fsflipside

Hi there,

I'm brand new to biking and am moving somewhere where a bike will be my main mode of transportation (to/from work 5 miles round trip, errands around town, groceries, weekend rides on paved trails, etc.) I plan to attach a rear rack to the bike I get. I've visited several bike shops in my area and test ridden many hybrids/commuters. Of the ones I've ridden, my favorites are now narrowed down to two:

Kona Dew ($525)
https://www.konaworld.com/dew.cfm

Trek 7.2 FX WSD ($479)
7.2 FX WSD - Trek Bicycle

I really enjoyed riding both of them, and would love some advice to help me decide between the two!

Thank you very much!

phx1973

I have a feeling you are looking at very similar rides and it just will come down to comfort and feel for you. I cannot comment on the Trek from personal experience. But I love my Kona Dew. I bought it new in 2010 (2011 model). I haven't put nearly enough miles on it but that's my fault not the bikes. I was just thinking this week about how sturdy the components on this bike have been. Mine had the Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain, very low end. But it's been a workhorse with no problems whatsoever. Here is a picture from the weekend. I added a Topeak rear rack and also purchased the Topeak trunk bag that goes with it. That has been the best solution as far as carrying things on my commute. I also tried regular panniers for a while but heel-kick was a problem.

Here's a pic from the weekend:

SouthFLpix

The specs on both are very similar. Basically they are so similar that the choice can come down to things like which color do you prefer, or which stock saddle is the more comfortable one. The Kona does come with Welgo platform pedals, which are probably better than the Trek's 'off-brand' plastic, but that is not a huge deal.

They both come with 700x35 tires, which I think are an ideal size for commuting, and actually should work pretty well even on gravel or unpaved roads. Both have 8 speed cassettes with a front triple, and the same exact gear range. So very closely matched bikes.

fsflipside

Thank you so much for the input!

fsflipside

One other thing ... one of the bike shop guys thought that Konas were generally better quality than Treks. He said that the Dew was a little more expensive than the 7.2 FX because of the component quality and the durability/longevity of the Kona. Does anybody have any experience with this?

phx1973

Kona's are typically very durable. Mine has been.

Ktea

I don't have any experience with the Kona, but I've been commuting on a Trek 7.2 FX for almost 3 years now. I've been very happy with it. I swapped out the grips for Ergons and the saddle for a Brooks, but other than that it's stock.

Hangtownmatt

In your particular case don't get lost in the details. The shop you by it from, and the support they will provide, is far more valuable than the differences between these two bicycles. Pick the shop ... not the bike.

Matt