Kona Honzo ESD

Bull in a china shop.

 

I wanna attend a hardtails-only party!

 

Yeah!
But you know some knucklehead is gonna show up on a full squish.
"My DV-9 is still at the manicurist. Oh my!"

 

Right on. I'll posit that carbon is borderline too harsh. So I guess that leaves one choice.

 

Embrace the singletrack funk!

 

So has anyone ridden one of these new aggro enduro hardtails? Norco torrent?? Canyon stoic?? Honzo...

 

I wanna climb easier yet still go downhill wo teeth falling out...

 

I called the Path and asked about one recently… They chuckled.

 

Kingdom Vendetta for 14 months. Squish frames are faster but not necessarily more fun. You can ride almost anything on your HT that you would on FS, but the HT will take a bigger toll on the bod. Possibly dental work also. Add in SS capability and it’s a flavor of fun that FS can’t replicate, especially if you grew up digging BMX and simple bikes.

IMO, FS bikes are more capable on technical uphill, and hardtails don’t have a great advantage over a FS that doesn’t bob pedaling uphill. So climbing efficiency is/was not on my want list when I bought.

I wouldn’t hesitate to commit to a radtail frame. I went all in and have zero regret. The bike is exactly what I’d hoped for. Even if it doesn’t supplant the FS in your stable, it’s worth having one to keep things interesting. Of course it can serve as a bikepacker as needed. The small front tri won’t hold one back too much. I would get sliding dropouts even just for the ability to adjust for tire size. I would not get a HT frame that can’t fit a 2.6, ideally 2.8-3.0.

 

You have a hardtail at home now?

 

Technically yes, but it’s modified for urban rides. Maybe by next weekend I’ll have the dedicated MTB hardtail at home. You’re gonna make me ride it down Mt. Wilson, aren’t you?

 

@NinjaDon rides a CF Honzo. It's a beauty!

 

If you insist!

 

I’d rather ride Hwy 2 on the road bike.

 

This is very well thought out and written.