Is steel the deal? 2021 Kona Rove Ltd vs Kona Sutra ULTD

15 replies · 8,692 views

Titj
8 posts
#1Aug 19, 2020, 10:45 AM
Hello everyone.

Thank you for accepting me on the forum.

I'm new here, although I'm not new to bikes at all.

I am away from the bikes for 6 years, now. I gained 10 kg in that period.

I used to to a lot of mtb, lots of kms, lots of trails on a hardtail and lots of amateur races.

I was never any good, always finishing from the half down of the peloton, but I always loved riding and I have experience from many years in the saddle. I miss riding my bike.

I also used to have a roadie, but my main bycicle was my mtb.

I sold them recently and my goal is to ride again, but for the pleasure of it, ride on the tarmac, pavet, dirt roads, gravel, things like this.

I don't want to go back to ride on the roads with the big rigs passing by a few cms from my shoulder and I don't want to go back to the excruciating long climbs and dangerous singletrack descents. I want a moderate ride, I don't mind climbing (I like it, who doesn't) and descending, I just don't want that pure technical xc mtb trail anymore.

I used to ride a Specialized Stumpjumper HT and a Focus Izalco Pro. Both very aggressive in geometry.

For what I want now, I am looking at steel bikes. I want to have this bike for a long time and not worry about high maintenance.

I want a good ride, with good quality components, and not to heavy.

So I was looking at what my local bike shop has and what I like the most are the new Kona models.

The Kona Rove LTD and Sutra ULTD.

I went back and forward many times these past few weeks. Now, I am back at the beginning, more inclined to the Rove.

What attracted me to the Sutra was the possibility of having almost any tire I want, with the 29 wheels. But the weight, the too much relaxed geometry and the drop seat post, seem to be something that I would want on a mtb. What about when riding road and dirt roads? Wouldn't it be boring?

Comparing with the Rove, it is the opposite. Faster, lighter, and with a geometry that seems more appropriate for what I would be doing 90% of the time.

I talked to a Kona representative and he told me that it can take 650b 47 tires (they come stock) and 700c 40 with fenders and 700c 42 without.

I never rode 650b or 700c with gravel tires.

What do you guys think?

Buy the Sutra and maybe have an overkill bike for the occasional descent?

Or buy the Rove and maybe have two sets of wheels with two types of tires and be done with it?

https://www.konaworld.com/rove_ltd.cfm

https://konaworld.com/sutra_ultd.cfm

https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=kona-sutra-ultd-2021,kona-rove-ltd-2021

Thank you very much for the help.
0
blockwood
1 posts
#2Aug 20, 2020, 8:10 AM
I have a 2020 Rove ST with 650x47 and find that I do a lot of braking on Class 4/Single track descents, as-in, riding the brakes the whole time. I am a competent mountain biker, and the Rove is such a fun (albeit sorta heavy) bike, BUT it is no MTB and if your gravel rides are mostly MTB rides, you might just put 650b wheels on an old 26 disc HT.

Note: My Rove ST is a double great bike for the $.
2
otbjack
10 posts
#3Aug 20, 2020, 10:44 AM
I have a 2018 Rove NRB DL, Aluminum with carbon fork. Have enjoyed the ride, especially with the 650b wheel set. The geometry is very comfortable for long saddle time on various off road terrain with enough punch to get up the climbs and stability for some of the more technical decents. I also have a set of 700c wheels for the rides that are primarily tarmac but include a significant amount of gravel / dirt. Definitely a bike I would purchase again.
2
Titj
8 posts
#4Aug 20, 2020, 11:25 AMedited
Thank you very much for the replies.

I will do a lot of road, cobble stones (pavet) and dirt roads.

That's why I am thinking if my first set should be the 700c instead of the 650b.
0
zen_
110 posts
#5Aug 20, 2020, 8:26 PMedited
I love my steel bike (Raleigh Tamland), and hope it's one of those Corolla of bikes that goes 20K, or even 30K+ miles. I don't doubt the frame can take the abuse, and there will never be bottom bracket issues. It's just nice having a simple bike that always works to ride miles.

However, you have to be realistic about some things too:

1. A good steel frame is going to weigh 1-2 pounds more than a carbon frame.
2. Well made carbon framesets are more compliant.
3. Plenty of carbon frames go 20K+ miles too, although many don't.

