Kona Bikes wasn't just showing off its 24" wheeled Jake 24 kid's cyclocross bike at the 2016 Sea Otter Classic. The company also had their new 2017 Roadhouse drop bar disc brake bike on hand. While the Roadhouse has been part of the Kona line-up previously, the 2017 model upgrades the drivetrain and features a frame finish that's fairly unique.
Kona's new 2017 Roadhouse drop bar disc brake bike. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Roadhouse frame is a Reynolds 853 steel offering that comes in six sizes and is paired with the company's own full carbon and tapered disc fork with flat mount disc brake mounts. The aforementioned finish on the frame is a nearly raw look that gives the appearance of a sort of vintage patina.
Visible patina on the 2017 Kona Roadhouse. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
The steel frame and carbon fork on the Kona Roadhouse should offer a smooth ride to those looking to head off the beaten path some. The bike is outfitted with Mavic disc wheels shod in 30mm Schwalbe S-One tires, which should also offer riders a measure of comfort over rough pavement and light gravel roads.
The bike is equipped with a mechanical Shimano Ultegra kit and Shimano's R785 hydraulic disc brakes. And shifting and braking happens with Shimano's RS685 levers.
Kona specs their own cockpit components on the Roadhouse as the company does on their other bikes.
Kona's Sutra Ltd features a 1x drivetrain and fat tire clearance. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
Kona also showed of the Sutra Ltd model at Sea Otter. The chromoly frame and fork can accommodate wider tires than the Roadhouse, runs a 1x drivetrain comprised of a RaceFace crank, SRAM Rival levers and rear derailleurs and hydraulic brakes, and has rack and fender mounts front and rear. The Sutra Ltd's wheels are from WTB and feature Schwalbe's Mondial 700x47c tires.
The Sutra Ltd is available and retails for $1,999 USD. Pricing and availability on the 2017 Kona Roadhouse is yet to be released.
More info: http://www.konaworld.com
A Reynolds 853 steel frame doesn’t keep Kona from running a tapered headtube on the new 2017 Roadhouse. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
