The first thing that will hit you about the Kona Coco HD is that it’s unapologetically bright yellow. This was done on purpose to convey the spirit of this bike, if that makes any sense. The CHD is a cruiser at its core that just wants to take you places that are fun, and it’s about as easy to ride as your standard beach cruiser as well. We love that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The step-through design makes it a breeze to get on and off, and Kona does not skimp on components, giving you an excellent bang for the buck in the quality department, but it does lack some features that competitors deliver in this price range, like racks, lights, and a throttle.
We got a hold of a Kona Coco HD a little late in the season and have finally had some nice enough weather to take it on our test routes. Keep reading for more details on what we liked, what we didn’t, and overall if this is a good ebike for you.
Build Quality and Design:
Kona is not a brand that we were super familiar with, but our first impressions were very positive, from the quality of the frame to the components and all the little details that make this bike better overall than some direct-to-consumer brands that beat it on price and features.
The Kona features a Suntour HD drive train and Shimano components to ensure a smooth ride and durability. The battery plug-in port is funkier than our usual ebike, making it a bit trickier to charge if you lose your battery charger. We suggest just getting a second one from Kona directly to use at your office or as a backup.
So overall, we are happy with the design, the bold color, the step-through frame, and the adjustable kickstand. Kona got all this very right, and if you are not afraid of the color and are looking for a basic cruiser with attitude, look no further.
Performance:
The Kona HD Coco can get going pretty quickly and gives you enough juice to hit 20+ mph if you are pedaling hard with the top level of assist locked in. There is no suspension of any kind on this bike, so higher speeds on rougher asphalt or sidewalks are probably not a good idea and could result in a bumpy ride. If you are just cruising with low to medium pedal assist on smooth surfaces like bike paths, etc., you will be delighted with the ride. On a full charge, you are good for about 40-45 miles if you are being easy on the pedal assist. The distance you can go varies by the size of the rider, the amount of assistance, hills, etc., so this is more or less a safe estimate.
Pedaling:
If you want to use more human power than electric power, you are in for a treat; this eight-speed bike rides smoothly with the quality components and smooth shifting. Many bikes that come in cheaper sacrifice the quality of a solid traditional pedaling experience, so if you are looking to do a good amount of unassisted pedaling, this makes the Coco HD a good choice.
Pedal Assist:
The Coco HD has 4 levels of pedal assist (Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo), and we tried riding for a good duration in all the modes over various terrains. The bike rides so smoothly that on flatter ground and gentle hills, you can have it in lower modes and still get an easy ride. We used the highest mode for hillier terrain, and it gives you just the right amount of boost to get up steeper climbs. We recommend starting off in the zero assist mode and using pedal assist modes, kind of like gears, just level up slowly for the appropriate amount of power. If you have pedal assist engaged the motor can often jump while you are staying still, and could cause an accident,.
Throttle – None.
Battery Life and Charging:
The battery on the Kona is best charged at night, as it will take 6-7 hours to get a full charge as it’s a bigger battery. You can get up to 45 miles of distance if you are using a mix of human and electric power. If you have it in top pedal assist mode and you are on hillier terrain, you could cut that distance down by 40% or so. We don’t see most people toping out their entire ride, as it’s not really the point of this bike.
Ride Comfort:
One of the reasons people consider a cruiser is the comfort of the ride, and the Coco HD is no exception. This bike is meant for long, comfortable rides and keeps riders upright to avoid fatigue. With a step-through design, it is also easy to mount and dismount, which is great for shorter riders who need extra room.
Utility / Cargo Features:
None. You will need to get aftermarket baskets or racks if you want to carry any cargo. We just used a backpack to carry our lock and snacks.
Brakes and Safety Features:
You have all the standard reflectors on this bike, and the brakes are hydraulic for effortless stopping power at faster speeds. We tried stopping at variety of speeds and managed to come to a complete and safe stop every time. When you are riding at faster speeds, it’s good to think about the distance you are from other riders, traffic, lights/stop signs, etc.
For additional safety, we recommend getting a third-party headlight and rear red light for added visibility during twilight and nighttime riding. This really should come standard on this bike, but aftermarket versions are fairly reasonable and can be found at just about any bike shop or online.
