Kona Sutra Review After 2 Years Of Touring (5000 km)

[@MehediHasanSizan]

What a nice and polite person you are. Love the content mike.

[@vitopardo9849]

Totally agree.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Vito!

[@geodez86]

У меня Kona Sutra 2013. Я не так много на нём езжу. Я его выбрал как надёжный велосипед. У него большие колёса и хороший накат по асфальту при ширине колеса в стоке 1.25". Я даже загружаю его и сзади багажник на 20-25кг и спереди +10-12кг. И с такой загрузкой могу ехать по грунтовой дороге! Иногда колёса прорезают землю, я слезаю и толкаю его. Но грунтовой дороги обычно мало. Зато на асфальте это шикарная техника! 🤤 Я тоже поставил проставочные кольца и поднял руль для круизной посадки и заменил седло на brooks с пружинным амортизатором👍 У меня три цепи campagnollo и я меняю их по очереди через каждые 200км. Заменил тросик тормоза. Места где тросы прикасались с рамой протерли краску, я эти места залепил изолентой.. научился разбирать трещетку специальным ключом и даже заменил одну группу маленьких подшипников. В общем велосипед выглядит как новый! Я использую его как велосипед и берегу его😌🇷🇺 Если будет интересно, то тоже смогу сделать обзор своего велосипеда.

[@troecurov3]

Послушайте, но на Родине, он должен быть нереально дорогим...На Западе, смог найти что то в районе 1,8-2000 долларов...вы рекомендуете этот велосипед?

[@geodez86]

@troecurov3 да. Он произведён и выкован в конкуренции за качество. У нас конкуренции нет или минимум на уровне погрешности

[@green_building]

This is really good review.. Btw this guy is humble and honest 👍

[@robinferguson8911]

I have the Trek 520 which has the quick releases on the wheels, and I have the exact problem you talked about. I often have trouble getting the wheels back on correctly in line with the disc brakes. I didn't know that was an advantage of the through axles! Thanks for that tip

[@matohota]

Btw decathlon has an inexpensive saddle cover that fits B17 perfectly. I use it when transporting bike on a railways as well to avoid unnecessary attention. It even has a small B'TWIN logo on it. Who would ever think about stealing decathlon saddle?

[@citled]

Hi Mike, I have just bought a Kona Sutre SE 2023 on the basis of your vlog. I am waiting for it to be delivered. I had several choices of bike in mind, and had watched several bike tourers to find out which bike they used. The Kona Sutre tended to be a popular model. But your vlog, in which you explain in detail the pros and minor cons of the Kona Sutre and the fact you had riden one for over two years sold it to me. Thank You.

[@edanrowland3494]

Buying this bike shortly, really appreciate this review and you seem LOVELY - great vid, well done - subscribed :)

[@BikeTouringMike]

I'm sure you'll love the bike. Welcome to the channel!

[@leysin456]

Most thorough review of the Sutra SE that I’ve seen so far especially about the brakes and comparison to similar bikes: well done and I love my Kona Sutra as well

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you!

[@ramblinonandon]

Always down to earth videos..great to hear your opinion.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@manrein1493]

Supeb review, love it! Humble and pragmatic, not marketing driven but done with genuine biker spirit. Thank you.

[@briandineen7857]

Hi Mike, great video and bike review. I have the salsa marakesh 58cm. It has been a great bike also. Very similar to yours. I really like the bar and shifters. It carries fully loaded panniers with no problem. Our bikes should last a lifetime.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hi Brian! I'm assuming you're about my height then. The Marrakesh sure looks like a sweet ride. It's a bit tricky to get hold of here in Sweden though. Otherwise I might had ended up with that one instead of the Kona Sutra.

[@PumpkinVillage]

Very nice review and informative. Looks like you have a bike for the long haul. Nice not to have to worry about quality. Here in Vermont touring bike brands were hard to come by. Ended up with a Trek 520. Really like it. Take care and stay safe, Al

[@BikeTouringMike]

I know what you mean. Where I live the nearest dealer that has touring bikes are in Stockholm (5000 miles away). So I had to buy my touring bike without having to test it first. It's been like that with my road bike and MTB as well. Takes many hours of resaech and measuring inseams and so on...

[@jpooch00]

A most excellent and informative review. I'm buying a 2022 Kona Sutra SE today! A local bike shop actually has one in my size in stock ready to go! Ride safe, JP

[@jerryz.3087]

Thanks for the update Mikael, so far it seems like one of those "no regrets" kinda purchases...hope all is well in your world.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Everything is as normal over here except the fact that we can't go to Norway or Finland, which is a real bummer for me. We can however travel to Spain and Greece, which I find very strange. Hope all is well with you in Florida. The news we're getting over here is that the numbers seem to be going up. But I always take the news with a grain of salt these days.

