Overview
The Kona Sutra LTD adapts to your secret desires; it’s a mountain biker with a hidden love for drop bars, a roadie with a wild side for singletrack, and a bikepacking-ready steed with its ample mounts. With its robust construction and larger tires, the Sutra LTD is a superhero amongst bikes, breaking the mold of what a bike should be. So, are you ready to join the fun and let the Kona Sutra LTD take you on a wild ride? Let’s get rad!
Let the Kona Sutra LTD inspire your bikepacking journey day dreams. This bike is a bikepacking phenomenon built to connect you with the great outdoors. Its muscular construction and multi-day travel ready bones are the perfect platform for those who seek solace lounging beneath the forest canopy or gazing up at the desert stars. The Sutra LTD transforms challenging routes into triumphs. Open your map, your mind and your heart and a vast adventure landscape will unfurl before as your musings become your reality.
Geometry & Ride Characteristics
- Extended Top Tube: Provides a comfortable riding position for long-distance journeys.
- Slack Head Tube Angle: Enhances stability and control, particularly useful when descending or navigating rough terrains.
- Lower Bottom Bracket: Lowers the rider’s center of gravity, improving the bike’s stability and handling.
- Short Chainstays: Contributes to the bike’s responsive and agile feel, making it easier to maneuver.
- Large Tire Clearance: Accommodates larger tires for versatility and improved comfort on various terrains.
The Kona Sutra LTD boasts a unique geometry that sets it apart in the realm of adventure bikes. Its extended top tube and slack head tube angle combine to offer a comfortable, upright riding position and enhanced stability. The lower bottom bracket and short chainstays contribute to a responsive and agile feel, while the large tire clearance and multiple mounts make it a versatile choice for a variety of terrain and bikepacking with heavy loads.
When it comes to long rugged rides, the Kona Sutra LTD truly shines. Its geometry translates into a ride that is both stable and nimble, making it a joy to navigate through winding trails or open roads. The larger tires absorb shocks effectively, providing a smooth ride even on rough terrains. Whether you’re embarking on a long-distance tour or a quick off-road adventure, the Kona Sutra LTD promises a ride that is comfortable, controlled, and above all, fun.
vs. the Salsa Fargo Apex
The Salsa Fargo Apex 1 and Kona Sutra LTD are like two siblings with different personalities. The Fargo, the wild child of the family, thrives off-road with its mountain-bike roots and 29-inch wheels, devouring rough terrains like a hungry teenager at a buffet. Meanwhile, the Sutra LTD, the versatile overachiever, is the Swiss Army Knife of bikes, equally comfortable on tarmac, gravel, or dirt, always ready to impress at the family reunion with its balance of stability and agility.
- Handling: The Salsa Fargo Apex 1, with its progressive trail geometry, offers a more aggressive and responsive ride, great for tackling more technical terrain. In contrast, the Kona Sutra LTD, with its balanced geometry, provides a smoother and more stable ride, ideal for long-distance touring and mixed terrains.
- Comfort: The Fargo Apex 1, with its upright riding position and suspension fork compatibility, is designed for comfort during long off-road rides. The Sutra LTD, however, focuses on efficient power transfer and stability, making it comfortable for long hours on the saddle, especially on paved roads and light trails.
- Versatility: The Fargo Apex 1, with its wide tire clearance and off-road oriented design, is a true mountain bike at heart, ready to take on any trail. The Sutra LTD, with its multiple mounts and larger tire clearance, is a versatile machine, equally at home on gravel roads, bikepacking adventures, or daily commutes.
- Load Carrying: Both bikes are designed with bikepacking in mind, but the Sutra LTD, with its additional mounts, offers more options for carrying gear, making it a more suitable choice for multi-day adventures or touring.
vs. the All-City Gorilla Monsoon, Apex
The All-City Gorilla Monsoon and Kona Sutra LTD are like a jazz musician and a classical pianist. The Gorilla Monsoon, with its wide tire clearance and aggressive geometry, is the free-spirited jazz artist, improvising its way through muddy trails and rocky paths, always ready to break into a wild solo. On the other hand, the Sutra LTD, with its balanced geometry and versatile features, is the disciplined classical pianist, delivering a smooth and harmonious performance over a full spectrum of terrain, hitting every note with precision and grace.
