Yet another CX bike thread – Kona "Jake the Snake"

Quite Simple really, is there a good reason I shouldn’t buy one ? Does anyone here have one, and if so any feedback ? I’m well overdue a bike impulse purchase before the looming financial ruin associated with children descends. I have a road bike and MTB but quite fancy the idea of a CX bike for no reason other than they look like fun.

Either that or possibly considering disc brake option with the Genesis Croix de Fer

I’m a big Kona fan, but I haven’t ridden a J/S model. I had the same impulse before Xmas and finished up with a self built Kinesis Pro 6 and really like it. You know the Kona will be great so do it! 😉

I have a 2009 version, great bike with pedigree. I brought frame & fork and built as SS, now has 105. I liked it as my 49cm frame suits my short arse legs but still has a 53cm top tube. You may find Kona more expensive than other brands offering a similar spec, but that depends on how much you pay.

I have had an 07 one (dayglo green) from new and love it. Easton carbon fork,full 105 and tektro 720’s on planet x rims. Good for off road gentle stuff ( I don’t race) through touring to winter road riding. Great bike.

The cx feature in the mag has a lot to answer for!

The Croix de Fer will be noticeably lardier, if you care about such things. Disc brakes work really well and need less faffing than cantis although they’re not as hassle-free as hydraulics. If you’re planning to pannier it up and take it touring, you’d be better off with a steel frame. The lower rack mounts in my GF’s Jake the Snake had to be recut after they stripped, although this was after a few years of carrying fairly weighty loads.

I must confess to being a bit of a kona fanboy myself. Just sold a Unit to partially fund the next purchase although the LBS is starting to stock Genesis so will get down to have a closer look at a Croix. I dont think bike weight is too much of an issue until I shift some of my own !

Just bought a s/h Major Jake which goes like a regular rocket.

i have the 2010 version. I propper love it. i use it to commute, dismantled railway line rides, rides on quiet country roads and i’ve done sportives on it.
I have two mountain bikes and no road bike, but i find the CX Jake snake so versitle i just put racing tires on and it becomes a road bike. but it can still fit big tires for winter and offroad.
I replaced the cantis with mini V brakes and inline barrel tensioners, awesome upgrade.

I have a 2006 JtS. It’s pretty awesome. Not light, but tough. It’s one of the last equipped with a steel Project 2 fork (pretty much that same as those fitted to their early 90s MTBs) which is harsh over rough surfaces. But you won’t have that problem as they have a nice carbon fork these days, I believe. It’ll do everything. Commuting, an impromptu road ride, canal-path bash… it’ll even remind you what riding a mountain bike in 1989 was like if you take it to the woods. Nothing has ever gone wrong on it except that I had to replace the rear rim a few years ago (long story). Same BB, brakes, gears, cranks etc. A great bike.

I have one, and absolutely love it. As others have said it’s very much the bike that gets used most. Capable of handling my local trail centre, the commute to work, a few road miles or a blast in the woods.

It’s the bike that I’m most attached to, and have had most fun on.

Buy one, now. You won’t regret it.

[/url] Untitled[/url] by BigG1968[/url], on Flickr[/img]

what bigG said.
out of my CX and 2 mTb bikes. i’m most fondest of my kona JtS.
yet to take it in the woods but reckon this could be the year

+1 I’ve an old one and its my everyday ride, they arent light against proper road bikes but fit slicks and you should give a roadie a run. I use mine for commuting it has a project 2 up front with disk mount so I’ve had a mechanical disk on for about 4 years now and a Vee with accentuator on the back. Its great, I can bomb home on the road or take it offroad and get it muddy almost like a mtb. I used to ride it at Delamere with the gang on Monday nights and never had a problem keeping up, sometimes getting ahead, its only weakness was steep drops and crap brakes… the disks sorted that a bit.

buy buy buy

I am in very similar position to you. Was really keen on Jake the Snake but after much faring decided discs are where it’s at for CX. Now looking at Cannondale CAADX.

I had a major jake and it was awesome. Though I prefer the slightly more relaxed geometry of the Tricross, but that a personal thing I guess.

In short CX bikes are awesome fun!

http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=rove

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Thanks for the comments, unfortunately the JTS I had my eye sold before I reached pay day. Hopefully another one may come my way in the not too distant future !

i love mine. currently wearing mud guards and pannier rack. Kick ass communter…

I’ve got a standard Jake which I’ve upgraded a bit. It’s a really good bike but if I were spending new bike money I think I’d go for something with discs….