[@jerryz.3087]

Yeah, our numbers don't look too good. Some folks dropped their guard a bit and began gathering/partying in large groups. So that age group took a big hit....I'd probably be right there with them 30+ years ago, during my beer days. Anyway, all is well here. Stay safe Mike.

[@garypostell5268]

Good advice on the brooks saddle

[@mikleht]

Looks great, no weak spots in there. I feel like Fuji Touring is unbeatable for value, if you have a tight budget but still want a new bike, its definitely something to look at. Thanks for all the videos Mikael!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Seems like a lot of people on this channel swear by their Fuji Touring bike. I haven't really had any experience with it myself, since it's not widely found here in Europe. I think it's more a bike for the American market. But if I happen to come across one I'll definitely try it out.

[@mehrdaderfani669]

Fuji Touring discs are great indeed. Great components similar to Sutra and a little better touring geometry (IMHO) at even a lower price. Having said that, the two factor that would still tilt me toward Sutra are the max tire clearance (52C for Sutra vs Fuhi's 45C) and IMHO Fuji's too fast for touring 63mm steering compare to Sura's 69mm ( trail numbers)

[@recyclespinning9839]

Great review. I was looking at a good condition used 2016, but now would stay with thru axle for disc , because of your recommendation

[@BikeTouringMike]

I think that is a sound desicion. Thru axles are the way to go.

[@rogervancleave8670]

Nice review. I have the 2019 Sutra LTD and really enjoy riding this bike on my bike packing trips. Like you, I’ve found the frame to be very comfortable and really like the versatility of this bike over some of the other bikes you mentioned.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Roger! You're a lucky guy, the Sutra LTD is a sweet ride for sure.

[@prof.krastavaclee8795]

I got the 2020 model and im very happy with it. As per usual great video. Keep the hard work going!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you! I'm sure your bike is even better. I think most of the changes they have made are for the better, i.e. more eyelets on the fork, wider rims.

[@davidburgess741]

I work the other end of the spectrum. Got the B17 and agree it's best for upright riding position. Bottom bracket cut out, replaced, then I welded it back together! Got some XT parts on it, pannier tabs welded on by me. Ultimate anti theft device! Looks terrible but rides well.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Well fortunately bike thieves have very little knowledge regarding groupsets. :-) I myself am lucky to live in a place where I don't have to worry about bike theft that much. Forgot to bring my bike lock during my latest tour, but it's usually not a problem to leave the bike unlocked in front of the supermarket for a couple of minutes around here.

[@meindertatedejong5578]

Took my Kona Sutra SE 2022 to the beach today and did some Mtb trails as well. 60 km of comfort and fun.

[@MishaDaBear]

Suggestion, on my Cannondale Touring bike I had similar issues with my lower bottle, one fix and 2 options, fix remove front fenders and replace with liter forward deflector shield which is velcroed to the frame. Options I use either a tall bottle or I put a MSR fuel bottle for my naptha/diesel/unleaded fuel stove when I put the fuel there I place a water or 2 bottle in a pocket(s) on my paniers with towels or bubble pack around them as cool water is nice in the early afternoon! Also, I put the tent, under pad (Ridgerest) and sleeping bag above the paniers. My setup is Blackburn through the fork lowrider front and standard rack on the back the rear rack sports a 22" side traffic Bike-up traffic flag! I use the very lite but bulky closed foam Ridgerest as I have tried the socalled self inflating thermarest pads and ended up tossing them in the garbage! My shifting is pure friction without any indexing to have to tune. I use duro grade tires 35mm front and 32mm rear both with mr tuffy thorn and staple guard between the tire and tube. www.ratail.com/forward.htm nordicgroup.us/s78/flags.html mrtuffy.com/

[@robonkenhout7965]

Nice review! Looking forward to more “binge worthy” content.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thanks Rob! Really hope the weather permits me to go up to the mountains soon. We have had a lousy summer here in Sweden. This afternoon we had +13C with heavy rain. That's the typical weather for the last week. Hope it changes soon.

[@Wade970]

Good information in this video, I am hoping to find a ‘21 Sutra ULTD. I’m glad to hear the 58cm fits you at 6’2”, that’s the size I’m looking at and my height also. Thanks for the long term review.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Glad you found it useful!

