What I've learned since I started riding the KONA SUTRA LTD.
Hi, I'm Ikeda.
It's been a month and a half since I bought the KONA SUTRA LTD adventure bike, which can be ridden anywhere and enjoyed in any way.
During this month and a half, I've tried to experience as many things as possible, such as commuting, replacing parts, going on trail rides, and even taking a trip to Osaka.
Here's a summary of what I've learned from using it in various situations.
Please refer to this blog for more information about the KONA SUTRA LTD.
→The definitive adventure bike! The appeal of the KONA SUTRA LTD
◆How was it on rough roads?
The SUTRA LTD is designed based on an MTB, so it has high off-road performance and is stable to ride.
The front and rear tires can accommodate up to 29x2.4, and the frame is sturdy enough to withstand a fair bit, so I tried it off-road.
Gravel roads along the riverbed and leaf-covered dirt were no problem at all! I was able to ride stably enough to enjoy myself with a smile.
◆How was it on extremely steep climbs?
I also went to steep slopes that were too difficult to ride a bicycle on.
I thought the SUTRA LTD would be at a disadvantage because of its sturdy and heavy frame, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy once I got the hang of pushing and carrying the bike.
It feels heavy if you just lift it, so I recommend practicing a little if you plan to go to such places.
◆How was it riding in the rain?
I rode the SUTRA LTD with the stock tires, Maxxis Recon Race 29x2.25 block tires.
When it rained, the tires splashed water, so my lower back and rear end got soaked if I rode quickly.
However, when I slowed down and rode at 15km/h or less, there was surprisingly little splashing.
If you ride frequently in the rain or are a heavy commuter, we recommend installing full fenders.
For the SUTRA LTD, the PDW Full Metal Fender 29x2.5 is recommended! This is the maximum size fender that can be installed on the bike.
◆How was packing the bike for transport?
I took the SUTRA LTD on a bike trip to Osaka by packing it up.
Since the SUTRA LTD has a large frame and large 29-inch wheels, a bike bag that allows you to remove both the front and rear wheels is recommended.
I think you can use it without much problem if it's a bike bag that fits a 29-inch MTB.
The SUTRA LTD has some differences from regular bicycles, such as thick tires, disc brakes, and drop handlebars.
Therefore, even if you are used to it, I recommend practicing packing it up once before you try to transport it!
If you try to transport it without practice, you might struggle a bit with packing.
◆How was it going on a trail ride?
I was surprised at how easy it was to ride! The MTB-based frame design seems to have a big effect.
I fell and slid on the trail, but the bike only got a few scratches. It was a moment where I was glad it was sturdy!
For trail riding, it had the best stability of any drop-bar bike I've ever ridden.
If you install front suspension, it would be even more stable and enjoyable!
In this video, another staff member rode the SUTRA LTD on the trail. Please take a look.
◆How was it with accessories and bags installed?
I tried installing various parts on the SUTRA LTD to see how they would work.
Frame bags and top tube bags can be secured with the Velcro straps included with the bags themselves, but the SUTRA LTD has boss mounts above and below the top tube for bolting on various bags, which can provide a stronger hold.
Using the boss mounts on the top tube, you can attach bolt-on tools like DAYSAVER and carry tools without a bag.
The SUTRA LTD comes with wide drop handlebars as standard.
Due to the large tires and the design for off-road use, wide handlebars are often more practical.
The "Jack The Bike Rack" front rack that attaches to the handlebars is also a perfect match.
For front bags, the tade qui cunningham was a good match, and the capacity and size were just right.
If you're using a front bag or handlebar bag and have nowhere to mount a light, the PDW Light Nug is recommended.
The SUTRA LTD's front fork has many boss mounts, so using them will solve the light mounting problem.
Mounting the Light Nug on the boss mounts at the end of the front fork is good because it won't get in the way even if you have luggage.
For carrying large amounts of luggage, a combination of full frame bags, fork bags, and various cargo cages is recommended.
Due to the sloping frame, a rectangular frame bag may interfere with water bottles.
Using a Wolf Tooth MORSE CAGE that can shift the bottle cage mounting position downwards or a dropper-type KING CAGE Stainless Steel Cage allows for better positioning.
I installed a dry bag, a bike bag, and bottles on the front fork, but I didn't feel like the handlebars were being pulled, and I was able to ride smoothly.
However, when mounted on the upper part of the fork, the bag sometimes touched the frame when I turned the handlebars sharply.
It seems better to fix large luggage as low as possible.
◆How was it after replacing the front fork?
Soon after I started riding the SUTRA LTD, I replaced the front fork with a carbon one. The fork I used was the SEIDO MGV GRAVEL FORK.
The handling changed so much that I felt the handlebars were "lighter!" when I moved them left and right.
Even with luggage, it didn't feel unstable, and it looked more powerful, so it was a good image change!
Also, it had a solid rigidity, and I didn't feel like power was escaping while riding.
The genuine steel front fork is heavier than the carbon one, but I felt it was very comfortable to ride and had excellent vibration absorption.
I think it's good to differentiate between using a carbon fork for accelerating and enjoying city riding, and a steel fork for trails and rough terrain.
Changing the front fork dramatically alters the impression of riding the SUTRA LTD, so it's a good idea to swap it out depending on the situation.
You'll enjoy it two or three times over with one bike!
And if you're going to more rugged places, it might be worth trying gravel-specific front suspension! You'll probably experience off-road capability comparable to an MTB.
For example, installing front suspension like these would be amazing!
What I realized after starting to ride the SUTRA LTD was that there's no end to the excitement and ways to enjoy it, as I'm constantly driven by desires to go here or there, and to try changing this or that part.
The next customization plans are to convert it to a dynamo hub and the rear hub to Industry Nine. And after that... it seems like there's still a lot more to come.
The next place I want to go is the "Sky Forest Road" in Shikoku. This also seems to be a continuing adventure.
The complete KONA SUTRA LTD bike is in stock in Japan and can be ordered.
Sizes available are 50, 52, 54, 56cm, corresponding to riders with heights around 165-180cm.
The price is 305,800 JPY (tax included).
If you want to embark on adventures to various places with one bike, the SUTRA LTD is the best!
We also offer the Grumpy Loan, where Grumpy covers the interest and fees for up to 48 installments. Please take advantage of this offer as well.