New Bike! Kona Smoke!

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05-07-2007, 10:01 PM
KnottedYet

New Bike! Kona Smoke!

Now we're a two-Kona family!

I'd post a pic, but my camera batteries died. So, look at the website instead: www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/SMOKE/index.html

She's *steeeeeeeeel*!!!! The paint is such an intensely dark blue that she looks black. And she came with a Tyrannosaurus rex head for a squeaky horn. I'm keeping it, centered it on her bars.

Got her a bell (cuz I need one around here) and moved my rack over from my Kona Dew. Other than that she looks like the pictures on the web.

The seat is actually ok. I might not switch it for a while. (when I do it will be for a Brooks, of course!)

She already has a name. I gotta name things... can't help it.

I was explaining to the Dew that I was going to the LBS to pick up her little sister, her Butch little sister. And of course, that brought to mind Missy Giove. (I'm old enough to remember her, how 'bout you?) And I thought, ooh, "Missy" is a very yucky name for a butch bike. And then I thought, "ooh, MITZI is even yuckier!" So, Mitzi it is! Mitzi G.O.V. (Gung-ho Operator-powerd Vehicle)

(Does anyone else remember the pic of Missy doing a night race naked? I think it was in Bicycling.)

Gonna take Mitzi to work tomorrow, squeaking the dinosaur head in celebration the whole way!

And someday, if it all works out, Mitzi will be an Xtracycle. www.xtracycle.com
05-08-2007, 05:12 AM
kelownagirl

Whoo hooo!! Nice bike Knot!!! Have a good first ride today!
05-08-2007, 05:24 AM
Pax

Very nice!! Try to keep your hooligan instincts in check, you don't want broken bones for your new job! :p
05-08-2007, 06:14 AM
mimitabby

congrats on the new bike, Knot, but what about Flossie? how come?
05-08-2007, 06:46 AM
KnottedYet

What about Flossie? She's my road bike, the Kona is my commuter. Flossie is fine. No Waterfords were harmed in the purchasing of this Kona.

Can you imagine the wreck I'd be if I had to lock Flossie to the library bike rack, or load Flossie up with groceries?:eek:

The Smoke is butch and burly with juicy 26x1.5 tires, beefy steel frame, and a SQUEAKY TRYANNOSAURUS HEAD HORN. (luuuuurve the horn)

The Smoke is a water buffalo. Flossie is an antelope. Commutermobile is a Morgan horse.

SKnot wants the Commutermobile, but if he wants Mitzi once he sees her, that's fine. I just want that kid to ride a bike, whatever bike makes him happy.
05-08-2007, 06:50 AM
Pax

I hear ya Knot, I'd LOVE to ride my roadbike to work but the idea of chaining her up on a communal bike rack filled with UI student's trashed out bikes makes me shudder.

I like the look of your Kona, I need to see if they sell 'em in Chicago.
05-08-2007, 06:52 AM
mimitabby

Oh, KNot, VERY VERY cool! Yes, you're right, you would be a wreck.
I know what you mean about the kid. (having a reluctant child myself)

congrats and have fun! I am getting a neat bell on my new bike too.
(not sure what yet since i don't know what will fit)

Raleighdon got a pinch flat going across the longview bridge expansion joints and his tires are 28's!!! (I found that disturbing)
05-08-2007, 06:57 AM
KnottedYet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen

I like the look of your Kona, I need to see if they sell 'em in Chicago.

Who knows, you too might be blessed with a SQUEAKY TYRANNOSAURUS HEAD. (or a sumo wrestler, or a lady bug, or a fish, or a rubber ducky. random chance at work in the bike-horn universe. wonder how many new Smoke owners keep their Mystery Horn?)

The Maxxis tires max inflate is 80 lbs, which makes a very nice road-ride. When I took Mitzi out for my test-ride I deliberately rode over bumps and such on the bike trail that I knew knock me around on Flossie or judder me on the Commutermobile. Just mild bumps on Mitzi.

Those juicy tires do make for a slower bike, though. But not too much slower. And the gearing is awesome for commuting and for (someday) hauling an Xtracycle.

(and at $350, if she gets stolen or vandalized, while I will shed a tear, I won't be devastated.)

Oooh, gotta add her to my National Bike Registry.
05-08-2007, 07:07 AM
Pax

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

...(and at $350, if she gets stolen or vandalized, while I will shed a tear, I won't be devastated.)

My Honey said "go ahead and buy that Breezer Uptown you want", but like you I balk at the idea of having a $1000 bike stolen from the rack at work. :eek:

I'm going to look at the Jamis Coda in Chicago next week, and see if I can find a Kona dealer for a comparo!
05-08-2007, 08:56 AM
dex

Ooo...I almost bought a Smoke last week for commuting purposes. It was just so cute and loverly (and the squeaky horn cracked me up).