[@baronjokes]

That was exactly the information I was after as well and I too happen to be precisely the same height as you. Thank you :)

[@EverydayCycling]

Nice review Mike! The right shifter can be set to friction as well if you want. There is a metal ring on the left side of the right shifter. Pull that out and rotate it counter-clockwise until it clicks on the new position (may take some force but you can do with your hands). Than, it will be set to friction, just like the left side.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Yes, I knew about this and actually talked about it in the video, but it didn't make it through the edit. Had to slim the video down to a watchable format. :-)

[@EverydayCycling]

@@BikeTouringMike happens to all of us haha... All the best to you!

[@BikeTouringMike]

I'm sure you know Victor. By the way, congratulations on your english channel doing so incredible well! 6K already. That's insane!

[@EverydayCycling]

​@@BikeTouringMike Thanks! It was totally unexpected. A month ago I was doing my predictions and thought I would hit a thousand by September. Haha it's a very specific niche, so now it's settling down.

[@Toms_journal]

Underside holder is ideal for cooking fuel. Great video thank you.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hadn't thought of that. Will have to try that out.

[@brentirvine2336]

Thanks for the comprehensive re-review. I watched your first video when it first came out as I was looking over the same array of bikes. I ended up deciding on a lighter touring bike, (Salsa Vaya) though, since I don't carry camping gear and am rather light myself. Looking forward to your next tour video.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Haha, I hope this review was a little bit easier to watch. The old one is horrible. The audio is way off and I say "um" and "aah" every other second. :-)

[@briananderson3543]

I have a Kona Sutra and it is the best bike for touring period!

[@nsick]

Really helpful video. Thank you!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Glad you found it useful!

[@tonyfrewin4822]

A cheap alternative for the saddle cover can be to use a shower cap.

[@Userslmr]

Hej Mikael och tack för alla fantastiska videor! Jag har just köpt en exakt likadan Kona som du har och det är en mycket trevlig cykel. Det enda problemet jag haft med den hittils är att ramen repas så enkelt. Fått tiotals små repor här o där. Önskar dig och din familj allt bra! Hälsningar från Österbotten.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Tack så mycket Viacheslav. Glädjer mig att läsa dina fina ord. Jag har inte haft några problem med repor på ramen och jag har ändå rest rätt mycket med den på både flyg, bussar och i bilar. Vilken årsmodell har du är det den senaste?

[@grahamramsay3402]

The right shifter has friction mode too. Not just indexed. Helps if the indexing goes a little out of adjustment.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thanks for the tip Graham. I knew about this, and had actually said it in the rough cut of the video, but it didn't make the final edit. Had to keep the video short.

[@grahamramsay3402]

@@BikeTouringMike ok. I thought you may have forgotten. Its an important feature for a touring bike.

[@secretdaisy6484]

Nice review! I have a new 2019 Kona Sutra in a box that arrived the first week of the zombie 🧟 viral apocalypse shutdown. No hurry putting it together. When things are safe I'll be riding it coast to coast. The Brooks saddle is coming off. BTW there is a compound called Proofhide & other saddle preserving products (Lexol) that are great for leather that is exposed to the elements. I'll be putting a new Terry Liberator ladies saddle on when assembled. That is the only brand of saddle I ride on & I have different styles on all my bikes. You're not the first person that I heard say they went hundreds of kilometers on those Scwalbe tires without a flat. They are on my bike too. Good to know I won't be spending a lot of time fixing flats. That gets old. I'm planning to pull a Bob Yak trailer. The following year I'm planning a lengthy tour of Scandinavia & if I bring a dog he will go in a Burley trailer & I will have to use panniers which I don't like the weight on the bike but I can get over it. I'm subscribed now! Cool channel. Pedal on & be safe. 👍☮️🌞🦠😷🚲

[@andreabattagliaphoto]

Good review Mike. Take care. Cheers from Paris.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Andrea. I love your country. I have visited it four times (Paris twice). I hope to come back as soon as everything is back to normal again.

[@happyclient1269]

Love this guy. Great vids. Thanks 👍

[@humankapital2000]

Hey Mike, first of all many thanks for your videos! I watched quite a bunch of them and really enjoyed it. Because of your recommendation, I bought a 2021 Kona Sutra some weeks ago. So far I'm pretty happy about it. The only thing that I need to get used to are the bar end shifters, for me they seem to be positioned quite odd. Other than that I'm looking forward to a nice season of bike touring.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Congratulations on your new bike. I'm sure you'll be super happy with it. And regarding the bar-end shifters, give it 10 rides or so and it will become second nature.

