Strengths: These are my initial feelings from less than a month. Superb Acceleration: seems like a Ferrari if it were a car. Great Handling & Precision: Crisp shifts, responsive front end. CLIMBING: Liked the Big 3 set chainring that mades hills a bit easier, yet was also geared for speed on the hills.
Weaknesses: BABY BLUE frame. My gal likes the powdery BLUE cloud color I don't.
Bottom Line:
The KONA PhD makes me SMILE~ when I ride. I tested others bikes and although many were good, few made me smile. I wanted one bike that would do for commuting, and a couple of Olympic Distance Triathlons. I went to the shop to demo a Jamis bike which was good too, and Yes It made me smile. After tested the PhD a couple of times the smiles remained and it just felt right. I liked some of the extras that other bikes similarly priced lacked. Ie the Shimano 105 10spd with the 1/4 stop on the big ring, the Mavic Askium wheels, the eyelets for Fenders... Etc I will update the review after I have had the bikes to a Triathlons in a few months.
Similar Products Used: 1)Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra 2)Jamis Coda Comp 3)Rocky Mtn RC70 4)Scott Sub10
Bike Setup: Neuvation Cycling R28 Aero Rims 700 using the Conti 700x23 universals that came with the PHD. I put some fatter 37 cross tires on the PHD stock Mavic Askium rims. Mounted fenders for use in our Liquid sunshine days of Fall/Winter
