I have the best subscribers on the planet. You guys are amazing. I want to give a huge thanks to everyone who reached out to Kona to tell them about the channel and why you thought I should review one. You convinced them far better than I could. You guys rock. If there are any other bikes you want to see reviewed on this channel, feel free to write to the companies that make them or comment on their Instagram account. Stay tuned for the on-board review, along with a couple other interesting videos coming of this bike. Do you need help deciding which bike to purchase next? I offer a one-on-one bike consultation service through patreon. It's how I put food on the table for my family, and how I'm able to provide custom bike advice for my vieewrs. Become a patron today for access: sign up for the monthly bike consultation tier, and cancel at any time. Most people sign up for a month or two, and we work together to discuss their needs, riding style, etc. to narrow down the list of all the great hardtails out there. When they get the info they need and they no longer have any questions, they cancel. Become a patron today: patreon.com/hardtailparty. If my videos have saved you time or money, consider supporting this channel via Patreon. For as little as $5/month you can ensure I continue making unbiased content. Support individual content creators over garbage tv or sponsored content disguised as reviews.
@@Klunker1 yes. They didn't have any to send me at the time, and I'm not sure they were convinced it'd be beneficial for them to ship one to the US for a review.
“Hardtail” probably has people thrown off but is EXACTLY the reason I tuned in. But yes, he’s very knowledgable and gives information that’s applicable to ALL MTBs
Probably because idiots like me keep seeing these videos recommended and watch them all the while thinking we're subscribed but we arent. Just went and subscribed lol
11:25 pm Friday night, my wife is snoring, my dog is farting, all of this fades out when I get to check out a sick bike reviewed well, looking forward to the ride vid.
I've watched Hardtail for a while now , I love the content you put out . absolutely one the most well rounded, informative, fun , channels . Nothing but respect !
"See if we can get this in for review" - how could Kona NOT get a rad hardtail to Hardtail Party :) - Keep it up Steve! Edit: That free hub is... uh... something.
@@DRSpalding I have the same hub, slx 7100 hubs and they are awesome compared to. My hydras on my main bike they are almost as good. I don't know why but it sounds like two cats in a dumpster but awesome engagement
Freehub on my test bike sounded more normal than on this video but still funky at times: sometimes making sound while coasting and sometimes just dead quiet, sometimes sound disappearing while middle of coasting. No issues with engagement though.
I’ve been waiting for you to get this bike. I drove 2hrs to the Kona shop in Bellingham to look at one they had there. Sadly due to covid and me showing up 15 minutes before closing, they didn’t bring the bike outside to look at. I was only able to look through the window. I can’t wait to see how one sizes up for me. Anxious to see your videos.
It definitely uncommon for them to do that in this industry. I think they're realizing that the consumer today is far more educated about specs than in the past.
@@hardtailparty Anyone looking at this particular bike knows what they want. They'll likely still try and get away with some shady spec shuffle on other bikes in their lineup, but that's to be expected on any manufacturer complete. This bike is dialed out of the box.
Great Channel here. I'm the only one out of my buddies who still rides mainly hardtails... They make you a better a rider especially when you roll SS. Keep up the great work I wish u much success..
This looks great, I wish it was out a bit earlier when I was looking for a hardtail shredder. Ended up with a Norco Torrent which I love, but this would have been a contender. Looking forward to your riding review.
This channel needs to take off already. Constant stream of quality content with honest opinions! Sedona was the first place that I rode a mountain bike on actual trails and fell in love. Now I can't wait to get back out there with some experience under my belt! Great stuff Hardtail Party.
Hey Steve if you owned that bike I would say the downtube would be the perfect place for a hardtail party sticker to cover the kona sticker! Cant wait for the ride review!
In case there are some Pole fans here. Or even if you don't but want to see the Taival in the channel. I wrote this post to Pole owner Leo Kokkonen. Go there and show you'd be interested to see the Taival reviewed in the channel. m.facebook.com/groups/961973767170964?view=permalink&id=3605424196159228
Also, I put that hub on my bike and it did have kind of an intermittent sound at first (though it was quieter), however while riding it doesn't seem to really make any sound (which I prefer).
Definitely a bike designed and spec’d for a guy that really rides the knar and isn’t concerned with his Strava PR on the climb but will pick the same steep trails as his full suspension riding buddies. Kona has always been a bike company that pushes the envelope. I can’t wait to hear how it rides!
Well said. I used to work at a shop that sold konas and specialized, and I loved the way those Konas rode. They were way ahead of their time. Now they're starting to show that forward-tvinking attitude in their hardtails again.
Totalll agree with you on the derailure/shifter theory. My bike came with a Deore derailure and a Microshift shifter of an unknown model but Ive had zero issues with it. Ive been through 2 chains and its needed some barrel nut adjustments here and there but I cant imagine needing anything fancier, myself. Id love to get the SRAM AXS mostly just for getting rid of the cables! Great video man, keep em coming!