[@michaelismichael4640]

@@BikeTouringMike I agree. The bar end shifters are now second nature to me. There is one aspect of them you didn't mention that is a big positive. The right hand one, the rear one, can be switched over from index mode to friction mode so that you don't have indexing issues. Very useful on long trips when gears and chain get worn.

[@paulenright]

Great review Mike ...Sutra, just add air and away you go. We've really have enjoyed ours...saddle b17 now more comfortable then my lazyboy!no flats🤞 and super smooth ride .🚴‍♂️🎥👍👋🇨🇦

[@BikeTouringMike]

So you have Sutras as well. Should have guessed, since Kona is a Canadian brand, right?

[@paulenright]

@@BikeTouringMike hi Mike good to hear back ah! Like so many things we like the USA seems to have role to play in the design and manufacturing, however, 2 guys from British Columbia did the initial work ...now the company is 50% American and 50% Canadian. That being said I bought mine based on your review from a few years ago👍moreover, we where fortunate to find 2 gently used ones and have added some Otlieb penniers on Amazon, based on yours and Darren's review...don't know if I'll ever have enough money saved to buy a Co/motion bike let alone 2🙄 but never say never! Looking forward to your next outing... safe travels Mike!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Wow, didn't know that anyone managed to get through that video, let alone be inspired to buy a bike after watching it. ;-) It was one of the first videos I filmed, and my editing skills were kind of poor as well. That's why the sound is horrible and there are "um's" and "aah's" every five second or so. That video is still performing quite well though, so I thought I would do an updated version that would be a bit more bearable to watch. ;-) Yeah, that Co-Motion is a great bike but to expensive in my eyes. Never got to try it out during our Czech week. But it's still just a bike. It had it fair share of problems as any of our bikes. I remember Darren had to borrow my multi-tool since he didn't bring one himself. He had some problems with one of the pedals if I remember correctly.

[@Niidea1986]

Whoever named the bike Kona Sutra definitely knew what he was doing…

[@RikuLeppanen]

Nice review! Thanks a lot and Happy New Year 2021!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Glad you liked it. Happy New Year Henrik!

[@OverTheHillPhil]

Liked and subscribed. Good review. I've the 2009 version of the Sutra (bright green frame) and 11 years on it's still a great bike. It came with a "plastic" saddle so I put my Brooks Professional on it. The Brooks is now 30 years old and still in great condition, but they have to be looked after.

[@russellnapier3884]

Nice review Mike. I’m using a standard gravel bike from Voodoo so having to buy all the extras for it. I’ve not done a long tour yet but short ones seem to go well. I’m tempted to get the Brooks saddle too but have not taken that plunge yet. Keep up the great video’s.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Russell! I haven't heard about that specific bike, I'll have to do some catching up. If it seems ok for a couple of days it's probably fine to go on a little longer tour as well. You get the feeling pretty quickly if there is something off with the bike. So I'm sure you'll have a lot of nice adventures ahead of you on that bike,

[@bruiser6479]

a very interesting review. It looks a very nice bike that appears to be very good value.

[@BikeTouringMike]

I really think so, since a lot of accessories that I would have otherwise bought anyways (Brooks saddle, rear rack, fenders) come bundled with the bike.

[@bruiser6479]

Bike Touring Mike That really makes a difference to the value. The Brooks saddle is a good choice. I have the B17 on my Cannondale Tourer and the Flyer on my ebike. I am one of those people who finds the Brooks saddle very comfortable right from the start. Would you consider fitting a dynamo hub on your bike? They seem pretty expensive. Especially if you have access to charging every few days. Modern battery banks are pretty cheap and reliable.

[@MrMilanina]

Great review, thank you. How tall are you and what is the riser you installed, please?

[@PizzaPizzaPizzq]

Two questions: 1. Do this have mechanical disk brakes and what is your experience with them. Are they hard to maintain? 2.Where did you get it. I live in Norway and it is difficult to find online.

[@rasmuswi]

For a minute or so, I thought the Kona Sutra might be the frame for me. Flat mount brakes. Throught axles. Clearance for 700x42 wheels. But then I realized it has a 73mm bottom bracket. Oh, I guess it's possible to shave off 4 mm from the shell, but that could make the chain rings touch the chainstays. The search goes on... (I'm looking to do a frame swap. Take all the components from my current Specialized Sequoia and put them on a sturdier, more touring oriented frame)

[@alangoffin3599]

Hi Mike really enjoy your videos question when touring what is the average daily mileage you factor in especially when camping and fully loaded Thanks Alan

[@mrman5517]

thanks for the really nice review!