- Geometry: The All-City Gorilla Monsoon Apex 1 has an aggressive geometry designed for tackling challenging trails, while the Kona Sutra LTD features a balanced geometry designed for long-distance journeys.
- Tire Clearance: Both bikes have wide tire clearance, but the Gorilla Monsoon is more focused on superior off-road capabilities, whereas the Sutra LTD balances off-road and on-road performance.
- Terrain Handling: The Gorilla Monsoon excels in steep climbs and rugged terrains, while the Sutra LTD provides a smooth and stable ride across varied terrains.
- Ride Style: The Gorilla Monsoon offers a more aggressive and sporty ride, while the Sutra LTD excels in versatility and comfort, making it ideal for extended adventures.
- Mounts for Gear: The Sutra LTD stands out with multiple mounts for carrying gear, making it a bikepacking favorite, while the Gorilla Monsoon has plenty of mounts it does have a fewer.
vs. the Bombtrack Beyond 1
The Bombtrack Beyond 1 is like a mountain goat, nimble and ready to tackle the steepest of terrains with its aggressive geometry and wide tire clearance. It’s the bike that says, “Bring it on!” to any trail. On the other hand, the Kona Sutra LTD is like a seasoned explorer, steady and reliable. It’s the bike that whispers, “Let’s take the scenic route,” as it smoothly navigates both rugged trails and paved roads, thanks to its balanced geometry and versatile design. It’s not just about the destination, but the journey.
- Riding Position: The Bombtrack Beyond 1 offers a more upright riding position, making it comfortable for long rides and better for viewing the scenery. On the other hand, the Kona Sutra LTD has a slightly more aggressive position, providing better control and efficiency, especially on challenging terrains.
- Versatility: Both bikes are designed for adventure, but the Beyond 1 leans more towards off-road and rough terrain with its robust frame and larger tire clearance. The Sutra LTD, however, strikes a balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort, making it a more versatile choice for those who want one bike to do it all.
- Tire Clearance: The Beyond 1 can accommodate larger tires, making it a better choice for those planning to ride on rough and uneven terrains. The Sutra LTD, while still offering generous tire clearance, is more suited to a mix of terrains, from smooth tarmac to gravel roads.
- Gear Range: The Beyond 1 comes with a wide-range gearing system, making it ideal for steep climbs and heavy loads. The Sutra LTD also offers a wide gear range, but with a slightly more road-oriented setup, making it a better all-rounder.
- Frame Features: Both bikes come with multiple mounting points for carrying gear, but the Sutra LTD goes a step further with its third bottle cage mount and rear rack mounts, offering more options for bikepacking and touring setups.
Features
Durable Chromoly Steel Frame: Offers durability, strength, and excellent vibration dampening properties ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride even on rough terrains.
Ample Tire Clearance: Allows for the use of wider tires, enhancing traction, stability, and versatility, making the bike capable of handling various terrains.
Reliable Components: Equipped with a wide-range drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and durable wheels, ensuring a safe and enjoyable riding experience.
Wide Gear Range: The bike comes equipped with a 1x drivetrain that provides a wide range of gears, making it capable of handling steep climbs and fast descents.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes: For reliable stopping power in all weather conditions, the Sutra LTD is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes.
Dropper Post Compatibility: The frame is compatible with a dropper post, a feature that can enhance control and comfort on off-road descents.
Bag, Rack and Fender Mounting Points
The Kona Sutra LTD is well-equipped with a variety of mounting points to cater to all your bikepacking needs:
Front Fork Mounts: There are multiple mounts on both sides of the front fork for water bottles, cargo cages, or front racks.
Rear Rack Mounts: The rear of the bike has mounts for attaching a standard rear rack for panniers or other gear.
Top Tube Mount: There’s a mount on the top tube for a fuel tank bag, perfect for keeping snacks or small items within easy reach.
Down Tube Mounts: The down tube has mounts for a water bottle cage or for attaching additional gear.
Seat Tube Mounts: The seat tube also has mounts for a water bottle cage.
Under Downtube Mount: There’s a mount under the downtube, which is a common place to carry an extra water bottle or tool keg.