Man that frame is killer for awesome bike built. Hardtail is my favorite. I did get my 1st full suspension bike Christmas time. But I just did ride it that much. I just sold it. It's just not as fast and climbing ability is on a different level then full suspension.
I just built a Honzo for a buddy using the XT wheel set.. Hub had the same thing going on..... After he put a ride in the hub broke in and it doesn't do that anymore.. Head scratcher for sure. I love my Honzo 🤙
Yeah Boiiiiiii, The bike companys are finally waking up to the fact that rowdy HTs are a great bike choice for a significant percentage of their customer base by producing beast models like ths KONA. HT Party starting to build up some legit cred with these larger companies and mes thinks it is only just getting started. Appreciate all the knowledge and subjective opinnions on all things biking and hardtails on the hardpack trails you ride which is simillar to the west australian Pea Gravel I ride on here down under. Kia Kaha Bro.....
I cringed a bit when I saw this, thought it's daggy , the whole rest of the bike is way cooler without it, but Kona always has a playful sense of humour, usually I enjoy it like the little Sasquatch pic on my big Honzo St and the little sticker on handlebar: this bike is for competition use only.
Actually, I prefer the SLX shifter oder the XT one which I find is too clicky. Both work very well but I'm totally convinced I'll never need more than SLX.
Awesome review as always and I'm stoked that you were able to get your hands on the new Honzo ESD! I ride a 2017 Explosif myself so I'm partial to Kona and glad they were able to work something out in terms of getting you a model to demo!
Holy crap I thought I was already subbed...fixed. I am a Kona nut...I just dig em. I just got a Surly Pugsley, so not so much in the market for another bike, funds won't allow. But, I do look forward to seeing the review of this. Who knows, things change.
Nice review keep up the good work, I've seen this bike in person at my local shop its very nice head turner for sure. Its going to be a big up grade from my entry-level bike. Waiting for them to get a medium in I am 5'9" the large was a tad bit to big for me.
@@hardtailparty Thanks man! My first more aggressive hardtail coming from XC bikes, was looking at different FS bikes in that price range when this dropped. I was hooked!
Im new in this channel. Nice reviews i've been ridin my old DJ frame which is a Scott Voltage YZ paired with a 150mil fork, this guy reviews most of my dream hardtails. Rad stuffs dude. More subs for you.
Such a sweet bike. Not my flavor since I do prefer the flowy and groomed stuff on my HT, but this is an amazing progression for the HT community. One thing I'd love to see from your channel is another bike comparison video, even if you can't get them all in the video at once. Would be great to hear your input on a larger variety of HTs and rank based on what they're made for or do best, i.e. downhill charging, flow trail pop, jumping, all-mountain, etc.
Definitely going to get this frame. Im the same body type as yourself, so my plan is to run 27.5+ front and rear and bump the fork up 10mm to keep the front end in the same place. Im not a fan of the feel of 29" wheels
I wasnt certain on the difference in diameter between 29 x 2.3 and running 27.5 x 2.8 or 3. Figured i would need a little more length in the fork to keep the front end in the same spot but if it doesnt need it then that answers the Q i had. I dont do too much technical climbing here in north TX and like the feel of a slack bike. Most of what we have here is XC with some short chunky steeps (there are a handful of DH trails). My Process 153 is great in the chunk but a slog to pedal around all day. This will make an ideal rowdy XXXC bike for me
Heh, thanks Kona! You definitely have the attention of the hardtail community and I've seen a lot of interest in the Honzo ESD. I'm probably going for the M6100 groupset and either immediately or later upgrade with the XT shifter too, since it is not too expensive of an upgrade - and way below an XT groupset, while actually being a proper performance difference. Unlike the brakes, since the M6100 come with resin pads and upgrading the 4 piston variant would easily push me into XT territory, so I might as well go for them at that point. I think Shimano should've offered a metal pad variant of the cheap ones too. Larger frame sizes do have higher top tubes and longer seat tubes though, which changes the look a little bit. I think manufacturers should offer photos of the different sizes too, to make it more clear on how the aesthetics change. I also really think manufacturers are pushing a bit too hard for 29ers based on the competitive MTB scene, but I feel especially the aggressive slackers are more meant to be a fun machine and not necessarily something to push for actual races, and even outside of that category I don't think everybody is super hype about going super fast, thanks to the roll over. That hub sounds awful though. I would generally prefer quieter hubs, but at least be consistent in what kind of noise you make. :D Edit: Just responded to an email convo with Ragley that I had from before your review, and told them that you sold me on the frame and to show you some love in the future.
