The Kona Ute Cargo Bike: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Design and Performance

The Kona Ute Cargo Bike is designed to be a versatile and practical mode of transportation. It features a steel frame with a low step-through design, making it easy to get on and off.

The Ute's frame is built to handle heavy loads, with a maximum cargo capacity of 440 pounds. This makes it perfect for carrying groceries, kids, or even tools to a job site.

With its 1x drivetrain and Shimano Alivio derailleur, the Ute has a reliable and efficient shifting system. This allows riders to tackle a variety of terrain with ease.

The Ute's cargo area is spacious and customizable, with a variety of accessories available to fit your needs.

The Kona Ute's frame is a real showstopper, with a versatile and sturdy aluminum design that's perfect for riders of all shapes and sizes. It features a long wheelbase with a heavily sloping top-tube, making it easier to mount and dismount, even when fully laden.

The Ute's frame is available in just one size, 18 inches, which might seem limiting, but it actually provides enough clearance for a wide range of riders. Our 5ft 5in tester fit just fine, and with a few simple adjustments, our 6ft 1in tester was able to ride comfortably too.

To ensure stability and limit flex in the long frame, the down-tube is oversized and the top-tube is triangulated. This results in precise steering with little flex, thanks to the straight bladed, disc-only P2 fork.

The Ute is a well-designed, carry-everything utility bike that makes quick work of trips to the store, dropping the kids off at school, and bringing the tree home for the holidays.

The 7005 aluminum frame keeps it light and strong, making it perfect for daily commutes or weekend errands.

A Shimano 18-speed drivetrain supplies plenty of gearing for spinning up steep hills and across long flat roads alike, giving you the flexibility to tackle any terrain.

Front and rear hydraulic disc brakes put the power down when you need it most, ensuring you stay in control under load.

The composite rear deck comes with left- and right-side bags for all your haulin' needs, making it easy to carry everything from groceries to tools.

A kickstand and front and rear fenders complete the build, giving you the opportunity to do more – maybe everything! – by bike.

The Ute's frame is a real showstopper, and it's no surprise given its versatile and sturdy design.

The frame is made of aluminium and has a long wheelbase with a heavily sloping top-tube, which makes it easier to mount and dismount, especially when the bike is fully laden.

This design also allows for a wide range of riders, as there's only one size available - 18 inches. Our 5ft 5in tester fit perfectly, and with a few adjustments, our 6ft 1in tester was able to ride comfortably too.

The down-tube is oversized to limit flex in the long frame, and the top-tube is triangulated for added stability.

The platform at the back is a generous 83x15cm, with cutaways for straps or bungee cords, as well as bungee eyelets on the frame.

There's no mudguard, but the platform does a good job shielding road crud from your back. However, it won't protect your bags.

The Ute also features an integrated kickstand, which is super convenient.

The P2 fork up front offers precise steering with little flex, and it has eyelets for a mudguard but not a rack.

The Kona Ute cargo bike is a surprisingly conventional ride, feeling more mellow than you'd expect from a longtail bike.

The longer wheelbase does make for a larger turning circle, but you'll soon adapt to the way it handles. The Ute carves through traffic well and feels more compact than its overall 215cm length.

Intriguing read: Rad Power Cargo Bike

The steel, backswept postman's bike bars add to the styling, with the stubby stem giving an upright riding position. This makes it easy to navigate through crowded streets.

A long wheelbase bike will never be as easy to park or shuffle around at traffic lights, but at under 17kg the Ute's just within the realms of being easy to pick up and swivel round.

The Ute rides well, with light but stable steering, especially when you adapt your pedaling style to sit and spin rather than swinging side to side out of the saddle. This helps to minimize the small amount of flex in the frame when loaded with goods.

The Kona Ute's gearing is a major strength, allowing you to tackle steep streets with ease.

The bike comes equipped with a double chainring set-up and 11-32 cassette, providing a suitably low 22-88in gear range.

This range is hard to beat, and I've found myself rarely missing the lack of bigger gears.

The 8-speed chain is also a great feature, as it's hardwearing and resistant to wear and tear.

Shimano's Alivio shifters deliver crisp and smooth gear changes, making it a joy to ride the Ute.

The Hayes mechanical front disc brake may not be as powerful as some other options, but it's easy to maintain and gets the job done.

The Kona Ute is a unique cargo bike that's perfect for carrying all your essentials. It's made of 7005 Aluminum, a durable and lightweight material that's ideal for bikepacking.

Marc, the owner of this particular Ute, picked it up secondhand for about $400. He's been using it for errands, trail rides, and even trips to the community garden and library.

The Ute has a Kona P2 Disc fork, which provides a smooth ride and excellent handling. It's also equipped with Rigida ZAC-19R rims and Formula (front) / Shimano (rear) hubs.

Marc's Ute is equipped with a Shimano Alivio cassette, which offers 8 speeds for tackling Vancouver Island's hills. He's also added a leather saddle and used platform pedals for a comfortable ride.

Here are the key specs of Marc's Kona Ute:

Marc's Ute is a great example of a bike that's perfect for bikepacking. With its low gears and sturdy build, it's well-suited for carrying heavy loads over long distances.