Sea Otter 2018 is underway, and for the next few weeks, we will be bringing you a look at some of the products that caught our eye during the annual trade show. First up is a new gravel/adventure bike from Kona called the Libre DL.
Kona has a growing stable of gravel and adventure bikes available. The Sutra is the company’s steel touring bike and last year, we saw the new Rove gravel bike when we were in Squamish, B.C.
Today at Sea Otter, Kona unveiled the new Libre DL gravel/adventure bike.
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The Libre DL is Kona’s new carbon gravel bike that has room for high-volume tires and plenty of mounts for packing it up. Kona Libre DL Gravel / Adventure Bike. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine[/caption]
After a first look, we will call it a gravel bike with a mountain bike feel. The carbon Libre DL has clearance for 29 x 2.0″, 700c x 45mm and 650b x 2.1″ tires. To show the high-volume accommodations, the Sea Otter demo bike was outfitted with 700c x 45″ WTB tires on Easton EA70 AX tubeless rims.
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The Libre DL has plenty of tire clearance for 700c, 650b and 29er tires. The demo bike had 700c x 45mm tires mounted up. Kona Libre DL Gravel / Adventure Bike. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine[/caption]
The Libre DL has similar geometry to the Sutra, but unlike the touring bike, the Libre DL has a carbon frame and a PF86 bottom bracket. The head tube angle on the bike is a slack 70 degrees and the bottom bracket drop is 7.2cm, which is the same as the Sutra. The chainstay length checks in at 44cm.
Kona says the Libre DL will be offered in two models. The one shown has a 1x SRAM Force 1 drivetrain, and the other will have a Shimano double crankset. Both models are well-equipped for adventure with rack and fender mounts and several mounts on the front fork. The bike also comes with a flared drop bar handlebar.
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The Libre DL has a SRAM Force 1 drivetrain and crankset. A second model will have a 2x Shimano drivetrain. Kona Libre DL Gravel / Adventure Bike. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine[/caption]
The Libre DL has a similar frame to the Super Jake and Major Jake, so you can use the bike for cyclocross. It also accepts a dropper post, if you choose to run one. Compared to the Jake models, the Libre DL will be a bit heavier due to all the mounts Kona put on the bike.
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The Libre DL invites riders to pack the bike up with multiple bosses on the fork and mounts for a rack in the rear. Kona Libre DL Gravel / Adventure Bike. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine[/caption]
The price for the Libre DL and Libre models is still TBD. It will be available in Summer 2018.
For more on the Kona Libre DL, see the photo gallery below.
Stay tuned for much more coverage from the 2018 Sea Otter trade show and bike races.
Photo Gallery: 2018 Kona Libre DL Gravel/Adventure Bike
The Libre DL is Kona’s new carbon gravel bike that has room for high-volume tires and plenty of mounts for packing it up. Kona Libre DL Gravel / Adventure Bike. 2018 Sea Otter Classic. © Cyclocross Magazine
