$1199

35.5 pounds

Hardtail

Kona, (800) 566-2872

Maxi test: May 2005

Highlights: Kona was one of the first bike makers to identify the trend of riders using mountain bikes for dirt jumping. They quickly began to develop bikes specifically for this niche. The 2005 Cowan (named after Clump rider and jump king, John Cowan) is the latest incarnation of Kona's dirt-jump bikes. From the minute you lay eyes on the Cowan signature aluminum hardtail, you'll notice the rotor tabs on the headtube for routing cables and the replaceable rear dropouts. Marzocchi has been a longtime sponsor of John Cowan, so it's no surprise there's a Dirt Jumper 3 fork to handle the harshest of impacts.

Best quote: "Riders quickly took to the air and immediately felt comfortable with the Cowan's stable handling."

Bottom line: Despite being Cowan's signature design and built to his ideals, the bike felt comfortable in the hands of jumpers of all abilities. The component spec was on the money for a bike designed to take repeated abuse, and someone willing to pay more than the $1199 price tag would want to build up his bike himself. The Cowan is an affordable jumper with spot-on geometry and a component spec that won't disappoint the most experienced rider.