Noa

Im changing my drivetrain on my kona grand wagon. I now have the opportunity to choose between the two diffrent sizes of the drivecomponents 1/8 or 3/32,,, is any of theese more preferably? I value durability before weight.
thanks
/Noa

stilltooslow

I'm assuming your Kona is an off road bike? I'd go for 3/32 if a SS, and 1/8 if fixed. Both will be durable, but when riding fixed 1/8 is generally preferred due to the additional stresses.

BTW....What part of Sweden are you from? I'm there a good part of each summer, where you'll find me doing plenty of miles on my road bike!

hairnet

1/8" chain so you can use whatever cog and chainring you want

Velognome 

I use both and have experienced no difference. The 3/32 came about because I had a praticular chainring I wanted to use. What components are you considering?

seanifred

i have experienced less drivetrain noise with 1/8.

Noa

Hi. My kona Grand wagon is a roadbike. (Its THEE ROADBIKE )
Im riding SS, never tried fixed but I´m happy with SS.
I will use it for touring in europe running for several months.
Normally we are using 3/32 in sweden mostly I think but there is allready a 1/8 sprocket and if I ever want to use that one again I have to stick to 1/8.
Also the thought of the thicker material appeal to me.
I live in Uddevalla, westcoast but I try to spend as little time as possible in sweden.
/Noa

Noa

Im considering Sugino Messenger Sprocket in the front, Shimano Freewheel in the back and the chain should be Shimano CN-NX01.

Leukybear 

Your chain is already 1/8ths.

Your bike was right next to mine when I bought my paddywagon and significantly priced higher and better equipped.

Dead giveaway is the ellipses, 75's, and "messenger" zen chainring.

Keep it 1/8ths if you want durability. I converted my paddywagon which came 3/32nds to 1/8ths now and better equipped than your grand ha!

Sixty Fiver

It just comes down to the parts you are using, 1/8 chaion can always be used oni 3/32 drives if you mix cogs/ chainrings.

My new old whip runs a 3/32 drive and is whisper quiet... running a 52 tooth road crank with 7 speed KMC chain and a 19 tooth Surly cog, the larger chain ring and cog also contribute to the smoothness of the drive, the tensile strength of 3/32 and 1/8 chain is nearly equal and durability is not really a concern.

The '51 CCM and the '55 Raleigh are also 1/8 drive... both are silent.

Noa

Yours may be better equipped than mine today but the thing is the FRAME,,, the grand wagon have a very exclusive frame. Anyway.. thanks for the tip, so I will stay with 1/8. But could you please be more specific about the sprockets? What are the brands and where do I find them?
We dont have good shops in sweden i think so i have to order on the net
/Noa

Noa

I see youve made 22500 posts here,, thats impressive.

Noa

I have one more question: My current chainring is a 45T 144 mm PCD (Sugino messenger). Now I have found a 42T 130 mm PCD. is it possible to put this chainring on my bike or do I have to shift the whole package,,, i mean its diffrent PCD mm whatever that is (guessing its its the diameter from bolthole to bolthole)
/Noa

Sixty Fiver

Meh.

I only hope that somewhere in all that blah blah blah I have managed to give sound advice.

Shimano freewheels really hit the sweet spot for price and performance... there are better ones like White Industries but then you are looking at 3 times the cost for those. I need to pick up a freewheel for my new build and figure Shimano will be the way to go since I won't be using the SS much and the 16 tooth WI freewheel I have is too small for my drive set up.

Will say that if you can afford it, White Industries makes a great freewheel.

If you plan to mix and match 1/8 chain is the way to go as it opens up options at both ends.

The Kona looks nice save for the ridiculous angle and brake position they show on the bars.

Noa

hehe yes,, Im not happy with the handle bar, I will change it. I have looked at white industries freewheel but it looks as if they are only made for 3/32. Then I would prefer a shimano made for 1/8 since i want all components to match as much as possible. so how about my two chainrings with 144 mm PCD and 130 mm PCD, do they both match on my crankset?
/Noa

Sixty Fiver

The crankset is 144 bcd so you can only use a 144 bcd chain wheel... 130 is the standard for road bicycles and road cranks.

