Kona Honky Tonk: Sexy & Sassy Retro Ride

Northern Arizona has boundless opportunities for riding asphalt as well as dirt, and our pick for hitting the road is the Kona Honky Tonk.

What is it? A work-horse, no-nonsense road ride with a custom-butted chromoly steal frame and Kona Retro Road fork -- a combination that creates a stable but nimble ride. The Honky Tonk features Shimano Sora nine-speed gearing with matching STI shifters and upgraded Alex rims with machined sidewalls for more effective braking. A generous bar with nice square shape, sloping top-tube design, and well-padded saddle make this one of the most comfortable road bikes around, and 5 centimeters of headset spacers allow further tweaking for your riding style. The clean lines remind us of the bikes of yore, with a subtle 21st century makeover.

Why we love it? Here at Sultana Cycles, we don't believe you have to count grams or coat yourself in head-to-toe spandex to feel the need for speed. (In fact, I once rode 65 miles round trip from Flagstaff to Mormon Lake on an early-90s steel rigid bike with a crack in the frame. In flip-flops.) The Honky Tonk is a thoroughly modern machine with a sweet disposition. It fits our philosophy and makes for a smooth, simple ride for all abilities, versatile enough for commuting and coffee house cruising on the days you aren't hitting the pavement.

And of course, we can't get enough of that sassy Retro Red finish -- sure to lift your spirits as you grind up that last hill or drag yourself out for a spin pre-coffee -- and simple, vintage Kona label graphics.

The Honky Tonk is on the floor at Sultana Cycles and priced out-the-door at $950.

Kona Hei Hei 29er SE: Not the Short Bus

It's August in the Verde Valley and here at Sultana Cycles, we're crossing our fingers for the monsoon -- and soon. 10 days over 100 degrees makes it difficult to enjoy a leisurely roll through the park. However, rains and cooler weather will be here before you know it, and we have some exciting new inventory, professionally assembled and ready for your admiration.

Today's pick is special ed like you've never seen before: the Special Edition Orange Kona Hei Hei 29er.




What is it? A special edition dual suspension mountain bike with four inches of travel front and rear and big, beautiful 29-inch Easton wheels. Hei Hei means "race" in Hawaiian and this bike will roll . . . over rocks, logs, roadkill (and maybe even your riding buddy) without a pause. The Hei Hei features Kona's 4-Bar linkage that's more pedal efficient, a fairly light-weight but heavy duty RockShox fork, Sram 3x10 drive train Avid Elixir hydraulic disk breaks, and sweet refinements like more standover room, setback seat post, and tapered head tube.

Why we love it? With the ability to climb like a goat and descend like an avalanche without chattering your teeth, its an affordable full suspension bike that makes pretty much every trail accessible and comfortable to novice and experienced rider.

Plus, as diehard Clemson Tigers fans (some by marriage or birth than by choice), you can't beat that sassy orange and white color combo!

Available at Sultana Cycles and priced below MSRP -- tax-included at $2850. Stop by and take it for a ride. We guarantee you won't even notice the heat.

Tire Inflation

As appears to be the way of the world, bicycle prices are going up up up, starting this month, concurrent with what has been described as "unimaginable increases" in steel, nickel, copper, zinc, etc.

Leading the way on the price increase is rubber -- which means that not just bikes, but the price of tubes and tires has risen almost 10% over the last year, with an additional projected increase of 20% on the wholesale price over the next 18 months.

I could digress into a discussion of economics and supply relative to demand and inflation and the real interest rate and globalization, but I don't think that's what anyone checked in for. Here at Sultana Cycles, we're stocking up on these items, hoping to continue to offer the best prices on them for as long as possible. Along the same vein, if you're a frequent flatter or plan on putting more miles on your bike than ever this year (to combat those corresponding "unimaginable increases" in gas prices . . .) consider heading in to purchase your replacement tires or grab a few extra tubes now!

In other news, Panzer remains unaffected by these price increases and continues to burn rubber accordingly...