Kona Rove Titanium build — Riding Gravel

Kona Rove Titanium build

23 replies · 6,660 views

Thesilverfox
11 posts
#1Jan 14, 2018, 10:32 PMedited
Hi folks, I'm new to this forum but am building a new bike that I am quite fond of and wanted to share it with you. First of all, I am quite familiar with the Kona Rove steel version because I have owned one since 2014. I have made the decision to build a Rove titanium because I love the setup so much but want something lighter. It has wonderful geometry, comfort and ride quality yet it is hard to find reviews about this bike. It is the perfect all around bike for me. I have climbed more than a million vertical feet and travelled and commuted some 26000km with the steel Rove so this is my way of saying, I have earned myself a new bike. Living in the foothills of Southern Alberta, scenic gravel roads are endless.

2017 Kona Rove Ti build
-Kona 53cm Frame
-Stan's no tubes Grail wheels, 28F/32R
-Sapim CX ray spokes
-Hope Pro4 hubs and q/r
-Maxxis Rambler 38c tire (gravel) or Shwalbe Pro One 28's (daily commuter)
-Kona Project 2 Fork
-Easton EC90 slx 42cm handlebar
-Easton EC90 90mm 10 degree stem
-Easton EC90 seatpost
-Cane creek 110 headset
-SRAM Force 22 drivetrain BB and HDR brakes 160F/140R
-SRAM Red crank and Quarq power meter. Why? because I can and want to.
-Wahoo Elemnt Bolt computer
-50/34 chainrings, 11/32 cassette
-Fabric seat
-Lizard Skins bar Tape 3.2mm
-XTR Pedals

The weight of the bike is estimated at 18.75 pounds. My present Rove as you see in the last picture is 30.22 pounds.
So here is where I'm at right now because the rest of the parts are coming in weekly. Will keep posting and try to have better pictures.

1
chunkylover53
39 posts
#2Jan 15, 2018, 9:14 AM
Nice! If I could fit a larger tire on a Rove Ti, I'd be all over one (have a Ti Honzo and love it). But I'm in SK, and our gravel is often pretty deep, so I need a larger tire.

Is your steel Rove really 30 lbs!! You'll be flying on the new ride
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#3Jan 15, 2018, 9:31 AMedited
Yeah, 31lbs with bar mitts and studded tires. The max tire width I use is Continental Top contact 42c for winter riding (when there's no ice) and have lots of clearance. I run about 50psi in them and they ride nice in gravel but i avoid the loose stuff.

My buddy bought the same frame but is going 1x sram and 650 wheels with WTB Horizon TCS 650x47c. His isn't built yet so not shure what clearance will look like.

His bike is gravel specific as mine is built as an allrounder with mostly fast commuting in mind. My commute has lots of gravel and coulee singletrack.
0
chas
1,305 posts
#4Jan 16, 2018, 4:28 PM
Is that a "made in Tennessee" sticker? If so, it must come from Lynskey.

Is Ti much lighter than steel? From what I have seen, it seems to be heavier than aluminum. Just curious...
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#5Jan 16, 2018, 6:11 PM
The frame is 4.00 pounds according to my scale. Yeah it's a Lynskey frame with Kona specs for 50mm rear tire clearance. I already have the steel version with the exact geometry and love it. The build will be approx 19 pounds with pedals.
0
ronpal
7 posts
#6Jan 17, 2018, 7:38 AM
Great bike, I have the same Ti Rove for about 2 years now and I'm very happy with it. Much better ride then my steel CX bike, and it can fit wide tires, I have no problem with the WTB ramblers 700x45 on American Classic Race mountain bike rims. I'm also using the Kona carbon fork but my frame is a size 56 and comes in just over 20lbs. My only regret is not buying the frame sooner since the graphics used to be etched on, now they are stickers and they have been damaged. Sorry but I don't have a better picture right now.
1
Budgielord
8 posts
#7Jan 17, 2018, 11:53 AMedited
The Ti Rove is a great bike. Have had mine for a few years now. Ride this bike more than any other I own because it is so versitle and comfortable. 23lbs as shown with full bottles in size 53.

I generally use this for long 100km rides or mixed surface adventures. The scwalbe g-ones (40mm) are the 4th set of tires I have had on and are the best all around tire I have used. Not great for mud (learned that at last year's Paris to Ancaster race in Ontario) but usable in almost every condition.

