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Featured Review: KHS Urban X
by JJsKHS

Price Paid: $399.00 at Summit Ski and Bike
Review Date: August 24, 2009
Used product for: 3 months
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
KHS Urban-X w/ grocery panniers, kryptonite u-lock, and Planet Bike Blaze front/rear lights.

Summary:
This is really an excellent commuter for the price. I was looking at models selling for two and three times as much online, but when I went into the store the Urban X was the first one the guy pulled off the rack. I was somewhat hesitant, as I had it in my mind I was going with a single front chain ring with Nexus as opposed to a derailleur setup, but I’m so glad I went with the X. I routinely use all three rings here in LA, and would be at a loss on some of the steeper grades without a full 21 speeds. To think, I was considering a fixie!

Strengths:
Really well equipped stock, especially for the money: serviceable wheels, 21 speeds, a rack, fenders, etc. The stock Kendra Kwest tires are great at absorbing some of the “noise” and shock from the road, while still being fast. Bulletproof, too — ran over broken glass and all kinds of urban detritus and no flats yet. The Urban X has proven itself to be durable, usable, and an overall nice bike. Perfect commuter at a reasonable price; one only needs lights and panniers to be fully stocked and ready to roll.

Weaknesses:
The stock “Brooks-style” seat killed me. I tried and tried to get on with it, but just couldn’t. Put about 50 miles on it and was still undecided, then went on a 20 mile cruise one day and was hurting so bad by the end that I literally rode directly to the bike shop on my way home for a replacement saddle. Tried all kinds of adjustments, etc, and just couldn’t get accustomed to the stocker. This is, ultimately, a minor issue and a personal choice; your mileage may vary. Definitely not a deal breaker either way; if you don’t like the stocker, get a suitable replacement for $20-$50 and you’re all set.

That aside, my only other gripe is the paint, which seems fairly easy to chip. Granted, it’s not egg shell delicate, but I hit the metal part of my U-lock against it fairly gently and dinged away a tiny (tiny) bit of paint. This happened another time when I banged my pannier hook against the frame. It’s aluminum, so I’m not worried about corrosion, and I got this thing for riding, not for looking, but I think the paint should be stuck on there a bit better, and be more rugged. But it’s not terrible or anything, and looks nice. Minor gripe.

Similar Products Used:
Rode a heavy, poorly sprung, and poorly maintained Raleigh M50 Mountain/Trail around the urban landscape for quite a time, and thought I was cruising on a nice bike. Heh, right. Riding on the KHS is like night and day, primarily because it was made from the ground up for urban riding, has city tires, and doesn’t weigh ten thousand pounds. Now it makes me laugh when I see literally every other person on the road riding either a low end mountain bike like my old M50, or a full on race/road bike, neither of which are entirely appropriate for city riding.

We are proud to announce a brand new section of our site. We have received numerous requests for a dedicated commuter section on the site, and now we have it!! The guide highlights the various RoadBikeReview resources to help you get started on your way to bicycle commuting, with links to

• featured articles
• commuter bike reviews
• gear reviews
• and forum topics of interest.

Bicycle Commuting Resource Guide!

We are excited about this new section, and would like to find bloggers to help build the resource. If you commute and want to write about your experiences, share tips of the road, and maybe do some commuting gear/part reviews shoot us an email at admin@roadbikereview.com with your ideas for an article or story!

By Twain Mein

After feeling the effects of gas prices and seeing the economy crater, I decided I’d like to see what it would be like to get around the SF Bay Area without a car. In other words, to commute via bike + train. I figured it might be a good way to save up some money for Christmas while getting into better cycling shape. And, more importantly, see how folks get around when they’re tied to someone else’s schedule. What I l experienced was very interesting.

Cost
Caltrain is the train system that runs between San Francisco and San Jose. Round trip rates vary depending on distance, but for my route it’s $7.60/day–a bit more than I was expecting (of note, for the 4 weeks I did this, I was only asked to show my ticket 4 times). Driving is 60 miles round trip and I get around 15 mpg. At $4/gallon, that’s $20 in gas; at the current $2/gallon, it’s 10$ in gas per day. So it is a small savings. Driving takes about 30 minutes while the train takes 30 plus 60 for the bike plus 10 for the shower at work. Bottom line: $2.50 in savings per day with an extra 70 minutes of commute time. Note: I blew through any savings by buying additional equipment.

My commute
I live at the top of a hill. The descent is about 400 feet in elevation, most of which happens within ¼ mile. It’s a thrilling ride with only one short climb from my house to the train station that’s just over 3 miles away. I can make it in 12 minutes. Depending on where I get off, it’s an additional 3 or 7 miles ride to work. Unfortunately, the drop off closest to work doesn’t have frequent stops, so dropping off at a place farther North provides more flexibility though longer cycling distance.

Day 1
I nervously arrived at the train station “on time” and boarded the train. Fortunately, I had ridden the train with the bike a few times before and figured out how to label my bike for on/off locations in advance. Labeling with on/off stickers is critical!

Unfortunately, I had inadvertently got the EARLIER train, which dropped me one stop South of my intended location. Using my crackberry, I roughly figured out where I was and how to get to work. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when you’re faced with driving on unfamiliar roads with lots of traffic, it can be overwhelming.

The Orchestra

One One thing you’ll catch on to quickly is the “orchestra” of movement and, daresay, etiquette, that is critical for bike commuting.

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