Don't bother upgrading to XT yet. Throw some D02S Metal pads in the M6120 calipers and you'll have 90% of the power with 10% of the cost of upgrading to XT. The ESD uses RT-64 rotors which are metal pad compatible. I have MT520s (the non-series 4 piston version of Deore) and they are really good with metal pads and RT-66 203mm rotors. Easily will lock up the front wheel or send you over the bars on a descent if you're not careful.
@UCcyoGBHcC0itPMUSNeTKPfA I am not upgrading, I mean for a new build since Steve sold me on the mmmbop frame with his review. Getting a M6120 set plus the metal pads would cost pretty much almost the same as the XT set. So if you plan on going metal pads anyway it becomes way less attractive as a brake set. The M6100 groupset seems really nice though, and even with the XT shifter you're still at around 300 bucks.
Thanks for the kind words. I haven't been impressed with Shimano's drivetrains lately. I know everyone in the comments section of the forums is praising Shimano 12 speed and Shimano brakes lately, but I've been really let down on Shimano recently. More to come in a future video.
@@Dark__Thoughts I'm planning to buy an M6100 groupset with 4 pistons as well. Are you sure about the price difference of the brakes? I looked at a few shops and M6120s + metal pads still come out $100-110 cheaper than XT M8120s that come with metal pads out of the box. Or did you find a super cheap source for M8100 brakes?
Thanks for this awesome content! you might have misunderstood the decal, it simply indicates the seat tube length for the size L, and the head angle once you add 6.
Alfredo Tellez Dector Hace 1 segundo Hey Steve! It's great to see we did it! Could you make a quick online review of the NS Bikes Eccentric cromo 29 frame? NS has some pretty cool stuff when talking about hardtails but I've seen very few people talk about it, and who knows... Maybe we can get them to send you a bike for a hands on review ;)
Fun fact: this is actually not as slack as the mmmbop that you reviewed. Idk why but if you mesuare the 2020 frame on the official photos from ragley youll find that the head angle is more like 62.25 instead of the claimed 63.75. The honzo is what they are claiming. You can check this by overlaping official side on pics. Since you already like the mmmbop, i dont think that you will have any gripes with the HTa. As for the rest of the bike, it looks so sick. If it also came in 27.5 and the reach was a bit shorter, i would pick a frame up in a heartbeat. But since it doesnt, i think ill still go with an mmmbop. Its still a really solid frame and im planing to build a mini dh bike out of it, one that you can still pedal around. Keep up the awasome content
I think if we had an accurate tool to measure geo, we'd be surprised how different some bikes are from their charts. I don't know that I trust comparing geo based off of images (knowing how much photo editing goes on) camera angles, etc., but that's a really interesting observation. I've ridden the bike some, and it definitely feels different from the mmmbop. Stay tuned for the review. Thanks for sharing that!
Yes, that is one of those "two or three bikes as slack as this" that I mentioned in the video. I've tried to get one in, but I haven't heard back from on one.
Thanks for the video and thank you for looking into tire clearance on a 27.5+, as this is something I too was curious about for the sake of (probably meaningless) flexibility. One thing I see is that when you mounted up that 3.0", the dropouts are pushed to their furthest forward position. Would it make much of a difference in side clearance if those were to be moved to furthest back position?
Not much. I'd feel good about 27.5x2.6 or 2.8. But it would lower the BB a decent enough. And with 175mm cranks, you're going to get a ton of pedal strikes.
Hey Steve! Thanks for your review video and your input! I was just curious on how the chain stays are adjusted? Is it a pain in the butt or relatively easy to do?
If you have long legs, you run out of seat tube! Long dropper posts are finally helping, but I remember back in the day of getting on a 19” frame and being over the min insertion of a 350mm seatposts for demo rides. I’m 6’.
If someone wants to send me a free meta HT AM with a zeb, I'll happily give it a try. We can only hope that the new frames aren't as stiff as last year's model. I think a zeb would just be added weight on a hardtail, especially since I think 130mm is the sweet spot. If you're getting a pike or 36 or help to flex at 130mm and you need a zeb or 38, I feel sorry for the rest of the components on your bike.
This looks like it would be an absolute beast on the downhills, but the rear of the bike looks very small, for some reason, maybe just the side angle view. What is the maximum weight limit? Thanks for the review, cool looking bike. Be careful and stay safe.
By chance I have an X01 eagle rear derailleur and an NX shifter - this works better than the NX derailleur (although not twice as good, despite being twice the cost ;) ). What difference should I notice, were I to eventually upgrade my shifter too? I have my eyes on a GX shifter when the NX shifter breaks.
Hey mate have you ever ridden a Nukeproof Scout? It's a bike on my shortlist and would love to know your thoughts on it. Seems to hit a pretty good value for money ratio. Btw I love your 80s intro music 😄
not yet. I've reached out to them many times, but I've never heard back. I'd love to demo one someday. The reach looks SUPER short. I'd probably be on a large.
