old Kona - stem rise

[konahed]

Do you think it's important to stay with a zero rise stem with an old Kona? I'm wondering if a 5 degree rise would look ok, with straight bars, or zero rise with a riser bar? I've never ridden with a riser bar before, does it feel different?

 

[Kona Paul]

Just ride what you like and feels good. Riser bars feel different than flat, and personally I like them. I like the handling, and as it takes some of your weight of the front of the bike by putting you in a more upright position, it becomes easier to pop the tire over roots and rocks while maintaining a balanced riding position. You also get good leverage on climbs to make up for the lack of bar ends.

As for the stem, 5 degrees isn't a lot, and you can use a 5 degree rise stem with risers too. I do.

What Kona is it?

 

[Anthony]

The look is important, but surely the most important thing is the bar height that gives you the best posture, which is a totally personal thing.

I personally think a riser stem and a flat bar is fine, and you can always use the quill to adjust height some more. But I personally think a riser bar looks odd with P2s. Please don't ask me why, I just do.

 

[Kona Paul]

So do I actually. Somehow it just looks wrong. Maybe a 1" rise could look ok. But do you know which bike he has and if he's going rigid?

 

[Harryburgundy]

Mmmm...Konas just dont look right unless its 0 rise in my humble.

 

[konahed]

It's a 91 Kona Lava Dome, current has mostly original parts, 500LX groupset, original Velocity stem, Kona 165g Aluminium bars.

I've had it since new actually but stopped riding for years and it's been stuck in my parents garage for over a decade really. I always wanted to upgrade the stem because the Velocity is very heavy (pretty sure it weights over 400g) and so if I got a Syncros that would shave 200g of the bike weight at the front.

Just undecided which way to go - riser or stay with flats, and whether I should get a stem with some rise as it's a 19 inch frame and I'm 6ft1

 

[konahed]

Mmmm...Konas just dont look right unless its 0 rise in my humble.

Yeah, that's kind of what I've been thinking. I reckon I'll get the zero rise and keep the 165 bars just now and see how I find it.

 

[Kona Paul]

To each his own, but I think it looks alright. Keeping in mind mine is suspension corrected geometry.

 

[cce]

mine in my sig is rocking 10 degrees of rise - anyone who doesnt like it can just shhh. it's your bike to ride, not theirs to look at!

(i've swapped it for a black 8 degree rise now)

 

[Kona Paul]

(pretty sure it weights over 400g)

My Velocity stem from 92 weighs 248 grams by the by.