Kona 2004 Jake the Snake - user reports?

Kinky Cowboy said:

My LBS has 2004 Jake the Snakes for the price of 2005 Jakes. Obviously
the posh old bike is a better buy than the basic new one, but is it
suitable for what I want it for - 50 mile urban assaults in about 3
hours?

I have a 2003 (the green one) that I train on for MTB racing. It makes a
great, durable road bike. I have put approximately 1000 pavement
training hours on it in all conditions (lots of heavy rain rides through
Vancouver winters) and think very highly of it. Two hard crashes in the
rain give it (and me) that lived in look, but it works as well now as
when new. The only non cosmetic damage sustained was a bent derailleur
hanger which the tech salvaged both times. Levers and bars got pushed
around too, but even I could fix that. I like to crash on the right side
I guess.

Changes from stock are:
Tires, seat and post, pedals, full fenders, LED front and rear, cycle
computer, consumables (chain, brake pads, bar tape)

If your 'assault' fails any time over the next several years, assuming
the '04 is similar to the '03, it won't be the bikes fault.

Kinky Cowboy said:

My LBS has 2004 Jake the Snakes for the price of 2005 Jakes.

Obviously

Quoted message said:

the posh old bike is a better buy than the basic new one, but is it
suitable for what I want it for - 50 mile urban assaults in about 3
hours? (I have a job delivering blood samples into a lab in central
London, and I can save some diesel and get in some training by
swapping from van to bike in the outer suburbs) I know I'll have to
change the tyres, any other comments or suggested alternatives
welcome.

Second hand experience for a different year of this bike. I rode a 200
kilometer brevet a few years ago and one of the riders had the Kona
Jake Snake bike. I had seen him on a few other brevets and knew the
bike would have no affect on his speed. So you would not be the only
person to think the bike was more than ridable on paved roads for long
rides. The above brevet rider did bring out his more traditional road
bike for the very hilly 300 km brevet a few weeks later. The Jake
Snake is OK for short 125 mile rides, but maybe not the best when you
have 180 miles of hills.

Kinky Cowboy said:

My LBS has 2004 Jake the Snakes for the price of 2005 Jakes. Obviously
the posh old bike is a better buy than the basic new one, but is it
suitable for what I want it for - 50 mile urban assaults in about 3
hours? (I have a job delivering blood samples into a lab in central
London, and I can save some diesel and get in some training by
swapping from van to bike in the outer suburbs) I know I'll have to
change the tyres, any other comments or suggested alternatives
welcome.

I have owned a 2000 Kona Jake-the-Snake for 3+ years now. I use it
regularly for commuting and road riding, and have also ridden it
(unloaded) from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I love the bike; it
sounds like it would be a great ride for your needs too.

Greg
--
Gregory S. Sutter "How do I read this file?"
[email hidden] "You uudecode it."
http://zer0.org/~gsutter/ "I I I decode it?"

On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:07:45 +0000, Kinky Cowboy <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

My LBS has 2004 Jake the Snakes for the price of 2005 Jakes. Obviously
the posh old bike is a better buy than the basic new one, but is it
suitable for what I want it for - I know I'll have to
change the tyres, any other comments or suggested alternatives
welcome.

Thanks for the feedback, looks like you guys like your JtSs.

I'm picking mine up from th shop next week, and I've ordered a pair of
the ridiculously cheap Shimano R500 wheels with 23c tyres for fast
road work. Two bikes for less the price of one :-)

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary