Kona Bicycle Co. Jake

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Mountain Bike City C

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
commuting so far

Bike Setup:
Specialized Tricross, Norco CCX 1, Rocky mountain CX, Giant TCX. Kona JTS

Summary:
2008 bike. I bought this bike after doing a ton of research and trying to find a used cross, then the sale came up ($950 regular) and I jumped on it. Have only had it one week, 120km so far, will update review in 6 months. Previous bike was a 2008 Trek 1.2, but that wouldn't cut it in the winter riding so I sold it. The Jake has the Tiagra shifters which I am finding really nice, I have jumped two steps up the component line and definetly am liking the improved refinement. The Tiagra FD and RD work really great. The stock gearing is a little steep for me 50/39/30, ideally would have been 46/34, I have yet to get it down into those hard gears, but mainly keep spinning on the 39 - I can see why the one reviewer went to the 1x9 set up. But come spring/summer when I change the 700x35 to a 23 or 25 tire I am sure the gearing will be fine. Brakes - I like the idea of the second set of shifters in principal because 90% of the time my bikes are for commuting so they are convenient, but I definetly have noticed that I lack the stopping power that I had previously but this could be due to the switch from road to a cross bike. The second set of levers are not the greatest for the equipment that I have to put on their to commute but yelling at pedestrians works better than a bell anyway. Handling/ride - the bike feels great, it is really sturdy, solid, taken it on some steep downhill trails already and it handled fine. The bike definetly feels heavy (24 lbs vs 20 lbs for my road bike), same frame as the JTS, fork is different although JTS used the Project 2 up until a couple of years ago accroding to bikepedia and is now carbon. the wheelset - the Mavic Aksium on the JTS everyone raves about but when I change the tires I don't think they will add up to too much difference between the two models. Just maybe change that fork for the longer rides if I can find one cheap. From my endless price comparisons for upgrades, if you can afford the JTS buy it, if not I don’t think you are sacrificing too much with the Jake, I am sure most people need the extra exercise like me - the forks can be 1 to 2 lb difference, but I find after frame weight the next most important factor to go fast is rotational weight - wheelset and tires.

Strengths:
Shifting, handling, ability to go all terrain all year without blinking (overconfidence might be a con). Absorbs the bumps with the thick tires much better than the roadie. Looks, the black and white with the yellow is awesome.I think the 04 JTS with that weird green is the only other one that looks nearly as good. I think most of the roadies out there should buy this bike or a Kona Dew as they are commuting and this will suit their needs better if they swap tires as needed.

Weaknesses:
The seat is fine so far but I will be changing it eventually. After mentioning the wheel and crank problems that people have been having from these reviews, the LBS assured me that the wheels would be fine, but that I should carry a tool and make sure that I stop immediately and tighten the crank if I feel it loosen, as they were aware of this common issue. Acceleration is not the quickest after the switch from roadie to cross. It is heavy and I see myself buying wider legged pants in a few months when my legs no longer fit in standard pants.

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Contees

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Scholfield Pass

Bike Setup:
Stock except for 105 crank, new rear wheel, and panniers.

Summary:
was looking for a cheap bike for the 18 mile RT commute that would be versatial for the years ahead - you get what you pay for... like some of the other reviews, i'm not in love with this bike but it does the job. looking back i would have spent a few more bucks for the Bianchi. less than a month after i got the Jake, the crank set broke on me, and Kona discontinued that crank. Therefore, i HAD to upgrade to 105; warranty + $40. Then recently i had to drop another $100 on a new rear wheel b/c the stock one was so badly bent. i just commute on pavement, i've never taken it off road and never jump curbs. for components, I have Tiagra in the rear and Sora in the front. I won't be disapointed when these need replacing. i'm considering doing the 1X9. the Brakes/handle bars do pose a problem with lights, computer...
all in all, if you're looking for an 'entry' level cyclocross, consider that you may have to drop at least $200 more into it. but if you're looking for something versatile, you can add fenders and panniers to, you should consider this bike.

Strengths:
price, versatility, the face i can put on panniers, and fenders with no problem.

Weaknesses:
components aren't great, brakes suck, however, i've heard secondary brake levers are just that way on cyclocross bikes, therefore, they'll be coming off soon. i'd love to be able to add disc brakes to this, but the frame was not built with that in mind. for example, Nashbar has a cyclocross frame that you can add disc brakes...if i'd just held out another few months...

Similar Products Used:
N/A

Price Paid:  $800.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Kona Jake

Bike Setup:
stock except for a 40 degree Kalloy stem, and a 1x9 (39x11-34) drive and M520 pedals

Summary:
Very well thought out, I have the new '08, all Tiagra, all Aluminium, I'm not in love with it how ever it is Very close to what I need, I am a commuter in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Here I have to deal with serious wind, temps below 0 to 110, and a 500 ft elevation climb to get home from work, Hence I don't need a 17 lb racer, nor do I need a 32 lb road anchor, Though I have cut it to a 1x9(down from 3x9)and a full range 11-34 cassette but once the weather I am going to put the granny back on.
For the 14 mile RT commute it is Awesome.

Strengths:
Sturdy!
just light enough
Maxxis Locust tires
'cross levers
Price
All Tiagra

Weaknesses:
Stock gearing is too high for a non-race bike (30-39-50, 12-25)
Kona brand post/bars/stem

Similar Products Used:
'96 GT Outpost
'05 Raleigh M20
'07 Raleigh XXIX

Price Paid:  $949.00 at Freewheel Cycle, Jas

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
North Boundry, Jasper National Park

Bike Setup:
Stock except for the front chainrings. I'm also running studded tires for the winter which makes the bike roll like a bloody tank thru the ice, slush, and snow.