User Interface and Controls:
The Coco HD uses the Suntour LCD control panel; which has a nice low-profile design and is very straightforward to use. There isn’t much need for a flashy LCD screen with this bike; you can get all the info, like MPH, distance, etc., at a glance quite quickly.
Star Rating / Pros and Cons:
4/5 Star Rating
Pros:
- Excellent quality build, great components for the price
- Solid range for a cruiser
- Smooth ride for both human and electric power
- Breaking is solid
- Very comfortable to ride.
Cons:
- No lights; for two thousand dollars, most ebikes in this class will come with a headlight and a tail light for safety.
- One color
- No throttle
- No suspension
- Kona’s website is a poor experience and is missing key info about the bike
Conclusion:
You will love the Kona Coco HD if you are looking for a comfortable cruiser that will get you around town, the beach, and your local bike path. This bike has a lot of personality, is easy to ride, and it’s just a lot of fun. The ride is very smooth in both assist and human power modes, and it has plenty of juice for all-day rides. It does lack lights, a throttle, any kind of suspension, and a rack, but you can easily find accessories that will do the trick there for a reasonable price. The bike is available in three sizes, and the step-through design is a huge plus for most people. If you want a cool cruiser, this one is worth considering.
SPECIFICATIONS
FRAME MATERIAL Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
SIZES S, M, L
REAR SHOCK n/a
FORK Kona Project Two Aluminum Disc
CRANKARMS Suntour
CHAINRINGS 38t
B/B Suntour
PEDALS Kona JS2
CHAIN KMC Z8.3
CASSETTE Shimano Altus 11-32t 8spd
CHAINGUIDE n/a
F/D n/a
R/D Shimano TX
SHIFTERS Shimano Altus
BRAKE CALIPERS Tektro HDM275 Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKE ROTOR Tektro TR180 180mm
REAR BRAKE ROTOR Tektro TR180 180mm
BRAKE LEVERS Tektro HDM275 Hydraulic
HEADSET Feimin FP-H863
HANDLEBAR Kona Handplant
STEM Kona Commuter
SEATPOST Kona Commuter 27.2mm
SEAT CLAMP Kona Clamp
GRIPS Kona Key Grip Slip on
SADDLE Kona Commuter
FRONT HUB Shimano 100x9mm
REAR HUB SR Suntour HD 20MPH
SPOKES Stainless Black 14g/13g
RIMS WTB SX19
FRONT TIRE WTB Horizon Comp 650x47c
REAR TIRE WTB Horizon Comp 650x47c
DRIVEUNIT SR Suntour HD 20MPH
BATTERY Phylion 418Wh
DISPLAY SR Suntour OLED Display
CHARGER Phylion 2A
BATTERYLOCK SR Suntour
PAINT COLOR Gloss Metallic Yellow w/ Charcoal Decals
EXTRAS Kickstand
Magnetic Magazine Testing Standards
All ebikes we review are built and inspected by the team at Epic Cycles in Denver to ensure proper build and safety measures. Any feedback from the mechanics is taken into consideration in all reviews. We test bikes for roughly two hours on various surfaces, primarily road and gravel trails, and occasionally single track if the bike is built for this terrain. Bikes are ridden with throttle (if equipped with one), pedal assist and on their own using human power for 15-20 miles per test.
Ever since I was a little kid, I have been obsessed with media. It sounds strange, I know. When I was just 9-years-old, I created a newspaper and offered my mother the job of editor, which she happily accepted. Distribution was small but that didn’t deter me—I had the Citizen Kane virus. And then at age 23, I started another publication called BPM CULTURE Magazine (eventually dropping the word "Culture"), which evolved into a media company called Overamerica Media Group. I found myself in the media business because I love sharing information—telling great stories, sharing ideas and most importantly, informing people about great music! Like most ‘creative types,’ I dabbled in just about everything—from DJing, to producing, and even to creating a record label. And my list of other interests (hobbies) goes on and on; I will leave that for my autobiography. After Overamerica, I spent some time on the client side in fashion, then consulting for various start-ups, only to lead me back to where I started—a start-up media company. It all happened over dinner one night, a friend said why don’t you start up another magazine about EDM—Magnetic was born.