[@davomccranko]

How would you compare the Sutra ULTD geometry compared to the regular Sutra geometry in XL size. ULTD has slightly slacker headtube and stack is about 20mm higher in XL size. I like how the newer models can fit pretty big tyres.. 50mm? I'm 194cm tall, 6'4 with a long inseam of 94cm, so I like a good stack height. Thanks Mike.

[@TateJenson]

Great review! It doesn't seem you have a kickstand on it, right? Is this a problem when you go on tour?

[@vijayakumarb3751]

Hi Mike, awesome review.I am planning to buy Kona Sutra 2022 model. I'm 5.9 tall and inseam is 80. Will 52 frame size work for me? From the chart, standover height is perfect with 52, but the recommended size comes to 54. I'm worried that I'll not be able to standover with both legs flat if i go for 54. Please advise. Thanks.

[@reeceholmes8546]

lovely bike, thanks Mike

[@orsations]

I have a 2013 sutra bought in 2015, with about 30k km on it. Still on the original wheels. These bikes are overbuilt to perfection. You pay for it in extra weight, but it’s unlikely they’ll let you down.

[@tsepaldorjee8998]

Thank you for yours information. I am gonna buy new one

[@BikeTouringMike]

Glad you found the information useful. They can be a bit hard to find nowadays, with the whole situation going on. Overall bikes are in high demand at the moment. But I wish you good luck finding one!

[@garypostell5268]

Outstanding

[@johnbrame3023]

Hi Mike. Thanks for the review. I did some touring in New Zealand (early 80's) and would like to do some touring again so I'm in the market for a bike. One negative comment I read somewhere else is that ones shoe can hit the fender when turning. Has anyone had this problem ?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hi John! There is no possibility of a toe overlap (which this phenomenon is called). I have a size 46 shoe (13 US) and I have tried to see if I could reach the fender with my toe, and there is no chance. So unless you have a very much larger foot than I do you're in the clear.

[@edwardsumner914]

Nice video. I enjoy your content. Keep it up.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thanks for the encouragement Ed!

[@lukeeclair7736]

Really helpful review. Thank you!

[@kma-2174]

Hi Mike ! Thanks for the video, i bought this bike last year and I love it. I want to add a head set spacer too, can you give me the name of this one ? Thanks a lot, keep up the good work !

[@andredo4880]

Nice. I got Domane al5 for longer rides. But its not good for riding in mountains. I think i will buy this bike, its heavy but i know i will have a lot of adventures with it

[@aarongomes314]

Hey Mike - I m 6 foot with a 35” inseam. Do you think I can still get by with a 58cm Sutra? I can’t find any 56cm models locally.

[@jakezarbrezhoneg4110]

👌🏻 Merci.🙏

[@eugenetaheny2710]

Terrific review Mike....! From Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺🚴

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Eugene! Hope all is well with you and Andrea during the lockdown. Take care of yourselves!

[@stevemullin1195]

You can get a small pouch for your bike tools and then put that in your water bottle holder

[@pierrrejette9023]

Hello Mike. Thanks for a great review. I like what you do. You think that you will be able to leave Sweden for bike trips this summer/fall? Thanks.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hello Pierre! Thanks for the encouragement. At the moment the only country that my county (Västerbotten) is welcome in is Denmark, and that is very far from here. Norway on the other hand (where I had planned to do a couple tours in) is only welcoming people from the southern part of Sweden. Ironic, isn't it? We will have to wait and see what happens. If Norway open their borders in the fall I might go there. Otherwise I'll probably just tour here in Sweden.

[@UlfKirste]

How does the bike do on steep slopes (15-20 %)? Thanks for the great review!

[@sophiemmc141]

Hello ! Thanks for this interesting video ! I'm thinking about buying the kona sutra SE but I am hesitating with a gravel (genesis croix de fer 20). Have you ever try a gravel bike? Is there really a big difference between a gravel and the Kona sutra? Thank you very much.

[@geodez86]

Гравийный велосипед для езды в основном по равнинной местности. На своём туринге kona sutra 2013 я могу забираться в крутые подъёмы с полным грузом, свободно махаю ногами и любуюсь красотами. У туринга очень сильные передачи. У гравия сильных передач скорости нет. Они ему не нужны!

