Kona Bike Sizing Guide

Kona, based in Ferndale, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is best known for its mountain bikes, though the company also manufactures a small selection of road bikes. Kona provides rough sizing guidelines for its bicycles but emphasizes that a personal fit is vital to your enjoyment of your new bike. The right size bike for you depends on the type of bike, the dimensions of the bicycle and the dimensions of your body.

Kona's adult frame sizes range from 14 inches to 23 inches, which is a measurement of the bike's seat tube length. The 14-inch frame fits an individual who is between 4 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 3 inches tall. If you are between 5 feet and 5 feet 7 inches tall, you can ride on a 16-inch frame. You can ride on a 17-inch frame if you are between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall. An 18-inch frame fits riders who are between 5 feet 6 inches and 6 feet tall. The 19-inch frame fits an individual who is between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 3 inches tall. If you are between 6 feet and 6 feet 4 inches tall, a good fit is the 20-inch frame. Ride on a 21-inch frame if you are between 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 7 inches tall. Kona recommends the 23-inch frame if you are between 6 feet 5 inches and 6 feet 10 inches tall.

Kona states that the basic element of bike fitting is the standover height. This is the distance from the ground to the top of the bicycle frame at a point halfway between the saddle and the handlebars. For road riding, Kona says you should have at least 5 cm of clearance between the top of the frame and your crotch. A bike for off-road riding should have at least 3 inches of clearance, and a bike for mountain biking on rough terrain should have at least 4 inches of clearance.

A minimum standover height of 25.75 inches is required for a 14-inch frame. To ride on a 16-inch frame you must have a minimum standover height of 28.25 inches. Kona recommends a minimum standover height of 29 inches for the 17-inch frame and a minimum of 29.75 inches for the 18-inch frame. Ride on a 19-inch frame if you have a minimum standover height of 30.5 inches. The 20-inch frame is appropriate if your standover height is a minimum of 31.25 inches. You must have a minimum standover height of 32 inches for a 21-inch frame and 34 inches to ride on a 23-inch frame.

Adjust your bike seat to a height such that when you sit on the seat and place a heel on the pedal in its lowest position, your leg is completely straight. If your heel can't reach the pedal, your seat is too high. The handlebar height and angle should allow you to comfortably reach the bars without straining or resting heavily on your hands.

Kona's 2011 models include five kids' models, two with 24-inch wheels and three with 20-inch wheels. Kids' bikes are normally sized by wheel size rather than seat tube length, but Kona's kids' bikes also give the seat tube length. Kona also has four models specifically sized for women, who tend to have slightly shorter arms in proportion to height than men do. The top tubes on women's bikes are shorter to compensate for this. Men with shorter arms may find women's frames more comfortable for their height than men's frames, and women with longer arms may prefer men's frames.