Kona’s New Libre G2: The Practical Choice?
Kona's new Libre G2 brings the carbon bike's geometry to a practical alloy frame with a Cues groupset, but at $2,099, it faces stiff competition.
It's interesting to see Kona bring its Libre gravel platform back from the realm of carbon to a more practical 6061 aluminum frame. The new Libre G2 isn't trying to be the lightest race bike; it’s aiming squarely for real-world versatility. By keeping the same carbon fork (and thus the same well-liked handling) but adding fender and rear rack mounts, Kona is signaling that this is the bike you can actually use—for a rainy commute, a weekend bikepacking trip, or just grinding out miles without worrying about a rock chip.
The component choice underscores this. They went with Shimano's Cues 2x10 groupset, which is a deliberate move. Cues is all about durability, cross-compatibility, and a long service life, not shaving every last gram. My main curiosity, however, is the $2,099 price. That puts it in a tough spot, competing directly with bikes like the Specialized Diverge, which packs in proprietary tech like the Future Shock and downtube storage for the same money. The Libre G2 is betting that its proven geometry and focus on rugged simplicity is enough.
My Initial Take: I’m intrigued by the shift to durability over "flash," but in a market this crowded, $2,100 for an alloy Cues-equipped bike is a tough sell, even with a great carbon fork.
Kona Bicycles
