Kona Honky Inc Bike. You Have One?

[Velocivixen]

So I bought a hybrid Trek FX 7.3, siz months ago and like it, however I want a road bike (rode one from teens into my early 20's & haven't been on a drop bar bike for 25 years). I'm physically fit and have no orthopedic issues and am very flexible. I've been researching, asking questions, going to different LBS, reading reliable information online, reading these forums. I am reading Selene Yeager's "Every Woman's Guide to Cycling" now and her section in the front with questions to help clarify what type of bike to buy was helpful. I don't want a "Race" road bike, but an "Enthusiast" or "Recreational" road bike. I also don't want a replica of my hybrid, only with drop bars. I would like steel (carbon fork &/or seat stays would be a plus), disc brakes (Avid BB-7 would be good), a compact double (I haven't used my number "1" ring in the front since I bought my bike except just to try it out once, so there are 8 gears that I'm not even using), and if Shimano components they should be at least 105 group set (the Kona group set is 105 & rear derailleur is Ultegra SS). I also want the option of being able to add fenders, racks, etc.

So, the Kona Honky Inc. looks "perfect" on paper with all the features I want. I went to my regular LBS and they had one in 49 cm, put it on the trainer and it was waaaay too small. Saleslady had the seat tube all the way up and my legs weren't anywhere near the correct position. They have a 53 cm in the warehouse and will be at the shop on Monday or Tuesday. I'm taking it for a test ride. The Kona site says the retail price is $1679, which is a great price for what you get. I've had two different bike folks (one a sales person at one shop) and a bike mechanic at my current shop both recommend the Honky Inc.

I realize that I probably would want to test ride several different brands, sizes, etc. before I make any final decisions, and I will do that. I test rode a 2011 Jamis Quest WSD and it was just "okay".

So....anyone have one? Have a Kona bike? Do you like the Brand? Pros? Cons? Do share.

[indysteel]

I'm not familiar with Kona, but it does look like like a nicely spec-ed bike. At least according to the website, it has a standard double crank, not a compact though. If you have any climbing do do--and I assume you do--then I'd see about swamping that crank out.

I saw some Salsas up close and personal the other day. They were purrrrtyyyy. I have a steel Bianchi Eros myself, circa 2006, and a Jamis Aurora touring bike, so I'm fully in favor of your decision to go with steel. I just wish more manufacturers made them.

[Velocivixen]

Hey thanks. I was just trying to figure out if it was a "double" or a "compact double" as I forgot to ask. Would it be hard/complicated to switch it out to a compact?

I'm also considering a Salsa Casseroll and a Bianchi Volpe was suggested too. I do need to actually go test ride. This one, once they get it next week, will be my first real test ride.
Thanks for your response.

[ny biker]

Unless the chain rings and cassette on your current bike are exactly like the ones on the bike you're looking at, it is not enough to take into account the gears you do and don't use on your current bike.

This calculator will help you figure out the differences in gearing for different bikes:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

[Velocivixen]

Thanks ny biker. I looked at that before and had no idea of what he was trying to tell me. However, I went to a gear shifting class and have a very user friendly "Gear Chart for 700c wheel bicycles" that I think makes more sense. I will have to see what my current set up has vs any new road bike.
Thanks for the clarification.

[7rider]

So....anyone have one? Have a Kona bike? Do you like the Brand? Pros? Cons? Do share.

I have a co-worker and friend who commutes on one. He loves it and feels it's a perfect "do everything" (for him) rig.

It is a slick looking bike.

[ny biker]

Thanks ny biker. I looked at that before and had no idea of what he was trying to tell me. However, I went to a gear shifting class and have a very user friendly "Gear Chart for 700c wheel bicycles" that I think makes more sense. I will have to see what my current set up has vs any new road bike.
Thanks for the clarification.

I had to look at it several times before it made sense to me. But ultimately it was useful. Sounds like a chart would do the trick, too.

[Velocivixen]

@7rider, thanks for the feedback. I think you could build it up about any way you'd like. It will take fenders and I think a rack if I wanted one.
It's a thought.
Seems like some of the road bikes won't take fenders, racks, etc. unless they're "Touring" bikes and I don't think I need/want a "Touring" bike.

[indysteel]

Hey thanks. I was just trying to figure out if it was a "double" or a "compact double" as I forgot to ask. Would it be hard/complicated to switch it out to a compact?

I'm also considering a Salsa Casseroll and a Bianchi Volpe was suggested too. I do need to actually go test ride. This one, once they get it next week, will be my first real test ride.
Thanks for your response.

It shouldn't be that complicated of a swap, minus a few adjustments. Talk to your LBS though if you go that route to see if they can minimize the cost.

[RidingBuddy]

Right, i just had my regular double switched for a compact. But I already had the compact and sweet talked my favorite mechanic into switching it out for me. So I don't know the cost.

I've never ridden a kona but I've always liked them. And I live the ride of steel.

