KONA Dew Deluxe Review: A Smooth Family Commuter

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A bike with clean lines and all the bells and whistles will always tempt me to take a second and longer look. Bicycles like that have a certain sex appeal to the aficionado. The KONA Deluxe Dew certainly has tempted me to go out on a second and third date. In all seriousness though, I thought the Dew Deluxe could be a proper bike to suit all four members of my family unit. I’m thinking with a simple seat height change, this bike could fit everyone. That puts a whole new meaning to the term multi-use.

For starters, buying a bike from your local bike shop is still the way to go in my opinion. There’s something to be said for being able to kick the tires. Furthermore, they have the knowledge to get you set up on the right bike with a proper fit. Lastly, they will assemble and can set you up on a regular maintenance schedule to keep things running smooth.

That said, ordering on-line is a way for many bicyclists to maybe save a dollar or two and get exactly what you want. You do have to know what you are looking for, and be able to know your way around an Allen wrench. KONA’s website has a myriad of options for you to look at, and it’s certainly a very efficient way to browse and purchase a bicicleta.

Assembly

The KONA came boxed up and packaged very efficiently. They took extra care to ensure that there would be no shifting during transport, and all the important bits were protected and secured. Below you see the typical bike box. Nothing special there. The second photo shows exactly how it came out of the box. A nearly complete package with only a few pieces to put together.

Here’s the little extra touches. The frame and components all have cardboard and felt padding protecting it. Not Styrofoam! A few rubber bands, twine, and zip ties to keep it all together. I like the somewhat more green approach to getting me the bike. I was able to recycle most of it.

Features And Specifications

• Frame Material Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
• Fork Kona Project Two Aluminum Disc
• Crank Arms Samox
• Chain Rings 38t
• B/B FSA 68mm
• Pedals Kona JS2
• Chain KMC X11
• Cassette Shimano Deore 11-51t 11 spd
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
• Shifters Shimano Deore
• Brake Calipers Tektro HDM275 Hydraulic
• Front Brake Rotor Tektro TR160 160mm
• Rear Brake Rotor Tektro TR160 160 mm
• Brake Levers Tektro HDM275 Hydraulic
• Headset Feimin FP-H863
• Handlebars Kona Aluminum Riser
• Stem Kona Commuter
• Seatpost Kona Thumb w/offset 27.2mm
• Seat Clamp Kona Clamp
• Grips Kona Key Grip
• Saddle Kona Commuter
• Front Hub Formula 100x9mm
• Rear Hub Formula 135x10mm
• Spokes Stainless Black 14g
• Front and Rear Tires WTB Horizon Comp w/ Puncture Protection 650x47c
• Paint Color Gloss Porcelain w/ Charcoal & Cyan Decals
• Extras Fenders w/ Mudflaps & Kickstand

Taking The Kona Dew Deluxe Out On The Town

I decided to approach this bike review in a more parts and pieces breakdown approach. As I’m cruising the bike to my office and back, I really get to contemplate the entire bike from top to bottom.

Firstly, I want to discuss the frame as everything else connects to it. Plus, it determines the style and comfort of how successful the bike will be. I had hoped that the bike could serve its purpose as a multi-user mode of transportation for my family. My youngest at 5’, my wife at 5’-5”, and my eldest at 5’-10”. And I’d say, that is exactly how it has played out. The incredible thing is that the KONA Dew Deluxe also kind of works for me at 6’1” as well. It might not be the most correct fit for me, but with the seat adjustment, I was able to feel quite comfortable on my work commute.

As mentioned before, I think the look of the bike is super clean. The aluminum frame and its geometry are quite appeasing to the eye. The one connection or weld that just doesn’t seem to fit for me is the piece that appears to be an add-on right where the top tube connects to the seat tube. I’m sure there is a very structural reason for it to help keep the bike together, but it looks a little out of place (See ‘funky’ weld photo above). It’s certainly not the main focus of the whole frame as it is a solid and well-designed frame.

Secondly, the posterior is the main point of contact and can literally make or break a bike ride. The KONA branded seat is more on the small and slim side. This is usually where I see companies go the route of wider, thicker, and with a lot of added cushioning. I agree with keeping the saddle simple with proper padding but not too much. Hence, I like it, but that’s an easy change to make. All the tushies are different, so find your perfect saddle and fit if this one doesn’t work for you.

