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FAST BIKE FRIDAY – KONA LIBRE

Kona Libre 2021

This week for Fast Bike Friday we’re taking a look at a truly versatile bike-packing, adventure and gravel bike from quirky Canadian bike brand Kona – the Kona Libre is a drop-bar-bike that comes pretty close to fitting the ‘one bike does all’ job description.

For those of you who aren’t already familiar with the Libre model it’s worth pointing out that for a while now Kona have included a carbon version of this bike in their range. The carbon Libre gravel adventure bike has been popular with riders looking for a light, spritely bike that’s capable of setting a fast pace off-road, but which can also carry a useful amount of bike-packing luggage when they want to head further afield on an epic multi-day adventure. With the carbon version proving popular with adventurous gravel fans around the world it was only a matter of time until Kona responded to the masses asking for a more affordable alloy option – introducing the all-new aluminium Kona Libre.

Kona Libre 2021

With a lightweight alloy frame and a compliant carbon fork the Libre feels spritely

The Kona Libre boasts a superlight 6061 butted aluminium frame with thru-axles and flat mounts for disc brakes; the frame is stiff and responsive, behaving like a fast gravel bike on and off road when not laden with copious amounts of bike-packing luggage. To complement that speedy frame Kona have spec’d a pair of their compliant Carbon Verso forks to add a little more comfort on rough roads and gravel tracks. Both the frame and forks sport multiple bolt-on-bosses to allow you to load up the bike for longer trips and multi-day adventures. That’s what’s great about the Libre – its versatility; you could easily use this bike as a workhorse commuter during the week, race a challenging gravel event at the weekend, carrying the minimum of gear for a fast finishing time, or kit it out with all of your bike-packing luggage and head out from your front door on a touring adventure to those places you’ve always wanted to ride.

Kona Libre 2021

The Libre’s alloy frame features multiple bolt-on bosses allowing you to carry as much or as little bike-packing equipment as you like

Kona Libre 2021

With a stiff oversized alloy headtube and a lightweight carbon fork steering is fast and responsive

Kona Libre 2021

The Kona Libre’s frame boasts liberal clearance for nice wide 45c wide tyres

Kona Libre 2021

The Kona Verso full carbon fork features multiple bolt-on bosses for your personal bike-packing luggage setup

When it comes to the drivetrain Kona have sensibly spec’d the easy-to-use, functional, no-nonsense SRAM Apex groupset. Consisting of a single 40T chainring upfront combined with a wide-ratio 11-42T cassette on the rear to provide you with all the gearing you’ll need in every gravel-biking scenario you can think of – uphill on loose gravel tracks, downhill on smooth stretches of tarmac road and everything else in between you’ll never struggle to find the right gear for the job. Being pioneers of the 1X setup it goes without saying that SRAM have engineered in extra security when it comes to chain retention with the single ring sporting a narrow / wide tooth profile and the rear derailleur featuring a clutch mech to keep the chain tight and prevent it from unshipping on rough terrain.

Kona Libre 2021

A simple SRAM Apex 1x drivetrain is simple, functional and provides all the gear ratios you need to conquer any terrain or gradient

Gear selection is made using a simple 11-speed shifter integrated into the right brake lever. If you’ve not used SRAM before it may take a moment to get used to the gear-changing-action, with only one lever moving the chain up and down the rear cassette; this is done by pressing the lever inward. Pressing it further in towards the centre of the bars moves the derailleur up the cassette while a lighter touch, pressing the lever not so far towards the centre of the bars brings the rear derailleur back down the block. It sounds complicated! But in practice it’s very simple and quickly feels intuitive; even moving between this and Shimano or Campagnolo’s alternative systems on other bikes is easy once you’re used to it.

