Kona Rove VS Norco Search - Which one is best?

malahouse

Hello fellow riders!

Which one is the better bike, in your opinion?

I am undecided between the Kona Rove 2018 and the Norco Search Adventure 2018. They are both approximately £600.
The bike will be used mostly for daily rides in London. With the weekly adventure day-out and day/week touring.

They seem quite similar, but mostly I can notice two differences between the bikes
1) The Norco has a slightly small ring in the chain set, 32t instead of 34. I assume this would make climbing a little easier should I have a lot of lugguage. Both share the same range in the cassette, 11/32 (8 speed).
2) The Norco has a slighty more aero (and perhaps lighter?) front alluminum fork. The KONA`s front fork seems chunky and more suited to a mountain bike?


In terms of specs which one is better value in your opinion?

NORCO SEARCH
Frame Search X6 Double Butted Aluminum
Fork Search Airformed Alloy
Front Derailleur Shimano Claris FD-R2000
Rear Derailleur Shimano Claris RD-R2000
Number of Gears 16
Shifters Tektro MD-510 Mechanical Disc - 160mm
Chain set FSA Tempo 48/32T - Black
Bottom Bracket Cartridge Bearing BB
Cassette Shimano CS-HG508 8spd 11-32T
Chain KMC Z-72
Brakeset Tektro MD-510 Mechanical Disc - 160mm
Handlebars Alloy Compact - Black
Bar Tape Norco UltraComfort - Black
Rims WTB SX19 - Black
Front Hub Alloy hub - Black
Rear Hub Alloy cassette hub - Black
Tyres Schwalbe Delta Cruiser 700x32c w/K-Guard and Reflex
Saddle Norco Sport - Black
Seatpost Alloy 27.2mm - Black

KONA ROVE

Frame Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
Fork Kona Project Two Aluminum Disc
Front Derailleur Shimano Claris
Rear Derailleur Shimano Claris
Number of Gears 16
Shifters Shimano Claris
Chain set FSA Tempo Adventure 34/50t
Bottom Bracket CH52
Cassette Shimano HG50 11-32t 8spd
Chain KMC Z72
Brake Calipers Hayes CX Comp
Front Brake Rotor Hayes L-Series 160mm
Rear Brake Rotor Hayes L-Series 160mm
Brake Levers Shimano Claris
Handlebar Kona Road
Stem Kona Road
Headset FSA No.10
Grips Kona Cork Tape
Rims WTB SX19
Front Hub Formula 100x9mm
Rear Hub Formula 135x10mm
Spokes Stainless Black 15g fr / 14g rr
Front Tyre Schwalbe Delta Cruiser Plus w/Puncture Protect 700x35c
Rear Tyre Schwalbe Delta Cruiser Plus w/Puncture Protect 700x35c
Saddle Kona Road
Seatpost Kona Thumb w/Offset 27.2mm


THANK YOU!

cooldad

Much of a muchness, try them out and see which feels more comfortable, fits best.

I'm not a Norco fan, so my first choice would be a Kona, I have half a dozen Konas so I'm probably a bit biased.

CitizenLee

As Cooldad says, there's not much to separate them. The Norco has slightly better brakes and lower gearing, otherwise they're practically the same bike.

Try them out and see which one you like best, and if that's not an option just go for the one you like the look of most (unless the lower gearing sways you towards the Norco).

malahouse

CitizenLee wrote:

As Cooldad says, there's not much to separate them. The Norco has slightly better brakes and lower gearing, otherwise they're practically the same bike.

Try them out and see which one you like best, and if that's not an option just go for the one you like the look of most (unless the lower gearing sways you towards the Norco).

Indeed. Thanks. I am more inclined to the Norco for both the looks and the the lower gearing. I think I will get away with shifting less in the city. Furthermore, the Norco comes with 32 inch tyres, which are perfect for my sort of use.