Fender Mounts: The bike has mounts for full coverage fenders, which are essential for wet weather bikepacking.
Kona Sutra LTD Featured in the Wild
2023 Kona Sutra LTD: A Bold New Colorway
The 2023 Kona Sutra LTD, while not featuring any major updates, has been announced with a striking new Matte Turismo Olive colorway. The bike, which replaced the Sutra ULTD in 2020, is praised for its versatility. As author Miles Arbour puts it, it’s “A bike that can carve up your local singletrack and is perfectly equipped for multi-day, mixed-terrain bikepacking.” Despite a $100 price increase, the bike continues to offer value with its 11-speed drivetrain, dropper post, and Chromoly steel frame and fork.
Kona Sutra LTD Review – Bikepacking Bike
The Kona Sutra LTD is a versatile bikepacking bike that can handle both mountain trails and city streets with ease. The author, who has owned the bike for several years, praises it as a “do it all bike” and highlights its steel frame and fork, SRAM Rival 1 hydraulic disc brakes, 1x drivetrain, and 700x50c tires. The bike also features a wider bar with a 16-degree flare for more aggressive descending. However, the author notes that the gear ratio may need adjusting for fully packed adventures. As the author puts it: “I can take it out on bikepacking trips with all my camping gear and it rides like a dream.”
Specs
Build Kit
The highlights of the Kona Sutra LTD’s build kit include a Kona Project Two Cromoly Disc Touring fork, and SRAM NX crankarms. The SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain provides reliable shifting with its 11-speed cassette and integrated dropper lever. SRAM Rival 1 flat mount brake calipers and 180mm Centerline rotors ensure powerful braking performance. The bike is equipped with a TranzX dropper seatpost, Kona Road handlebar, and Kona Road Deluxe stem. The WTB KOM Team rims and Maxxis Recon Race EXO TR tires provide a sturdy and high-performing wheelset.
Frameset
- Frame: Kona Cromoly Butted
- Fork: Kona Project Two Cromoly Disc Touring
- Color: Matte Turismo Olive w/ Charcoal Decals
Drivetrain
- Front Derailleur: n/a
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM Rival 1
- Cassette: SRAM PG1130 11-42t 11spd
- Crankset: SRAM NX
- Shifter: SRAM Rival 1 w/ Integrated Dropper Lever
- Brakes: SRAM Rival HRD Flat Mount
- Rotors: SRAM Centerline 180mm
Components
- Headset: FSA No.1/No.10
- Stem: Kona Road Deluxe
- Handlebar: Kona Road
- Grips / Bar Tape: Kona Cork Tape
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper +RAD Internal 31.6mm
- Saddle: WTB Volt
- Seatclamp: Kona Clamp
Wheels
- Front Wheel: WTB KOM Team i27 TCS 2.0, Formula 100x12mm
- Rear Wheel: WTB KOM Team i27 TCS 2.0, Formula 142x12mm
- Tires: Maxxis Rekon Race EXO TR 29×2.25″
Frame Construction
The Kona Sutra LTD boasts a robust frame that’s designed to withstand the rigors of bikepacking and off-road adventures. Its frame is crafted from Kona’s Cromoly Butted steel, known for its strength, durability, and shock absorption capabilities. The welding on the frame is meticulous, ensuring structural integrity and a smooth finish. The finish of the Sutra LTD is equally impressive, with a durable paint job that resists scratches and wear, keeping the bike looking great even after many miles on the trail.
