I test rode this today- great bike! AWCycles in Reading has a 19” test bike. I took it out without any view on 27.5/650b because there hasn’t been much about them in the media that I’ve read. The bike is very nicely finished and the raw frame with orange decals is to die for. Love it!
The bike handled very nicely and felt neutral- good climber and fun descender. It was happy enough to get the back end out and even manual (despite the wrong size). The wheel size felt different but also strangely familiar (this makes no sense, I know). I’ve been riding 29ers lately but grew up on 26” and this wheelsize feels nice and it slots into the middle nicely. I need a 17” so the TT (with longer stem) felt a big long but I still had great fun. Weight is 28lbs in the 19” size stock which I think is very reasonable considering the steel frame, etc.
I test rode the whyte t129s straight after. I know they are very different bikes but I just wanted to jump on a 29er straight away to see the difference. I see why 27.5” was made. It seems to slot nicely into the wheelsize group.
If any one is looking at the Kona I’d grab a test ride. Brilliant fun. Just forget about the wheelsize whilst you ride it. 120mm travel seems perfect for the bike and the geometry is spot on. It’s just dying for a dropper..
(I only went in to have a ride and ended up leaving £1500 lighter and not with the road bike that I had in mind. Picking it up at the end of the week.)
* Disclaimer: This is just what I thought. Different wheelsizes suit different people. I’m no salesman. I don’t care what wheelsize/bike you’re riding as long as you’re riding.*
