Kona Stinky Vs. Specialized bighit III

[greg447]

I am ready to buy and i have narrowed it down to either a Kona Stinky of a Specialized II, or a III just becuase of the fork upgrade. Any infor would be appreciated.

[greg447]

i really need some opinions becuase i want both hehe and unfortunatly cant have both so i need to know which is better.

[Changleen]

Which one do YOU think is better?

[stinkyboy]

After my upgrades I have not had major problems with my 04 and may buy an 06 soon. Buy a Stinky!

My baby:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a344/stinkyboy/Biking%20Photos/stinky2.jpg

[stinkyboy]

Stinky feedback: http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146529

[sanjuro]

i think you are biased...

[mindlessfr]

ive got an 04 stinky and ive never had any problems with it until just last week i broke my front axle but thats just cause it was an old wheel and and poor maintenence on my part i hope it helps with your decision

[greg447]

well i like the price on the Stinkys price better but they would be about them same in price after i put a new fork on the stinky, all in all i like the look of the stinky much more. Also i havent had good service with specialized, they ignored me when i called them about my broken sx trails swingarm and got back a month later.

[Biscuit]

You will probably never have any problems with a stinky.

Same goes for a Big-hit.

The real difference is in the way they ride. One has a Horst link, one doesn't. The specialized frame will out perform a stinky in every aspect (pedaling, braking, cornering).

In my mind there is nothing to debate. Yes, I owned a stinky that I loved. Then I got a bike with a FSR link and couldn't believe my ignorance.

[greg447]

Well i dont really do much cornering or much braking, i am a hucker which might get some of you pissee but whatever, so im primarily looking at what i best for hucking..any ideas?

[dwaugh]

Watch some movies and you will see a lot more people riding a Stinky than a Big Hit. :)

[Changleen]

I think you want the Stinky, don't you?

[greg447]

Yes but the owner of my local bike shop is trying to convince me that the bighit is better. The shop sells both kona and specialized so i knew he wasent trying to get a buy, but anyhow yes i do want the stinky bottom line.

[downhill66]

i would go with an 03 or 04 big hit i say 03 or 04 just because i think their better because of the travel and the look alot beeter unless the bighit 3 is not the new 06 model. i would go w/ speicilized either way, u check out the demo 8

[greg447]

yea i used to have a demo 9 dh frame in 04 awesome bike but it dident fit what i was riding at the time. I think im going with the stinky now though... thanks anyway man appreciate insight.

[HardtaileR]

Watch some movies and you will see a lot more people riding a Stinky than a Big Hit. :)

Thats because Kona pays a lot of money to professional riders to ride their bikes...and have a huge amount of money in the making of those "movies" you see...

I myself had a Kona - go for the Big Hit.

[sanjuro]

Thats because Kona pays a lot of money to professional riders to ride their bikes...and have a huge amount of money in the making of those "movies" you see...

I myself had a Kona - go for the Big Hit.
And Bearclaw and Strait actually have to pay for their own bikes...

Set-up and fit are more important than suspension design. If FSR is so superior, how did a Stab win the World Championships?

With the mid-priced bikes, the first thing to look at is the fork and the shock. The BHII and the Stinky both have the same fork, a Drop-Off Triple, but Specialized spec'ed a Vanilla R, and Kona a DHX 3.0 which comes a reservoir for compression damping adjustment.

I would take a ride with both to see which fits better, but I would go with the cheaper than worry about little details.

[Ascentrek]

And Bearclaw and Strait actually have to pay for their own bikes...


Uhm, no. In most bike (Frame) sponsored contracts, a frame will be included free for events sponsored. Specialized is a great company to be sponsored by.

Darren orginally owned a Santa Cruz, now rides Specialized. Specialized has one incredible marketing arm, and you'll see in the newer films, that both riders are on Specialized. I think the only people I see on Kona's are Robbie B. and John Cowan. This always changes, of course, because who ever offers up the most money is the frame they'll ride (Look at Minaar and Honda). Who on RM rides a Honda mtn bike?

[Monkeybidnezz]

Both great bikes, but I would go with the big hit. I'll admit, I'm biased coming off of 4 bikes that were the FSR design. I had an Enduro, and Uzzi SLX. Now I ride a newer Enduro and Demo 9. I really like the pedaling properties of the design, and I've owned other designs as well, so can speak to the feel at least. I've ridden Stinky's on for short stints and never liked how they felt pedaling.

The biggest reasons for me are the pedaling, life time warranty and looks. I played around with the Big hit at the shop, and must say it is a pretty sharp looking bike.

Both are great bang for the buck bikes fer sure....

[greg447]

Yea they are very good deals, i looked at both bikes today, and the stinky wins the detail alone, also where i am buying the bike their 06 stinky is set up with a 66 instead of a drop off which i like better, and its $1200 becuase the owner scratched it bringing it down from its holder lol...

[greg447]

He scratched it on a nail, and the scratch is all down the top tub, i think it gives it the "damn im too bad ass for a good paint job" look, which is hardcore hehehe.

[BIGHIT756]

The bighits are sick. Hands down. The plushness and endless travel feel of FSR is far superior to any kona suspension. I have ridden both kona and specialized, and i liked specialized FSR design a lot more. Stick to hardtails with kona...get the BIGHIT III

[ryan/kona29]

ya go with the big hit! i'm with jesse the rear linkage on the kona's is kinda iffy? i have the 9 inch travel stab primo and i freakuently bottom out:mumble:

[nato]

my bud rides a stinky, i ride the big hit... both ride great, i personally like the look of the big hit better but both ride fantastic. This again could be a biased viewpoint but there is something about my big hit that just feels great when Im cornering, its like one with mah bod. Good luck deciding between two great bikes!