[bluebug32]

I don't know anything about this model, but I love Kona and have owned three of their bikes. They're really solid and a great company to deal with if anything goes wrong or even if you just need info. about their products.

[pll]

If you are buying the bike new, it should not be a problem for them to replace the double with the compact double. Perhaps a minor additional charge (they keep a new double, which becomes part of their stock).

[Velocivixen]

Thanks everyone for the info. I don't think I used my gear chart correctly. My DH is more versed in this sort of thing, so I'm going to review my findings with him. This will be very important. I wondered how I'll ride hills on my test ride next week, but there are no hills in the area. There is, however, a four story parking garage a couple of blocks away. I will ride my current bike up the parking garage to gauge what gears I will use, then when I test ride I can try to ride up the parking garage. My [I]only concern[U] is that, since I haven't ridden a drop bar bike in 27 years or even know how to shift the gears, going up a parking garage may not be the best idea. (it is a very quiet, calm parking garage).

[RidingBuddy]

You could ask the bike shop to put the bike in a trainer in the shop and talk you through using the gear shifters. Then give yourself a little practice time on the drop bars to get a feel for them.

[Velocivixen]

UPDATE: I spent 2 hours at the LBS that sells this bike and test rode it! The salesperson was amazing, measured my shoulders and had me try two different width handlebars, changed out 3 different stem lengths, rotated the handles from the "regular" position up a little. Shifting these 105's with the Ultegra rear derailleur was like a hot knife through butter. I got the shifting down within a minute and loved the integrated brakes/shifters!
I could buy the 49 cm frame and the stem & handlebar width would be perfect and the seat post would be up higher. OR I could get the 53 cm frame and put the shorter stem & handle bars from the smaller bike on it. The seat post wouldn't be sticking out so high. There is, of course, a length difference in the top tube length between the two sizes of bike, but not so much that I noticed much.

I went to another LBS and rode the Salsa Casseroll and the Surly Cross Check (both have Tiagra components), and the guys there wouldn't change the stems out for a test ride! They said they'd consider it if I was "seriously considering" one of the bikes. The two I test rode there required shorter stems and narrower handlebars. Despite that the Surly hand bar end shifters which I hated, and the Salsa felt like driving a station wagon.

[radacrider]

Nice, Velocivixen, sounds like you are narrowing down your search and getting a good idea of what bike and setup works for you. I am all about service as part of what I choose to buy. Sounds like you found 1 great LBS.

[Velocivixen]

Thanks radacrider! I spent those hours at Sellwood Cycle Repair and Matt there ROCKS! After all that time I felt guilty not buying the bike. In all fairness, I told him I'd have to at least test ride some others to ensure I'm making the right choice.
My DH just asked me "What are you going to do if you get that new bike?" (I've only had my Trek 7 months)! Selene Yeager's book says to project out one year and try to get something for that. In 7 months I've never ridden on anything but an asphalt MUP or the road, so obviously I won't be buying a mountain bike. I see myself riding a road bike longer distances and maybe longer distances that involve hills.
He did tell me that, if it turns out I need more lower gears, that it would be best to change out the rear cluster & derailleur to a mountain biking gearing. I have a gearing ratio chart that my DH made with a graph of the gearing of my current bike and of the other bikes I'm considering with graphs of the gears. Changing this bike (50/30 chainring) to a compact double (50/34) would only give me 1 more low gear, and the ratios would be a tiny bit different, but a compact double won't give me a bunch of low gears. I think I'd buy the bike "as is", ride it, get confident on it and more fit, then decide if I really need the lower gears.
Now I just have to convince my DH to fund my new baby.

[indysteel]

I'm glad the bike shop is being so helpful. That's awesome.

Which bike has 50/30 gearing? That's not a typical confinguration, unless you're referring to the big and small chainrings of the triple that's on your FX. In any event, a compact 50-34 double offers fewer small gears than a crank with a 30 chainring, assuming identical cassettes.

[Velocivixen]

@Indy, that was a typo. Sorry about that. The Honky Inc. Has a standard double in front, but is sort of "in between" because the front ring is 50/39. The guy at this shop said it was a compact and I had to tell him it had 50/39 and he was surprised, and actually checked the Kona website then counted the teeth! It has 10 speed in the back.

What is your thought about 9 speed vs 10 speed in the back in relation to road bikes. I was told that, more and more, road bikes are leaning toward 10 in the back and parts/components for 9 in the back are harder to find. A couple of bikes I had considered had Tiagra components with 9 speed.

[RidingBuddy]

What are the gears on the cassette? I think I would refer to the 50/39 chainrings as a "non standard compact.". I have a 52/38 on one of my bikes and always have to explain it.

My opinion on the 9 cog versus 10 cog is this: I would prefer the 10. Because there will be less change between cog size, you should have smoother shifting and more ease finding the "right" gear. It's also getting a little harder to find 9 speed cassettes, (not terribly hard but not as many options). But honestly I wouldn't rule out a bike cause it was 9 speed. However I might rule out a bike that had lower components than 105.