Rubbed the paint of my Kona Unit X on my first bike packing trip, ended up getting the frame nickel plated which now has shiny patches where the bags have polished the frame. Learn my lesson if its painted I put clear tape on the frame.
I've got Sram Rival 1 on my Surly. It came with a 40 tooth chainring so I went down to a 36 but I also threw 46t cassette on there for bike packing. It works fine.
I just got a Sutra LTD 2021 and love it so far. I like the indeed relatively lightweight Cromoly steel frame, new paintjob also looks great . Can´t wait to make some kilometers with it.
Great review thanks Cody.. I test rode an LTD in Velo cycles melbourne and loved it, I now have a Kona Dr Dew Custom built frame up as a light bike packing style bike. I agree about the SRAM 1x feeling so great compared with the deore! Kona make downright awesome feeling bikes!
This was a great review, very thorough. I'm retiring in December and the plan is a lot of bikepacking, mainly in Japan. I've been looking for this bike for months but can't find it anywhere. I'm almost tempted to just keep working.
Nice review. Very helpful. You said your bike is the 56cm frame. Can I ask what heigh you are. I’m currently looking into buying the Sutra LTD 2021. But nowhere has stock of them to try. I’m 5 foot 11” so I’ve been told to go for the 56cm. But not sure if this will be too big and might go for the 54 cm.
I am 179 cm, I think that is around 5 foot 10”? The bike does have a rather tall stand over height. But it is comfortable enough for me to ride the 56 cm
Hey Ross. I’m 5’10’’ with a long torso and ride a 2021 54cm sutra Ltd. the 56cm felt way to big and I couldn’t get comfy in the drops of a 52cm. I think you’d be happy with the 54cm. The steer tube on the fork is plenty long as is the seat post. Plenty of room to dial yourself in. Hope you see this and it helps your search.
@@brianwilliam8971 thanks Brian. I managed to get hold of a 2021 sutra ltd in a size 54, and the sizing is fine for my height. Love this bike. Went out for a quick 25 mile ride at the weekend and it handles everything really well. Looking forward to exploring some more paths to ride this weekend. Happy riding.
Hey Cody! Thanks for the review. I was wondering if it's normal to be able to take a bike like the Kona Sutra out for a test ride. Do you know which shops in Aus let you do that?
Do you think the sutra could also be suited for racing? Or does the rove outshine the sutra in that regard? I’m in between the 2021 Rove DL & the Sutra LTD
The front fork obviously have a defective design, is inverted the inclination is inverted, and this is because the front of the frame is not signed for the size of the tire, and try to solve the bad design with that fork, that's talk about the rest of you expect of this product, only inestable and future problems with broken fork , frame and ...face
Love my Sutra! 10,000+ miles on my 2017 Most fun bike I've ever owned.
Rubbed the paint of my Kona Unit X on my first bike packing trip, ended up getting the frame nickel plated which now has shiny patches where the bags have polished the frame. Learn my lesson if its painted I put clear tape on the frame.
I've got Sram Rival 1 on my Surly. It came with a 40 tooth chainring so I went down to a 36 but I also threw 46t cassette on there for bike packing. It works fine.
I just got a Sutra LTD 2021 and love it so far. I like the indeed relatively lightweight Cromoly steel frame, new paintjob also looks great . Can´t wait to make some kilometers with it.
Got a weight on it you could share?
Great review thanks Cody.. I test rode an LTD in Velo cycles melbourne and loved it, I now have a Kona Dr Dew Custom built frame up as a light bike packing style bike. I agree about the SRAM 1x feeling so great compared with the deore!
Kona make downright awesome feeling bikes!
Hey Garry!! So true, bloody love their bikes mate..
This was a great review, very thorough. I'm retiring in December and the plan is a lot of bikepacking, mainly in Japan. I've been looking for this bike for months but can't find it anywhere. I'm almost tempted to just keep working.
Nice review! Thanks mate!
thanks for review. im a mtb rider but gravel has caught my eye. saving up!!
Nice review. Very helpful. You said your bike is the 56cm frame. Can I ask what heigh you are. I’m currently looking into buying the Sutra LTD 2021. But nowhere has stock of them to try. I’m 5 foot 11” so I’ve been told to go for the 56cm. But not sure if this will be too big and might go for the 54 cm.
I am 179 cm, I think that is around 5 foot 10”? The bike does have a rather tall stand over height. But it is comfortable enough for me to ride the 56 cm
Look at the top tube lengths it is effectively one size bigger than the stated seat tube length. A 54 is closer to a normal 56 road frame
At 5-10 or 5-11 I would be on 54
Hey Ross. I’m 5’10’’ with a long torso and ride a 2021 54cm sutra Ltd. the 56cm felt way to big and I couldn’t get comfy in the drops of a 52cm. I think you’d be happy with the 54cm. The steer tube on the fork is plenty long as is the seat post. Plenty of room to dial yourself in. Hope you see this and it helps your search.
@@brianwilliam8971 thanks Brian. I managed to get hold of a 2021 sutra ltd in a size 54, and the sizing is fine for my height. Love this bike. Went out for a quick 25 mile ride at the weekend and it handles everything really well. Looking forward to exploring some more paths to ride this weekend. Happy riding.
Hey Cody! Thanks for the review. I was wondering if it's normal to be able to take a bike like the Kona Sutra out for a test ride. Do you know which shops in Aus let you do that?
Nice! Great review! Thanks!
Time for Kona to update like adding etap
Do you think the sutra could also be suited for racing? Or does the rove outshine the sutra in that regard?
I’m in between the 2021 Rove DL & the Sutra LTD
hey what type of racing do you mean? Road? or like endurance bikepacking races?
Cycle Travel Overload
Mostly gravel / endurance racing.
I’d be new to the sport though and am looking for something just to get started on.
Take the rove DL. Lighter tubing, HTA 71.5 and Chainstays 435. More agile but stable enough. Mechanical Discs. But 700x43mm max tire
Nice review
Did not see the Rove link
Awww found it!
If you want a lighter Kona buy a Rove AL!
The front fork obviously have a defective design, is inverted the inclination is inverted, and this is because the front of the frame is not signed for the size of the tire, and try to solve the bad design with that fork, that's talk about the rest of you expect of this product, only inestable and future problems with broken fork , frame and ...face
Curious if they have had any issues. I haven't heard of any and these bikes have been around for a long time now.