I offer a summarized "web reviews" for my bike consultation clients on Patreon. Once I get caught up on videos I'll definitely consider this one. Thanks for the suggestion, it looks like that bike could be a lot of fun.
Can someone explain to me what exactly is going on inside that hub? Is it trying to fully disengage to be silent rolling at high rpms to reduce friction? A teardown of the hub showing the inner mechanisms would be really useful.
I have the best subscribers on the planet. You guys are amazing. I want to give a huge thanks to everyone who reached out to Kona to tell them about the channel and why you thought I should review one. You convinced them far better than I could. You guys rock.
If there are any other bikes you want to see reviewed on this channel, feel free to write to the companies that make them or comment on their Instagram account.
Stay tuned for the on-board review, along with a couple other interesting videos coming of this bike.
Do you need help deciding which bike to purchase next? I offer a one-on-one bike consultation service through patreon. It's how I put food on the table for my family, and how I'm able to provide custom bike advice for my vieewrs. Become a patron today for access: sign up for the monthly bike consultation tier, and cancel at any time. Most people sign up for a month or two, and we work together to discuss their needs, riding style, etc. to narrow down the list of all the great hardtails out there. When they get the info they need and they no longer have any questions, they cancel. Become a patron today: patreon.com/hardtailparty.
If my videos have saved you time or money, consider supporting this channel via Patreon. For as little as $5/month you can ensure I continue making unbiased content. Support individual content creators over garbage tv or sponsored content disguised as reviews.
hardtail party Have you talked with Pole about their Taival ?
@@Klunker1 yes. They didn't have any to send me at the time, and I'm not sure they were convinced it'd be beneficial for them to ship one to the US for a review.
hardtail party They don’t understand your influence on Hardtail lovers in the States.
@@Klunker1 Not only in the US... I live several thousand miles away 😎
Michael from Chromag bikes here. Ive had probably 20 emails this month of people asking me to send you a bike for a demo.
Not sure why HTP doesn’t have more subscribers at this point, great material! - please review growler 40/50. I will email Rocky!!
“Hardtail” probably has people thrown off but is EXACTLY the reason I tuned in. But yes, he’s very knowledgable and gives information that’s applicable to ALL MTBs
I’ve been wanting a growler review as well. I should email them too😄 it’s between the honzo and the growler for me
Because alot of people aren't 5'6, so his review compared to mine at almost 6 feet is a big difference.
No chromag.
Probably because idiots like me keep seeing these videos recommended and watch them all the while thinking we're subscribed but we arent. Just went and subscribed lol
11:25 pm Friday night, my wife is snoring, my dog is farting, all of this fades out when I get to check out a sick bike reviewed well, looking forward to the ride vid.
Sounds like the life man
Can't wait for the ride review. I've been waiting for this before I drop some $$$ down.
Great reviews mate.
Great overview Steve. I’m glad they sent you one to test.
I've watched Hardtail for a while now , I love the content you put out . absolutely one the most well rounded, informative, fun , channels . Nothing but respect !
This is the bike I wanted earlier this year. Don't get me wrong, I love my Nukeproof Scout, but this thing looks amazing!
In the sameeee freaking boat, just bought a nukeproof scout 290 expert But will most likely be buying this frame.
Same here! I got my scout 275 expert a week before this released. Regret it sort of but this bike is truly sick
The audio of the freehub sounds more like a two-stroke dirtbike
Okay, I'm interested in the frame only, really curious of the ride. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
"See if we can get this in for review" - how could Kona NOT get a rad hardtail to Hardtail Party :) - Keep it up Steve!
Edit: That free hub is... uh... something.
I think there is something wrong with the pawls in that freehub. Best pull it to check before going out on the trail.
@@DRSpalding I have the same hub, slx 7100 hubs and they are awesome compared to. My hydras on my main bike they are almost as good. I don't know why but it sounds like two cats in a dumpster but awesome engagement
Freehub on my test bike sounded more normal than on this video but still funky at times: sometimes making sound while coasting and sometimes just dead quiet, sometimes sound disappearing while middle of coasting. No issues with engagement though.
I’ve been waiting for you to get this bike. I drove 2hrs to the Kona shop in Bellingham to look at one they had there. Sadly due to covid and me showing up 15 minutes before closing, they didn’t bring the bike outside to look at. I was only able to look through the window.
I can’t wait to see how one sizes up for me. Anxious to see your videos.
I love that they specd the XT shifter with the SLX derailleur. It seems like they are being honest. Is that weird?
It definitely uncommon for them to do that in this industry. I think they're realizing that the consumer today is far more educated about specs than in the past.
@@hardtailparty Anyone looking at this particular bike knows what they want. They'll likely still try and get away with some shady spec shuffle on other bikes in their lineup, but that's to be expected on any manufacturer complete. This bike is dialed out of the box.