[sanjuro]

Uhm, no. In most bike (Frame) sponsored contracts, a frame will be included free for events sponsored. Specialized is a great company to be sponsored by.


Nooooo! Do you think Kyle Strait gets paid? As much as Levi Leipenheimer?

[greg447]

Is the geometry from the bighit III any different from the bighit II?

[skatetokil]

ya go with the big hit! i'm with jesse the rear linkage on the kona's is kinda iffy? i have the 9 inch travel stab primo and i freakuently bottom out:mumble:

just cause your shock is set up wrong doesn't mean it's a bad design. :redhot:

[MilitiaRiders]

Greg i am your bestfreind buy the stinky you bitch or ill walk next door and clonk you punk ass.


Bitch.


GO STINKY

[FoxRiderAR77]

the stinky, like all konas is overbuilt. it may not have the horst link but, is probaly stronger than the bighit, and perfect for hucking

[lovebunny]

does kona have a lifetime warranty like specialized?

[lovebunny]

Uhm, no. In most bike (Frame) sponsored contracts, a frame will be included free for events sponsored. Specialized is a great company to be sponsored by.

are you really that stupid? seriously, your stupidity makes my head hurt.

[spacemanspiff06]

yes i do want the stinky bottom line.
then get it. you will not be happy otherwise. stinkys are overbuilt for most people, so perfect for huckers, but then so are bighits. in ny exp. horst link bikes don't feel that diffrent from standered 4-bar, in fact i can hardly feel a diffrence.

[greg447]

Thanks man.

[Rip]

Uhm, no. In most bike (Frame) sponsored contracts, a frame will be included free for events sponsored. Specialized is a great company to be sponsored by.

Darren orginally owned a Santa Cruz, now rides Specialized. Specialized has one incredible marketing arm, and you'll see in the newer films, that both riders are on Specialized. I think the only people I see on Kona's are Robbie B. and John Cowan. This always changes, of course, because who ever offers up the most money is the frame they'll ride (Look at Minaar and Honda). Who on RM rides a Honda mtn bike?

I guess Paul Basagoita, Dave Watson, Carlin Dunne don't ride Konas.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[blue]

The DHX will make the Kona feel like buttah, whereas the Vanilla R on the BigHit II won't be as nice. I think the DHX on the Stinky will overcompensate for the crappy suspension design to the point where it will probably ride better than a Big Hit.

However, if you're considering the Big Hit III, get that, it kicks the crap out of both bikes...

[Kanter]

The Big Hit has a better warranty.

[matt12]

Why would you not get the Bighit?

Its way better than the Kona. You're just a hucker? What does that mean? You don't ride trails? All you do is WALK your bike to the huck and start 2 feet from the edge and just go straight and don't use brakes ever or turn?

A Bighit will do better than the Kona in braking, cornering, everything. Even if you are a 'hucker' I think you still need to stop. Your suspension will perform better under braking if you get the Bighit, and the bike will corner better.

I guess none of this matters though since you don't turn at all on your bikes. You just ride straight and lay off the brakes, right?

Anyway, you should get a Bighit. I would probably say the Specialized could take more abuse than the Stinky anyway... It also isn't as ugly.

Good luck with your purchase.

[monchichi8]

Get the Bighit! I ride pretty hard and gottten into some pretty hairy situations but my bighit always seems to get me through..ITs super plush, the FSR rocks, frame is super stiff,well built, rides reat, jumps and drops even better.Oh and I think they look pretty damn sick! here mine..hope this helps. chris
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a369/monchichi8/MountainBiking%20Pics/mynewbike1.jpg

[SPrider]

the 06' Bighit III has the same exact geo as a Demo 8, but its just a pound lighter, better under braking, more linear travel, less complicated, air shock option, 8.2'' travel, heres a pic of mine at the beginning of the season, now it has some different parts and weights 38.17 with 2ply 2.5 DH tires and no ti-spring, i rode it to 19th of 60 at the U.S. Open in Pro, the bike is awesome!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c75/sprider/06Bighit002.jpg

[DHFreak]

I love the way the 'stinkys look. However, the "FSR" suspension design is superior in every aspect. The biggest being the lack of brake jack. That aspect alone is soooo underated. The Big Hit is also just as strong if not stronger than ANY suspension design on the market. Look at the **** steve romaniuk did on a big hit. So basically your decision comes down to personal choice.

[Konabumm]

You can't go wrong with a Kona

[SteezyWeezy]

i think you are biased...
true, but i have had two bighits, and i love them, and would reccomend them to anyone over a stinky, nut when it comes to 06, i think the bighits suck, the 06 stinkies are bomb, get a stinky, unless not an 06 or 05, 04's and down suck

[allsk8sno]

the kona has full extension seatpost, for the bighit you would need a telescoping post, and having ridden both some i like the feel of the stinkys so much better, i would just test ride both and come to your own conclusions.

[SteezyWeezy]

who ****ing rides with their seats up anyway?^^^ it's a stinky, not a xc bike

[Frorider1]

Yea the kid that started this post bought my old RMX r3. Better then the stinky and the bighit I think.

[habitatxskate]

ahah..go figure