I ended up with a Bianchi Boardwalk (because it was last year's model and on sale...and, um, I loved the color), but I do still think fondly of that cute little Kona.

Yay for you! :D
05-09-2007, 07:36 PM
KnottedYet

commute number 2 on Mitzi.

This is a nice commuter!

Very soft ride compared to the Dew, but also less zippy ride. Today I was a bit more used to her ways, and pushed her a little. Did a lovely skid-out, but the bike stayed under me.

I thought the gigantic platform-and-peg Kona Jacksh*t Pedals would be annoying, but actually I really like them. Pedalling with them in my sandals feels like pedalling in bike shoes because of the huge area of the pedals. They really support a lot of your foot!

I also thought my feet would slide off the platform (those little pegs?!?!) and I'd want to change to bear traps to keep my feet in place, but no problems at all. So far. We'll see how it goes in rain/wet.

I did switch out the stock saddle for the semi-dreaded Serfas Niva. As soon as I win the lotto, I'm getting another Brooks saddle!
05-09-2007, 10:05 PM
uforgot

Congrats on the new bike! I visited the Kona website and really like it. Hope you have a new job to go with it! I always thought this would be a fun bike to have for a commuter.

Bianchi Rollo
05-10-2007, 03:47 PM
colby

Congratulations on your new addition!! She's beautiful.
05-12-2007, 01:20 PM
cosc

KnottedYet, what a great bike to enjoy those commuter rides. It looks so comfy and classy.
05-12-2007, 05:46 PM
Trekhawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

And someday, if it all works out, Mitzi will be an Xtracycle. www.xtracycle.com

Nice bike Knotted!!
Thanks for posting the link to Xtracycle. What a great site.
I love the Breezer SUB.:)
05-12-2007, 06:21 PM
KnottedYet

This place does Xtracycles. There's a picture (in their Xtracycle owners gallery) of a guy from my high school! And I swear, I've seen the picture of T. Bigelow in her red sweatshirt and red Keen sandals somewhere here on TE.
http://www.rideyourbike.com/

The url doesn't change when you go to different parts of their site. Click the yellow "Xtracycle" box on the right side of the main page, and scroll down.

Check out the leopard print Xtracycle... cooool.
05-12-2007, 06:31 PM
teigyr

Beautiful bike. I've never ridden a Kona but it's making me think...would be so nice to have a bike to ride that isn't a high-strung road bike :D

I think I will have to check these out! Please post a picture when you can.
05-12-2007, 07:44 PM
Trekhawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

This place does Xtracycles. There's a picture (in their Xtracycle owners gallery) of a guy from my high school! And I swear, I've seen the picture of T. Bigelow in her red sweatshirt and red Keen sandals somewhere here on TE.
http://www.rideyourbike.com/

The url doesn't change when you go to different parts of their site. Click the yellow "Xtracycle" box on the right side of the main page, and scroll down.

Check out the leopard print Xtracycle... cooool.

Thanks Knotted for the link. I love the pics of all those fabulous bikes. Im thinking maybe I need to get the hitchless trailer kit to take back to Aust with me.
It looks like just the sort of thing I need. Hee Hee then I will have an excuse to buy another bike to put it on.:D
05-12-2007, 09:21 PM
sgtiger

Hee!Hee! DH went to high school with Aaron. We went on their Xtracycle ride last July 4th (in fact, I'm in a couple of the pictures). It was a blast. It was amazing to see all the stuff that one can carry around with one of those. Aaron had a full size cooler loaded with beer and soda, and he was carrying our coleman roadtrip bbq! I was seriously impressed. Looking forward to doing it again this Memorial Day.:cool: :D
05-13-2007, 11:45 AM
KnottedYet

SKnot and Mitzi

SKnot saw Mitzi the Kona Smoke today, and waaaaaaaants it!

He showed more enthusiasm than I've seen in quite a while, said she was hip and cool and happenin'.

So, Mitzi is his bike now. (I told him he HAS to ride it and HAS to give it back when he outgrows it.)

I'm almost thinking of taking in my Kona Dew and trading for another Smoke.

(I must admit I'm feeling a wee bit possessive.)

Edit: later that day. SKnot rode the Smoke. He really likes it. Said several times how cool it is, thanked me for it.
05-16-2007, 03:07 PM
nakedsushi

Yay Smoke

I got a Kona Smoke a month or so ago as my commuter bike and I'm liking it. The only complaint I have is that the fenders prevent me from locking my back wheel using my U-lock. Other than that, it's a great little bike. I got the squeaky cat horn, but I cheated because that was the one I wanted and coincidentally it was the one that was at the LBS.