Great Channel here. I'm the only one out of my buddies who still rides mainly hardtails... They make you a better a rider especially when you roll SS. Keep up the great work I wish u much success..
1) Hub sound is 69/420 in Morse code.
2) you're a great teacher
3) should we email Canfield or do you have one because I'd love an n9 review. Thanks
I have a n9. Stay tuned. Patrons got a sneak peek.
hardtail party awesome
This looks great, I wish it was out a bit earlier when I was looking for a hardtail shredder. Ended up with a Norco Torrent which I love, but this would have been a contender. Looking forward to your riding review.
Glad Kona sent it to you for review! Hopefully they continue to support your awesome channel. Enjoy! Look forward to the review
This channel needs to take off already. Constant stream of quality content with honest opinions! Sedona was the first place that I rode a mountain bike on actual trails and fell in love. Now I can't wait to get back out there with some experience under my belt! Great stuff Hardtail Party.
Thanks for the kind words Andrew.
Hey Steve if you owned that bike I would say the downtube would be the perfect place for a hardtail party sticker to cover the kona sticker! Cant wait for the ride review!
Love it! Glad we could help get one in your hands
Indeed. I have the best viewers.
Good job, Kona!! (for building it, and for sending one to Steve to demo) And congrats Steve! Really looking forward to hearing how it rides.
Let's do the same for the Pole Taival!!
Let's make it happen!
In case there are some Pole fans here. Or even if you don't but want to see the Taival in the channel. I wrote this post to Pole owner Leo Kokkonen. Go there and show you'd be interested to see the Taival reviewed in the channel. m.facebook.com/groups/961973767170964?view=permalink&id=3605424196159228
Thanks Aly!
I love the way it looks, and that spec is just about perfect for the price. Nicely done, Kona! Hope it rides well.
Also, I put that hub on my bike and it did have kind of an intermittent sound at first (though it was quieter), however while riding it doesn't seem to really make any sound (which I prefer).
So happy to see this you are the only person I trust with hardtails!
Thank you Esteban.
Definitely a bike designed and spec’d for a guy that really rides the knar and isn’t concerned with his Strava PR on the climb but will pick the same steep trails as his full suspension riding buddies. Kona has always been a bike company that pushes the envelope. I can’t wait to hear how it rides!
Well said. I used to work at a shop that sold konas and specialized, and I loved the way those Konas rode. They were way ahead of their time. Now they're starting to show that forward-tvinking attitude in their hardtails again.
No no.. Thank you. Your reviews are the final word. Excellent work.
Totalll agree with you on the derailure/shifter theory. My bike came with a Deore derailure and a Microshift shifter of an unknown model but Ive had zero issues with it. Ive been through 2 chains and its needed some barrel nut adjustments here and there but I cant imagine needing anything fancier, myself. Id love to get the SRAM AXS mostly just for getting rid of the cables! Great video man, keep em coming!
Wahoo glad we all made it happen, look forward to the ride. :) Cool review, super happy to see.
Really appreciate your informative approach to hard tails, specifically the Honzo ESD, I’m in.
Hell yeah! I’m glad I sent them an email. Thanks again for the bike recommendation through patron!
My pleasure! Thanks for becoming a patron. I look forward to helping you land on the perfect bike.
SS review. Yes please
you better believe it...
Currently there's no way to run a ss cog on a microspline freehub, so I'll have to change wheelsets, but the rest will work.
That hub sound is Eeevilll and I love it!😂
Man that frame is killer for awesome bike built. Hardtail is my favorite. I did get my 1st full suspension bike Christmas time. But I just did ride it that much. I just sold it. It's just not as fast and climbing ability is on a different level then full suspension.
I just built a Honzo for a buddy using the XT wheel set.. Hub had the same thing going on..... After he put a ride in the hub broke in and it doesn't do that anymore.. Head scratcher for sure. I love my Honzo 🤙
Yeah Boiiiiiii, The bike companys are finally waking up to the fact that rowdy HTs are a great bike choice for a significant percentage of their customer base by producing beast models like ths KONA. HT Party starting to build up some legit cred with these larger companies and mes thinks it is only just getting started. Appreciate all the knowledge and subjective opinnions on all things biking and hardtails on the hardpack trails you ride which is simillar to the west australian Pea Gravel I ride on here down under. Kia Kaha Bro.....
Agree, the print 69/420 is childish.
I cringed a bit when I saw this, thought it's daggy , the whole rest of the bike is way cooler without it, but Kona always has a playful sense of humour, usually I enjoy it like the little Sasquatch pic on my big Honzo St and the little sticker on handlebar: this bike is for competition use only.
SymaticStar a Sasquatch decal? That’s great and much better.
