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    First Bike Dilemma for CO Front Range: Full-Sus on sale (Kona Process 134dl) or Hardtail (Kona Honzo ESD / Salsa Timberjack)?

    Hey everyone, looking for some advice on buying my first mountain bike.

    For the past few weeks, I’ve been riding my dad’s Santa Cruz Chameleon. I like it, but it’s a size too small, so it’s time to get my own.

    • Where I ride: Colorado Front Range and Summit County. I like riding rocky, and technical, with some flow and jibs (I'm currently semi decent I ride blue/black trails and like hitting jumps).
    • The Dilemma: I have a serious affinity for the simplicity of hardtails, but given rocky and steep terrain around me, I feel like a full-suspension bike might be the smarter choice especially since I found what seems like a great deal on one.

    I have a short list of three very different options:

    1. Kona Honzo ESD: Steel, aggressive, and just very cool (great build spec for me).
    2. Salsa Timberjack: Seems like the "reasonable man’s" perfect first trail hardtail (want to change the fork, but that is possible because of the much lower price).
    3. Kona Process 134 DL: A full-suspension mid travel trail bike that I can currently get for what seems like great deal (seems like a great build spec for the price.

    I need help, would I regret sticking to a hardtail on our rocky trails, should I just jump on the full-sus Process while its on sale or should I look at something else? Thanks!

    by xxrarethunderxx

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    8 Comments

    1. Powderhound9611 on

      I ride here in Colorado, trails such as Dakota ridge, apex, lair o the bear… a full suspension with the rear locked out on the climbs is the way. Hard tail is fun but really pushing into a full suspension is a blast

    2. Egilber870 on

      I would do the process. I’m a Wyo front range biker and full suspension is just great. You can always upgrade parts when they break or wear out.

    4. westwardnomad on

      A full suspension is going to be more comfortable and more capable. That being said, a hard tail will get the job done. It will just take more skill to ride most of the same stuff as a full suspension and you’ll get rattled around a lot more. I’d get the Process.

    6. AnotherRandomGuy89 on

      I own and love my Kona ESD but I think for that price, I would go proces. That said, the ESD has no issues with steep and rocky black tech, it loves it! I want the simplicity and excitement of the hardtail…I like been forced to pick my way through stuff rather than just push through knowing my bike will smooth it all out. I am late 50s and don’t find it too harsh at all.

      ESD is the same geo as the Process X…its more aggressive than the regular Process.

    7. Initial-Standard-912 on

      I vote honzo esd

      I have a chromag Doctahawk and it’s a blast on everything except tight switchbacks.

      Then in a couple years add a short travel full squish bike to the lineup. Something 120/120 or so.

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