I hope you kona haters can ride as well as your bikes are priced, the rider makes the bike - not the bike making the rider. Just because you ride a world cup bike doesn't make you a world cup competitor. I have ridden Kona for years, whats wrong with their bikes? I ride with a guy who owns a Commencal - $5000NZ bike and i can rider better than him - so whats the big deal? After all, all you're buying is a frame and specific geometry - I can have a Fox RC4 and 888 Ti forks on my bike just like the guy who spent $$$$$ buying a name printed on a frame that was made in China. You stick Gee Atherton on any bike setup for him and he'll rip up

AHHHH and i just bought a Kona Bass!!! damn it!!

ya lucky bugger, i live in whangarei - other end of the country, youre at the other end of the island

Queenstown is the shizzzzzzzzzle - damn i wish i could go back, 90mnts from auckland and BOOM!!, straight up the gondola