http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75150

It’s in my budget and like all the other bikes at this price has an Alu frame and carbon fork and a mix of Sora/Tiagra.

I like the colour, which differentiates it from the rest.

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

The clue is in the title.

I like Kona road bikes, That one looks fine. Enjoy having something a bit different to all the other roadies!

Nowt wrong with Konas mate. Looks very reasonable for the money. My wifes old specialised is similar, Aly frame, carbon fork etc and rides really nice.

I`d go for it mate. 😛

Don’t need granny on a road bike.

Reasons not – it’s a tripple, it’s got sora shifters, bars aren’t compact . Reasons for – colour (for you), tyres and wheels alright for the money

Ok, would this bike be better in some way…

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gt-gtr-series-3-2011/

Not buying a bike cos it’s a triple? ARE YOU 15?

Bars are subjective.

But its a triple on a road bike, the sky will fall!

The gt only looks to have tiagra shifters above the kona.. They are much better but not by that proce margin above the kona so not worth it. Also 39×25 looks a bit steep if you live anywhere hilly. And it’s not the right colour;)

Find it a bit disappointing spec sora and ten speed are no no’is IMO should be able to get 10 speed for same or slightly more and be able to get spares or better spares for way longer. Tripple is good IMO no need to be though better to save your knees and ride where others walk cos the are hardcore with & 42 inner blade.

It’s a great bike at a nice price.

Tiagra shifters are a bit easier to use, but at that price, who cares?

It had some good reviews when it was much more expensive – bet you’d really struggle to get a better frame & fork for that price. Wheels seem fine too.

A decent buy, don’t think you could go wrong with that. Looking for a road bike for a friend of mine, may steer him towards that now..

The Kona’s not a bad bike at all. Triples are fine, though the front shifting isn’t as nice. It also says to other riders “I could have gone for a compact, but I’m not a closet homosexual and am perfectly happy to admit that the hills are steep. You need to go home and look at yourself in the mirror and have a big, long think.”

The wheels on the Kona look a lot better than those on the GT, so that’d be my choice.

Find it a bit disappointing spec sora and ten speed are no no’is IMO should be able to get 10 speed for same or slightly more and be able to get spares or better spares for way longer. Tripple is good IMO no need to be though better to save your knees and ride where others walk cos the are hardcore with & 42 inner blade.

Que?

Aye divent they do one in Red n White like?

You will be stoned and laughed at for riding a Triple. Until you come to some big hills when they will be trying to draught you.

It’s a lovely bike, good mix of kit for the money. Buy it, ride it, screw what anyone else thinks if you enjoy it

Wish i had a triple the other day riding up honister!

Besides fitting in with the in crowd & being what racers have, what real benefits do compacts offer over triples?

Looks like a very nice bike to me. I can’t think an any reason to not buy it if you like it and you have the money, and it’s available in your size.

SB

Nice colour but Sora shifters – do they have that button shift?

Tiagra levers with the paddle would be nice and cheaper rear mech.

Ever considered a steel frame? You’ll get a good ride and better running gear.

I’d check paulscycles and winstanleys
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b0s6p0
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/index.html

Always liked the Giant Defys, Cannondale CAADs
but there is also the Genesis Aether 20 for £550 at Winstanleys

and if you’re small and not brand conscious – there’s this.

Besides fitting in with the in crowd & being what racers have, what real benefits do compacts offer over triples?

Q factor innit. Don’t see the point in triples at all really, other than for touring anyway.

you are really investing in the frame and there are better ones for 600pounds )IMO)

or scour the second hand market. you’d pick up a nice one for that money. maybe a 1200 pound bike if you hit ebay at the right time. I’ve seen trek 1500’s go for that kinda money with 105/ultegra groupies. but then trek is trek and some people just don’t like trek.

Don’t see the point in triples at all really, other than for touring anyway.

Don’t live near any real hills then…

Don’t see the point in triples at all really, other than for touring anyway.

Well this guy did, and it never seemed to hold him back 😉

Red bikes go faster. Pick the red one.

I’m in Spain, with proper hills so a triple might suit me better. Anyway, sure whatever I get will be fine, I’m not racing, it’s just for long days/miles.

I am open to suggestions/2nd hand if you have anything.

Follow the lead of the Spaniard in the picture. But get a red one 😉

I have a 2010 Zing compact and cant complain at all. If you like it go for it, buy using quidco or similar and youll get some cash back down the line too

Don’t live near any real hills then…

What’s that then?

I’ll be off to the Pyrenees in May, I’ll be using a compact and 27t cassette.

i’ve recently bought a zing frame and love it. its a 52cm , biult it up from bits i had about, same wheels and much the same spec except i’ve got a compact sram apex crank. comes in at just under 20lb. Not the lightest and you will one day want to upgrade the sora shifters but it rides really well. I would recomend it.

Kona is the most underated brand out there. once you’ve owned one you’ll never regret it, if you’ve never owned one … well you just don’t get it.

Ignore the sora shifters diss. Had them on my winter bikes for years. No issues, at all.

Q factor innit

OMG I never realised, will have to ditch my triple straight away… seriously though is that all (apart from a little bit of weight)?

Front shifting isn’t so nice.

So no not a big deal. Not sure that racers would want to use a triple – did Big Mig have the option of a compact?

Many people on mtbs are moving to 2 chain rings and you can put a 32t cassette on a road bike too, easy with SRAM. I think the best reason for using a triple is if you want a cassette with small jumps – or are going to ride every day up mountains on a trip perhaps.