Bottom line, as much as I love steel, if you put the Rove ST next to a Revolt Advanced 2 (similar bikes / price point), I would have a really hard time saying no to the Revolt. It kinda sucks that there are not more middle to high end steel options, but nearly everyone wants carbon now (see the popularity of the China carbon threads here).

Dream bike is still a custom steel though because it would be exactly what I want.
2
Titj
8 posts
#6Aug 21, 2020, 3:56 PM
zen_ wrote:I love my steel bike (Raleigh Tamland), and hope it's one of those Corolla of bikes that goes 20K, or even 30K+ miles. I don't doubt the frame can take the abuse, and there will never be bottom bracket issues. It's just nice having a simple bike that always works to ride miles.

However, you have to be realistic about some things too:

1. A good steel frame is going to weigh 1-2 pounds more than a carbon frame.
2. Well made carbon framesets are more compliant.
3. Plenty of carbon frames go 20K+ miles too, although many don't.

Bottom line, as much as I love steel, if you put the Rove ST next to a Revolt Advanced 2 (similar bikes / price point), I would have a really hard time saying no to the Revolt. It kinda sucks that there are not more middle to high end steel options, but nearly everyone wants carbon now (see the popularity of the China carbon threads here).

Dream bike is still a custom steel though because it would be exactly what I want.

Yes, good point.

I love the looks of the thin steel tubes, but I'm going to ride it, not just look at it.

I'm not an abuser. I'm around 80kg and I will not be going to abuse the bike.

So, I'm wondering, should I think about your suggestion and go for carbon?

The Rove will be around 2600 euros, maybe a little more with some tweaks and the Cube Nuroad C62 Pro is starting at 2100 euros and much lighter and probably a smoother and better ride.

https://www.cube.eu/en/2021/bikes/road/offroad/nuroad/cube-nuroad-c62-pro-carbonnred/
0
zen_
110 posts
#7Aug 22, 2020, 7:42 AM
Titj wrote:So, I'm wondering, should I think about your suggestion and go for carbon?

The Rove will be around 2600 euros, maybe a little more with some tweaks and the Cube Nuroad C62 Pro is starting at 2100 euros and much lighter and probably a smoother and better ride.

I wouldn't really advocate for one material over another. Steel is good for me because durability and nostalgia > 1.2 pounds, but I'm also realistic about it becoming increasingly niche since CF keeps getting better, and cheaper.
1
Toadmeister
53 posts
#8Aug 22, 2020, 9:00 AM
I wouldn’t sweat the weight difference. Rove ST is a awesome bike, my wife rides one. The 640b 47Mm wheels/tires run tubeless is going to be a plush ride on rough cobblestones.
1
Titj
8 posts
#9Aug 22, 2020, 10:35 AMedited
Thank you for the replies.

I have decided to go forward with the Kona Rove LTD.

I love the look of steel bikes, the straight, thin tubes.

It's settled.

Now I don't know what wheel size to choose. 700c or 650b.

Regarding the weight, my Stumpjumper was never less than 23.4 pounds and that never bothered me.

And I can't see myself riding cobblestones on a road bike again, no matter how light it was.

Anyway, just for fun, here is my very cheap and very heavy diy SingleSpeed, that is my only ride right now, and I have a lot of fun with it:

2
zen_
110 posts
#10Aug 23, 2020, 6:34 PM
Can you choose the wheel size on that Kona? It looks like it come standard with a stout looking 650b set, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad second set if you want a 700c set for smaller / faster rolling tires.

I was also looking at the frameset option for the Rove LTD thinking, wow that's a nice frameset for $750, and noticed that they must have switched from Reynolds to "Kona butted CrMo" steel this year to bring the price down.
1
Titj
8 posts
#11Aug 24, 2020, 2:05 AMedited
Yes, it can take 700c or 650b.

I can swap some components if I want, that's one of the reasons I want to buy from my local lbs.

Yes, they changed the type of steel.

I have one more week to make a decision. Can't stop thinking if I should go with the Sutra and have complete freedom on tire choices, since it's capable of getting 29er tyres.

It's a bike buy for at least 10 years, i have to be sure.

I never rode a 40 or 42mm tire, so I don't know what it's capable of, or the level of comfort.

I used to went from supper stiff 23 tire in my carbon roadie to 1.95/2.1 26er hardtail mtb.

I just keep going back and forward.
0
pete kumble
20 posts
#12Aug 24, 2020, 4:08 AM
Titj wrote:Hello everyone.

Thank you for accepting me on the forum.

