my monkey

[dirtyj]

so i have this karate monkey. i tried to sell the frame and didnt have much success. so here is the question. i was hoping to build a single speed cross style bike that would be ridden both on and off road. so would i be better off trying to trade the monkey for a cross check or should i just go with the monk. gimme some advice. id also like some ideas about the build on either bike. :D

[DancingBear]

I'm looking for an XL monkey frame, if that's what you're selling.

The monkey will work fine as a cross-style bike, but does it fit the way that you want it to for what you plan on doing? Fit's the thing. I've been commuting my ass off lately and my commuter is too small. The XL monkey is the best fitting bike I've ever owned, so I'm looking for another to put into duty as a commuter. A crosscheck will be lighter, the handling will be a bit quicker (but maybe not enough to notice), and the shorter top tube will be more appropriate for use with drop bars. All in all, either bike will work for what you intend to do, they're just going to fit and handle a bit differently.

[Mauriceman]

Like Bear says, the fit's the thing. Besides that, the Monkey's a more versatile bike than the x-check. You can run fatter, more off-road worthy tires like the 2.1 Nanoraptor (good for trail and some street), and you have the option of running disk brakes, derailleurs and many different h-bars.
As for fit, I'm 6' 4" and like the Large Monkey with it's 24"? top tube, the XL Monkey is great if you need a longer tt than that.

[davkatreb]

Okay, short story long: The ground is white and I'm sitting at this damned computer. I have a garage full of bikes (some operational, some future projects) but nothing that can deal with the current weather conditions. I have in mind a Karate Monkey, fixed gear with standard rigid fork. I am looking at a hydraulic disc up front, brakeless out back, with studded Nokians. I like drops so I will run 'em. What choices are available as far as drop levers for hydraulic discs? I want this thing to be low-maintenance and blizzard proof; am I headed in the right direction?

Thanks,
Dave

[riderx]

Dave - I am unaware of a drop brake lever that is made for hydraulic discs. You can however get a Dia Comp that will work w/ a cable disc (like an Avid). This should be a suitable set up for your purposes.

[tommillermn]

For shame that anyone would want to give up a Karate Monkey frame! I converted fully to 29-ers last year and I wouldn't go back. I use the Monkey for a rigid single-speed and it's my favorite ride on anything less than two hours. It flies on the ground like a cross bike and in the air like a BMX cruiser. For commuting any of the wide cross tires work but I like the WTB Mutanoraptors because you can actually feel some side-knob grip in the dirt.

[gwadzilla]

well
a basement with two 22 inch monkeys
no need for a baby monkey
I have a gaggle of 26" wheel bikes that are already too small for me
but thanks though

I am sure you will have no issue sellling it...
although I can not understand why...
as the frame is so versitile that you could make it into any beast you want it to be.....
I want another monkey as a commuter....
after all
2004 is the Year of the Monkey!

-gwadzilla out
www.gwadzilla.blogspot.com

[onegear]

I have a monkey and run 2.1 off-road tires for the trails and semi-road tires for commuting. Out of my three bikes, the monkey is my favorite. You can do so much with that darn thing. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is keep it and have fun with it. I'm positive you'll love it!

:)