Kona Rove
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Facts
Summary of Reviews
We have read all expert and user reviews on the Kona Rove. In summary, this is what cyclists think.
15 reasons to buy
- Despite their differences, all Kona’s Roves performed well on and off-road.
- Ride quality was portrayed positively, as being stable and neutral.
- Whether aluminum or steel, with or without a carbon fork – the Rove gave a comfortable ride.
- Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires had 3mm thick puncture protection and were good on or off-road. WTB Asyms were grippy and comfortable.
- An all-weather bike; the Rove performed well in mud, loose gravel, water and snow.
- Some experts said aluminum frames didn’t feel harsh. Steel models were comfortable and resilient.
- Internal cabling ensured a clean appearance.
- The Shimano Sora drivetrain represented good value on the DL.
- Wheels? Abuse was handled by strong 32-hole WTB SX19 rims paired to Formula hubs.
- The Kona-branded saddle was well-shaped, with a decent amount of padding.
- The 44cm, flared Kona handlebar was comfortable for certain expert testers.
- Tire clearance on the Swift left room for fat tires and mudguards.
- In terms of color, the “Matt Sage” struck owners as highly attractive.
- It was the opinion of one expert, that the NRB climbed well.
- On the NRB, brown bar-tape and buffalo / arrow graphics were nice touches.
7 reasons not to buy
- Although durable, WTB wheels left an expert with a heavy, ‘dead’ feel.
- The DL model tested was equipped with QR skewers, not thru-axles.
- TRP Spyre brakes apparently lacked bite and stopping power.
- On the NRB DL, component spec-level sometimes diappointed.
- The steel Swift felt heavy, more like a tourer than a gravel rig.
- For some, the narrow handlebar wasn’t comfortable on longer rides.
- An expert said the aluminum fork was chattery on the rough stuff.
Bottom line
Kona’s Rove range serve as commuters, adventure, gravel and road bikes. The higher-end models (NRB DL, LTD) are built around 650b wheels with fatter, ‘road-plus’ tires. Other commuter models are designed with 700c hoops in mind. Frames are available in either steel or aluminum (with or without a carbon fork). The bike has a cult following but experts definitely give mixed reviews. Frames are complimented, but componentry on higher-end models is sometimes seen as underspecced and overpriced. The safest bet seems to lie with the steel models (ST and Swift).Expert Reviews
76/100 based on 5 rated expert reviewsKona Rove LTD 2021
Kona Rove DL
2020 Kona Rove ST
Kona Rove NRB
Review: Kona Rove NRB DL
Review: Kona Rove NRB DL
Your Next Adventure Bike? (Swift x Kona Rove)
Ready for the Island – Kona Libre & Kona Rove LTD. in Review
Rider and Rig: Ryan Santoski’s Kona Rove
The Kona Rove Is a Cheap, Go-Anywhere Gravel Bike We Love
Rankings
Best Gravel and Adventure Bikes
Bike Comparison
Forum Discussions
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