KONA Makena Kids Bike Review

Reviewed by Kathleen Wilker

$349 USD and CAD

konaworld.com

The Kona Makena is designed to set young riders free – on and off the road. A lightweight aluminum frame makes the bike easy for kids to ride – into the wind or uphill. Kid-friendly seven-speed shifters and easy to operate brakes with a gentle reach, but quick response, make riding easy. Great components will last through multiple riders, giving you a solid return on your investment. Available in blue and teal.

Pros

The low crossbar is a great design for kids that extends the length of time that this little bike will fit your little rider. Kid-sized gears and brakes are easy for little hands to quickly master.

Cons

The front suspension fork is designed to be ultra-responsive for even the lightest riders, but it may be design overkill. A rigid fork would be lighter, and most young riders are probably not tackling extremely technical mountain bike trails.

Ideal Rider

The ideal rider is any six- to nine-year-old who would like to ride far and fast. When our friend Merin started riding her Kona Makena, she rediscovered the joys of biking, wanted to ride to school every day and never got tired on long family bike rides.

Overall

This is a fantastic bike that its original owner and many other owners will enjoy. Great components mean this bike can easily be kept on the road with little maintenance for years and years. A lightweight frame and easy to use gears will have your little rider zooming along the trail or the path or wherever you go together.

Kathleen Wilker loves riding with her family, especially now that her eight-year-old daughter is riding a lightweight kids’ bike and setting a speedy pace. You can follow their family cycling adventures on Momentum’s Families on Bikes Blog or @KathleenWilker.