I'm searching for a new bike after my aluminum Schwinn Super Sport that I rode for 15 years was stolen. I'm looking to move over to steel/steel for the smoother ride and am willing to accept the slightly increased weight that comes with that change.
I recently rode a Kona Rove at a local shop and wanted to ride the Breezer Inversion X Comp they carried but they didn't have anything in my size. Anyone have any experience with either bike?
I loved the fit of the Kona and am tempted to just pull the trigger on that. But on paper the Breezer seems like it'll have most of what I want that the Kona does not: GRX600 shifters, fully hydraulic brakes, 700c wheels, and, according to the guy at the shop, should be lighter than the Kona. I was surprised by that last part as everything else I've read is that Breezers can be extremely heavy.
Any thoughts, advice, feedback? I'll mostly be using the bike to take my daughter to daycare and commute to work on city streets but want the flexibility to take it on county and dirt roads with confidence. I've also ridden a Surly Straggler (super comfortable but felt like a Clydesdale), and an Otso Warakin (out of my budget, had a carbon fork which I'm sort of avoiding). I'm also evaluating but have not ridden the Marin Nicasio 2 (https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2024-nicasio-2) and Surly Preamble (https://surlybikes.com/bikes/preamble).
Kona Rove: https://www.konaworld.com/products/rove-ms Breezer Inversion X Comp: https://www.breezerbikes.com/collections/bikes/products/inversion-x-comp-22
by Giraffosaurus
1 Comment
Hard call. The Breezer definitely has a better build spec. It is heavy, but so is the Kona. But you’ve ridden and enjoyed the Kona, and that’s a lot. IMO, you’ll be happy with either, but I’d be more likely to swing towards the Kona as it will fulfill all your needs. The Kona is a very capable bike, if only slightly less equipped than the Breezer.