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platypus-
My order partner got impatient and ordered an OTP bike, unsure if I should continue now.
My only real problem with the Kona is its tiny main triangle, with a Marino I could carry 3 bottles on long rides and have considerably more frame bag space when bikepacking. But I'm not sure if that's worth spending a grand. Would also get me a 12 speed groupset, lighter wheels, a dropper, more suspension travel, and modern standards all round. But I don't really need any of those things, or do I?
Tijmen
Not 100% why, but I've just started the ordering process for a Marino to replace the Kona. Thinking about replacing it made me appreciate it far more, but it has a couple of quirks I wouldn't mind solving. The main triangle is tiny, offering me only one bottle, the second cage under the downtube helps but it's not great. It also has a QR rear wheel, the Fulcrums are up for replacement but I don't want to invest in such an old standard. Wouldn't mind a dropper and a bit more travel / slacker angles to get rowdy, so here we go.
Looks like this currently, 68 degree HT might be a touch conservative but I think it's enough, 74 degree ST because that worked on the Kona, 425mm stays because chuckability, lots of mounts because I still fantasize about using all the bikepacking gear I've been buying and making, seattube just short enough that I can put in a 125mm dropper. Thinking matte powdercoat because his paint doesn't look that great, I think matte hides that a bit and it's a good reason to have it resprayed if I plan on riding it for more than a couple of years.