Kona Rove St All Road Bike 2020 Review

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2020 brings a whole range of fresh bikes from the big American company founded in Vancouver BC. The company’s MTB, gravel and touring bikes have all been reviewed through the off season and we’re really excited with what they’ve produced. With an updated ultraviolet colour scheme from the new 2019 bike, the Kona Rove ST all road bike is back with a bang!

— 8 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT AN ALL ROAD ADVENTURE BIKE —

There’s nothing quite like the feel of steel on the road…or gravel…or trail. The Kona Rove ST is simply a bad ass bike with a classic look and feel. No limited to the classic road only ethos, this bike can unlock a whole variety of terrain.

The Features:

Very few materials offer as much shock absorption, durability and supple-ride characteristics as steel. Kona have never strayed from cycling’s original material and have worked tirelessly to adapt, refine and innovate the Kona Cromoly frame sets as rider demands continue to evolve.

— GRAVEL BIKE OR HARDTAIL? A PRESSING DECISION —

Tubeless rims allow for tyres with more puncture resistance on the Rove ST; the ability to run lower tyre pressure, which provides better tyre grip on the trail; lower rolling resistance; and weight savings over traditional tube and tyre systems.

12x142mm, 12×148 and 12×157 rear axle standards provide two major advantages to the Kona rider. The 12mm diameter of the rear axle provides the rear hub and frame with a stiff interface This is while the 142/148/157mm outer diameter of the hub allows the wheel to be quickly and properly positioned in the frame before the rear axle is inserted. Boost spacing provides more tyre clearance at the chain stay yoke, while the rear wheel is stiffer and more durable relative to a 12×142 thru-axle.

650b wheels and tyres have a similar overall diameter to a traditional 700c gravel or commuting tyre, but with a smaller diameter rim and a wider, taller tyre. The extra air volume in this new generation of urban and mixed-surface tyres means they can be run comfortably at lower pressures while still rolling quickly on a variety of surfaces. It’s the best of both worlds.

— THE ROAD CYCLING DICTIONARY – HOW TO TALK CYCLIST —

A SRAM Rival 1 drive train and flat mount disc fork make the Kona Rove ST a staff favorite at both Cyclestore and Kona. This bike is fantastic in a huge variety of situations, and we’ve been a fan for the last few years. The Kona Rove ST comes with plenty of rack space should you want to get out on an adventure on the bike.

Verdict:

The Kona Rove ST rides as sharp as it looks. Not at the expensive end of the market, Kona have done enough to ensure this bike performs exactly as you’d want it to. The 650b wheelset is slightly different to the 700C norm, but the bike rolls great. The new release for 2019 has goen from strength to strength for 2020.

— SHOP NOW —

  • 78%
    Value - 78%
  • 86%
    Performance - 86%
  • 83%
    Durability - 83%
  • 81%
    Aesthetic - 81%
82%