Kona Bicycle Co. Jake the Snake

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at Protius Bikes MD

Favorite Ride:
Kona Jake The Snake

Bike Setup:
Used as a commuter with mustered (i.e. lights, continental tour ride 700x35 semi-slicks, rear rack and panniers)

Summary:
By far the best bike i've ever owned. I came to this bike from a hybrid Specialized that I used to commute and had some concerned about switch to a road style bike but this thing takes curbs, trails, and anything I throw at it better than my specialized crosstrail ever did.

Strengths:
Speed, comfort, sold construction

Weaknesses:
the stock seat sucks.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized tricross, Cannondale Cyclecross, Bianchi

Price Paid:  $1250.00 at Riverdale Cycle, Yuk

Bike Setup:
I switch to slicks for road riding - with those one, you can keep up with your friends on their racing bikes.

Summary:
I've been very pleased with the Jake - I don't use it that often, but it never lets me down.

As a cyclocross, I love the fact that I can do off-road trails, enter a fun bike race, or go long-distance touring all with one machine. The Jake does it all, and smoothly and quickly too.

As for the bike itself, I've most enjoyed the great acceleration and toughness of this bike.

Note that it can't do every trail though - for example I tried it out on an especially root-covered trail once and my back was aching for a day afterwards.

Strengths:
Aside the good things mentioned above, I've also found gear shifting to be silky smooth despite very little maintenance done.

Weaknesses:
Could use some lower gearing so you aren't always sprinting ahead of your friends on mountain bikes when taking hills on the trail. Purple and neon green paint...

Similar Products Used:
test rode a Rocky Mountain Rail - no comparison, the Jake felt way better

Price Paid:  $1300.00 at LBS (CDN$$)

Bike Setup:
Stock with time pedals, sella italia seat.

Summary:
Great Bike, this bike can do it all, I love hitting the trails and then doing a road ride on the way home. I haven't gone back to my FS mountainbike yet. So far the Jake has handled everything I thrown at it, and it's fast. The component mix is great, 105 for the price I paid ($1300 CDN) is incredible). I think the cyclocross set up is a great way to get into the road scene for committed trail riders. The suggest retail price in canada is ridiculously low (I managed to get it for $1300 CDN), I guess the dollar really tanked since they set that one, kudos to Kona for sticking it out.

Strengths:
105 group, the little things (koski seat post and handlebar), frame, cranks and BB (ISIS splined, wow!).

Weaknesses:
maybe the softer pads, but they'll come in handy when it gets sloppy. It's pretty dry around here so they might be over kill. Tires? I'll probably switch to Michelin sprints in the fall, but there seem fine. Some paint is chipping off the front of the frame where the front brake cable contacts the steerer from time to time (small drops, bunny hops, etc.)

Similar Products Used:
testedTrek and Cannondale (similar prices with lower spec'd components; I hate deciding if I can afford a bike and then realizing I have to spend extra $$ for pedals, don't get me wrong I like getti

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Revolution Bicycle R

Favorite Ride:
Surf City Cyclocross Series

Bike Setup:
I prefer indexed bar con shifters as they can sustain crashes better and are lighter - my preference

Summary:
Very solid bike, predictable handling, good value. This bike will take years of abuse and never let you down. Reasonably light when stripped down for racing, but you will want to put lighter wheels and tires on her.

Strengths:
Good frame design and components (for the $$).

Weaknesses:
Under bottom bracket r. deraileur cable routing.

Similar Products Used:
Custom steel cross frame.