[@mehrdaderfani669]

Thanks for the great review (both this one and your initial one). I am the same height as you, and I am looking at the XL (58) or L (56) size. Since we are the same height, the other major decision factor would be the inseam size ( Pubic Bone Height, not the pant's inseam size) . Since I can't find one near me to test ride it, it would greatly help me to also make sure that it is the right size taking my PBH into account. If you don't mind please let me know what is your PBH. Mine is 35" ( 89 cm). I am hoping that your inseam is around the same, so I can go ahead with putting my order in. ALSO, did you have any toe overlap issues? ... my shoe size is Euro 47 ( US 12) and toe overlap is an issue with some bikes. Thank you very much for your help.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hello Mehrdad. My inseam is 94 cm. I have got very long legs, short upper body. I actually discussed the issue of toe overlap when I made the video, but cut it out of the final edit since I though no one would would be interested. But there is no possibility of a toe overlap with your shoe size and the XL or L. I have a size 46 myslef, and there is just no way possible. Believe me, I've tried...

[@1UpKroeker]

What size did you end up getting. I am 6'1 1/2 " and my inseam is 90cm.

[@mehrdaderfani669]

@@1UpKroeker I got the 58, and fits perfect. I am 6'2" ( ~185 cm) with PBH of 35" ( 89 cm)

[@alangoffin3599]

Hi Mike what is the name of the bar riser on the stem ?

[@gratefultube]

I love my Brooks saddle.

[@GordoGambler]

My rails have broken twice on Flyers. I'm only 180 lbs. or so. I ended up needing a China made memory foam cover because of pimples.

[@tkdliron]

Would you say it is possible to use 28x45c or even 28x50x tires with fenders on the Kona Sutra?

[@t.sholto4700]

nice work!

[@prernasaha3555]

Hi Mike, great video! May I check exactly what the model is called? Cheers!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Do you mean the bike? Kona Sutra 2018 XL (58cm).

[@prernasaha3555]

@@BikeTouringMike Thanks Mike, yes I suppose I was a tad unsure because the newer versions seems to have LTD and ULTD ranges as well. Seems like with the old ones it was just simple Sutra!

[@daliborpuzigaca774]

Great review of the bike. I have a 2019 Kona Sutra. I wanted to ask you, did you notice your chain vibrating a little in the beginning when you pedalled, and put pressure on your pedals? I haven't ridden mine much (less than 300 km), but feel the chain vibrating when applying more pressure on the pedals. I wonder if it's because the bike and drivetrain are still new, and need time to break in a bit.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Dalibor. No, I can't say that I have felt any vibrations. Has that been on paved roads or gravel roads?

[@daliborpuzigaca774]

@@BikeTouringMike Paved roads. It happens when I put more pressure on the pedals. I lubricated the chain, but it still does it in certain gears more than others. I read that it can happen when the chain goes over the smaller cogs since this is a 9 speed drivetrain, and the chain is wider. I will keep riding it and see if it gets better. If not, maybe I'll take it to the bike shop for them to take a look.

[@fumblestiltskin]

@@daliborpuzigaca774 I have the 2019 Kona Sutra and never felt the chain vibrating.I wonder if the gears were properly indexed?Did you find out what the problem was or did it sort itself out?I've ridden over 3600 miles and have had no problems with mine.

[@Scruffybirdd]

Do you need to wear padded cycling shorts with this Brooks saddle?

[@vrubelvrubel6293]

I got the same Sutra as yours,model 2018? What rack for the from wheel did u choose?

[@BikeTouringMike]

It's called Xtreme lr-1 lowrider.

[@vrubelvrubel6293]

@@BikeTouringMike HOw much weight can it hold?

[@stevemullin1195]

Do you ride with padded shorts on your brooks saddle?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hi Steve! For my daily rides I ride with both padded shorts and shorts with no padding. But for most of my bike tours I use a padded short.

[@paulkotyk881]

Good video. Useful, thanks!

[@GaborMeszarosName]

Hi Mike, a silly question: How did you add a headset spacer? I have seen the 2019 and the 2020 Sutras, but the handlebar by default was set on the highest position on them (without room for extra headset spacers, the fork is cut unlike on the Surly). Or do you mean you added an extender? If so, which one do you use? Thank you!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hello Gabor! You're correct that the handlebar is set on the highest position. So I did this. I order a set of four different spacers. Then I removed one of the smaller ones that came stock on the bike (i think it was 5 mm) and replaced it with on of the largest that I ordered (15 mm). I then put everything back into lace and it worked greeat. It feels just as stable as before the switch. So the trick is to remove one of the old ones.

[@GaborMeszarosName]

@@BikeTouringMike Brilliant. :) Thank you for the explanation!

[@meindertatedejong5578]

@@BikeTouringMike , Hello Mike, read your answer but don’t get it I am afraid. In the end you come 1 cm short I guess, so not all the bolds to fasten the stem can be used?

