haha... i was already online updating stuff when it came...Beat me by 2 seconds. Ass!
for 2008 he won't be using a BB... he'll be using a shovel.14.5" bb height.....somehow I bet this gets changed for Fabien's ride since he likes his BB in the ground
FYI crappy looking != crappy performing.That poor boy has been on some crappy looking bikes eh?
Hasn't held him back much though....
Quite right. The SGS wasn't the most sought after frame of the time was it...although the bike might not "look" the best (though it looks descent enough). I'm sure it'll perform well for Fabien. This kind of reminds me of when the MadCatz (now Monster) team signed w/ Iron Horse. not too many people thought much of the SGS frames then... but w/ new designs & input from riders, it's become HUGE! maybe this will go the same way.
My grandpa (who is not into bikes, but likes golf) used to always say "Jack Nicklaus could play with a broom and still qualify for the open".FYI crappy looking != crappy performing.
Its not the bike, its the rider.
barel, minaar, hill, peaty, the athertons... if you put those guys on big wheels they'd still pin it better than anyone.
Just like Fabien likes it...12 inch bb? 60d head angle? what!?
There was a great article in Dirt (last year or the year before) that had all the info on Fabian and his Kona. If I recall correctly everything he rode was stock for the most part but with shock mounting changes that made the bottom bracket and head angle completely whacked out. He was more concerned with body position and suspension characteristics than having the standard sort of geometry that most bikes use. Probably one of the best techy articles I've read.12 inch bb? 60d head angle? what!?
Yep, Fabian can be like that Chef from hell on TV that comes in and fixes up a $hitty restaurant.The revamp and rethink of the Kona DH bike started the day Fabian first sat on one......in the end it turned into a sick bike.
That is probably going to happen here. I cant imagine he would agree to ride that "flaming pile of dung" down a WC track.....
According to the Dirt article the changes were not made by Kona. He was never given any custom frames to ride and simply worked with the lower shock mount position (by using a bolt on piece of metal) and chanistay length adjustments (the original Kona he rode had two). He also added the floating brake to get what most would consider some strange suspension characteristics.The revamp and rethink of the Kona DH bike started the day Fabian first sat on one......in the end it turned into a sick bike.
That is probably going to happen here. I cant imagine he would agree to ride that "flaming pile of dung" down a WC track.....
I read those articles too a couple years ago.....who knows how much i forgot. Can look it up when at home later.....According to the Dirt article the changes were not made by Kona. He was never given any custom frames to ride and simply worked with the lower shock mount position (by using a bolt on piece of metal) and chanistay length adjustments (the original Kona he rode had two). He also added the floating brake to get what most would consider some strange suspension characteristics.
hahaha.....that's a great show, good analogy.Yep, Fabian can be like that Chef from hell on TV that comes in and fixes up a $hitty restaurant.
His resume should read:
"Do you have a turd for a DH bike? Well, hire me as your rider, and I will come in and tell you exactly where to apply the turd polish.
And hurry up, before KHS signs me."
I don't recall any mention of a custom frame, but I'll look it up at home tonight. Probably one of my favorite Dirt articles so I know exactly where that issue is.I read those articles too a couple years ago.....who knows how much i forgot. Can look it up when at home later.....
But he did get a a custom frame once as part of the testing, i thought. It wasn't a custom frame every year type thing it was part of the process of evolving the bike into something he thought was correct.
Didn't the geometry numbers change drastically from 2003 to 2007....and didn't the frame get lighter.....?
2003 HA 67, BB 14.6
2007 HA 63, BB 13.5
All the articles on him have been excellent, he has alot of interesting things to say.I don't recall any mention of a custom frame, but I'll look it up at home tonight. Probably one of my favorite Dirt articles so I know exactly where that issue is.