Surley Karate Monkey?

[mtnbike28]

SO I busted my Salsa Dos Niner frame on a ride yesterday. It is a bad time for me to be frame shopping so I am considering Karate Monkey since everything I have now will fit it... I am looking for advice from KM riders... too heavy? to stiff? I was hoping to try a 24 solo this year as a finisher, but the loss of the Dos Niner may end that... so any KM owners out there?

 

[Christophe Noel]

Sorry to hear about your frame. In short, the KM will be a great temporary replacement for you. Who knows, you may stick with it for a while. Here in Prescott, there must be 30+ riders on Monkeys, and some are extremely fast. Two of my very good friends are currently training on Monkeys while their frames are being built or replaced - one of them broke his custom frame recently. In fact, that friend said his Monkey wasn't too unlike riding his $1800 custom steel bike, so there's that.

Surly doesn't make anything exotic, but the Karate Monkey is certainly a proven platform.

 

[4x4mike]

I got a KM when they first came out and rode it for a couple of years. I rode it SS and geared and it was a good bike. It was a bigger bike than I was used to and as a result heavier but oh so stable. I really liked the smooth ride and durable build. I ran the stock rigid fork with great results.

For the price it's going to be a great bike as long as it fits.

 

[Sloan]

I had one for about 3 weeks and loved it, right up until it was destroyed in a roof rack, valet, parking garage incident. I normally ride a 19 inch mountain bike frame and the 18 felt just a tad small and the 20 inch feels just a tad large. The 20 inch fits great for when I'm riding some fire roads, etc., but I wouldn't want to do rocky technical because of the standover height. I am saving pennies as we speak to get another 20 inch frame, it's like a big bmx bike.

 

[mtnbike28]

Thanks...

Salsa got back to the LBS, crash replacement is only 20% of MSRP.... that deal sucks. I can not find a receipt, so I am SOL.

I am out of funds since I will be off contract for two months in 6 weeks.... ie no pay.