Kona Esatto vs Roadhouse/Wheelhouse
10-10-16, 09:17 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Kona Esatto vs Roadhouse/Wheelhouse
Yeah, I know they're not "real" gravel/cx bikes, but has anybody out there ridden both? I've ridden a Wheelhouse and liked it well enough (other than those AWFUL tires!), but nobody in the Portland area seems to have any Esattos. At $200 less for the same spec and probably 1+ lb less weight, the Esatto D is tempting.
Scott Peterson
OC, OR
Scott Peterson
OC, OR
10-12-16, 12:37 PM
#2
Newbie
Join Date: May 2016
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 18
Bikes: '14 RM Altitude, '16 Kona Roadhouse, '97 Kona Kapu
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
The Roadhouse geo is identical to the Esatto ti so assume identical to the alu models.
you're in Portland and you are even considering an alumimum option for what you can get in steel? Portland? Oregon? This is crazy talk.
Resale is probably not a consideration, but you can surely bet a Roadhouse/Wheelhouse frame/fork will get you far more back in resale than you save on an Esatto. I don't know that but it's an educated assumption. And those Esattos, as rad as they are, are not big sellers for Kona, at least not up here in Vancouver, so can be found for great clearance prices.
For all intents and purposes they are the same bike. If $ is your main concern then get the Esatto. Personally, I think kona did a great job with the Roadhouse and Wheelhouse and they will always be desirable bikes. And I love the look of steel tubes.
you're in Portland and you are even considering an alumimum option for what you can get in steel? Portland? Oregon? This is crazy talk.
Resale is probably not a consideration, but you can surely bet a Roadhouse/Wheelhouse frame/fork will get you far more back in resale than you save on an Esatto. I don't know that but it's an educated assumption. And those Esattos, as rad as they are, are not big sellers for Kona, at least not up here in Vancouver, so can be found for great clearance prices.
For all intents and purposes they are the same bike. If $ is your main concern then get the Esatto. Personally, I think kona did a great job with the Roadhouse and Wheelhouse and they will always be desirable bikes. And I love the look of steel tubes.
10-12-16, 01:14 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Steel seems to always sell for a bit of a premium over aluminum, but these aren't just steel they're Reynolds 853 steel. I would easily pay $200 more for that. It'll be a little heavier than the aluminum, but the ride (at least the ride on my LeMond BA) is magical and I say this as someone who isn't generally a believer in the legend of steel being a superior building material.
Of course, the OP has ridden the Wheelhouse and so knows how much or how little magic is in the ride.
@rando_couche, can I assume you've talked to the guys at Sellwood? They have a very tight relationship with Kona, and if anyone can bring one in for you to try it's them.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FlashBazbo
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
12
10-14-15 09:23 AM
