Its true, after some kid/guy upgrades from a Walmart bike they usually end up getting a Kona, proceed to learn how to ride it by destroying it, and then move on to a more expensive bike brand (or give up riding). The reason the more expensive bikes don't break isn't because they are any stronger, its just that the dude has already crashed and burned enough times on a kona that he isn't going to repeat the process on the replacement. Is there the same hate-on for Norcos? They're probably the 'go to' bike for a guy as much as a kona is.