Awesome 😎 so glad the emails we all sent paid off!!! Can’t wait to see you shredding on the trails and your review of the bike!!! 👍👍👍🤘🤘🤘🤘
Agree with low end rear mech. Not painful to replace whenever it got clipped.
Solid review !! keep the good work and gretting form Chile !
Xt shifter + slx kit is the best bang for the buck, with getting full performance. Kudos Kona.
Yes!
Actually, I prefer the SLX shifter oder the XT one which I find is too clicky. Both work very well but I'm totally convinced I'll never need more than SLX.
You can go for the M6100 groupset now too. The 50 bucks for the XT shifter are definitely worth a consideration for any budget build though.
The double upshift is so nice on the xt. And shifts feel crisper.
I'm running the deore m5100 with an xtr shifter. Shifting feels great
Awesome review as always and I'm stoked that you were able to get your hands on the new Honzo ESD! I ride a 2017 Explosif myself so I'm partial to Kona and glad they were able to work something out in terms of getting you a model to demo!
Currently my dream bike... 🤍🤍🤍
Now PLEASE go ride this and the Rurok before we all die from anticipation. Hahaha ROCK ON!
Holy crap I thought I was already subbed...fixed. I am a Kona nut...I just dig em. I just got a Surly Pugsley, so not so much in the market for another bike, funds won't allow. But, I do look forward to seeing the review of this. Who knows, things change.
Looking forward to your ride review.
Nice review keep up the good work, I've seen this bike in person at my local shop its very nice head turner for sure. Its going to be a big up grade from my entry-level bike. Waiting for them to get a medium in I am 5'9" the large was a tad bit to big for me.
So many bikes to ride!!!...so little time. Enjoy Steve!!
No kidding. It's a great problem to have.
Great review Steve! keep up the good work. That hub sound though! Interesting...
It looks killer! Looking forward to seeing the review!
Mine is waiting for at my Kona Dealer, picking it up monday!
Congrats!
@@hardtailparty Thanks man! My first more aggressive hardtail coming from XC bikes, was looking at different FS bikes in that price range when this dropped. I was hooked!
Im new in this channel. Nice reviews i've been ridin my old DJ frame which is a Scott Voltage YZ paired with a 150mil fork, this guy reviews most of my dream hardtails. Rad stuffs dude. More subs for you.
Well done HTP!
The squeaky wheel gets the oil! 🚵♀️
Such a sweet bike. Not my flavor since I do prefer the flowy and groomed stuff on my HT, but this is an amazing progression for the HT community. One thing I'd love to see from your channel is another bike comparison video, even if you can't get them all in the video at once. Would be great to hear your input on a larger variety of HTs and rank based on what they're made for or do best, i.e. downhill charging, flow trail pop, jumping, all-mountain, etc.
This is a service I offer my patrons, but I have some upcoming videos along a similar topic.
Very nice hardtail. We are spoiled for choice these days for nice hardtails!!
Present in Attendance! Hardtail Party!
Definitely going to get this frame. Im the same body type as yourself, so my plan is to run 27.5+ front and rear and bump the fork up 10mm to keep the front end in the same place. Im not a fan of the feel of 29" wheels
I don't think I'd want any more fork on this bike. I'd also run 165 or 170mm cranks on this if you had 27.5+
Forrest C. Why would you need to bump the fork up if your running the same wheel size front and rear?
I wasnt certain on the difference in diameter between 29 x 2.3 and running 27.5 x 2.8 or 3. Figured i would need a little more length in the fork to keep the front end in the same spot but if it doesnt need it then that answers the Q i had. I dont do too much technical climbing here in north TX and like the feel of a slack bike. Most of what we have here is XC with some short chunky steeps (there are a handful of DH trails). My Process 153 is great in the chunk but a slog to pedal around all day. This will make an ideal rowdy XXXC bike for me
Thanks for the help yall!
Good looking bike. I'm looking forward to your review.
Great channel! I’m hooked.
Just finished building up a ns bikes eccentric evo 27.5 stoked!!!
congrats!
Honzo ESD looks amazing. I love hcht so much!👌
Looks like an awesome bike. I wonder if that hub has some big blobs of grease in it so the pawls don’t engage evenly
Possibly but 3 of the last 3 shimano hubs I've had sounded like that.
You should definitely review a dartmoor hornet next. Currently building one of these myself! Love your reviews, keep it up!
Heh, thanks Kona! You definitely have the attention of the hardtail community and I've seen a lot of interest in the Honzo ESD.
I'm probably going for the M6100 groupset and either immediately or later upgrade with the XT shifter too, since it is not too expensive of an upgrade - and way below an XT groupset, while actually being a proper performance difference. Unlike the brakes, since the M6100 come with resin pads and upgrading the 4 piston variant would easily push me into XT territory, so I might as well go for them at that point. I think Shimano should've offered a metal pad variant of the cheap ones too. Larger frame sizes do have higher top tubes and longer seat tubes though, which changes the look a little bit. I think manufacturers should offer photos of the different sizes too, to make it more clear on how the aesthetics change.
