Kona Rove - Opinions Please

Lazybones

Hi Everyone,

I find this forum very informative.

Would welcome your opinions on the Kona Rove:

http://www.konabikes.co.uk/rove.cfm

I am about to start back into cycling and am looking for a decent all purpose bicycle.

I know that I don't want a road racer as I think I would tire of it too quickly. I'm not a speed merchant and also believe that the geometry of a racer would be too severe for me.

I want to be able to go on the road at a decent pace, but also have the ability to travel on greenways and some trails (not serious mountains trails or mud).

You will probably laugh at this but I'm not a fan of Aluminium frames. I know they are strong but maybe it's the fact that I'm getting old, but I like a bike to feel a bit more substantial

Looking at the purchase of the bike as a long term one that will hopefully keep me interested in cycling for years to come. Don't want to buy something that I will be disappointed in and end up flogging on DoneDeal after a few months.

What do the wise people of the cycling forum think?

All opinions welcome. Suggestions of suitable alternative bikes also welcome.

Thanks All!

nak

It's a lovely bike, would be fun on the fire roads.

Lazybones

Thanks Nak,

I'm looking forward to getting back to cycling!

Hope I'm making the right choice with the Kona Rove :-)

OldBean

Heard great things about the Rove and it seems to be exactly what you're after. Also work checking out Genesis' steel offerings.

coastwatch

I think the Kona Rove is designed mainly for off road and it's going to be hard work cycling on the road, with fat tyres and the weight is about 12kg. Noted you dont want to be a "speed merchant", but it will be difficult to keep up with a group on road bikes if you end up in company on the road. If you think you'll use it mostly off road, then it's fine.

Lazybones

Thanks OldBean and Coastwatch for the feedback and advice.

I had also been considering the GT Grade Alloy 105:

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-gt-grade-alloy-105-15-48994/

But my efforts to source a LBS in the West of Ireland that stocks or can order the GT Grade Alloy 105 was proving very difficult.

gambeta_fc

Stab in the dark but have you tried Moycullen Bike Works? The "About Us" page on their website says they stock GT.

www. mbikeworks.com/

Lazybones

Hi Gambeta,

Great minds think alike - I have tried mbikeworks, but it seems that GT is not one of their main brands.

MBikeWorks is where I'm considering getting the Rove :-)

I also tried Westside Cycles for the GT as the brand was listed on their website......... however I asked for a price over a week ago and despite a follow up call still nothing received yet. Told they were waiting for a pricelist from their "rep"

doozerie

I've had a Rove for over a year now, I use it as a commute bike. In short, I don't like it and would definitely not recommend it. I've moaned about it on here before so if you search you'll find my posts. Basically, it is highly overpriced, it is heavy (real heavy), the wheels are junk (I'm a lightweight and I've snapped 3 spokes on the rear wheel already and the freehub has been threatening to fall apart pretty much from day one), and from personal experience I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in Kona's warranty. The fit is also bizarre, admittedly I was sold a size which I believe is a little too big for me but even for a medium the (extreme) handlebar width is frankly weird.

It suits my purpose as a commute bike, I wanted something heavy and robust and despite the wheels being junk it'll take the hammering that it gets while locked in bike rack shared with bikes of people who don't give a toss about other peoples' bikes. It's a tank, it will sap your energy on the road, it will sink offroad.

If you are happy to buy online I'd recommend Rose Bikes, they have some decent CX bikes for a far better price, or try Planet-X Kaffenback which I reckon is better too if only because it is a lot cheaper. Anything but the Rove, to be honest.

OldBean

doozerie wrote: »

I've had a Rove for over a year now, I use it as a commute bike. In short, I don't like it and would definitely not recommend it. I've moaned about it on here before so if you search you'll find my posts. Basically, it is highly overpriced, it is heavy (real heavy), the wheels are junk (I'm a lightweight and I've snapped 3 spokes on the rear wheel already and the freehub has been threatening to fall apart pretty much from day one), and from personal experience I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in Kona's warranty. The fit is also bizarre, admittedly I was sold a size which I believe is a little too big for me but even for a medium the (extreme) handlebar width is frankly weird.

It suits my purpose as a commute bike, I wanted something heavy and robust and despite the wheels being junk it'll take the hammering that it gets while locked in bike rack shared with bikes of people who don't give a toss about other peoples' bikes. It's a tank, it will sap your energy on the road, it will sink offroad.

If you are happy to buy online I'd recommend Rose Bikes, they have some decent CX bikes for a far better price, or try Planet-X Kaffenback which I reckon is better too if only because it is a lot cheaper. Anything but the Rove, to be honest.

Actually, I'd forgotten reading your posts about the Rove - You had a pretty sh*te time of it from every aspect. A friend of mine has one to commute 10ish km to work, and she enjoys it - Though she's had a different experience all round.

I'm not so sure I'd recommend the Kaffenback. I was looking at one as a commuter recently, but wouldn't buy until I rode it first. Finally got around to giving one a spin last month as was really disappointed, it was a pretty dead cycle. It felt as exciting as riding my touring bike fully laden down, except it was stock, no racks or luggage on it. I know it's seen as a cheaper bike, but the finishes felt a bit cheap too - Especially after spending the bones of 1300, only to have to upgrade bits from the get go.

OP, some alternatives from Genesis below:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/b-road/croix-de-fer-20

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/a-road/equilibrium-20

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/expedition/tour-de-fer

Alek

I have Croix de Fer 2014 as my allaround bike (commuting, long distance, cyclocross racing - haven't tried heavy loads yet as I have a cargo bike for this) and can wholeheartedly recommend this frameset. I have built it myself so can't tell about the pre-built one.

I'd bet you'll find a few happy Equilibrium users here on boards too.

Lumen

Given your requirements I would just get a reasonably light hybrid than can take a wide selection of tyres.

Nothing beats the fun of a proper light drop-bar road bike, but imposing off-road requirements on a road bike makes it much worse for a given budget.

If you find over time that you're not really doing any off-road you can then switch to an uncompromised relaxed-geometry road bike.

Lazybones

Thanks everyone for all the helpful comments and advice.

It's great to have this forum as a sounding board.

As you can imagine if I'm spending €1500 on a bike I want to get it right.

Trying to avoid buyers remorse! :-)

Lazybones

Ok, really liking the look of the Genesis bikes.

Anyone know if there is a LBS that stocks them in Galway or Clare.

Cant seem to find stockists on the genesis website.

Thanks again!

OldBean

Hollingsworth in Dublin have them. As you said, if you're spending 1500 on a bike... Well, it'd be worth the spin to Dublin.

Lazybones

Thanks Oldbean!

Good advice.