Kona Jake

Tusher

I'm seriously considering buying a Kona Jake. The bike will be used for a daily 20 mile return commute on good roads and a cycle path. It will also be used for touring. The touring mostly consists of island hopping, with a little gentle off road work(grass, good forest tracks), but we're planning to do Lejog next year.

Any experiences with the Jake greatly appreciated- I've asked the touring forum as well.

phillipjohnson

I've got a Jake the Snake 2010 and its great... best of all worlds really. You can go along pretty rough bridal paths on it and then when you get back onto the road you can still go at a decent speed.

I use it to commute and have a pannier rack fitted on the back and full mudguards.

The Jake is similar.

Are you going for the 2010 or 2011 model? The 2010 models are much cheaper than the 2011 models and I think they are a bit better spec.

Plus the 2010 models have fittings for pannier rack and mudguards which I don't think the 2011 models do.

fastbatard

I can't comment on the Jake as although I did consider it I went for the Spesh Tricross instead. I do think that cyclocross bikes in general though make excellent commuter bikes with their ability to take mudguards and racks and fatter tyres to handle the potholes a bit better.

Tusher

Thanks- I'm going for the 2010 model (which is also reduced).

tailwindhome

CJCP, one of the commuter regulars rides a Jake (though I'm not sure which one, he may have built it up from the frame)

He might be along in a minute or you could PM him


(Quiet in here isn't it, try Commuting Chat it's usually busier and not the closed shop it's made out to be)

phillipjohnson

I would recommending going for the Jake... at the price you get them for they are a real bargain.

Only thing I would suggest changing are the tyres for commuting. I've had a few punctures with the Continentals that come as standard and just upgraded to Specialized Borough Armadillo CX Pro Elites. With snow last weekend I haven't had a chance to try them out yet but I'm hoping for less punctures.

cjcp

TailWindHome wrote:

CJCP, one of the commuter regulars rides a Jake (though I'm not sure which one, he may have built it up from the frame)

He might be along in a minute or you could PM him


(Quiet in here isn't it, try Commuting Chat it's usually busier and not the closed shop it's made out to be)

Ooops! Just spotted this.

Yep, I've got a Jake - the 2007, I think - the blue one, with steel forks.

I'm presently using it for my 30+ mile round trip commute in London and back. I've also used it for cross racing, riding in the snow and blasting around the trail in my local park.

It's a fantastic bike, real VFM. I've put a 46-36 chainset on it, with a 12-25 cassette. While it's an alu frame with steel forks, weight really isn't an issue on the flat; it's a little sluggish up the hills compared to my full road bikes.

I confess that I haven't used it for touring, so don't know what the pannier-bolt situation is, but it's a very comfortable bike: there's no road buzz through the forks, and nothing through the seat tube (I put a Thomson Elite seatpost and BG Alias saddle on it for comfort).

My only gripe are the brakes: I can't stand cantis. I've got Avid Shortys and they're about as useful as a chocolate teapot in the rain. So, going downhill in the rain wouldn't be something I'd presently look forward to. So I'm considering changing to Tektros or Kona Races - there's a discussion over in Chat about this atm.

On the tyre front, I've got Durano Pluses (slicks). So far, they've been tough enough to use on the trail in the park, so no need to use my CX-specific tyres all the time and wear down the nobbly tread.

veronese68

I've got an '09 Jake. I use it to commute and am really enjoying it. I put a rack and mudguards on and changed the tyres to Scwalbe Marathon plus. Unfortunately it got nicked, I then looked at getting something else but eventually settled on buying another Jake as I liked it so much.
I then saw my original one for sale on Ebay and got it back through the police. I now have 2 red Kona Jakes. I've lent one to a colleague so he can try it. He hasn't used it much so I might be selling it soon. Let me know if you may be interested, it's a 60cm so only any use to someone rather long.

Tusher

Veronese, that's a kind thought, but I'm looking at a 49.

All your replies are greatly appreciated.
I'm hoping to take the Jake for a test ride tomorrow.

