Kona Blast (2011)

 Kona's Blast 2011 is an entry-level cross-country mountain bike that falls in the middle of the XC Hardtail lineup, and its price point also falls right in the middle of this bike group. This incarnation of the Blast has upgrades over the 2010 model, most notably a RockShox Tora front coil suspension instead of 2010's Dart 2.

The hydraulic disc brakes are also Shimano instead of Tektro, and the shifters and front derailleur are Shimano's Alivio rather than Acera. The tires are also Maxxis Aspens instead of Kenda Komodos. This bike is intended for recreational XC riding and is suitable for all levels of experience.