Kona Honzo ESD 2022 thoughts and impressions compared to the Ragley Big AL. Climbing, and jumping.

[@tonykuz4813]

Nice review. Late fall leaves are no joke.

[@quantumcreator8888]

Love that ESD ripper

[@s14tat]

This is the best hardtail I have ever owned after having more time on it I literally stopped looking at other hardtails now.

[@quantumcreator8888]

Got a small frame for my height .. love it

[@elvinzki2245]

I think I need to try more on your Kona. It's nice and stable when I jump it in Jetline. 😊🍻

[@s14tat]

The weight definitely helps with that.

[@philippebenard1075]

I put the chainstay at 427 and I instantly felt more stable. I got my esd for two months before winter hit and totally love it. Play around the sliding dropouts and you’ll find your sweet spot

[@s14tat]

I am actually getting used to cornering with it at the shortest setting now. The trade off in pumping and jumping is more important to me vs cornering for now. I will see how it rides at bike park speeds.

[@LoganJohnston190]

As an ESD owner, I think the bike really wants to ride steep terrain. Have you even messed with the sliding dropouts? It really changes the way that the bike feels. Try it in the halfway position, I think you'll like it.

[@s14tat]

The short drop outs are pretty nice on the slower local trails. I will slide it all the way out at the bike park. The bike so far has continued to impress.

[@czechnolike]

It like if ray Romano reviewed bikes

[@chickensendies]

Put that 200 dropper on!!!! HAHAHAHA Looks great man!

[@s14tat]

I just received it from pnw!

[@chickensendies]

@@s14tat Ah yea!!!! 😁😁😁

[@s14tat]

@@chickensendies yeah Evan hooked me up with the link for a great deal on it

[@chickensendies]

@@s14tat I love me some PNW parts! Always great stuff!

[@jerminator_]

Glad I came across your channel. I owned a 2021 big al frame, built up similar to yours, but kept as 29er and only over forked with a lyrik 150mm… had opportunity to snag the same 2022 ESD frame and swapped over all the parts. The ESD is slightly heavier but it can handle so much more with confidence. So its a win for me. Question: I’m curious if you’ve had any pedal strikes with the ESD setup as a mullet? Wondering how much over forking to 160mm helps with that? But also I’m in SoCal; the trails I ride are rocky and pedal strikes can certain throw you OTB.

[@s14tat]

Thanks for watching. The esd has a high bottom bracket to me. I run 165mm cranks and I get zero pedal strikes. Same when I had my big Al. The big Al's bb height was only 295mm. I was worried about my bash guard since that gets a good work out being so low. The esd doesn't get used too much being at least 10mm higher. I live in the new England area. We have dirt, roots and rocks. It might not be all rocks and dry dirt like so cal but believe me when I say we have rocks. It's all about the technique, and the 165mm cranks obviously helps. Yes the esd is the better frame, and a more capable bike downs which is expected, it being the better climber is what surprised me. With my over forking with a 160mm, shortest chain stay setting and mullet too some time getting used to but is dialed so far. Will be taking it to the bike park soon to see how it handles highs speed rocks, and if it's fine, I won't even mess with the chainstay setting.

[@jerminator_]

@@s14tat thanks for sharing! I’m considering giving my ESD a mullet setup, trying first in stock 150mm fork. I have 170mm cranks so… Fingers crossed!

[@lucaneuburg976]

Hello...do you think that a small ESD would feel cramped at my height? 5,75 ( 172cm )...I am always struggling to find the correct size on bikes since I normally would stay comfortable on a M but I have some joints on my right shoulder...so I can extend my arm, less than the left one...so I always end buying small frames unless they have really short top tubes that help me to get closer to the bars..But reading the geo of the ESD it seems that my actual NS Nikes Eccentric 29 , size small , has similar TT size as a Medium ESD ) , despite the latter has 40mm more reach ( 425 vs 465 ). But looking at pictures online of small ESDs they look tiny ! Also the head tube which is very short at 90mm long..Obviously my concerns are about the seated position.. My actual bike feels very good for my body at 600mm virtual TT. Thank you very much

[@s14tat]

@@lucaneuburg976 if your concerned about seated pedaling position, a small would be cramped due to the short top tube and steep seat tube angle.

[@norman-gregory]

Hi...enjoyed watching your Big Al/Nkp Scout video (Mullet). How is the Steel Frame at doing wheelies on? Is it quiet playful lifting the front end up? If so, how did the "Kona" compare with "B.A & N.S"? All those leaves covering the track and not getting a line...mmm difficult. Cheers.

[@s14tat]

The short chain stay makes more or a difference than the weight of the steel frame. It is very easy to get the front wheel up on the esd esp after how I got the stack height setup properly. This steel frame is also extremely playful and not dead feeling. I have never ridden a b.a. or ns frame so I can't comment on them.