1
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#8Jan 17, 2018, 12:51 PMedited
Cool, and I know that pics don't do them justice. They are top quality bikes. The tires I have the most miles on are Clement xplor ush 35. I like them but they don't last long. I will try Shwalbe g-ones eventually. I just installed the Maxxis rambler 38 and they look more like a 35mm tire, not a big deal.
I think the kona rove Ti is a light bike for what it is intended to do. I cant wait to finish this build but the right Force 22 shifter is on back order till Feb 16th from Cycles Lambert. It's ok though, the weather sucks anyways and i'm riding my steel rove. Speaking of decals, they will eventually peel off since they aren't very solid. Might bead blast graphics on myself one day.

Honestly I would love a Pinarello F10 but I have nowhere to ride that thing safely, plus i'm at the age where I want comfort more than speed. I am also very loyal to my local bike shop and they are a long time Kona dealer. I still have my Dekerf team SL I bought from them in 1999.
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#9Jan 18, 2018, 8:46 PMedited
This is where I'm at as of today 17.03 pounds as is.
chas
1,305 posts
#10Jan 19, 2018, 8:45 AM
Just gorgeous!

Didn't go on the 1x bandwagon, eh?
0
GSPChilliwack
91 posts
#11Jan 19, 2018, 9:16 AM
Are those Pro4's mountain hubs? Do you put the Hope road hub freehub on there to fit the 11 speed cassette?
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#12Jan 19, 2018, 9:19 AMedited
Nope, I really though about it but it's just not versatile enough for my style of riding. This bike is built as "what if I could only own one bike to do everything bike." It's amazing how smoothly the quick releases close and open. Everything is just so nice and smooth. I should finally have all the parts by next Monday. Will try the leather bar tape for now just cuz it's cool looking but will probably switch to Lizard skin. I think i'm looking at 19.25 pounds with pedals. A little heavier with gravel tires but who cares.

Few things left to do.

-Install right shifter and rear brake caliper
-Shorten brake lines, bleed brakes
-Install rear wifly derailleur
-Tune shifting, set limits
-Bar tape
-Demo some seats
-Synch power meter to Wahoo.
-Finish paying for bike, OUCH.
Oh yeah, hang out at the bike shop for hours talking about the bike.

0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#13Jan 19, 2018, 9:58 AMedited
GSPChilliwack wrote:Are those Pro4's mountain hubs? Do you put the Hope road hub freehub on there to fit the 11 speed cassette?

Yes they are mtb hubs. They came with 2 spacers for either 9 or 10 speed. No spacers which is what i did is for 11 speeds.
0
Volsung
878 posts
#14Jan 19, 2018, 6:18 PM
I don't know anything about that stem. Can you actually run it without any spacers at the top and not have the top cap interfere with the compression plug?
Also, if you don't have your heart set on the Brooks bar tape, I like your Lizard skins idea more and it weighs a third of the Brooks. I actually had bruised palms riding single track with Brooks.
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#15Jan 19, 2018, 8:11 PMedited
Volsung wrote:
I don't know anything about that stem. Can you actually run it without any spacers at the top and not have the top cap interfere with the compression plug?
Also, if you don't have your heart set on the Brooks bar tape, I like your Lizard skins idea more and it weighs a third of the Brooks. I actually had bruised palms riding single track with Brooks.
\n \nYes, the plug is approx 5 mm under the stem top just like a normal stem and sits on top of the carbon fork tube, i just have the bearing preload cap on top of the stem. I tried spacers on top of the stem and they wobble around the plug so not safe. I have the 10 degree one flipped upside down. It's supposed to reduce a lot of road vibration, we'll see. Lizard skins is the way to go, agree 100%. Bike shop has the 3.2mm in stock. \nI can take a pic if you want?
0
Volsung
878 posts
#16Jan 20, 2018, 9:51 AM
Naw not just for bar tape. I do want to see more build pics though.
0
tepstein
10 posts
#17Jan 21, 2018, 8:43 PM
Really nice! I have the '13 Rove that is exactly like your old one. It has been through two RAGBRAIs, several short tours and gets me back and forth to work. I upgraded the rear wheel to a DT Swiss touring wheel because I kept busting spokes on the stock wheel. Also threw on some Salsa cowchipper bars and put 160mm rotors on it. I love it. One day would like to get the titanium build.
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#18Jan 22, 2018, 7:17 AMedited
Cool, I've never actuallly seen another green Rove in person. Almost didn't recognize it because of the bar tape. Noticed your stem is filpped too. I think 160mm is better too, the 140's aren't very powerful. Should have the ti finished today if parts show up. it's great that the bike shop lets me build my bike there.
0
teoblar
51 posts
#19Jan 23, 2018, 10:22 AM
This looks a lot like my Ti Warbird build. Those Hope skewers are really robust, I agree. Solid pieces of metal.

You are going to love your new ride!
0
Thesilverfox
11 posts
#20Jan 26, 2018, 8:05 PM
What a ride. Fantastic bike.

2

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