When I used to ride, I went through a few bikes (dive bombing ski hills in the summer does that), and love the Kona's. I think the model i had was hanana (something like that) and it was super light but for the life of me i couldn't bust it and i tried.

All the joints and spokes were double butted (sp?) - saved on weight a bit. Went through a few componets (like you always do)... In fact the bike and the rims survived everything I did with it, including a fall on a diamond run where I got tangled up in the bike and slid down the hill on my back. Still have the scars on my back from that adventure.

I never carried more then a few things under my seat in one of those little pouches... so can't help you with a carry system.