Dr. Dew
Origin
Kona is a Vancouver/Bellingham-founded brand (started 1988) best known for mountain bikes, and the Dew line is its answer to the everyday urban rider. The Dew family has run for well over a decade as Kona's core flat-bar hybrid range, spanning from the entry Dew up through the Dew Deluxe/Dew DL and topping out with the Dr. Dew. The 'Dr.' in Dr. Dew signals the doctored-up, best-equipped version of the platform: the same comfortable, upright commuter DNA but with the nicest drivetrain, hydraulic discs and the plush 47c Road Plus tire package. Around the 2020 model year Kona made a notable move for a commuter at this price by switching the Dr. Dew from aluminum to a butted Cromoly steel frame and steel fork — trading a little weight for a smoother, more compliant ride — and adopting a clean 1x12 drivetrain that has become the model's signature.
Specifications
- Frame
- Early (2019): butted Kona 6061 aluminum. 2020-onward: butted Kona Cromoly (chromoly steel).
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 1x setup. 2019: SRAM Apex/NX 1x11 (11-42t). 2020-onward: 1x12 — either Shimano Deore (10-51t) or SRAM NX/SX Eagle (11-50/11-51t) depending on year.
- Brakes
- Shimano hydraulic disc (Altus-level), 160mm rotors on early bikes, 180mm rotors on later MY22-23 builds.
- Wheels
- WTB tubeless-ready 650b rims — STP i19 TCS (2019) / ST i23 TCS 2.0 (2020+).
The verdict
- Very comfortable, planted ride — long wheelbase, relaxed geometry, and 47c tires soak up rough city surfaces and light gravel.
- Genuinely well-specced for the money: 1x12 drivetrain, hydraulic discs, tubeless-ready WTB wheels/tires, and fenders included from the factory.
- Simple, low-maintenance 1x drivetrain and steel frame make it a durable, honest everyday workhorse.
- Stock Altus-level 2-piston brakes with resin pads can fade on long descents — owners upgrade to 4-piston for heavier loads or hilly routes.
- Heavier than an aluminum hybrid due to the Cromoly frame and fork — not the bike for carrying up stairs every day.
- Contact points (stock saddle and narrow/forward bar) are commonly swapped; front hub on some units needs fettling to stop rotor rub.
Generations
Gen 1 — 2019 (aluminum era)
- Lightest of the three but least compliant; numeric sizing (46-59).
- Frame
- Butted 6061 aluminum
- Brakes
- 160mm hydraulic disc
Gen 2 — 2020-2021 (steel + Deore)
- Switch to steel frame/fork for comfort; Deore is the smoothest-shifting spec.
- Frame
- Butted Cromoly steel
- Brakes
- 160mm hydraulic disc
Gen 3 — 2022-2023 (steel + Eagle, 180mm)
- Bigger rotors for better braking; SRAM Eagle drivetrain, S/M/L/XL sizing.
- Frame
- Butted Cromoly steel
- Brakes
- 180mm hydraulic disc rotors
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Dr. Dew (2019) | Dr. Dew (2020-2021) | CurrentDr. Dew (2022-2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 |
| Frame | Butted Kona 6061 aluminum | Butted Kona Cromoly steel | Butted Kona Cromoly steel |
| Drivetrain | SRAM 1x11 (Apex rear mech, NX crank, 11-42t) | Shimano Deore 1x12 (10-51t) | SRAM NX/SX Eagle 1x12 (11-50/11-51t) |
| Brakes | Shimano hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors | Shimano Altus hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors | Shimano Altus flat-mount hydraulic disc, 180mm rotors |
| MSRP | €1,000 | €1,100 | €1,300 |
| Purpose | Flagship | Flagship | Flagship |
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