Next, the drivetrain is crucial to make you go fast, climb, or ride smoothly through town. A little creak or chain skip will usually drive me nuts, but it’s been a very quiet and smooth ride thus far. Don’t forget to add some chain grease though. The cranks graced with a single chain ring are positioned perfectly. There’s the delivery with a smooth pedal stroke, and for some reason my slightly flared jeans did not even come close to touching the chain rings. I am usually provided with a nice greased ankle smear, but that’s not the case for this bike. The design of the bike is geared so that a wide variety of commuters and their office, school, or work attire can cleanly make it to its destination.

The gearing for the KONA Dew Deluxe with the single chain ring up front is a smart choice for this bike. Commuting is very utilitarian, and speed or climbing prowess is not at the forefront. This keeps it simple and there’s no need to shift between the big and small front chain ring. The rear chain rings provide the ability to climb just about anything you might encounter. The dinner plate size 51t big ring will have you spinning a mile a minute. It’s there if you need it. I might replace the front chain ring with something slightly bigger. I found myself in the lower gears for most of my commute and anything over 20 miles per hour, I would start to spin out a little. That said, for my family (and I venture to say for most) it’s perfect. I think KONA found a happy medium to appease the masses. If you need something different to work for you, your riding style, terrain, etc. it is not that difficult to change out a chain ring by a professional.

The single most important safety feature on this and any bike for that matter are the brakes. I was able to make some sudden and hard brakes to stop me on a dime. No complaints there at all. It’s so vital to know your abilities before a sticky situation presents itself, so practice a lot with hard brakes. That way, you have the ability to react quickly. I had good luck with that, and could go from 20 mph to a dead stop in a very short time. This is where big kudos go to KONA for not skimping on this safety feature.

Lastly, I want to chat a little about a few of the accessories. The fenders are a nice extra addition if you think you will need it to ride in rainy or inclement weather. I am not sure the somewhat delicate brackets that support the fenders themselves will survive my riding and storage. The days of rain are quite limited in Denver, so I may not need the use of them all too often anyway. Of course, in other parts of the country, keeping ones backside dry and clean is a good thing, especially if the dress code requires you to look presentable.

I have a love hate relationship with the kickstand. I don’t want or need it for most of my bikes. It’s an extra that really serves no purpose for me. However, on a commuter bike, the kickstand is a necessity for parking this rig in places that can’t always accommodate a bicycle. Depending on how you intend to store the bike, you may not need it. With the lack of storage options in my garage, I have to hang our bikes. Out and about, I’d usually lean or slide the bike into a stand of sorts. For now, I am leaving the kickstand on, but I was perplexed that the stand was flared out way too far. Then I realized that there is a way to adjust the length. Now, you do need a star shaped screw driver, but I happened to have one. So, all good there.

The flat large platform pedals provide for a nice wide base to be able to push efficient power into every pedal stroke. Notice the scratches, as I’ve already taken a corner a bit to tight with the inside pedal down. That’s a big no no. I made the mistake, so you don’t have to.

The ride is really smooth on the KONA Dew Deluxe. The WTB Horizon tires play a big role in that journey. That is, once I figured out the correct air pressure for me. The first time out it was way too low. That resulted in a squishy ride which also lacked a bit of the control I prefer. Then I went up much higher on the psi. With all that air in there, every little bump and crack reverberated through the frame, and into my body. I finally dialed it in at 40 psi. After that, I could corner quite aggressively, and the tires handled all the road nuances rather smoothly.

I don’t have much to say about the bell. It’s fine. It dings. It’s needed. Enough said!

The frame geometry is suited well for the more relaxed and comfortable commuting style. It’s more upright to help relax the body, as it’s really not meant for speed. It also keeps the work uniform intact and the sweat glands at bay. In addition, that position also allows for the best visibility. As is commonplace these days, one’s head needs to be on a swivel with laser like focus to navigate the challenges of our ‘distracted-driver’ culture. My positioning felt good, and I was in control of the bike and my surroundings.

Final Thoughts On The KONA Dew Deluxe

To be perfectly honest, I really like this bike. It is well-built, rides smoothly, has rider versatility, and looks good. The price point at just under a $1000 means it’s not cheap, but the value is there if you envision yourself riding this KONA Dew Deluxe a lot and for a long time. Right out of the box, this bike is good to go. With proper care and maintenance, the KONA Dew Deluxe can be a trusted partner for your commutes or rides around town. I’d definitely give this bike a look if you are in the market and are wanting refined quality. For more details or to check one out for yourself, visit www.konaworld.com.