In addition to a few new mountain bikes (with 26″ wheels no less), Kona has been hard at work on the skinnier side of the line up for 2015. One of the biggest additions to the range is the new Esatto road endurance disc series. Introduced in 2014 as a titanium, rim brake frameset manufactured by Lynskey, the Esatto is now a bonafide Kona with the added benefit of disc brakes. As an “Endurance Road bike,” the Esatto now makes up the entire category with the DDL, D, and standard Esatto (rim brakes), while the Zone road bikes are moved into the “Race” category to replace the Zing series.
While discs are the big story for the Esatto, Kona has a number of exciting new bikes including the steel Kapu, new Rove models, and the return of the Humuhumu!
Transitioning from Lynskey Ti, all of the Esatto frames take advantage of Kona’s Race Light Scandium 69 tubing. Both shift and brake cables are routed internally though the frame and the full carbon fork (DDL and D only). Equipped with 28mm tires, Kona calls the geometry of the Esatto “tuned to Grand Fondo, Gravel, and big days in the saddle,” with a 72 degree HTA and 73.5 degree STA for a 54cm frame.
The DDL model sees a Shimano 22 speed drivetrain with a 105/Ultegra mix and the yet to be officially released Mavic Aksium Disc One wheels. We saw the same wheels on a few bikes including the Felt F4X at Seat Otter, to which Mavic responded that they were studying Road Disc wheels with a few manufacturers.
Kona have chosen to spec the DDL with TRP Sypre road disc brakes on a post mount fork with a 160mm rotor (capable of running 140mm rotors) , and inside the rear triangle with a 140mm rotor stock. All Esattos will be available in six sizes (49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm),
The Esatto D keeps the same frame and fork as the DDL, but trades some components in favor of a Shimano Tiagra/105 20 speed drivetrain. The D rolls on Alex CXD7 wheels with 28mm tires and stops with Hayes CX Comp brakes.
Still in the Endurance Road category, the Esatto loses the disc brakes for Tektro R359 rim calipers. The Scandium frame is essentially the same with the exception of disc brake mounts, and runs a carbon fork with a tapered alloy steerer. Shimano Sora 9 speed gears keep it the Alex R500 rims wrapped in 28mm rubber rolling.
Not a fan of disc brakes and fancy frame materials? Kona has you covered with a new classic road model called the Kapu. Adding a higher end spec above the beloved Honky Tonk, the Kapu is a Reynolds 853 butted Cromoly frame with Shimano 105/Ultegra 11 speed components and TRP long reach road calipers to stretch around the 28mm tires. Built with a taller head tube and more comfort oriented geometry the Kapu looks like yet another excellent option for those who prefer more of a classic ride.
The Kona Super Jake was already a rad Cyclocross bicycle, but with the addition of a CX1 group, it just got better. Hydraulic disc brakes, Stan’s Iron Cross Team Tubeless wheels, and Challenge Grifo Race 120 tpi tires ensure the Super Jake is race ready, right out of the box.
Kona is also expanding their Freerange segment with two new bikes, the Rove AL and the Big Rove. Rove AL is just what it sounds like, an Aluminum version of the popular Rove adventure/light touring rig to make it a bit more affordable. The Shimano Claris 8 speed drivetrain and Hayes CX Comp disc brakes mixed with Freedom Cruz rims also help keep the price down. The steel Rove will still be offered and includes a SRAM Apex 10 speed drivetrain with an X9 type II rear derailleur and Clement Xplor’r MSO 40mm tires.
The other newcomer to the Rove line is the new Big Rove – their “non-mountain mountain bike.” Designed to fit 29×2.0 tires with fenders to create a bike with a flat bar that’s capable of anything. Take it mountain biking, to the grocery store, or load it up to do some touring, your call. Big Rove comes stock with a SRAM 10 speed drivetrain with X7 Type II RD, X5 2x crank, Tektro KDC-290 hydraulic brakes, and Schwalbe Big Apple 2.0 tires.
Finally, the Humuhumu (humuhumunukunukuapua’a) returns to the line, all grown up. The new single speed cruiser/rigid MTB is built with 29″ wheels and a Chromoly butted frame complete with beefy sliding dropouts. You’ll find a singlespeed drivetrain, WTB SX19 wheels, Schwalbe Big Apple tires, Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes, and the sweet low rise BMX inspired bar that has been seen on past Humuhumus.
