{"id":5391,"date":"2022-08-19T01:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T01:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikefinest.com\/?p=5391"},"modified":"2022-08-19T12:38:34","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T12:38:34","slug":"are-kona-bikes-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikefinest.com\/are-kona-bikes-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Kona Bikes Good?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Established in 1988 and currently headquartered at Ferndale, Washington, USA, Kona Bicycle Company is popularly known for bikes that target users on the opposite spectrum, such as kids and the overweight. But are Kona bikes good?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kona bikes are good because they are pretty high-end and innovative \u2013 encouraging durability, strength, reliability, comfort, and superior performance. The manufacturer invests in quality parts and modern designs to stay atop the competition. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That, however, doesn\u2019t make Kona Bicycle Company the most flawless bike brand out there. As I\u2019ll share later, the bike brand has a few concerns, but they are nothing compared to the positives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before explaining what makes Kona bikes good and the concerns attached, let me briefly share the brand history. <\/p>\n\n\n In a hurry? Check out my most recommended Kona bicycles<\/a> on the hotlist below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After working with MTB Hall of Famer Joe Murray for several years, Jacob Heilbron and Dan Gerhard were motivated to make their first-ever bike. So, the two founded Kona Bicycle Company in 1988 in Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their first-ever production was a hardtail mountain bike with a slanting top tube, and the company was recognized as the first to make such an MTB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1989 saw them introduce their first-ever straight leg MTB fork, which they produce up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1990, Dr. Dew, whom most Kona urban bikes are named after, joined the company, and Max Jones followed him. Max Jones was later inducted into the MTB Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1994 saw Kona make its first-ever dual suspension bike, Sex One<\/em>, and in 1998, the company made its first-ever freeride bike, the Stinky Dee-Lux.<\/em> It was also in 1998 that they launched Konaworld.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2005, Kona was sponsoring numerous podium finishers in world cycling events, something they continue to do today. 2005 also saw Dr. Dew join the MTB Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2010, the company made its first-ever electric-assist bike and over 650 bikes for the African continent, popularly known as Africabikes. And in 2014, they started making fat bikes<\/a> and now make pretty every bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So far, so many cyclists have won major world events, riding a Kona bike. Among them are 2002 Commonwealth Champion Roland Greene, 2004 and 2005 World DH Champion Fabien Barel, and 2004 Cyclocross Gran Prix Champion Ryan Trebon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently, Kona Bicycle Company has its headquarters at Ferndale, Washington, USA. However, its major factory is in Vietnam, and distribution centers are in Geneva, Vancouver, and other parts.<\/p>\n\n\n Let\u2019s review what makes Kona bicycles good and those that concern customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, Kona bicycles are good because of these reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kona doesn\u2019t shy away from using all kinds of materials for its frames. So, you\u2019ll get Kona bicycles in carbon, steel, titanium, and aluminum, and the frames are all high-end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their aluminum frames, for example, are double-butted to promise utmost durability, while their carbon frames are among the lightest and the strongest on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when it comes to the groupsets, Kona sources from reliable suppliers like SRAM, Shimano, among others, and that\u2019s where the elements of reliability and high-performance come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for comfort, everything from their slow-weight frames to their firmer suspensions promotes optimum rider comfort. So, overall, Kona\u2019s high-end parts promise the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Realistically, these bikes are everything you need to compete at the elite level, which explains why Kona-sponsored cyclists are seasonal podium finishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kona is a bicycle company that takes pride in modern technology in every bike they unveil. Their Beamer Independent Suspension Technology, for example, enables their mountain bikes to stay at the highest travel range and recover from aggressive hits quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best thing about the suspension is that it is tunable, depending on the rider\u2019s weight, making the MTBs better racers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another impressive technology that Kona is known for is the MagikLink Active Geometry. This Kona-patented rear-travel suspension technology offers riders a more intuitive riding experience, giving Kona cross country (XC) bikes an advantage over their competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It generally makes Kona XC better climbers, racers, downhillers. Additionally, MagikLink enjoys a Variable Spring Rate, a rear suspension property that makes it adaptable to different climbs and descends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best part is that MagikLink promises a more extended travel range, essential for elite cross country racers.<\/p>\n\n\n While Kona bike\u2019s chief selling points are its high-end parts and innovation, several other things make them worth it. They include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kona offers a limited lifetime warranty for all its bike frames<\/a> in the U.S, Europe, and Canada, affecting only the initial buyers. Kona guarantees that the bike frames will be free from manufacturing defects for a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s essential, however, that you first register your bike upon purchase to stretch the warranty from 3 months to a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark you; the frame is not the only thing that comes with a limited warranty. You also get a one-year limited warranty for the complete bike in the U.S and up to 2 years in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kona has a standard sizing guide for almost all its bicycles to enable riders to find their match easily. The standard size guide (shared in the table below) applies to Kona gravel, drop-bar, urban, and mountain bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, it\u2019s easy to get a comfortable Kona bike as you only need to look at its frame size and match it with your body size (height and inseam); using the table below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to buy a Kona bike outright if you are unsure about it. All you have to do if you are in the United States is to go for a test ride at any of their dealer shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check the list of Kona U.S dealer shops here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n4 Best Kona Bikes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Kona Bicycle Company \u2013 The Brand History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are Kona Bikes Good or Bad? The Review!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Good \u2013 Why Kona Bikes Are Good<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. High-End Parts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Innovative Designs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other Good Things About Kona Bikes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Good Warranty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. A Variety of Comfortable Sizes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rider\u2019s Height <\/strong><\/td> Rider\u2019s Inseam<\/strong><\/td> Frame Size<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> 4\u201910\u201d-5\u20191\u201d<\/td> 24-27 inches<\/td> Extra Small<\/td><\/tr> 5\u20190\u201d-5\u20193\u201d<\/td> 26-29 inches<\/td> Small<\/td><\/tr> 5\u20192\u201d-5\u20197\u201d<\/td> 27-30 inches<\/td> Small\/Medium<\/td><\/tr> 5\u20196\u201d-5\u201910\u201d<\/td> 29-31 inches<\/td> Medium<\/td><\/tr> 5\u20199\u201d-6\u20190\u201d<\/td> 30-33 inches<\/td> Medium\/Large<\/td><\/tr> 5\u201911\u201d-6\u20192\u201d<\/td> 32-35 inches<\/td> Large<\/td><\/tr> 6\u20191\u201d-6\u20195\u201d<\/td> 33-36 inches<\/td> Extra Large<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 5. Bike Demos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n