As a complete bike, I added 2lbs to the set up:

from 42lbs to 44lbs I guess most of that weight was in the coil vs air rear shock and a little bit more beef added to those huge rocker arms.

The first part of this review is based on a frame for frame stand off:

aka frame for frame: spec review:

(Kona CoilAir vs Dirt Bag)

travel: 1" more travel than the Kona

wheelbase = +/- 1/2" longer, this will vary depending on forks.

top tube = 1/2" longer

stand-over = same or better, not sure of the official number though (depends of fork and tires)

BB hight = ~ 1" higher (14")

Now for the review of how it rides (some input is based on a frame for frame stand off).

R1. Long climbs: It climbed just as well as the Kona (I think). It is tough to say with the location I was riding. Either way, monster climbs are not what these bikes are about.

R2. Short climbs: Like the Kona, it climbed great through the nasty short climbs.

R3. Down hill: smmmmmoooooth!!!! I was able to stay in the saddle through much of the smaller rocky stuff where I was sailing along @ those +/- 20/25mph speeds. And it let me do anything through the bigger-nasty sections.

R4: REAR shock set up: Answer's Swinger X4, I do like the shock, it was hookin' up real nice & it has that cool on the fly dial where you can make the shock stiff or squishy.

Stiff on the way up, squishy on the way down.... compression, rebound, bottom out = all good.

R5: riding real nasty technical sections = point and shoot, don't worry about, the bike can handle anything you throw at it.

R6: getting air when I need to... EASY!!! On the way down, there was a few times I needed to be in the air (over rocks, logs, small children in my way). Compress and bunny hop it. Nothing stops it from getting off the ground at speed (even at 44lbs).

R7: handling in general: really nice. I like it just as much as that Kona CoilAir (my previous toy) The first "real" ride didn't have anything that really required that much travel but on the way down, it sure was nice having it...

Compared to the Kona, yes, it's very much the same but, this one goes to 11 man!!!!

At 7" rear travel, it has that extra inch of travel more than the Kona.

R8: OTHER:

1. not a huge fan of top - top tube cable routing.

2. would rather have anodized over paint (but that adds to cost).

3. price = nice price

4. full bearing pivots = nice added touch

5. weight - who cares, it's not a XC bike.

6. looks = killer!!!

The bike is heavy right now but, it has heavy ass tires on it (2.7 WTB's front & 2.5 Syncros rear), Saint Cranks, and Marzocchi 66 fork, beef cake wheels, coil shock.. go figure, it all adds up.

I have heard you can drop these off a speeding truck, pick them up off the road and still ride it away... Although I'm not willing to put that test through the works, I'd believe it. Transition has one sweeeeeeT bike here!!!

Last edited by ShopOwner on Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:42 am; edited 1 time in total.