This is my first post in the Readers Bikes 1998>> section, the rest of my bicycle collection are of an older vintage.
Back in 2008 I did not get out riding much, my only mountain bike was my trusty 1987 Ritchey Ascent. I’d been out to Burnaby Mountain on it where there are some great local trails and really struggled riding the terrain being that it’s fully rigid and there a lot of sections which are best ridden with at least front suspension. While Burnaby Mountain has some great trails, it’s typically not as hardcore as the local North Shore trails but I’d say I prefer it currently as it’s a bit more fun and chill IMHO when I get out on the Dawgma these days.
Back in 2008 I drove a service truck for an electrical contractor and was teamed up with a young Aussie apprentice for a number of weeks. Daniel was an avid mountain bike rider and was instrumental in getting me back into the sport. He helped me decide on the Kona Dawgma purchased new from the iconic Cove Bike shop in North Vancouver.
The Dawgma set me back $1,800, I wanted a higher end build but this price point was all I could secure agreement with my better half. The plan was to slowly upgrade parts over time which would be less noticeable (hee, hee).
The first picture below is not my bike but matches exactly what was originally purchased. Anyway, note that the only original parts now remaining (as my pictures illustrate) are the frame and the rear shock.
This bike was my first taste riding full suspension and I think Kona did a great job with the design. I must admit that back in 2008 taking my first few rides it was a big challenge for me learning to just commit and trust the bike, an odd concept at the time after 30 odd years riding rigid bicycles.
I’d say as far as my upgrades go the Fox fork is the most significant one I made, it was worlds apart better than the stock low end Rock Shox at the time and I’d also say the mid 2000s Deore XT kit is really great stuff.
About 5 years ago for a couple seasons I joined a group from work where we would shuttle to the top of Mt Seymour in North Vancouver and we rode some pretty gnarly trails (for me) compared to Burnaby Mountain. The group I rode with all rode purpose built downhill bikes but my Dawgma which I’d say is more of an all-rounder was always up to the task, I was typically the only rider who didn’t walk their bike on the up-hills
. I eventually grew tired of this type of riding as it beats the rider up a fair bit but super glad to have experience and conquered it, North Vancouver has some of the best trails on the planet of course! I’ll also point out my Dawgma has been very capable when taken to the Whistler bike park the handful of times I’ve taken it there.
I’ve mostly rode the Dawgma with a bash guard for obvious reasons, then a Race Face Deus NOS crankset appeared on FB for dirt cheap, $50, cool! I was not keen to replace the Race Face outer ring with my bash guard due to outstanding matching chainring set.
Now, a recent development which kind of prodded me to make this post: The other day a buddy during a visit with a local parts wheeler dealer noticed an XTR M960 crankset in his metal recycle bin, he asked if he could have it and ended up grabbing it for nothing. After going through his own collection he determined it was too new for any of his bikes and then offered it to me
I though
I have just the bike for it, see below the crankset before and after, I think it’s a very cool crank, I copied the polish silver and add black decals idea from another RB post (forget where I saw it). The decals I made myself.
While the majority of my collection dates from the golden years of MTB development this Kona is a blast to get out on when I feel like hitting the gnarly stuff
Back in 2008 I did not get out riding much, my only mountain bike was my trusty 1987 Ritchey Ascent. I’d been out to Burnaby Mountain on it where there are some great local trails and really struggled riding the terrain being that it’s fully rigid and there a lot of sections which are best ridden with at least front suspension. While Burnaby Mountain has some great trails, it’s typically not as hardcore as the local North Shore trails but I’d say I prefer it currently as it’s a bit more fun and chill IMHO when I get out on the Dawgma these days.
Back in 2008 I drove a service truck for an electrical contractor and was teamed up with a young Aussie apprentice for a number of weeks. Daniel was an avid mountain bike rider and was instrumental in getting me back into the sport. He helped me decide on the Kona Dawgma purchased new from the iconic Cove Bike shop in North Vancouver.
The Dawgma set me back $1,800, I wanted a higher end build but this price point was all I could secure agreement with my better half. The plan was to slowly upgrade parts over time which would be less noticeable (hee, hee).
The first picture below is not my bike but matches exactly what was originally purchased. Anyway, note that the only original parts now remaining (as my pictures illustrate) are the frame and the rear shock.
This bike was my first taste riding full suspension and I think Kona did a great job with the design. I must admit that back in 2008 taking my first few rides it was a big challenge for me learning to just commit and trust the bike, an odd concept at the time after 30 odd years riding rigid bicycles.
I’d say as far as my upgrades go the Fox fork is the most significant one I made, it was worlds apart better than the stock low end Rock Shox at the time and I’d also say the mid 2000s Deore XT kit is really great stuff.
About 5 years ago for a couple seasons I joined a group from work where we would shuttle to the top of Mt Seymour in North Vancouver and we rode some pretty gnarly trails (for me) compared to Burnaby Mountain. The group I rode with all rode purpose built downhill bikes but my Dawgma which I’d say is more of an all-rounder was always up to the task, I was typically the only rider who didn’t walk their bike on the up-hills
. I eventually grew tired of this type of riding as it beats the rider up a fair bit but super glad to have experience and conquered it, North Vancouver has some of the best trails on the planet of course! I’ll also point out my Dawgma has been very capable when taken to the Whistler bike park the handful of times I’ve taken it there.I’ve mostly rode the Dawgma with a bash guard for obvious reasons, then a Race Face Deus NOS crankset appeared on FB for dirt cheap, $50, cool! I was not keen to replace the Race Face outer ring with my bash guard due to outstanding matching chainring set.
Now, a recent development which kind of prodded me to make this post: The other day a buddy during a visit with a local parts wheeler dealer noticed an XTR M960 crankset in his metal recycle bin, he asked if he could have it and ended up grabbing it for nothing. After going through his own collection he determined it was too new for any of his bikes and then offered it to me
I though
I have just the bike for it, see below the crankset before and after, I think it’s a very cool crank, I copied the polish silver and add black decals idea from another RB post (forget where I saw it). The decals I made myself.
While the majority of my collection dates from the golden years of MTB development this Kona is a blast to get out on when I feel like hitting the gnarly stuff