SmellTheGlove

Veronese68 - how much the 60cm Jake and where are you..?

Asking can't hurt ... can it ...

veronese68

I'm in Kingston. I'd like £350 for it, don't know if that's fair I'm open to suggestion I suppose. I should ask the bloke that's borrowed it if he wants to buy it first I suppose. Send me a pm and I'll email you.

fastbatard

JE James have them for £530 which look a right bargain, they're in Sheffield but do free delivery too.

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/kona-jak ... 56943.html

veronese68

That is indeed a bargain. Everybody should buy at least one.

Tusher

So...........I headed up to the bike shop during my lunch break, wondering what on earth I was doing buying a brand new bike when I have a perfectly good Raleigh Wisp. Yes, a 27 year old steel framed bike that I had completely overhauled a few years back. (Which didn't entirely work, but I've lived with the eccentricities and even considered them part of the Wisp's charm).
I've always scorned friends who gave their cars names-only pets, boats and houses should have names- but the Wisp and I have been through a lot over the years. I even took it on my honeymoon and now I felt somehow disloyal buying a new bike. "Do bikes have feelings?" I wondered, as I arrived at the shop, before accepting that this is a totally preposterous notion, and the menopause has reduced my brain cells.

Anyway, I was expecting to try the Jake out on the rollers in the shop, due to the weather, but I was allowed to take it out for a test ride.
Chuffed to bits, but I'd only taken my trainers with me-tucked my trousers into my socks and set off, no helmet, no gloves. Actually, I can't remember the last time I rode in traffic without a hat.

Anyway, I was very pleased with it, although it felt a little low geared. I headed for a small country road not far from the shop, planning a round route of around a mile, town and country.

Cruising along quite happily, in top gear, head down, on the drops, I noted a large van lying in a ditch. And before my brain could compute 'vehicle in ditch alert' I was on a stretch of sheet ice and frozen snow (the recent rain having washed the snow from the rest of the county). Brilliant. No gloves, no helmet, and about to crash a brand new bike I hadn't even paid for.

But I stayed upright.


Which I'm attributing to the cyclo-cross geometry. The kind shop people said it was my cycling skills, but I think it was the Jake.

Clearly a bike with character that had saved my bacon. A bike with feelings.






I'm buying it tomorrow.

Berk Bonebonce

No experience of Kona Jake, but looks like a bike fit for its intended purpose. Can I say three things:-

1/ Dunna buy one unless it takes full length mudguards. And if it takes a rack, even better.
2/ Ask the shop to swap out the seatpost for one with layback.
3/ Ask the shop to swap out the tyres for more road friendly ones.

Oh, too late - you've just bought one.

Anyone who uses an inline seatpost on a roadbike has got to have some kind of spinal deformity, or doesn't know the most basic thing about roadbike set-up.

XCR

Im looking at buying the jake. Can't find anywhere though with my size still in stock.The new Jake only comes in 49 or a 53 or 56 so i will have to be 53. Think it will have to be 2011. 2010 did a 52 but just can't find one. They are being snapped up it seems!

Tusher

Mine's a 49, XCR.

Thrilled to bits with it (one day in). Yes, tyres due to be changed, rack fitted by shop, seatpost??

Felt ok to me this morning.

veronese68

The seatpost is down to personal preference. Having said that I wound up changing mine to move the seat back a bit.
Mudguards are a good thing if you use it in all weather, but you probably know that. Just enjoy it and do whatever you want with it. Glad you like it.

cjcp

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Anyone who uses an inline seatpost on a roadbike has got to have some kind of spinal deformity, or doesn't know the most basic thing about roadbike set-up.

Have used the inline post on the commuter and crosser for about three years with no issues.

XCR

I went to test ride the 2011 this eve. Was listed on web at 770 when most have it as 870! They also had 10% off on web and confirmed same deal if I bought tonight making it £693. I rode it and liked it so I offered 670 and they accepted! Now I think I got an absolute bargain. Am I right?

