Kona Bicycle Co. Kona Deluxe

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at GVS

Favorite Ride:
old road to Mont Saine-Anne

Bike Setup:
stock expect cadence(maxxis) tires and a shorter stem from race face(yes, a mountain bike stem)

Summary:
Got this bike to get some miles cause i'm a mountain biker, more specially a freerider. I've had 3 different kona's since I started mountain biking and was looking for a road bike. Got a deal on the great looking kona deluxe 03 with their good crash replacement policy ( bended swingarm on a manomano).

The geometry is so sloped for a road bike. That makes a real stiff ride. The tubing is columbus, it shows kona is understanding teh need for a good frame first. The components are great, apart the cheap tires and the stem that came too long and too low for my 54 cm frame. I would have prefered a two chainrings crank to get a real road bike. The bike is spced with some great components to roll seriously(semi-aero whells from shimano, complete 105 groupo, and some 3t stuff) and you get a touring crank? go figure.

The wheels are great. really heavy but rock solid(great for a mountain biker like me) I beat them and they don't move a bit.

Strengths:
Price, wheels, and a quality frame with a cool geometry.

Weaknesses:
triple crank, and cheap tires

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $1200.00

Favorite Ride:
Wherever the pavements are smooth

Bike Setup:
Look 247 pedals, the rest of it is stock.

Summary:
As is the case in the previous review, this is my first road bike too. Also bear in mind when reading this that I've never before in my 28 years of life touched or even sat on road bike.
Now onto the facts - bought this bike after extensive experience with two other Kona MTBs, I figured why change the winning combination. Plus, with the price I got on it, it was a steal. Now, both of these reasons form the wrong basis for making a bike buying decision, and if I mention the fact that I just loved how the bike looked, if God would want to teach me a lesson I'd be in for a big, big disappointment. However, since you see the grade to the left, you can conclude I was lucky, or intuitive, or whatever. Anyway, since I got it in early May I've been having the time of my life scorching the asphalt in and around my town :-) This is a very responsive bike that will give you more than your strength's worth of fun. Climbing the hills and accelarating on flat roads feels almost as if you had an engine. It's also light enough, barely 10kg with pedals and strong - something I was most worried about as the roads here are a catastrophe and riding over shorter unpaved sections is perfectly normal. The frame and the wheels (the new Shimano WH-540s) are holding as if they were made of steel and although I'm not very heavy (70-75kg depending on the season) I can say that Kona has not failed its reputation as a builder of practically indistructable bikes. Just recently I've had two flats (snakebites, caused by stones in the middle of the road) and was able to reach a phone/get back home without a fall or any damage to the bike (another testiment to the strength and handling of the bike) - I don't recommend it though so the next thing I'm doing is setting the bike with some nice Continental GP3000 or similar tires to avoid such problems in the future.

Strengths:
The frame and the overall strength and durability of the bike, low price.

Weaknesses:
I can confirm what some of the reviewers said about Kenda Koncept tires - you need at least two strong people to put them back on the rims.

Similar Products Used:
None.

Price Paid:  $1700.00

Bike Setup:
Stock except for King headset.

Summary:
Let me start off by saying that this is the first road bike I have owned, ever. It was either this or a Bianchi in the same price range. And while some may say, including the shop owner, suggesting I should have bought the Bianchi, there was just something about this bike that caught my interest.

The Bianchi definately felt like it had spunk as it bolted from the minute I made the first pedal stroke. I took out the Kona again and suddenly felt that this is the one for me. Maybe the name Kona is what did it, coming straight off MTB's I knew the name and trusted it for building a solid bike at a great value. Maybe it was the grouppo spec. Somehow the mixed Campy grouppo didn't compare the complete 105 grouppo. Admittedly maybe it was my inexperience with road bikes and little things that make them what they are.

I will say this. For the price I couldn't have gone wrong with either. The Kona feels stable once the speeds pick up and thanks to the Columbus frame, manipulated stays and carbon blade fork it mutes road vibration really well. A plus for a guys used to five inches of suspension travel. It feels light, quick and climbs well in my humble opinion. The 105 drivetrain is flawless, delivers crisp shifting and feels durable.

Upgrades for next year may be a new stem and bar combo. There is noticable flex in this department, however right now, I can deal with it. The saddle itself is also a little too cushy and I might change it up for a Flite or if I'm feeling gutsy an SLR (drool). The seatpost may get traded in for a carbon one too, to further enhance the already supple feel of the back triangle. Long term would be a fork. There is nothing wrong with the fork on it now, however, it is an area where improvement in performance has been suggested to me.

I'll give it some more time however, right now I'm having too much fun. I'll be conservative with my rating until I spend more time in the saddle and report back in a few months. As for the value though, I think it is a fantastic price.

Strengths:
Solid frame, great parts spec and price.

Weaknesses:
As noted some flex in bar and stem. Some upgrades to seatpost, seat and fork suggested, but no real complaints. And maybe the fact that its not a made by a traditional road bike manufacturer.

Similar Products Used:
None...my first road bike