Kona PHD

[syelaw]

Having ridden the 2010 model last weekend i was very impressed by this bike. I have since been offered the 2011 model for $1,760 which is a very good deal for a bike with an RRP of $1,999 which has not even been released yet. It sounds a good improvement on the 2010 model.

http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=phd

Is there anyone out there who owns a PHD from any previous years with any pros or cons on this bike you could pass on to me? I think this is the bike i want to get but would love to hear from anyone with any experience of long term on one, i have only done a 10 minute test ride!

[brauluver]

Hey if it felt good and you liked it then go for it.
Personally even at the discount price it seems over priced to me for what you get.
Not a full groupset, rather a mish mash of bits with lower end cranks and brakes.

I like the look of these, although the brakes have been downspecced http://www.malvernstar.com.au/range/bike-2630.aspx

[rkelsen]

I think the mix of parts is reasonable, except for the bb/cranks and brake calipers. They could have put 105 cranks and calipers on there. Then I think it'd be worth the $1,760.

The geometry is not quite the usual road racing geometry. 440mm chain stays? That's a bus!

Anyhow, as Brau said, you have to like it, not us.

[syelaw]

The geometry is not quite the usual road racing geometry. 440mm chain stays? That's a bus!

what do you mean here? im not as techy on bikes, so i dont understand this bit!

[brauluver]

The geometry is not quite the usual road racing geometry. 440mm chain stays? That's a bus!

what do you mean here? im not as techy on bikes, so i dont understand this bit!

Longer wheelbase overall= more relaxed less twitchy ride.
Hey .. if it felt good under your bum then it's worth it.
The A4 flat bar I linked is probably more of a tighter road geometry,and therefore more responsive sharper handling.Chainstays are 425 mm.

frame size


A. effective top (mm) 550 565 585 600
B. actual top (mm) 533 545 563 573
C. seat tube (mm) 440 470 500 540
D. head angle (mm) 71.5 72 72.5 73
E. seat angle (mm) 75 74 73.5 73
F. chainstay (mm) 425 425 425 425
G. head tube (mm) 115 135 160 180
bb drop 60 60 60 60
H. wheelbase (mm) 1033 1034 1045 1049

[cpical]

I have one (2010). Too expensive, but that goes for all bikes you buy full price (same LBS sold me a set of tyre levers plus sticky patches for 20€, incl a 5€ discount!!!!! [no comment smiley]). But I like it. The worst about it, the brake pads it came with. The back ones lasted a couple of months, and I use it only for commuting! The pads on my road bike, 13000 km, have not been changed yet. This is not acceptable! The wheels are OK but for a bike with that price tag it is cheap. But I am learning to fix it myself!

[Espresso_]

Do you already have a Flat Bar roadbike or some other kind of bike as a comparison?

If you know what you are after, then go for it - I've got no (useful) advice for you other than it seems like a very excellent bike of its genre.

If not, my suggestion is to consider if you really want a FBR bike. I went through this recently and ended up with a 2010 Scott Speedster S20FB (discontinued now), which was also an excellent bike of its kind with Ultegra/105 bits and pretty light etc. I ended up selling it soon after, for reasons only related to the fact that it wasn't actually the kind of bike I wanted/needed.

I had contrasting advice at bike shops, but some did say you grow out of an FBR pretty quickly because its really neither fish nor fowl. This is especially related to people who buy top-of-the-line FBR bikes, like the one you are looking at rather than casual riders who couldn't care less because they are more likley to actually be really into cycling.

For me it was a case of growing into cycling, and I wasn't experienced enough to make the right choice when I bought my bike.

I'vce since replaced my Scott with a Kona (Honky) and its awesome. I just wish I had gone there from the start!

E

[stevenaaus]

Nasty thread bump...

[stevenaaus]

Nice little hybrid.. Picked a 2010 kona phd with V brakes, up at cash converters with the intention of making it a drop bar gravellee (Could have gone for a merida silex 300 with crap wheels, but the alloy forks and 2kg weight diff was the killer)



Seems to have decent tyre clearance. Might try new wheels too... The Askiums are a bit narrow.

But seems to ride nice