I also really think manufacturers are pushing a bit too hard for 29ers based on the competitive MTB scene, but I feel especially the aggressive slackers are more meant to be a fun machine and not necessarily something to push for actual races, and even outside of that category I don't think everybody is super hype about going super fast, thanks to the roll over.
That hub sounds awful though. I would generally prefer quieter hubs, but at least be consistent in what kind of noise you make. :D
Edit: Just responded to an email convo with Ragley that I had from before your review, and told them that you sold me on the frame and to show you some love in the future.
Don't bother upgrading to XT yet. Throw some D02S Metal pads in the M6120 calipers and you'll have 90% of the power with 10% of the cost of upgrading to XT. The ESD uses RT-64 rotors which are metal pad compatible.
I have MT520s (the non-series 4 piston version of Deore) and they are really good with metal pads and RT-66 203mm rotors. Easily will lock up the front wheel or send you over the bars on a descent if you're not careful.
@UCcyoGBHcC0itPMUSNeTKPfA I am not upgrading, I mean for a new build since Steve sold me on the mmmbop frame with his review. Getting a M6120 set plus the metal pads would cost pretty much almost the same as the XT set. So if you plan on going metal pads anyway it becomes way less attractive as a brake set. The M6100 groupset seems really nice though, and even with the XT shifter you're still at around 300 bucks.
@@Dark__Thoughts Ahhhh, gotcha. Thought you had a full build already. Agreed the Deore groupset is a crazy good value!
Thanks for the kind words. I haven't been impressed with Shimano's drivetrains lately. I know everyone in the comments section of the forums is praising Shimano 12 speed and Shimano brakes lately, but I've been really let down on Shimano recently. More to come in a future video.
@@Dark__Thoughts I'm planning to buy an M6100 groupset with 4 pistons as well. Are you sure about the price difference of the brakes? I looked at a few shops and M6120s + metal pads still come out $100-110 cheaper than XT M8120s that come with metal pads out of the box. Or did you find a super cheap source for M8100 brakes?
Thanks for this great video and your review
Thanks for this awesome content! you might have misunderstood the decal, it simply indicates the seat tube length for the size L, and the head angle once you add 6.
how could I miss that! ;)
@@hardtailparty thanks Steve, we must have a similar sense of absurd humor. now go ride it!
@@123dwd Oh, I've ridden it a few times... but not enough to review it yet. :)
Love that 63° angle, ready to 170-180mm 😂😂😂
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Hey Steve! It's great to see we did it! Could you make a quick online review of the NS Bikes Eccentric cromo 29 frame? NS has some pretty cool stuff when talking about hardtails but I've seen very few people talk about it, and who knows... Maybe we can get them to send you a bike for a hands on review ;)
Fun fact: this is actually not as slack as the mmmbop that you reviewed. Idk why but if you mesuare the 2020 frame on the official photos from ragley youll find that the head angle is more like 62.25 instead of the claimed 63.75. The honzo is what they are claiming. You can check this by overlaping official side on pics.
Since you already like the mmmbop, i dont think that you will have any gripes with the HTa. As for the rest of the bike, it looks so sick. If it also came in 27.5 and the reach was a bit shorter, i would pick a frame up in a heartbeat. But since it doesnt, i think ill still go with an mmmbop. Its still a really solid frame and im planing to build a mini dh bike out of it, one that you can still pedal around.
Keep up the awasome content
I think if we had an accurate tool to measure geo, we'd be surprised how different some bikes are from their charts. I don't know that I trust comparing geo based off of images (knowing how much photo editing goes on) camera angles, etc., but that's a really interesting observation. I've ridden the bike some, and it definitely feels different from the mmmbop. Stay tuned for the review. Thanks for sharing that!
Awesome looking bike for playing on
Hey man for slack bike you really need to check out the on one "hello Dave"
It's definitely the most radical production hardtail.
Yes, that is one of those "two or three bikes as slack as this" that I mentioned in the video. I've tried to get one in, but I haven't heard back from on one.
"A little bit juvenile" hahahahah, I agree
I must have missed that part of my youth but what do those numbers mean?
I just love your vids brother!
thanks for watching
I already have one on order from Southwest Bikes in Las Vegas. I’ll put a Hardtail party sticker over the “420”
Attaboy. I think you're going to love this bike. I can't wait to try mine ss.
Tim at Southwest bikes is the man. He built me a custom honzo 4 months ago! Absolutely shreds.
Thanks for the video and thank you for looking into tire clearance on a 27.5+, as this is something I too was curious about for the sake of (probably meaningless) flexibility. One thing I see is that when you mounted up that 3.0", the dropouts are pushed to their furthest forward position. Would it make much of a difference in side clearance if those were to be moved to furthest back position?
