First Look – Kona Libre AL

Earlier this year Kona announced a new model in their gravel line-up. The Libre is designed to bridge the gap between adventure touring and racing, letting you mount up luggage and hit the open road, but also be light and lively enough to compete on.

Affordable AL

Tom has already put some miles onto Kona’s new Libre DL and was suitably impressed. However the Libre DL is Kona’s flagship gravel bike and has a price to match, at £3,699 for a full carbon frame with SRAM Force and Easton components. At £1,799, the Libre AL is aimed at riders with shallower pockets, and we’ve got one in to test.

As the name suggests, the Libre AL is built around a 6061 aluminium frame with a full carbon fork, in a pleasingly autumnal shade of khaki green. As with its more expensive siblings, it has a brace of rack and bottle cage mounts and a stretched-out length, hinting at long-distance adventuring ambitions. Riders intending to churn out some serious miles will also be pleased to note that the Libre AL comes with a threaded BB shell.

The components are a mix of SRAM’s popular Apex 11-speed groupset, paired with mechanical disc brakes from TRP. The proper 1x drivetrain is a nod to the Libre’s racing potential. A 40×42 bottom gear seems a little bit tall for loaded touring, but we’ll be putting that to the test and reporting back.

TRP’s Spyre brakes are unusual for mechanical discs, featuring two-piston actuation instead of just pressing one moving pad against a fixed one. The Libre AL uses the new flat mount standard and also has front and rear thru-axles, so everything’s bang up to date there.

650B might be the wheelsize du jour in the gravel world, but the Libre AL rolls on good old 700c wheels decked out with 45c WTB Trailblazers. WTB’s KOM i25 rims are tubeless-ready and that’s how our test bike came been set up.

Trailblazers are a popular choice for pure gravel riding, but as we’re entering the wetter months, some spikier tyres might increase the Libre’s offroad capability. There’s plenty of tyre clearance even with proper monstercross shoes fitted, so a narrower, knobblier set shouldn’t pose any problems.

The build is finished off with a selection of Kona’s own parts, including a custom-branded WTB saddle. Kona’s own-brand Road bars have caught up with off-road trends, and now have a slight flare as well as a generous 48cm width.

Antony will be putting the Libre AL through its paces in the South Pennines and further afield, and we’ll bring you a full review in due course.

Full Specification

• Frame // Kona Libre AL
• Fork // Kona Verso Full Carbon
• Wheels // WTB KOM Light i25/Formula hubs
• Tyres // WTB Riddler TCS 700x45c
• Chainset //SRAM Apex 1
• Bottom Bracket // SRAM GXP
• Rear Mech // SRAM Apex 1 11-speed
• Shifters // SRAM Apex 1
• Cassette // SRAM PG1130 11-42t 11spd
• Brakes // TRP Spyre C 160mm front / 160mm rear rotor
• Bars // Kona Road Bar
• Stem // Kona Road Stem
• Seatpost // Kona Thumb w/Offset, 31.6mm
• Saddle //WTB Volt Comp
• Size Tested // 54
• Sizes available // 46, 49, 51, 54, 55
• Price // £1,799