[@ormsk954]

Top chap!

[@Kevin97587]

Nice video, I bought the 2022 Kona sutra. I do have one question, how do u find the brakes? I find them quite weak and even after tightening the cable more they dont feel very good. And when i dont use the bicycle for a day or so, the brake lever becomes very tight to brake for the first time (after that it loosens up) have u experienced this? thanks.

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

I find the brakes by placing my hands on the handle bars and extending my fingers towards the front wheel😂

[@anasmrabet7502]

Hello, I am following you from France 🇫🇷, and I learned a lot from you, I have a question about this bike, you compared it with the Trek 520, salsa Marrakech and surly, but I 'would like to compare the Kona Sutra with VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400, I hesitate between the two, Sach that the TX-400 has a good reputation worldwide known, and thanks in advance 👍

[@1UpKroeker]

I was told that the salsa needs to use salsa racks.

[@loveenough1]

Good review Mike! Any other tours planned?

[@BikeTouringMike]

I'm off to the Vildmarksvägen (the Wilderness Road) here in Sweden any day now. Just waiting for the right weather. Probably going there in about two weeks time.

[@edlaws6867]

Hej Mike, sure is a nice bike, possibly the perfect tourer. Brooks saddles are great, does the saddle mould to your bum, or does your bum mould to the saddle? And the leather only comes from vegan cows, so everyone's happy. You must thank your Mother from me, I tried some Rowan berries this week. It's a flavour experience I won't forget in a hurry. The auto generated subtitles of this video came up with " Hi there spider Mike here" which made me laugh. Have fun on the Vildmarksvägen, Ed

[@BikeTouringMike]

Funny coincidence. Malin and I just spent the last two days taking down and hauling away one of our three Rowan trees. I by two days, I mean two full work days. I started cutting down the branches on by one, standing on our garage roof. It wasn't the most safe working environment I must admit, since I often was hanging out a meter or two over the edge of the garage, while operating a chainsaw. Our kind neighbor decided to help us with the stem of the tree in the end. I don't know if he was more scared for my sake or for the possibility that the tree might fall onto his house. Probably the latter. ;-) We need the space to build a new bike shed. That is the new project around here since I finished the patio. We have 15 bikes + 1 moped in the family, so our current bike/wood shed is way to small. We're storing a couple of bikes in the loft a the moment, and that is a hassle.

[@edlaws6867]

@@BikeTouringMike I thought we were bad with 9 bikes and a moped. I see people at work every week who've fallen off a ladder, but we all over reach etc. I'm glad you're the environmental officer, and not health and safety. I fell from a tall stool decorating and broke some ribs earlier in the year. Trees are a lot lot bigger on the floor aren't they!

[@dino2564]

Great review Mike! What is your inseam size?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank youu Dino! 95 cm or 37,4 inches.

[@dino2564]

@@BikeTouringMike Oh that is huge! I was wondering because of that long seatpost.

[@lonepecheurboussac1249]

hi mike i finaly got a sutra but i need to raise the handle bars slightly did you raise yours?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Yeah, I just got a set of spacer rings and adjusted it to the right height (for me about 2 cm). You can find them online or your local bike shop. Just remove the Kona plate on top of your stem and add the desired spacer.

[@princessppvco1583]

@@BikeTouringMike thanks I had bought a riser stem and was giving me troubles with wobble in the forks

[@lonepecheurboussac1249]

@@BikeTouringMike yes i did a rised tube and the bolt wasnt threading right i went back at it and i managed it to get it threaded right all done now shes a lovely bike

[@91722854]

what is the fork mount called? What brand is it?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hi! It's called Xtreme LR-1 Lowrider.

[@j0en]

Where did you purchase your bicycle? I am having troubles finding one in Sweden.

[@BikeTouringMike]

I bought it from Bikester.se. However this year getting hold of one seems a bit difficult due to the state of the world today. But it seems like that with most bikes these day.

[@j0en]

@@BikeTouringMike Thanks! I have noticed that as well. Did you get the aluminum or the steel frame bicycle?

[@lorenzoantiga1463]

Hi, I'm 182 tall with an inseam of 91 cm. What size do you suggest? Thanks

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hi Lorenzo! Looks like the L (56 cm) should fit you. But I recommend you to check the size charts over at konaworld.com to make sure.

[@lorenzoantiga1463]

@@BikeTouringMike thank you Mike! I agree with you. I'm now deciding between Kona sutra and Trek 520. I have very long legs compared to my height risking to have a big drop between saddle and handlebar, I don't know if to be very bending with the tors is very comfortable in a touringbike. Thanks again!