Not much. I'd feel good about 27.5x2.6 or 2.8. But it would lower the BB a decent enough. And with 175mm cranks, you're going to get a ton of pedal strikes.
Marin San Quentin needs a good thrashing by HTP. Such a fun bike.
Really nice review. I’m with you on the juvenile decal, but otherwise, it’s a very cool bike.
Hey Steve! Thanks for your review video and your input! I was just curious on how the chain stays are adjusted? Is it a pain in the butt or relatively easy to do?
If you have long legs, you run out of seat tube! Long dropper posts are finally helping, but I remember back in the day of getting on a 19” frame and being over the min insertion of a 350mm seatposts for demo rides. I’m 6’.
Thank you!
Absolutely awesome!! And I am your exact height and build, thus I end up on longish medium frames....
I’ll add my vote for a RM Growler 50 review! Rocky Mountain pls send this man a bike.
Rocky isn't watching this space, you'll have to email them directly
If I go with this over the Torrent I'll be slapping a sticker over that 69/420 decal.
Lets see it in action!!!
Soon...
Definitely looking forward to seeing Commencal Meta HT AM with Zeb on it🤙
I don't feel like any hardtail warrants a Zeb, but that's me.
@@hardtailparty But if it's for free then why not. It will serve as the real experiment for riders who still don't believe in standards. Ridesafe💯
If someone wants to send me a free meta HT AM with a zeb, I'll happily give it a try. We can only hope that the new frames aren't as stiff as last year's model. I think a zeb would just be added weight on a hardtail, especially since I think 130mm is the sweet spot. If you're getting a pike or 36 or help to flex at 130mm and you need a zeb or 38, I feel sorry for the rest of the components on your bike.
Sweet bike. That rear hub though...puke.
Welcome to the new Shimano "quality"
Industry 9 ftw.
@@jacksonnicholaus601 I'm an onyx man myself, but I wouldn't complain about an i9 (apart from the noise)
They get surprisingly quiet after packing it down with grease.
Still, when you go to high/infinite enagement, you’ll stuggle to go back.
@@xx-----------xx873 I've packed i9s before. They're quiet for a couple weeks then they go back to normal noise level. Onyx is my jam.
Waiting for the full review!
Would love to see a Vitus Sentier VR or VRs on here, I found it pretty easy to get. Or maybe I got lucky
Gusseted seat tube usually on aluminum because not everyone puts a long dropper seatpost resulting cracked seat tube. Warranty issues?
Looking forward to the ride review on this 1 for sure...
RSD Middlechild aluminium frame coming soon then?
I don't think so.
This looks like it would be an absolute beast on the downhills, but the rear of the bike looks
very small, for some reason, maybe just the side angle view. What is the maximum weight
limit? Thanks for the review, cool looking bike. Be careful and stay safe.
By chance I have an X01 eagle rear derailleur and an NX shifter - this works better than the NX derailleur (although not twice as good, despite being twice the cost ;) ). What difference should I notice, were I to eventually upgrade my shifter too? I have my eyes on a GX shifter when the NX shifter breaks.
Expecting your review later today. 😁
That hub sounds almost like tire knobs rubbing on a frame. Bike looks killer though.
Hey mate have you ever ridden a Nukeproof Scout? It's a bike on my shortlist and would love to know your thoughts on it. Seems to hit a pretty good value for money ratio.
Btw I love your 80s intro music 😄
not yet. I've reached out to them many times, but I've never heard back. I'd love to demo one someday. The reach looks SUPER short. I'd probably be on a large.
Hi Steve. Can you do a web review of the Kingdom Vendetta X2 LE?
I offer a summarized "web reviews" for my bike consultation clients on Patreon. Once I get caught up on videos I'll definitely consider this one. Thanks for the suggestion, it looks like that bike could be a lot of fun.
Great video!
That hub reminds me of cards in the spokes, only metal version.
that hub sounds like its laughing at speed ,that is wicked
Can someone explain to me what exactly is going on inside that hub? Is it trying to fully disengage to be silent rolling at high rpms to reduce friction? A teardown of the hub showing the inner mechanisms would be really useful.
Yes, I'm looking forward to your ride impressions.
That freehub sound is not how it should be I reckon, possible issue with freehub?
This is the third shimano hub I've had in that sounded like this.
@@hardtailparty it still is a weird sound...however, the question is, how does it ride?
Really like this bike
Guerrilla Gravity is relaunching their Pedalhead this fall! I hope they can get you to review it once it comes out.
I didn't realize that was public knowledge. Where did you hear that?
@@hardtailparty i emailed them asking about hardtails and they told me. They said that they would send you one to review
@@ohsweetnothingawesome, thanks!
@@hardtailparty I've learned alot from your content