Cheap mountain bike input. Karate Monkey

[Cicli]

I just found a new but 5 year old Karate Monkey in the styic of a shop. Guy said it just never sold. It was still in the box and I am in Orlando so I bought it and set up bikeflights from the hotel. I just jumped because even with the shipping label it was super cheap.
Thoughts? Anyone have one? I know its not super flashy but it looks like a fun winter path bike.

[nash]

I love the classic karate monkey. Great bike bang for the buck.

[pcxmbfj]

IIRC the first mass production 29er bike.
I owned a couple of these, they are a little heavy and bullet proof.
Did it come with a fork?

[Cicli]

IIRC the first mass production 29er bike.
I owned a couple of these, they are a little heavy and bullet proof.
Did it come with a fork?

Complete bike in my size for under 500 including the bike flights label. Never even taken out of the box.
I impulsed.

[pcxmbfj]

Versatile bike, can run as geared or single speed.
Use Monkey Nuts for single speed use because horizontal dropouts lets rear wheel slip.
Great deal!

[that guy]

There is very little you can't do with a Karate Monkey. Probably the most versatile bike of the modern era.

[likebikes]

THE bike that started the 29er craze.

[p nut]

Fantastic bike. For $500, you got a steal. It can fit 29x3.0" tires up front and the rear can clear some fat 2.5" tires. Rack mounts, fender mounts, etc. everywhere. Only "upgrade" might be, if you intend to use it for Bikepacking, look into getting a Surly Ogre fork. It's got anything cage mounts on the fork, which are really useful.

[Hilltopperny]

Surly makes a great bang for your buck bike. I own two and they are great for their intended purpose and pretty versatile as well. Both are a little heavy, but can tank through anything.

[JAGI410]

The KM was just totally redesigned too, so wheat you have is the last of the era. FWIW, our shop built and sold more drop bar Monkeys as gravel bikes than any other "purpose built" gravel bike this year. We'll miss the old monkey for sure. The new one is certainly less flexible in setup. Under $500 is a steal!!!

[cinema]

it's really comfortable and actually very fast if your legs are up for it. if you normally ride steel bikes you should have the wherewithal to do some great climbs and bomb descents.