Geometry
| SIZE | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | |
| 1 | ST LENGTH | 410 | 410 | 455 | 455 | 500 | 535 |
| 2 | TT LENGTH | 532 | 545 | 560 | 575 | 592 | 613 |
| 3 | REACH | 380 | 385 | 390 | 395 | 400 | 405 |
| 4 | STACK | 568 | 578 | 592 | 609 | 627 | 660 |
| 5 | STANDOVER | 735 | 739 | 773 | 781 | 827 | 851 |
| 6 | HT ANGLE | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 | 69.5 |
| 7 | HT LENGTH | 115 | 125 | 140 | 160 | 180 | 215 |
| 8 | ST ANGLE | 75.0 | 74.5 | 74.0 | 73.5 | 73.0 | 72.5 |
| 9 | CS LENGTH | 445 | 445 | 445 | 445 | 445 | 445 |
| 10 | BB DROP | 74 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| 11 | BB HEIGHT | 301 | 301 | 301 | 303 | 303 | 303 |
| 12 | WHEELBASE | 1062 | 1071 | 1081 | 1094 | 1106 | 1123 |
| 13 | FRONT CENTER | 628 | 636 | 647 | 658 | 670 | 688 |
| 14 | FORK LENGTH | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 |
| 15 | FORK OFFSET | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
Warranty
WARRANTY REGISTRATIONS
Registration is no longer necessary for your Kona warranty to be valid.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Kona Bicycle Company ( “Kona” ) makes the following limited Warranty:
ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON COMPLETE BICYCLE (USA, UK & CANADA)
Kona warrants to the original owner that this new Kona bicycle shall be free of defective materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original purchase in the United States or Canada and operated under normal conditions and use. During this one-year period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, all parts that are found by Kona to be defective and subject to this limited warranty. The original owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair or replacement of all parts. On Kona electric pedal-assist bikes, the electronic system is covered by a two-year warranty, whereby accidents or consumer mistakes like shorting polarity are not covered. Warranty on the battery is for one year, at the end of that period, the battery is guaranteed to retain at least 70% of its original capacity.
TWO YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON COMPLETE BICYCLE (EUROPE)
Kona warrants to the original owner that this newly purchased Kona bicycle shall be free of defective materials and workmanship for the two-year period stated under EU consumer protection laws, dated from the original purchase and subject to normal conditions and use. During this two-year period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, all parts that are found by Kona to be defective and therein subject to this limited warranty.
THREE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON KONA BRANDED BICYCLE FORKS.
LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY ON BICYCLE FRAME (USA, CANADA, UK & EUROPE ONLY)*
Kona further warrants to the original owner that the frame of this new Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer shall be free of defective materials or workmanship for the lifetime of the product. This is ONLY VALID ON NON-CARBON FRAMES. During this warranty period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, the bicycle frame if Kona determines the frame is defective and subject to this limited warranty. The color on the warranty frame may vary from the color of the original frame. The original owner shall pay all labor and shipping charges connected with the repair or replacement of the bicycle frame. This warranty is only valid in the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe.
*This is valid on all non-carbon Kona bicycle frames. CARBON FRAMES receive 3-year warranty.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
This limited warranty is made only to the original owner of this Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer, and it shall remain in force only as long as the original owner retains ownership of the Kona bicycle. This limited warranty is not transferable. In order to obtain service under this Limited Warranty, the original owner must deliver the Kona bicycle, and the bill of sale or other dated proof of purchase document identifying the Kona bicycle by frame number/serial number, to an authorized Kona dealer. This Limited Warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear, nor to defects, malfunctions or failures that result from the abuse, neglect, improper maintenance, alteration, modification, accident, or misuse (including without limitation bicycle racing, bicycle motocross, stunt bicycling, commercial use or rental use) of the Kona bicycle. Damage caused by transporting bicycle, especially across the tailgate of a pickup truck – even when a pad is used – voids warranty.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE ONLY EXPRESS OR LIMITED WARRANTY APPLICABLE TO KONA BICYCLES. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SHALL BE LIMITED IN SCOPE AND DURATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. KONA SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY ANY PARTY. THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS OF WARRANTY ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER REMEDIES.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS; YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE OR PROVINCE TO PROVINCE. SOME STATES OR PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; SO, THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH HEREIN MAY NOT BE EXTENDED, ENLARGED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY ANY KONA DEALER, AGENT OR EMPLOYEE, AND KONA DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY OR MAKE ANY WARRANTY EXCEPT AS STATED IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY.
WARRANTY ONLY APPLIES IN USA, CANADA, UK AND EUROPE. PLEASE SEE YOUR DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE SPECIFIC WARRANTY IN YOUR COUNTRY. WARRANTY VALID ONLY IF BICYCLE IS ASSEMBLED BY AN AUTHORIZED KONA DEALER.
NOTE:
Warranty is made only to the original owner of this Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer, and it shall remain in force only as long as the original owner retains ownership of the Kona bicycle. This limited warranty is not transferable.
