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Honzo Build Thread - post your builds here

1M views 7K replies 665 participants last post by  David R 
#1 · (Edited)
Kona Honzo Build

2012 Kona Honzo Med.
2012 Fox F29, 120mm, RLC, Tapered, 15mm TA
Stan's Flow Wheelset with 3.30 front hub, 3.30 Heavy Duty rear hub
Maxxis Ardents: fr/2.4exo, rr/2.25
Thomson X4 70mm zero rise stem
Thomson Elite seatpost
Easton Monkeylite xc lo-rise carbon bar 27 inches
Specialized Henge Expert Saddle, ti rails
Odi Rogue lock-ons
Avid Elixirs R 185/160
Sram 991? chain
XT cranks
XT med. cage derailleur
Shimano 12-36t cassette
Niner 32t front chain ring
XT rear shifter
BBG bash
N-gear Jumpstop
Cane Creek Headset / inset top, external lower

27 lbs. 13 ounces

Here's my review after my first ride today:

Just got back from ATT and I'm really, really, happy with the bike.

First of all, I expected the front end to wander on steep climbs, but it stuck, no wandering. This has a lot to do with the steep seat tube. It felt very efficient without any discernable bottom bracket flex. I expected this because the tubes Kona uses are fatter than my old Niner MCR 9. This frame weighs 5.75lbs. where the Niner 853 steel frame weighed 4.5lbs. and doesn't have sliding dropouts. For my weight, about 200lbs., the MCR 9 was nooodly, but comfortable. I felt it absorbed a lot of my pedaling power and the head tube was extremely flexy. The Honzo is a stout frame, and I don't think you can achieve that without it weighing more. I don't notice the weight, but I do notice the power transfer and SOLID feel of the frame. Also, I expected to dab the more technical sections because I'm not tuned to this bike yet, but I cleaned them all.

After reaching the top we lowered our seats and headed back. The words that comes to mind descending on this bike are INSANELY FAWKING AWESOME. Because of the short chain stays, the bike corners like a roller coaster doing a 180. The Honzo's geometry positions you over the rear tire and the pivot point of the bike in the turns. I'm not much of a downhiller, but I was flying and not worrying about any ruts or rocks because the fork and frame just swallowed them up, very confidence inspiring. The chain stays also make coming off jumps more intuitive. With Niner's geometry I always felt like I was waiting for the rear tire when popping off curbs and jumps, but the Kona feels right on.

This is the best bike I have ever owned, period. If you're worried about frame weight, you could save about 1/4-1/2 lb. going with a Canfield Nimble 9. The geometries with 120mm forks are almost identical, but the Nimble 9 has a slacker seat tube, which may affect climbing, and it does not accommodate a tapered fork, two things I really love about the Honzo.

PS - check out this video of the Honzo in action: House of the Big Wheel Part 1: Honzo and Satori on Vimeo

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#632 · (Edited)
Thanks guys!
From all the handlebars you mentioned, I only found a few in online Europe stores, and the Race Face Atlas FR is discontinued in black (only in orange is still available). The only option remaining is the Renthal FatBar Riser Bar (Renthal FatBar Riser Bar | Buy Online | ChainReactionCycles.com). Good choice? I don't know about the rise, since I've only ridden flat bars in the past, but I'm willing to try it out.
Edit: I already ordered the orange ESI Chunky grips!

As for the fork, I already read somewhere in this thread that 140mm would be a good choice, so I was contemplating the Fox 34 TALAS 29 140 FIT CTD, would that be ok?
 
#640 ·
Ok, you guys on here have got me really conflicted. My Honzo frame has arrived and is sitting in my living room. I'm just not sure if I should send it back for a large, or build up the medium. I sort of feel like my riding style gravitates towards smaller frames. Singlespeed, always out of the sadle and throwing the bike around. I'm just not sure what I should do...

If there are more 6' tall riders riding a medium (without a long stem and setback post) I'd sure like to hear about how it is.
 
#644 ·
Ok, you guys on here have got me really conflicted.
If there are more 6' tall riders riding a medium (without a long stem and setback post) I'd sure like to hear about how it is.
Well, I am 5'-9" on a small, inline post and 50mm stem, and couldn't be happier with the fit. I don't find the small to be a tight fit for my height.

I think a medium would be bang-on for you, personally.
 
#647 ·
I'm 5' 11" and got the large frame (20) and a 50mm stem. Fits perfect. I've got a longer inseam than most people my height. My friend is 5' 10" with a similar inseam and she rocked the bike like it was a toy.

I can toss it around with ease.
This is the good and sometimes bad thing about being 6'. We tend to be able to use a large or medium frame which is great, but it can sure make it harder to decide which size to go.
 
#670 ·
New fork for 2013 season!

Back to my fork story, my old 2012 Fox 34 Float FIT RLC developed the dreaded CSU creaking midway through lastseason. I finally received my fork back from FOX service yesterday after sitting there for a good solid week. Either way I was only hoping for a rebuild and CSU replacement, but FOX stepped it up and offered to send me a complete new Fox 34 Float. Only choice I had to make was either the 2012 damper FIT RLC or 2013 CTD. I politely declined the CTD stuff, and went for the FIT RLC damper, but they upgraded me to the new and improved Fox Float Air spring (updated for longer travel Floats 130-180mm travel) which has been getting awesome reviews compared to the CTD damper. Definitely is going to be a more linear fork, feeling coil-like almost. And lucked out again and received black lowers as well. Reason for Fox keeping my old fork was they are doing a case study of the creaking CSU by their engineers and would have rather kept my old one whole (not too many 34s have been going back for creaking) instead of only the CSU, no problem with me on that. Once again, I've been surprised by the customer service support at Fox and will continue being their fan boy. :thumbsup:
 
#671 ·
Size

Just wanted to add to the sizing question. Im about 5-9 and had a Trance X3 in size Medium prior to the Honzo. I bought a Medium Honzo frame despite what appears to be a close match in terms of geo of the small Honzo and medium Trance. Just finished building up the Honzo and took it for a spin in the neighborhood. Medium felt perfect. I think a small may have been too compact for me. I did buy a 40mm stem because I thought the medium might be too big after reading some of the posts here. I could go to a 50mm and I believe it would still fit great. Not sure how some of the riders here who are taller than I are riding a small frame.
 
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