Comments on: My very own Kona Ute http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/ Bicycles in the urban environment. A magazine about urban cycling. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:17:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: brad http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3780 brad Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:03:26 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3780 Miguel - Nowhere in particular. It is simply an old mountain riser bar I had laying around that I cut down. The stem is a cheap adjustable one from a hybrid bicycle that I shimmed with a beer can to fit the seatpost. Miguel - Nowhere in particular. It is simply an old mountain riser bar I had laying around that I cut down. The stem is a cheap adjustable one from a hybrid bicycle that I shimmed with a beer can to fit the seatpost.

]]> By: Miguel http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3777 Miguel Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:52:31 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3777 where can I buy that little rear handlebar? thanks! where can I buy that little rear handlebar?

thanks!

]]> By: bob http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3595 bob Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:56:34 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3595 Nick, "The Big Dummy is way more expensive, but is way better designed." You know, from what I have seen of the two frames, there is not much difference in the designs except for the Surly's Xtracycle mounting points. Aesthetically the Kona wins hands down. Though the rack system based on the Xtracycle IS really modular and reconfigurable. Nick,

“The Big Dummy is way more expensive, but is way better designed.”

You know, from what I have seen of the two frames, there is not much difference in the designs except for the Surly’s Xtracycle mounting points.

Aesthetically the Kona wins hands down. Though the rack system based on the Xtracycle IS really modular and reconfigurable.

]]> By: Nick http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3486 Nick Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:49:44 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3486 I have tried them at the bike shop that I work at. I remember reading about the prototype being 26" wheels with a steel frame, and I have to say I was disappointed in the 29'er wheels and the frame (Aluminum). I really don't want a cyclocross style wheel on a cargo bike. 26" or even 24" wheels offer superior handling with a large load. Having such tall wheels, might have contributed to you dumping your load on the street. I must admit, that I hate aluminum frames. Steel has the track record and longevity. I also thought the plastic board on top of the rack was kind of aesthetically sterile/cheap compared to a nice wood board. The Big Dummy is way more expensive, but is way better designed. I guess the Cargo Bike market so far is you get what you pay for. I also wanted to mention that I delivered Time Out Chicago for almost 3 years using a Mountain Mixte from the early 80's hauling custom built trailers made from scrap. My largest loads were 22 boxes of printed Magazines weighing somewhere between 350 - 450 pounds depending on page count. I just moved a couch 7 miles with a bike trailer 2 weeks ago. Good luck with the Ute (a sidenote - I'm buying a Kona 88 cruiser) I have tried them at the bike shop that I work at. I remember reading about the prototype being 26″ wheels with a steel frame, and I have to say I was disappointed in the 29′er wheels and the frame (Aluminum). I really don’t want a cyclocross style wheel on a cargo bike. 26″ or even 24″ wheels offer superior handling with a large load. Having such tall wheels, might have contributed to you dumping your load on the street. I must admit, that I hate aluminum frames. Steel has the track record and longevity. I also thought the plastic board on top of the rack was kind of aesthetically sterile/cheap compared to a nice wood board.

The Big Dummy is way more expensive, but is way better designed. I guess the Cargo Bike market so far is you get what you pay for.

I also wanted to mention that I delivered Time Out Chicago for almost 3 years using a Mountain Mixte from the early 80’s hauling custom built trailers made from scrap.

My largest loads were 22 boxes of printed Magazines weighing somewhere between 350 - 450 pounds depending on page count.

I just moved a couch 7 miles with a bike trailer 2 weeks ago.

Good luck with the Ute

(a sidenote - I’m buying a Kona 88 cruiser)

]]> By: brad http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3345 brad Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:05:21 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3345 The bike has seem some more use, and it definitely has some flex going on when I have it really loaded down. I'd even say speed wobbles. I have not managed to get nor rig up low, side loading bags yet but I suspect it will help with the handling. The bike has seem some more use, and it definitely has some flex going on when I have it really loaded down. I’d even say speed wobbles. I have not managed to get nor rig up low, side loading bags yet but I suspect it will help with the handling.

]]> By: Kevin http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3184 Kevin Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:27:07 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3184 Other than the problem of carrying the load too high, did the Ute seem to handle the 300 lbs of paper OK? Did that much weight seem to overly stress the frame? thanks Kevin Other than the problem of carrying the load too high, did the Ute seem to handle the 300 lbs of paper OK? Did that much weight seem to overly stress the frame?

thanks

Kevin

]]> By: siouxgeonz http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3108 siouxgeonz Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:54:41 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3108 Glad that you have been dragged over the line :) Now take the next step. Start that special jar for the funds :) I remember thinking "Well, the Xtracycle won't change my life - I'm already there." R.O.N.G. Make it happen! Glad that you have been dragged over the line :) Now take the next step. Start that special jar for the funds :)

I remember thinking “Well, the Xtracycle won’t change my life - I’m already there.” R.O.N.G.

Make it happen!

]]> By: gwadzilla http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3105 gwadzilla Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:02:38 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3105 there was a point where it did not seem like the market would support both the Xtracycle and the UTE but with soaring gas prices the Xtracycle is back ordered and there is room for all the options there should be options people like options! a friend of mine just wrote an article for SALON about his life changing Xtracycle Experience http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=xtracycle I admit I WANT ONE! there was a point where it did not seem like the market would support both the Xtracycle and the UTE
but
with soaring gas prices the Xtracycle is back ordered
and there is room for all the options
there should be options

people like options!

a friend of mine just wrote an article for SALON about his life changing Xtracycle Experience

http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/search?q=xtracycle

I admit

I WANT ONE!

]]> By: Jeff http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3104 Jeff Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:32:27 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3104 The Big Dummy obviously has more options at this point, but it's so hard to argue with the price tag on the UTE! The $799 price tag seems more inline with the actual usage the bike would get in my fleet. The Big Dummy obviously has more options at this point, but it’s so hard to argue with the price tag on the UTE! The $799 price tag seems more inline with the actual usage the bike would get in my fleet.

]]> By: jimmy http://urbanvelo.org/my-very-own-kona-ute/comment-page-1/#comment-3094 jimmy Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:43:14 +0000 http://urbanvelo.org/?p=1427#comment-3094 let's see... 8 chairs divided by 120 beers = 15 beers each. seems about right let’s see… 8 chairs divided by 120 beers = 15 beers each. seems about right

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