I’m a college student who bikes 5-10 miles every day. My beloved 10 year old REI Ghost Panamon X4 was stolen last week causing me to break down and buy a new bike. I didn’t really know what bike I needed. So, I went to the local bike store and bought a brand new Kona Dew (not sure which specific model) it has a 2×8 Shimano Altus gear system, MASSIVE tires, and, metal pedals. I paid around $700 for it, which seems expensive.
I’m mostly looking for reassurance that this is a good bike for short-mid distance commutes/the occasional bikepacking.
by Commercial-Job-3747
38 Comments
Sure looks like a good commuter/path bike to me.
Yeah that’s a basic old commuter hybrid-esque bike. It’s fine. You aren’t doing anything technical, and it isn’t a technical bike. $700 sounds average for a cheap basic bike.
Hell yeah! That’s a great commuter. I’ve had 5 or 6 different Kona bikes over the years, still have 2. Not sure what the going rates are for the specific model but sounds about right. Enjoy!
Edit: price might be slightly high. Msrp is $550 USD. But Tacoma bike has it priced at $650. The slightly better model of the Dew has a 1×10 and has an MSRP of $700. That’s the one I would go for, but regardless, still a nice bike.
should get the mechanic to trim the ends of the cable at the brake caliper. They are too long and could get lodged between the rotor and caliper.
Really nice tough bike. I hope it suits your style of riding. It’s a hybrid commuter do anything bike. Looks not too heavy, discs brakes and tyres are chunky.
If you enjoy riding your new bike, don’t regret about the spent money. Just keep going riding.
I also have a Kona Dew of just this same color and XL frame size (if I’m not mistaking what I saw on the pic)! Rides quite well, in the city and outside on gravel paths, the tires are not that thin (650×47), but neither thick, ideal for uneven roads or light trails. Thanks to a bit lower than usual bottom bracket it’s more convenient to mount and dismount from the bike, and not having to lower the saddle too much. The only downside is that it’s not the lightest bike, but I don’t think you’ll feel that.
If it fits you it is perfect for your needs and riding style. Sorry your old bike got snatched but glad you’ll keep pedaling. Cheers!
Looks like exactly what I’d want in a commuter.
And should be pretty upgradable too.
I like the Kona commuters i bought one a few years back and the biggest negative was the stock handlebars were very narrow compared to like a trek FX series. Easy fix.
Perfect bike for those uses.
Looks like an excellent commuter
Going into year 2 with mine. I’m digging it!
That looks like exactly the bike for what you are looking to do.
Personally I would never ride flat bars because only one very hand position, which if you ride a long distance can get tiring.
That and flat bars aren’t aero at all, so again, if you’re bike packing and you’re trying to put in a longer day, you aren’t gonna be able to get as far.
Drop bars have like 5 different hand positions and you can be more or less aero. So, yeah, flat bars, even on a more casual bike aren’t great. Not much you can do about it now, but maybe for a future bike.
You bought the perfect bike for that
I was on the verge of buying one of these last summer, at about the same price, for this same purpose + some recreational rail-trail riding. The only reason I didn’t is because I can never just pick the easy option and built my own xbike instead. Anyway, it’s a fantastic ride at a great price, and I wouldn’t have regretted going that way for a second.
That’s an absolutely wonderful bike for getting from point A to point B in a no bullshit fashion. Not gonna be the fastest compared to a lot of stuff if everything goes well and you don’t need to haul gear, but it’s pretty rare that all goes well, and most commuters need to haul gear. Great pick up, it’ll last you literally decades if you take even so-so care of it.
This is an extremely sensible, and appropriate, bike for you intended use case.
Bike shop did a good here steering you in the right direction.
Nice bike. The group set is a tad sad for the money but you can always upgrade later if you feel like it.
Only if you got the wrong fit.. because the fit is everything!
$700 is pretty cheap for a solid bike. Ya did good. Have no fear. Also that color is awesome… 😎 👍
Good choice. $700 is reasonable for that quality bike. Enjoy it.
Kona dews are sick!
You’ve got a solid bike there. The 47mm tires really soak up rough pavement. I’ve had mine for 2 years with no complaints. Lots of options for racks too.
https://preview.redd.it/f4hxidrezzje1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d6e5c6bc2789c9e3121e4e460aa7d6c41dbb491
Look into kryptonite locks for this beaut! So it doesn’t have the same fate! Yes they’re expensive but oh so worth it. Get both a chain one and a U lock one so that if someone does attempt to steal it then they have to cut through both, and they also broth require different tools to cut open, making it a hassle for the would be thief.
The only wrong bike is one that isn’t used
Big cushy tires? Comfy af commuter.
Yeah man, great bike and it’s only a waste of money if you don’t ride it.
Looks like a great bike for your purposes.
Looks like you got the reassurance you needed! Enjoy the bike, enjoy the riding!
You have a great new bike. Enjoy riding the hell out of it.
That’s a great commuter bike. I don’t think it’s expensive at all. I have since 2015 and it still hasn’t asked much from me.
I have the same bike as a commuter. 650B tires are great for crushed gravel as well.
My dad owns a gravel bike he never rides it and complains about the drop bars. I have been begging him to sell it to buy a kona dew. These are solid bikes definitely a good choice. You can always throw chunkier tires on the wheel if you wanna get rad.
You bought a fantastic bike
Good choice. I like the color.
Kona makes a fine bike
Been riding a dew deluxe off and on for 13 years. You done good, stranger.
I don’t know Kona bikes but it looks like a great bike for commuting. The wide tires and flat pedals are what you want. And while $700 is a lot of money I think you did good by not buying a more expensive bike that would be a target for thieves. ☹️