Finally Decided on a Kona, or so I Thought
#26
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Kona manufactures and ships their bikes in fairly small batches throughout the year, so they rarely end up with overstock, especially in the popular sizes. You might get lucky and find a dealer who has one on the floor, but that can be a tedious process. Calling Kona would be the best way to find out.
I imagine Norco is similar. They produce small batches, and the 2-3 batches were quickly sold out throughout the year. I got lucky, my local Norco dealer still had two sizes in the previous years' color, which i loved, but did not like the upcoming 2019 colors. So i grabbed the last in my size last month. It had been sitting there for months, with prospective buyers dropping out as i waited. Yeah, i missed out on the 2019 upgraded hydro brakes, but it was worth it to me. Plus he knocked off $400 for being a last years' model.
So it's possible. A tedious route, to be sure
eric/fresno, ca.
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I'm sorry, but which is the "seafoam" Rove? The Rove NRB DL? That's not so bad but I do understand your frustration. Is it too late to find one of the last of last years' models? Personally I was looking at the Konas too. I already have a "seafoam" bike, a Bianchi circa 1983 But that Rove NRB DL isn't so bad. Embrace color! Personally I was looking at the Rove NRB. It comes with TRP Spyre mech disc brakes instead of hydro, but what i eventually ended up with, a 2018 Norco Search XR, has the same TRP brakes and they're fine.
In the end, get a color you'll love. I just stare at mine and it's love at first sight over and over again
eric/fresno, ca.
In the end, get a color you'll love. I just stare at mine and it's love at first sight over and over again
eric/fresno, ca.
#28
junior
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eric/fresno, ca.
#29
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#30
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#32
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#33
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I love it. Only made a few minor tweaks. I put a smaller front chainring on for where I ride, and I wasn't crazy about the stock bars so I put some Cowbells on. Set it up tubeless, and I'm a happy camper. I ride it everywhere, including some stuff where I probably shouldn't. Considering how much I ride it off-road I might go a little knobbier than the Byways at some point, but man, those tires do surprisingly well on the dirt.
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I love it. Only made a few minor tweaks. I put a smaller front chainring on for where I ride, and I wasn't crazy about the stock bars so I put some Cowbells on. Set it up tubeless, and I'm a happy camper. I ride it everywhere, including some stuff where I probably shouldn't. Considering how much I ride it off-road I might go a little knobbier than the Byways at some point, but man, those tires do surprisingly well on the dirt.
#35
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I have two other bikes, a 29r rigid MTB, and a 700c Surly Cross Check set up 1x11 like the Rove--the CC was my first "gravel" rig. I knew I liked 650B from a MTB I had once, and I figured I might as well mix it up and try the different size for gravel. I find it better for me, as a smaller rider, for handling off-road. I really do put the Rove through it's paces in the dirt--switchbacky descents on singletrack, etc. The bigger wheel sizes never felt as good to me in this regard. And on the road, it's super cushy--no complaints there! I'm sold on "road plus" for sure. EDIT: I should add though that while speed is not a top concern for me, I think there may be a speed penalty with the 650B vs the 700c (comparing the Rove to my similarly geared Cross Check)--hard to tell, the bikes are different in many ways, but in my case at least I think it's a thing.
Last edited by pbass; 02-02-19 at 07:53 PM.
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Up here in Canada it's absolutely possible to order previous years' Kona models from the distributor through your dealer. I've been bothering my LBS the last few weeks on pricing and availability for a cheap Rove I can use as a winter beater and they even have stock going back at least 2 years, though in pretty select quantities and sizes. I'd be surprised if it were much different in the US.
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