I’ve always thought that there was something about Kona’s, but until Saturday I’ve never owned one, a couple of mates have had them.

When I started riding it I knew I’d made the right choice. It feels spot on (so much so, i made a few changes) it’s perfect size wise & very comfortable.

These are the parts i opted to change on it right away:

BB converter: Praxis

Chainset: Shimano CX70

Brakes: Hope V – Twin

Wheels: Hope Pro 2 Evo on Stans Arch EX (tomorrow) & Kenda Small Block 8’s.

Pedals: Shimano M424 (Thursday)

Before miked1981 or j40aja steps in, these upgrades were nesesary for commuting to work 😉

i like it 🙂

not sure about the colour, please don’t wear matching gear.

Now go and get it covered in snot/sick/mud racing round a field for an hour (and put some proper pedals on it).

Like that. Shame to commute on it, needs to be raced!

that is one nice bike

Thanks all.

It was the colour that attracted me to it.

Not even a green lid?

I intend racing it too.

Lovely, reminds me of my 07 one in not dissimilar colour ! I loved it although it was one harsh ride, however I am old and soft and bought a Croix De Fer to replace it 😆

I intend racing it too.

Excellent stuff. Seeing nice CX bikes used for commuting duties makes me very sad.

Nice bike mate,
Caadx disc for my commute I think.

But now I’ve seen yours hmmmmm???

jacob46: The CAADX was on my list, but ruled it out to looking a bit bland (sorry, no offence if you do get it)

Awesome spec though…..

This is cyclocross… buy a cross bike if this is what you intend doing… 🙂

Looks ace! – Bring it on.

Much racing happening in Scotland?

Nah…this is cyclocross (not enough running/misery in that picture)

I love my old Kona Jake the Snake – it’s a 2005 in baby blue with a old-school steel Project 2 fork. Yours looks even nicer!

Nah…this is cyclocross (not enough running/misery in that picture)

Well I did have to scan down quite a few google images to find one of racers actually riding their bikes!

Colour matches the grass coming through your patio 😉

I like that.

my old one 😛

I love my 2014 but the headset has proven to be a bit poor, seals aren’t great and I have had to strip it several times. The pf30 is complete rubbish as well, but you’ve avoided that issue!

Nice love the colour and yes you need a matching lid.

Don’t forget the new http://grit.cx/forum STW’s CX site.

Is your chainset grey? That looks soooo bad compared to the black! ; )

You will be 0.25 seconds quicker on your commute to work with the upgrades mate!!

Honestly though, Itlooks even better in the metal. I’m really struggling to not click buy it on a 2014 Kona Jake.

Had a few Kona’s over the years and all have ridden superbly.

Jacob46.. Thats the mate I referred to in a previous reply to your post about the CX bike choice. Go but one mate, cracking bike.

Now get racing Mr Petrie!

Kona are putting out some really nice looking bikes at the moment – That one definitely included!

Mines an 09 Major Jake currently sporting a huge pair of Land Cruisers and some Soma Junebug bars – my go to bike.

I had a 2010 one and it was ace. Miss it. 2015 are Konas best looking yet.

Cube are knocking these out for around the same money (im not usually a fan of the brand) but I think they look great.

http://cdn.cube.eu/ai-dynamic/1382/media_ftp/BIKE_Bilder_2015/689001/689001_light.jpg

Wheels & SPD’s fitted.

Took it for a shake down this morning, absolutely love it!

U should at the price of all the upgrades!!

Did u save much time over the green circular with the new cranks, brakes and wheels? I thought I heard thunder this morning but probably just you tearing up the tarmac!

; )

Where was that last pic taken Alan? Almost think we might have crossed paths today if it’s where I think it is…

Change. Those. Pedals.

Great colour. There are far, far too many boring black/white/red cross bikes out there.

13thfloormonk:

It was taken just along from the Tay railway bridge….

Lovely bike. I really liked ianc’s Easton Al version, so am pleased they have revived the colour scheme. Might struggle to accommodate (sigh) ANOTHER bike in the garage! Was thinking of racing a few CX on my single speed mtb with rigid fork. But the choice of tyres for 26″ is n=1.

Get ride of the wheel stickers.

Was thinking the same, the plain rims that came on the bike looked nicer – getting high on white spirit tomorrow….

just along from the Tay Railway Bridge

Ah, so not the Granton Seawall in Edinburgh then, ignore me!

Sweet looking rig I love loud colours !!! Yes peel of those nasty rim decals they look much better without 😉

So Alan, four months on how are you getting on with the bike? It’d be great to hear a review from someone who’s been living with the bike for a while. The do look lovely, and I’m sorely tempted, but don’t want to buy one on looks alone. I’ve got a full-susser and two hardtails that cover my off-roading pretty well already, so I’d be interested to hear how it works for you as a ‘mixed use’ machine.

Hi Darren,

I love the Kona!

It’s super comfortable.

TBH it’s mainly used for commuting to work.

Other than that, it’s been on a few 30 – 40 mile jonts, with a mixture of cycle path & forest trail.

It just feels right.

Looking forward to trying a CX race on it this year…..