I negotiated the seller of the Kona Sutra Al 2017 to sell me it for only €400, and I thought I’d go for that, but this Cube Nuroad popped up today for €500, and I’m honestly so enamored with the color, it’s absolutely gorgeous.
I usually think cube bikes are hideous, but this one really pops. The Sutra isn’t ugly, but it’s definitely very understated and just decent. Would probably look better with tan sidewall tires.
Both can fit 40mm tires with a fender, 45 without on the cube, with some people saying 45-50 without fenders on the Kona, but I can’t find any official info on that.
Both are quite upright which is a big factor for me, both around 630-640 stack (I’m 6’3 / 190cm)
My one concern is the carbon fork on the cube, as I hate carbon, but I’m not planning on strapping anything to my front forks unless I’ve already exhausted all other space.
The friction shifters on the Sutra seem nice for future drivetrain compatibility and not having to index my shifters, but I’ve never run friction before and am unsure about commiting to it, especially if I’m riding it off road and want to shift.
Finally, I’m not a weight weenie by any means, but the Cube clocks in at 10-11ish kg, whereas the Kona Sutra Al I can’t find a weight listed anywhere and I imagine it’s quite beefy as a hardcore touring bike. I wouldn’t mind as much if it steel, but being another aluminum bike, if it’s not as repairable as steel, might as well be light if possible.
What are your thoughts?
by Kyro2354
7 Comments
Should clarify, I live in the Netherlands so will mostly be riding flat-ish road, dirt roads, doubletrack, and very rarely singletrack. I will be riding it for recreational riding, mostly for fun laid back medium distance rides. Most bikepacking I’ll do is probably a weekend trip, a week at most, hence me not being sure I’ll need the heftiness of the Sutra.
I like the Kona based purely off looks
Door #1.
It’s worth noting that some bar end shifters may have indexed mode and friction mode. If it’s a switchable one, then you can always go back to indexed if you don’t like how friction feels. I personally prefer FD to be friction shifting (because indexing for 2 speeds and getting the trim to work is surprisingly difficult!), but the RD to be indexed.
All of the frames I own are steel, but one of them has a carbon fork (Rodeo Labs Spork). While I appreciate that it can both carry cargo and is lightweight, I have a lot of anxiety regarding any new scratches or observations on that fork. A lot of the times, I just wish it were steel!
Tube has better drivetrain and shifters, but no mounting points.
Loaded bike is quite a bit more difficult to shift and friction shifting just ads to the pain. In traffic even worse. And you need to shift a lot more then unloaded.
Kona is still better bike, but I would probably change shifters.
A lot of people like friction, often road riding. I don’t.
Sutra is close to 15kg & designed for touring. Cube appears to be designed for fun!
I’d go with that Kona all day, but you sound alot more enthusiastic about the cube and will prop regret it if you don’t go for it.