Mountain Bike Brake Levers
Review Of The Kona Dew Plus Hybrid Bike
The Kona Dew Plus is number three in the Kona Dew range, and introduces an important improvement in spec over the Dew original. It’s the first model in the range to have disc brakes as standard. These bring a vital improvement in performance and safety. However, it shares many features in common with other models in the Dew range.
All these street hybrid bikes represent great value. The manufacturer is well respected, and Kona style is known the world over.
The Dew is primarily aimed at the street bike market. There’s great demand for bikes that will take you to work and also out and about for fun at the weekend. Most users of hybrid bikes want a bike that is comfortable and easy to use. The bike should ride easily on the road, but be able to take to grass and gravel when needed. The Dew Plus appears to deliver on all these fronts.
It’s built around a Kona 7005 Aluminium frame. The sloping top tube means that there is a safe standover clearance, also that the model is unisex. It’s finished in a smart black, with equally good-looking graphics.
It features 700mm road wheels and uses Kona’s own design Project 2 aluminium fork. The 700mm wheels give you far greater speed on the road, which is where the bike will spend most of its time. This is a hybrid bike after all, not a mountain bike. The rigid aluminium fork helps in keeping the weight down, and is simple to maintain.
The frame and fork have eyelets to allow you to fit mudguards. Most will find these essential on a day-to-day bike.
It’s fitted with a triple chainset – good for flexibility and ease on hills and for distances.
Other features include:-
- Hydraulically-operated disc brakes by Shimano. This is the most important upgrade from the previous Dew model. The main advantage of disc brakes is that they keep the braking surfaces out of the mud and grit, cutting down on wear and improving stopping performance. The hydraulic operating system is very smooth to use.
- Twenty-four gears in three ranges, with Shimano RapidFire gear shifters. Changing gear is simple – you just click up and down the range using thumb and forefinger.
- Kona Comfort saddle, flat pedals and wide 35mm tyres. A practical, usable bike. The 35mm tyres are wide enough to absorb road vibration, but narrow enough to have low rolling resistance. Most people will find flat pedals the best option. they can always be changed for cleats at a later date of course.
- Very competitive price for a disc-brake bike.
The Kona Dew Plus is a package of sound, basic components, priced at a level that almost everyone will find appealing. So to conclude, we think that the extra investment in the Dew Plus over the cheaper models is well worth it for the great improvement in braking spec and performance.
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