[@norman-gregory]

@@s14tat...thanks for replying. I do like the Steel frames, totally agree once you have a good set up (cockpit) and a reasonable (not to long) chainstay...these go along way to lifting of the front wheel. B A & N S were short for Big Al/Nukeproof Scout. I like the content on your channel. Cheers.

[@thescandiflick]

My LBS just got a few ESD frames which is very rare in Europe. However I’m not a fan of 29ers and I like the 27.5 agility and size . I ride a San Quentin 3 and bike is really snappy and made for fun . Was thinking of getting an ESD frame but just run it mullet as I have a good 27.5 wheelset that I just bought. What are your thoughts on the ESD mullet in terms of cornering and playfulness. Thinking of a 140-150mm fork as my terrain isn’t that steep .

[@s14tat]

It handles shocking well considering it's length as a mullet especially in the short chainstay setting. There will be a small adjustment period in how it corners but the trade off for amazing it pumps and jumps is well worth the time put in to learn how to corner. The shortest chainstay setting is 417 which is even shorter than the San Quentin. I just recently made it into a full 29er and it rides even better and is even faster at the bike park. It is worth looking to if you do end up riding park but the mullet is super fun and still very very capable. I was always looking for a new hardtail and I have finally found the frame that I am happy with keeping. This bike even makes my nukeproof dissent downhill bike feel short and steep in comparison to the point where I had to make adjustments to the dh bike to match the feel of the esd that I love so much.

[@thescandiflick]

@@s14tat hahah you got me hyped up about that frame , I have been really wanting one however I just purchased the Marin SQ3 about 3 months ago and I really love it and fits my terrain & riding style perfectly really nimble, poppy and capable of anything I throw at it I just can't justify selling the SQ3 like that 🤣 .... ( we are always thinking of the next bike) . Not many people in my country ( Denmark) like/understand Hardcore HT's and majority will never pay such a price on a HT and always prefer to have fully. So im guessing the frame will stay for while before it gets sold. But hopefully I will get my hands on one when Ive had enough of the SQ3. Thank you for your reply and info man !

[@s14tat]

@@thescandiflick is Denmark flat like the Netherlands? If so, all of these bikes are overkill esp full suspension. Yes the esd is my forever frame. I push my hardtails pretty hard and I worry about eventually cracking a alloy frame. This is why I bought the best steel frame that suits my style of riding.

[@thescandiflick]

@@s14tat yes mate correct Denmark is flat , When i see people riding downhill bikes I LOL because you really don’t need a 160mm travel bike for that kind of terrain specially that you spend 95% of the time on it and 5% travel maybe outside. That’s why a 130-140mm trail bike even a light trail fully is perfect.

[@sashaantidot2444]

Which frame would you pick up in terms of best riding ( climbing as well), Al or steel?

[@sashaantidot2444]

I have also Nukeproof scout275 ( road/leisurely xc) not much choice here where I live . I wanted to purchase ESD frame for the same purpose

[@s14tat]

@@sashaantidot2444 keep the scout. It is a much better bike at what you are describing. The scout rides good for am aluminum bike and is way lighter. You will make it up the hill with less effort. I just discovered recently going back to my big Al.

[@sashaantidot2444]

@@s14tat does 1kg more in frame makes so much difference in real time riding? I mean, Mtb for me it's not just the descent but also the climbing and discovery. that's why there are speeds on them. and if it can't achieve that, then the bike is probably only for a certain discipline, which is downhill and big jumps, which I would put in the DH and dirtjump category

[@s14tat]

@@sashaantidot2444 when going from a lighter to a heavier you will notice a difference but you will adapt relatively quickly. But when you go back to the lighter bike from a heavier bike, it's very eye opening. If you are going for distance a lighter and still comfortable bike is what you want.

[@paddig6676]

How long arm crank arms on medium bike?

[@s14tat]

Mine was built from the frame up and I am running 165mm cranks

[@rivercloud32]

Time to stop talking about the Big Al. The esd is way better

[@s14tat]

And how would you know that?

[@rivercloud32]

@@s14tat I have one .

[@s14tat]

@@rivercloud32 do you have both? Or have ridden any ragley aluminum bikes? Edit: it is too early to see what one is better than the other. I will take it to the bike park and ride it for a whole season before I can say for sure which bike is better.

[@abmvt]

Nah I have ridden them and prefer the Mmmbop over the ESD or any other of the steel frames there just to heavy . I regularly do 2 and 3 K climbs for long single track decents ( So Cal mountains ) the Mmmbop and Aluminum RSD hands down the steel RSD is dull as well

[@rivercloud32]

@@abmvt the ESD is heavy