Summary:
Bought the Jake as soon as the O7's were released. I wanted a do all bike for winter training, touring, and whatever else I could think of. The Jake seems to fit the bill. I've actually been riding it for a couple of months and have close to 1000km on it.

The bike is well set up, its set up with a sora shifter/brake levers, Sora rear derailleur, and a Tiagra front. They do the job and I'm not going to cry when I have to replace them. This year, kona specced the bike with an FSA gossemer triple. I liked having the granny gear for some of the climbs around here but the rest of the gearing is pretty steep. 42/52 which I changed pretty soon after buying the bike (down to 39/46) and dumped the granny. The wheel set is Deore and Sora hubs laced up to Sun MZ 14 rims with Maxxis Locust tires. Not light but real sturdy, I look at it as an alternative to leg presses. The rest of the componentry is pretty basic, avid brakes, Easton EA30 stem, bars, and seatpost, and a nice comfy WTB perch. Out of the box everything set up nice, the only complaint I had was the wheel build from the factory. I spent quite a bit of time redishing, truing, and tensioning both wheels.

On the road the bike is pretty basic. I feels sturdy, handles well on pavement, fireroads, singletrack, heavy snow, and ice. Its not snappy,lightning fast, or even lightweight but I don't think thats what it was designed for. Just point, pedal, and ride. Its not a race bike, if you're looking for that consider the Jake the Snake or the Major Jake, they're built lighter and have a bit steeper headtube for faster handling. The Jake is an all purpose everyday workhorse that will serve you well, as long as you respect its limitations.

One other thing to add, in the catalouge the colour looks pretty dull, out of the box the paint is a very attractive electric blue.

Strengths:
Strong
Cheap
Well specced for its price point

Weaknesses:
Heavy
Geared way to high
Have a good look at those wheels when you buy the bike, Make sure a qualified mechanic works them over on the truing stand or you could stand to fold a wheel.

Similar Products Used:
Surly Cross & Check
Kona Dew
Surly Steamroller
Trek XO 1

Price Paid:  $949.00 at River Valley Cycle E

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
icefields parkway alberta Canada

Bike Setup:
mostly stock
Conti top touring tires
Planet bike freddy road fenders
noname rack
MEC saddlebags
flipped stem up, 26 tooth granny for touring
cartridge brake shoes after stock ones wore out
Vetta C15 computer
plastic flashlight taped to handlebar with electrical tape
scotchlite tape here & there for visibility

Summary:
Needed a machine to ride everyday, on a budget. Jake's done great. Rides well for commutes and rides up to a couple of hours, although the stiff frame gets a little uncomfortable after awhile. I put a rack, conti top touring tires and full fenders on, which was a piece of cake with the clearance and brazeons. Switched to Shimano 520 pedals from the throwaway 505s. The rest is stock. Even the seat, which I'm neutral about. Sora shifting is reliable and I love having the shifters at hand instead of the downtube when I'm half asleep on the way to work in the dark. It's as easy shifting as my mountain bike. I do like my wife's Tiagra shifters for ergonomics better, but she'd notice if I switched them around. Powerful brakes. I have no shame about riding a triple, 'cuz I live in a river valley, it's my first choice for getting groceries & running errands, and I don't always feel like suffering. Haven't had to adjust anything on the drivetrain all season. I love the P2 fork for its looks and it's tough enough to bolt front racks on for touring. The wheels are heavy, and I don't think they were tensioned well when I first got it because they needed truing after the first ride, but after a little tensioning they've been no problem.
A couple of weeks after I got the bike I took it from Banff to Jasper in the Rockies, unsupported. It was solid, rode totally comfortably with all the camping gear on it, and the only really painful part was packing up at the end of the trip.
I am looking forward to having stuff wear out so I can upgrade, particularly wheels and shifters. I don't need the secondary brake levers, so they'll come off eventually. I also want to raise the handlebar for my old back's sake. But it's been working so well as is right now, I think I'll just keep riding.

Strengths:
Price- You could easily spend double what Jake costs, but with this you're getting pretty much the same thing, for regular all-round road and light trail riding.
Reliability
Service - At least at RVC Edmonton. They've been really helpful.
Versatility - want road tires? trail tires? racks? fenders? something to haul a trailer full of kids, race CX once a year, or get lost on gravel roads with? Jake'll do just fine.

Weaknesses:
The rootbeer colour doesn't get looks. Maybe that's a strength.
Heavy ~22lbs stock and you feel it
Shifters & wheels probably not raceworthy. Sora isn't the most comfortable or fastest shifting out there

OS handlebars combined with secondary brake levers are incompatible with handlebar bags, bike computers, or whatever else I might have wanted to bolt on there.I've had to be creative just to get the computer in there. Not a fan of the OS bars, and can't figure out for the life of me what was wrong with regular diameter bars. I've never had a problem with them. Can someone tell me what they're all about?

Similar Products Used:
Steel "Plum Vaincoeur" roadbike >20yrs old
Several hardtail MTBs
Apollo touring bike rescued from a garbage can
Looked at but can't comment on: Trek Portland & 520, Cannondale Touring.
Specialized Tricross Comp (If it was in the budget, I would have bought it that day)