I'm new here, although I'm not new to bikes at all.

I am away from the bikes for 6 years, now. I gained 10 kg in that period.

I used to to a lot of mtb, lots of kms, lots of trails on a hardtail and lots of amateur races.

I was never any good, always finishing from the half down of the peloton, but I always loved riding and I have experience from many years in the saddle. I miss riding my bike.

I also used to have a roadie, but my main bycicle was my mtb.

I sold them recently and my goal is to ride again, but for the pleasure of it, ride on the tarmac, pavet, dirt roads, gravel, things like this.

I don't want to go back to ride on the roads with the big rigs passing by a few cms from my shoulder and I don't want to go back to the excruciating long climbs and dangerous singletrack descents. I want a moderate ride, I don't mind climbing (I like it, who doesn't) and descending, I just don't want that pure technical xc mtb trail anymore.

I used to ride a Specialized Stumpjumper HT and a Focus Izalco Pro. Both very aggressive in geometry.

For what I want now, I am looking at steel bikes. I want to have this bike for a long time and not worry about high maintenance.

I want a good ride, with good quality components, and not to heavy.

So I was looking at what my local bike shop has and what I like the most are the new Kona models.

The Kona Rove LTD and Sutra ULTD.

I went back and forward many times these past few weeks. Now, I am back at the beginning, more inclined to the Rove.

What attracted me to the Sutra was the possibility of having almost any tire I want, with the 29 wheels. But the weight, the too much relaxed geometry and the drop seat post, seem to be something that I would want on a mtb. What about when riding road and dirt roads? Wouldn't it be boring?

Comparing with the Rove, it is the opposite. Faster, lighter, and with a geometry that seems more appropriate for what I would be doing 90% of the time.

I talked to a Kona representative and he told me that it can take 650b 47 tires (they come stock) and 700c 40 with fenders and 700c 42 without.

I never rode 650b or 700c with gravel tires.

What do you guys think?

Buy the Sutra and maybe have an overkill bike for the occasional descent?

Or buy the Rove and maybe have two sets of wheels with two types of tires and be done with it?

https://www.konaworld.com/rove_ltd.cfm

https://konaworld.com/sutra_ultd.cfm

https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=kona-sutra-ultd-2021,kona-rove-ltd-2021

Since you are looking at a steel bike, I might suggest to also look at the Ritchey Outback. I own one and it is a great bike,

Thank you very much for the help.
Involuntarysoul
76 posts
#13Oct 13, 2020, 10:53 PM
steel is the deal if you do with full custom with tube diameter proportional to your weight, otherwise the frame will be way overbuild for you and rides like shit, unless you weight like 250-300lbs ofc
0
Toadmeister
53 posts
#14Oct 19, 2020, 7:58 AMedited
Involuntarysoul wrote:steel is the deal if you do with full custom with tube diameter proportional to your weight, otherwise the frame will be way overbuild for you and rides like shit, unless you weight like 250-300lbs ofc

I resemble that remark.

I'd add that steel is also advantageous eating up road chatter over aluminum but not as good as carbon. My Jamis Renegade has a Steel frame with carbon fork and seat post, it's a great Sweet spot for me.

I'm also not keen on the durability of an all carbon frame (ability to take abuse). So steel is again is a winner for me.
0
GravelInSipsey
24 posts
#15Oct 22, 2020, 9:33 AM
Titj wrote:Thank you for the replies.

Now I don't know what wheel size to choose. 700c or 650b.

Here’s a perspective, I have a Niner RLT Steel, with two wheel sets. 700c and 650b. Running 47mm tires on the 650b and 40mm tires on the 700c. When I’m riding with my “it going to be a friendly ride we won’t go fast” group (yeah right), I use the 700c wheels. I find that I can maintain a faster average pace and I feel more confident taking gravel corners at speed. When I’m doing chunky, washed out B roads with lots of hills, I switch to the 650b wheels. I find I can maintain traction better both up and down, and the wheels soak up the bumps better.
1
300hp
14 posts
#16Nov 3, 2020, 6:29 PM
I have a 2019 Sutra LTD, set up as a full on drop bar 29er with 2.2 Race Kings. It's super fun for riding flowy singletrack, and for long rides where singletrack is the priority, or carrying lots of stuff. It's very stout, and rides like it's an ASTM certified MTB. Great for what it is. I have a gravel bike too, and while they overlap some, I much prefer being on the gravel bike with 40s for pinning it for hours.
0

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