I originally wanted the 2010 in sales but noone had my size. I was resigned to paying almost full whack and cant believe I got it for that. It's a 53 and from the test ride felt great!

Tusher

And I thought I had a bargain!

May you have many happy, safe miles on your Jake, XCR.

XCR

And you Tusher! I hav never ever bought anything and genuinely felt I have got a bargain but this time I think I just might. I thought they had got model year wrong but It is defo 2011 as it is blue with White seat and bar tape. 2010 is black seat and taper and greenish frame.

Will have a ride out at weekend and get ready to use for commute next week. Got to get use out of it now!

XCR

Had to post...
Went on website of shop I got bike from and price has changed to £870! So I think they dud make a mistake. Ooops. They are still offering 10% off but that seems standard at mo. I feel a bit bad really but I did tell them it was 2011 model. So a bargain I have! Chuffed to bits. Not ridden it yet though. Weekend! How's your Jake Tush?

XCR

Had to post...
Went on website of shop I got bike from and price has changed to £870! So I think they dud make a mistake. Ooops. They are still offering 10% off but that seems standard at mo. I feel a bit bad really but I did tell them it was 2011 model. So a bargain I have! Chuffed to bits. Not ridden it yet though. Weekend! How's your Jake Tush?

Tusher

S'okay, XCR, we'll keep quiet.

salsajake

I've been running one for the last 3 years, notched up probably around 6000 miles plus on it. Great bike, mine has panniers too, which also takes my child seat, so very versatile machine for me. The one thing you should look to change first when you upgrade is the Project 2 forks (if you have them) as these weigh over 900g, which is ridiculous! I went for some Kinesis Crosslight carbon forks which are half the weight, though you do get more brake squeal as they flex a bit more. (They are really bad at the moment as they are due a cable change).

Also mine has Tiagra groupset and I have had no end of trouble with the right hand shift pod eating through the cable at the same point, must have gone through around 8 cables by now. Its a relatively common Tiagra problem. Rest of the groupset has been fine, though I have worn out and replaced the original wheels, have also upgraded seatpost, bars, stem, seat, tyres and pedals, not because I needed to, but because I was saving so much money by commuting by bike (40 mile round trip)

Buckled_Rims

I've had my Jake the Snake for well over a year. I've put 25mm marathon tyres on, but when they wear out I'll put Marathon 28mm on as I think they'll be able to stand up to anything.

For me, I think the lower spec Jake would have been more ideal for me with it's triple set up. The Snakes 36/46 gearing up front is too CX orientated, but I've still managed to do a 72 mile in 5 hr 15min on it with ease.

It's tough as I regularly go bridlepathing and on very grit roads. It laughs at pot holes, which is useful up here in the North East.

The frame is a bit harsh at full speed, but the front carbon forks damp a bit. The brakes are crap and sometimes a bit dangerous (as has been said by previous posters), definitely not designed for fast (and wet) roads.

Overall, if I had to have one bike in the world, it would be the Jake, with a few adjustments.

cyclingmev

I treated myself to a 2011 Kona Jake (christened Cake as i picked it up on my birthday) & i love it, as it's real comfy and a nice wee plodder! Just getting used to the cantilever brakes, but that's probably just bedding in & me getting used to them!!! It cost about £860 i think, c/o the bike to work scheme...i do have different tyres to fit on it, but haven't as yet - these are Schwalbe CX Competition Tyre. Good decision, you won't regret getting one!!!

Tusher

Still deeply in love with mine, although discovering that the brakes were wanting at the foot of a steep hill was not fun. Going away for the weekend, so I'll find out what it's like fully laden and off road.

And I've changed the tyres for gatorskins.

Babber Goo

does the 2010 model have "secondary" brake levers on the handlebars like many other cross bikes?

lukea-d

Does anyone know the weight of the 2011 Jake? I'm weighing up between the Jake, the Cannondale CAADX 6 and the Fuji Cross 3.0.