my bmx, jump everything in sight and I hate having a seat get in my way, I am never in the saddle on trails. The guys at the lbs I bought it at thought I was crazy hahah. I just can't wrap my mind around how people can ride technical trails with the seat over the bars. I told the guys at the lbs that I was gonna order a shorter and taller stem, they were like Naw not happening... Lmao

Depends where you live and what trails you ride. Some of the trails here in southeast Idaho climb for hours, and if you took them on with your seat dropped, you'd get left behind ... and quickly.

Just as having the saddle low makes a huge difference on descents and in technical terrain, having it up is a tremendous advantage while you're climbing.

[wheeljack87]

Haha! I have done enough reading on here and have asked the question here about the seat to handlebar height that I do know the proven benefits of it. But every since I was a kid learning to do tricks and such, I have had my own style that I stay true to. There are a few things in the bmx world that I had said I would never shift to because it was a fad but over time had learned the true benefits of and ended up adapting to it and embrace it now. But for the time being, I am comfortable with what I'm doing. And I will say this, as soon as I find one of those dropper seat posts in the one pound range for under $150 I'M BUYING THAT THING THEN AND THERE. Lol

[hdparrish]

I hear ya. Dropper post is next on my list, too. I hate having to stop.

[wheeljack87]

Hdparrish I couldn't agree with you any more. If I'm climbing hills I've got that seat sky high. I figured that out in the first five minutes on the bike lol

[wheeljack87]

And stopping to adjust that seat is a real pain in the buns. I hate getting out of rythm while I'm deep in a riding trance. Got the tunnel vision goin and the Mp3 player on. Then bam gotta stop and readjust .

[pbrgdmkj]

it has been pretty poopy outside the past few days

[wheeljack87]

Yep. That's what I said.I don't think I can say it has been s!@$$@ as f@#% out ....