Noa

ok i see. that mean to get the ratio around 2,35 that I like, I neet a freewheel with 19t. As far as Ive seen its only white industry that makes thoose (i mean in the better quality segment). So I guess I have to mix my 1/8 chainring with a 3/32 freewheel from whites.......
I have a genesis day one ss that is geared 42t - 18t wich give me a ratio of 2,33. very light but i like it bcz its so much hills and upwards in oslo where i use it,,, i also like the low gearing when the wind is blowing against,,, and Im not really in a rush. So when setting up my beautiful grand wagon for a 6 month touring in south europe,, i think i will go for a similar ratio,,, i guess there are some hills in spain to and also the bike will be heavier with all packing on it. since i now have a 45t chainring and dont want to change the whole crankset , i will buy a 19t white freewheel that gives me a ratio of 2,37. that should be perfect I think,, for a layed back touring along the mediterrainian sea
/Noa

Kayce

By touring do you mean long distance unsupported rides all over the continent with lots of tiny towns?


If that is the case it may be better to go with 3/32 because that is the standard on the lower end and old bikes that populate those towns. So a tiny little bike shop is more likely to have replacement/ repair parts in that size.

Noa

well the only parts on my bike that will be 1/8 is the chainring and the crankset and the chain.. I can bring an extra chain and the chainrings and crankset is not gonna brake I guess,,, anyway,, this will be in europe so I take my chanes for now,, maybe change to 3/32 later when its time to replace the chainring
Thanks for replys.
/Noa

Leukybear 

Google up the model. Kona has a very good archive of their website/ online model resources easily found on google.


Psh the grandwagon doesn't have what it takes to be commuted on and locked outside daily. My paddywagon is a tank which isn't afraid to take some scratches and bruises nor am I to hesitant to deny it those opportunities.
I have photos of it that will make you cringe and have nightmares for fear of such tragedies befalling yours.

I wouldn't say exclusive.... it didn't sell very well from the price point not to mention the paddywagon exasperated the dimishing returns on it. To such an extent that kona axed it after a single model year. Yes, I lusted after it at one point and if I ever cross roads with one in my size at the price I'm willing to pay for it I will snatch it up.

Noa

I bought two Grand Wagons, the last ones selling out from Chainreaction bycycles in Ireland.
I bought them bcz its the most beutiful bikes i know. And the frame is much stronger than the paddy. Its a bronze welded frame with luggings. It makes the frame very strong and stiff. The Grand wagon is 4 times the price of a paddy so ofcz its a better bike. I can buy a paddywagon any day, its nothing special with that bike, its a pretty cheap bike. Actually Im getting a paddy for my girlfriend now... but Im not jealous on her with that one hehe . Well the Grand Wagon didnt sell well and I guess its bcz its to expensive,, just look at You,, You wanted it but it was to much money for You .
There is no way a paddy could ever look better than my Grand Wagons,, its the paintjob, color, framegeometry.... its just a diffrence, You would know it if You had them side by side.
But its good that You are happy with You paddy,,, good that we are both happy with our bikes,,, but please dont compare them,, its just diffrent leages hehe.

Leukybear 

So you have two pairs of legs?
Unless you're a mutant, send me one!
Anyhow it wasn't the money, my road bike would prove that I obviously do have my cycling priorities straight. It was simply the wrong bike for the wrong application. If the crime rate was as low as it was in Sweden and people were more careful around bike racks it would be a totally different story. Sure I can buy a grandwagon but would you ride your grandwagon in a storm without fender mounts and significantly less tire clearance for wide tires to get to work to lock it up next to department store bikes?
Besides you don't want to compare my primary di2 equipped dogma 2 sitting on bora2's against it.

Seeing that your question is solved and this is getting off topic, I'm locking this.