[@andreashoppe1969]

Hi I am 193cm do you think the 58cm will be too small for me?

[@BikeTouringMike]

I think it will suit you fine. I still think I'm right between 56 and 58. I am 188 but i have very long legs and pretty long arms. If I had a more proportinal body the 56 would probably have been the bike for me.

[@andreashoppe1969]

@@BikeTouringMike hi! Yesterday I have been test-riding it. It feels super good. The reach is lovely! The shop owner will race the stem for me a bit. Because i was leaning forward pretty far because of the hight of the saddle. But after that it will feel just amazing!

[@BuscandoFauna]

Excellent 👏👏👏

[@charlesgould8047]

You don't break in a Brooks saddle. It breaks YOU in.

[@bruceh92]

Kona gave this bike a real classic and timeless look with it’s nice paint Color offset with leather seat, sorry saddle, and handlebar tape - or is it cockpit tape, I don’t know, don’t know the lingo, but just saying this is a nice looking bike and appears well built. I have a Dew and Big Honzo - both new current Kona models as I have just taken up cycling. I enjoyed this review and want to thank you for all your input. Big thanks from Ontario Canada.

[@garylindberg2492]

Are you comfortable with the wide handlebars or would you prefer a bit smaller width?

[@BikeTouringMike]

I said in the first review that I thought the handlebars were a bit to wide. But now I would change them for the world. I think I was used to my road bike, which has really narrow handlebars. I havn't been riding it much lately, but I took it out for a spin the other day and the handlebars felt awfully narrow. So I guess you adapt to what your using the most. The benefit with the wide handlebars is that tha handling of the bike increases a lot. Plus if your having a bikepacking setup, you're able to fit a larger bag on the handlebar.

[@garylindberg2492]

@@BikeTouringMike i did read that a wider handlebar is good for helping your breathing. glad it is working for you and i am so grateful for all your work on these videos!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thanks Gary! Means a lot hearing you say that. Gives me motivation to keep making videos!

[@tsepaldorjee8998]

How much it cost you normally ?

[@BikeTouringMike]

The retail price is 1499 USD i believe. If you are lucky you might be able to find it a bit cheaper somewhere.

[@tsepaldorjee8998]

@@BikeTouringMike thanks a lots

[@donaldvinsonhaler9698]

how come nobody evertalks about gearing front and back

[@RijalFahmiMohamadi]

this is great video :) :)

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you Rijal!

[@jakobpankratz9325]

... and the Brooks Sattle Cover is not really waterproof... that is my experience... so I take a shower cape as a back up 😂

[@BikeTouringMike]

Great bike hack!

[@socaljoe]

Good review and information. Definitely a nice bike. Do you have an opinion/experience with the spray that one sprays inside a steel frame to prevent rust?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Hi Joe! No, I have never used or heard about this. I take very good care of my bikes. Never leave them out in the rain, try to avoid riding in rainy conditions as much as possible, and stor them inside. That has worked for me over the years. I have a steel mountainbike that I've had for 20 years now, and it's still going strong. I have designated it to be my winter bike, so it takes most of the damage from the salt they pour onto the roads during the winter around here. As soon as they do that I put my other bikes away for the winter and just ride the winter bike.

[@CodSlap]

So Cal Joe I believe you mean JB Weigle’s Frame Saver? There are many alternatives, but JBW is the old-school / most-known stuff. Not the best option in my opinion, though. I have a Kona CroMoly frame that is very comparable to the Sutra (2016 Big Rove ST), and I treated mine with JB Weigle to begin with. I was surprised how quickly the stuff dries up, which makes me think JB Weigle is essentially boiled linseed oil in a spray can. I then switched over to Fluid Film, treated my frame with it and after two years it’s still a wet film on the inside of my frame adhering to the metal - which is exactly what you want.

[@paul.steckler]

There's another recent review of this bike on Rad Bike Adventure: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4rVaIuegrOGitk. Also very positive about the bike.

[@BikeTouringMike]

Yeah, I saw that. Ryan and I both have the 2018 model as well.

[@sir_lander]

I bought a cheap cover from aliexpress 👌🏿

[@sir_lander]

Saddle cover

[@BikeTouringMike]

Good solution to the problem!

[@fumblestiltskin]

@@BikeTouringMike When I bought my 2019 Kona Sutra I had the shop swap the b17 saddle for the c17 with cut out as it is an all weather saddle and can be left out in the rain with no problems.And it is just as comfortable as the b17 in my opinion.