Kona Libre 2021

A single SRAM Apex mechanical gear shifter and brake lever is simple and instinctive to use

When disc-brake-equipped cyclocross and gravel bikes first appeared it was pretty common to see them sporting mechanical disc brakes rather than a hydraulic option. This made sense at the time as it allowed cyclists to use their existing mechanical gear and brake levers with not so much layout on new equipment. At the time these mechanical disc brakes were a bit of compromise due to the way they worked, typically only featuring one moving piston in the caliper rather two which could make adjusting the spacing between the brake and the rotor frustrating and not always perfect. Happily things moved on pretty quickly and braking brands such as TRP developed double side mechanical brake calipers which behave much more like good hydraulic options. Kona have spec’d just such a mechanical disc brake on the Libre; the dual piston TRP Spyre C’s are recognised for their superior braking power and easy set up. In a move to keep the Libre within a more affordable price bracket Kona have done well to fit these capable mechanical disc brakes.

Kona Libre 2021

Mechanical disc brakes help to keep the overall price of the Libre down, these Spyre C options are renowned for their outstanding performance

Kona Libre 2021

The disc brake setup is neat and tidy thanks to those flat mounts

When it comes to the wheelset Kona have spec’d a pair of durable, fast-rolling, gravel-specific wheels which feature sealed bearing Formula thru-axle hubs laced to WTB KOM Light Team i25 TCS 2.0 rims. These wheels will stand up to the rigours of unpredictable gravel adventures and can handle the additional weight of bike-packing equipment too; while they’re built to stand up to the demands of mixed terrain riding they’re not overly heavy and accelerate quickly, holding their speed when you’re heads down ticking of long miles on fast, smooth stretches of tarmac. Tyre choice is all-important when it comes to gravel bikes, with the best performing tyres being able to roll fast on smoother terrain while still providing ample grip when off-road surfaces get more loose and unpredictable. The Libre comes fitted with a pair of 700x45c WTB Riddler TCS gravel tyres; these fast rolling tyres feature a minimal, shallow tread pattern in the centre of the tyre and a more pronounced, blocky tread pattern on the outer edges, perfect for the ever-changing terrain and riding conditions.

Kona Libre 2021

Formula thru-axle hubs laced to WTB KOM Light Team i25 TCS 2.0 rims, fitted with WTB Riddler TCS 45c tyres are tough and fast-rolling

Kona Libre 2021

Finishing kit is from Kona with alloy handle bars, stem and seatpost

Kona Libre 2021

A WTB Volt saddle with custom Kona branding is comfortable and will stand up to the rigors of gravel riding

The Kona Libre is a really versatile, sensibly priced gravel bike made to excel in lots of different riding scenarios; a bike for the demands of the daily commute to and from work? A bike for the winter months when riding conditions are wet and unpredictable? A lightweight gravel racer ready for competition? Or a pure bike-packing workhorse loaded up and ready to take you off on multi-day riding adventures? The Kona Libre really can do it all. With a lightweight alloy frame full of bolt-on bosses, a compliant carbon fork and a really simple, brilliantly functional SRAM groupset set the Libre is a no-nonsense gravel bike that will help make your riding more fun and more diverse.

Kona Libre 2021

Fully laden with bike-packing equipment the Libre is a reliable workhorse; ridden without bags the Libre feels agile and alive

The Kona Libre is available in-store and online now. RRP £1,699.00

 

Full Specification:

  • Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
  • Fork: Kona Verso Full Carbon Flat Mount Disc
  • Shifters: SRAM Apex 11-Speed
  • Rear Derailleur: SRAM Apex 11-Speed
  • Cassette : SRAM PG1130 11-42t 11-Speed
  • Chainset: SRAM Apex 40T
  • Brakes: TRP Spyre C Mechanical Disc
  • Rotors: Front – TRP TR160 160mm / Rear TRP TR160 160mm
  • Wheelset: Front – Formula 100x12mm Hub, WTB KOM Light Team i25 TCS 2.0 Rim
  • Wheelset: Rear – Formula 142x12mm Hub, WTB KOM Light Team i25 TCS 2.0 Rim
  • Front Tyre: WTB Riddler TCS 700x45c
  • Rear Tyre: WTB Riddler TCS 700x45c
  • Stem: Kona Road Alloy
  • Handlebar: Kona Road Alloy
  • Handlebar Tape: Kona Cork Tape
  • Seat Post: Kona Thumb Alloy
  • Saddle: WTB Volt

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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