Differentiate Kona Humuhumu vs. Electra Moto 1

What do we have here? Are they clunkers? Not really, they have 29-inch wheels and disc brakes. Mountain bikes? No way. Too much style. Cruisers? I guess you could say that, but they are a hell of a lot more fun than what you find at the beach.

For the sake of seniority, I’ll address the Kona first. The Humuhumu model dates back to 1992 when the brand wanted to offer something that put fun ahead of the performance. By that point, mountain bikes had already gotten incredibly complex, but not everyone needed scandium and elastomers to get around and get dirty.

The Moto 1, on the other hand, is one of the most sporty models in Electra’s line-up. Best known for its relaxed, “Flat Foot” cruiser design, it isn’t a brand you might normally equate with gettin’ rad. Then again it was acquired by Trek Bikes a few years back and the Moto 1 has more than a passing resemblance to the short-lived Fisher Sawyer mountain bike.

Kona Humuhumu vs. Electra Moto 1

Frame and fork

The heart and soul of both these bikes lie within their distinctive frames. Each has an additional top tube that recalls the classic lines of bikes like the pre-war Schwinn Excelsior that often had a faux “gas tank” attached to simulate the motorcycle styling of the day. Many of these bikes were re-purposed in the mid-1970s as “klunkers,” sturdy, off-road bicycles that we the genesis of the modern mountain bike.

The Kona’s Chromoly steel frame has straight tubes and a straightforward layout. The sliding dropouts allow you to tension the chain, but there’s no derailleur hanger or provisions for shift cables. Practicality is still possible, as it has a full complement of rack and fender eyelets, but only one bottle cage mount. The fork has Kona’s classic P2 shape and a set of mid-leg bosses for a front rack. The 44 mm head tube means you can even try experimenting with a suspension fork.

Wheels and tires

While the Humu models have traditionally sported 26-inch wheels, Kona outfitted the newest Humu with big 29 inch hoops, in this case, WTB SX19 rims laced to Formula hubs and wrapped in buttery smooth Schwalbe Big Apples. The rear hub has a single-speed freehub body that makes switching cogs a breeze.

The Moto 1 also comes with massive 29-inch cruiser tires, in this case, Electra’s own design with a moto-inspired tread reminiscent of Steve McQueen’s favorite Triumph. The wheels themselves are no-name hubs spinning Electra’s own massive, double-wall rims, and the rear hub sports a traditional, thread-on single speed freewheel. I love the look of the Moto 1’s tires, but the Kona just has it beat in terms of quality and especially weight savings.

Drivetrain

Both these bikes are dedicated single speeds, and while you could conceivably hack a drivetrain onto the Humu, that’s not really what it’s all about. The Electra is available in a three-speed model, but in the case of these retro-inspired cruisers, more isn’t always merrier. Kona sticks to a tried and true mountain bike drivetrain with four-bolt FSA crankarms and a threaded bottom bracket pushing a 38×18 combo.

Being able to stop quickly and easily is the best confidence booster when it comes to going fast, and I’m quite thrilled that both these brands laughed in the face of the rim brake tradition and chose to go with mechanical disc brakes.

Kona has Tektro Novela calipers with 160 mm rotors and the Moto 1’s calipers are unlabeled, but a pretty standard design. They both work quite well but the Humu has a higher quality feel in your hands. The Moto 1 is also hampered by the rear-facing, track-style dropouts, as getting the caliper to line up properly if you decide to switch up the gearing is going to be a bit of a hassle.

The Ride

Both of these bikes are a ton of fun to ride, especially when you’re tracking your progress in smiles-per-hour. With the can-do attitude of a happy puppy they are just asking for you to hop a few curbs and skid your way around the neighborhood. I wouldn’t choose either for a lengthy, year-round commute, though the Kona can at least take a set of fenders. While the two bikes weigh about the same, the Kona has much more pep in its step, thanks to the high quality wheels and tires. I think the massive rotating mass of the Electra’s wheels slow it down and give it a slightly sluggish feel.

Looks

While both bikes have chunky, BMX-style stems, only the Kona has the uber-cool handlebar that looks like it just came off a flat-track race motorcycle. It’s huge too, measuring 800 mm wide— something that riders small-in-stature might want to take heed of. That single piece notwithstanding, I can’t help but think the Electra just looks better from every angle. The extra curve of the tubes, that matte paint, the classic tire tread… It all adds up to a very handsome bike indeed.

Conclusion

It’s quite likely that both these bikes fall into shoppers’ “N+1” category. Like a summer sports car the priority here is pleasure, not practicality. The Electra is hundreds of dollars less, but if it were up to me I’d be saving my pennies for the Kona. It’s a blast to ride, has the edge in terms of practicality, but most of all it brings a mischievous smile to my face every time I ride it and isn’t that what these bikes are really for?

Details on Kona Humuhumu vs. Electra Moto 1

Kona Humuhumu

• Price: $899
• Weight: 29.5 pounds
• Sizes: S, M, L (tested)

Electra Moto 1

• Price: $550
• Weight: 29.6 pounds
• Sizes: One size