Kona Bicycle Co. Kona Paddy Wagon

Price Paid:  $650.00 at ozone cycles, austin

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
buffalo bayou

Bike Setup:
stock except for 70mm 3t stem
mks pedals & clips
straps

Summary:
I have had 2 other fixies in the past, a bianchi conversion, and a soma rush. I wanted to get back on a fixed gear. The kona was the most comfortable ride of all the bikes i tested. The frame is really comfortable going over bumps and potholes and it is easy to ride no handed. The bike also responds well to out of the saddle sprinting/climbing. The stock gearing is just right for city riding/commuting. Its short enough that you can still jump away from stops, but it's tall enough that you don't spin out unless your going downhill. All the trimmings work really nicely, and there isn't much I would change about it. The stock bars are awesome because they have a great smooth transition into the brake hoods. I originally planned on swapping them out for some bull horns, but I really like the stock set up. I changed out the stem to a 70mm 3t stem

Overall it is a great value of a bike. You get a great frame, good wheels, a good wtb rocket seat, and all the trimmings.

Strengths:
sealed hubs
nice frame
cool paint job / color scheme
sexy lugged straight fork
quick steering
water bosses and fender braze-ons
cable guides

Weaknesses:
31.8 clamp on the bars (not alot of track bars are in this size)
bottom bracket not sealed
paint chips very easily
non-machined braking surface on rims (they fixed this for 2008)
stock pedals are nylon

Similar Products Used:
soma rush
bianch pista
salsa cassarole
specialized langster
masi fixed speciale
surly steam roller

Price Paid:  $650.00

Summary:
This bike is a blast to ride. It handles great and is smooth. Ya I'm sold on it.

Strengths:
Simplicity at its best.

Weaknesses:
It makes my Project One Madone cry when I take the paddy for a ride over it.

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Bike Gallery, PDX

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Kona Paddywagon, 2008

Bike Setup:
Full size AXO fenders, turned the stock stem over and dropped it on the fork 1/4 inch, 0-degree seatpost, campus-style SPD pedals. Other than that the bike's stock.

Summary:
I love commuting the 5 miles to work every morning on this bike; especially in the rain. My commuter was stolen, a 1987 Cannondale Criterium, around jan. I was kinda getting tired of it, having to get out the toothbrush every week to clean the gears, etc. I used to hate on the single/fixie thing, thinking of it as a fad. But after getting rid of the other 14 gears, I did find there were some pratical uses for the simplicity. Yeah, and it rides well too. The Deda frame is heavier than my 'dale but along with the nice wheels and lack of derailleur slap, the ride is silent except for the sound of rocks hitting the inside of the fenders. Did I mention the main reason I got the bike: The frame has brasings for full-size fenders, a necessity in the PNW, and something you can really only find on spendy cyclocross bikes nowadays.

Strengths:
Fender brasings.

Solid ride.

That easy hipster chick will like it.

Sealed hub bearings (Formula).

Gray paint.

Weaknesses:
That annoying hipster guy will like it.

Made in Taiwan, or so it said on the frame. However, I'm not one to denegrate the Tiawanese craftsman, who are all honorable, hardworking individuals. I don't know if I can tell the difference.

The freewheel isn't sealed, but a new one is almost as cheap as a chain.

That's it so far.

Similar Products Used:
Test rode before I bought this:

Salsa Casseroll
Surly Steamroller
Lemond Fremont(?), or whatever.
Redline 925
Raleigh singlespeed

They all were pretty much the same price but all different flavors of vanilla. This one felt the best, and the Kona comes with fender braisings.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Every ride

Summary:
So fun to ride !!!
I have been riding all kinds of bikes for 30 years. Anything from alu roadbikes to high tech carbon bikes but The Paddy wagon is my favorite of all bikes and I will never sell it. Love the steel and the ride of singlespeed.Like the 28 mm tires too. Can ride really hard and some light trails too. And because of the steel I can ride longer than before cause it is so comfortable with steel. Did I say I love the bike ?

Weaknesses:
Heavy.