Aldone

Hello

I'm interested in The Kona Ute, maily because it's a lot cheeper than an Xtracycle and it's avaiable in Italy.

Anybody tried it?

vik 

I sat on one yesterday and have looked at the spec...the thing is it is cheaper than an Xtracycle and brand new mtn bike [or Surly Big Dummy], but not nearly as useful since you can't add all kinds of off the shelf bits to it and expand what it can do. Have a look at the many uses people put their Xtracycles to and then look at the Ute to see how you'll use it.

I think you get your money's worth with the Ute as long as you are satisfied with what it can do....however if you want to have as much flexibility as an Xtracycle I don't think a Ute is worth the money - you'll be left not fully satisfied.

BTW - I'm not sure what an Xtracycle costs in Italy, but here in Canada I could buy one and get a cheap used mtn bike for the same price or cheaper than a Ute.

climbhoser

Will a Stokemonkey work on a Ute?

My primary purpose for a longtail would be to Stokemonkey it to shorten the time on my commute and grocery errands. Not for all the time riding, but because I have an 11month old I like to spend as much time with as possible, which often means my commute eats into that. Oh yeah, and emergencies, it's nice to have a get-there-fast rig when it's crunch time!

So, scoop?

tfahrner

We're evaluating the Stokemonkular potential of the Ute. But getting SM shipping again for Xtracycles has priority.

climbhoser

BTW, Todd, how is that going? Did you guys decide on a battery? Lookin' like it'll be sooner or later?

Oh, and were I to end up getting a SM could you point me in the direction of some instructions on how to "beat the governor?"

Thanks man, love what you do!

JeffS

Ok, now... all at once... everyone pile on Todd with the availability questions...

Must be nice to have such an in-demand product.

Abneycat

I don't know about the Ute. The 700c wheels and integrated aluminum design don't inspire confidence any more than an Xtracycle freeradical (less, actually, after having my faith in the freerad grow).

It seems cheaper, but you only get one set of bags, nowhere near the capacity that the Xtracycle comes with. I guess by the time you spent the money on sets of panniers to equal up to the Xtra (you might need 6, 2 on a front rack, to meet the freeloaders? 4 if they were big, I guess), it would probably be about the same as an Xtracycle/Novato package, or you could build your own . And even then, you can't carry larger stuff in a pannier unlike the freeloaders, unless you spent the time to adapt your own custom solution.

Personally, I think its okay, it seems like an okay price, but it doesn't seem to be on the same plateau as the Xtracycle. Overall, the Ute having just panniers instead of a nice open sling system is the key point for me.

dwnptrl_777

{Secretly hoping Todd answers—too skeered to ask directly...**

Aldone

On the Konaworld website the Ute has an alluminium frame with 700c wheels, BUT on the paper catalogue (you can download the pdf on the kona website) it's a cromoly frame with 26" wheels ....

I'm quite confused

Rob_E

Looks like maybe they initially were thinking 26", but then decided to go with 700c. See this post on BikeHugger.

Aldone

And they even decided to switch from a Cromoly to an Alluminium frame??

Abneycat

I suppose so. I don't know why, perhaps cost?

With the aluminum, one poorly loaded run, one unforeseen pothole.. On an Xtracycle it would mean the hose clamp treatment until you found a good welder. And you can tell, beforehand, when the Xtracycle is overloaded. But with the Ute, it could mean the end of your frame. I'm pretty biased in this regard, but after having crushed so many "super durable oversize aluminum" racks (4 now, one with a "claimed" load capacity of 75kg which utterly failed at.. 12kg..) from various vendors of various designs and price ranges - to watch each and every single one go out the door the same way - well, CrMo would've been a preferred option.

johann

The other alternative, probaby cheaper, probably available in Europe (i think it is a European firm), is the Yuba Mundo

Aldone

I think the price of the Yuba Mundo is quite high

It's an Hi Ten Steel frame, inferior to cromoly, fitted with super cheap components and the singlespeed model costs 540 euro.
Considering that the Xtra costs 400 euro you can buy a better bike with better components for 140 euro

dwainedibbly

The Ute is something like $1000 cheaper than the built-up BD, if I recall. Apples vs oranges, anyone?

moleman

But if you build up the BD with parts from a donor bike that is already paid for wouldn't the BD price be cheaper?

I like them both, but since I have a garage full of worthy donor bikes the FreeRadical/BigDummy make more sense to me, unless I can get a Ute frameset?

JeffS

There's still a cost associated with donor parts - either the money you originally paid for the bike/part, or the money you're not getting by selling them.

moleman

True but how many of us have a late '90s mtn bike that has been superseded by a new disc braked, fully suspended, lighter than air, bike? You may have spent $3-500 on it originally but now it is gathering dust and you would be lucky to get $100 for it on craigslist.

In fact I have had several of these bikes that I have pulled out of dumpsters for free. Use them to get your cargo bike running and upgrade as you need/afford.

I always like to point out to people who complain about my 10 bikes (N+1!) that I have less in them than they have in their 1 car, or in the case of my Mom, her 3 sewing machines!

Corcis

Would that be 10 bikes or 10! bikes?

KrisPistofferson

Dang, this is the first I've heard of it, but $800 isn't bad for that package. Cool bike.

spambait11

Though the advantage of the Mundo is that it's integrated - one solid frame which is potentially stronger than an "X + bike" combo.

politicalgeek

Speaking of the Mundo, does anyone know if that is compatible with the xtracycle components? I had seen a few rumors that it would be with some tweaking.

When I have the money I would like to go for a purpose built long tail and the Big Dummy and Mundo are the 2 I'm leaning towards. Electric assist compatibility would be awesome as well.

Aldone

The Mundo doesn't seem compatible with Xtra accessories, I dont' like the mundo since its High Tensile Steel and not Cro- Moly and the parts are very cheap.
For 2/3 the price I would like it more

akyramoto

I want a Stokemonkey sooooo badly!!

streetlightpoet

I saw an Ute at the grocery store today and it didn't look as bad as I though it would. Still think it needs larger side accessories, but who knows what's to come?