I am in the market for an inexpensive cross bike. I am looking at the Redlike Conquest for $750 or the Kona Jake for $800. Any feedback or your experiences is appreciated. Don
I have a Conquest, picked it up this season. I’m realy liking the bike. Before that I was riding cross on my single speed and just beating that bike up. The overall feel of the Conquest is “flexy”, it really soaks up bumps really well.
I’ve not tried a Kona, so no comparo there.
On my Redline, I did change the saddle and seat post (for a better saddle and post laying around). I find the disc brake tabs a pain when putting fenders on for winter rides. I’ve also found that the drive line needs to be keep clean and lubed (like every time it gets even a little bit dirty).
I have a Redline Conquest Pro and really like it. It’s my first cross bike so I don’t have anything to compare it to.
clm
I own both. They are both absolutely fine. The Redline fits me and the Kona (too small - a gift from my wife 3 years ago) is going to my son this weekend. ( I am 6’3 and he is 5’6 and growing.)
The Redline might lean a little bit more towards the road bike world the Kona more towards the mountain bike world. The only complaint I have heard about the Konas is the very heavy and really stiff Project 2 fork.
Most useful and practical type of bike you can own. The bike equivalent of a swiss army knife or a Leatherman tool. By switching wheels or tires and you can go from a rigid trial/mtb all the way to a crit racing road bike.
David K
clm,
how do you like cross? i just started this season as well and really like it. i have found it to be really hard(as in on the verge of barfing most of the race) but i am enjoying it. hopefully it translates into faster bike splits next year! take care.
CROSS RULZ! Tell em Cathy say it loud and proud.
it is awesome. where are you at? here in socal the race season seems so short, ~3 months. i wish it was longer.
Do you intend to race with this bike?
I own both a Kona and a Redline and they are fine bikes for cross. One thing I will say is Redline is superior in the customer service dept. in my experience.
Also, cross season is winding down so ou might want to keep an eye on Craigslist and Ebay for good deals.
I am in Austin Tx. The season is short here as well, basically 3 months since all the roadies start race season in March. The problem here is that races are strung out from Houston to Dallas. Makes it tough to justify a 6 hour round trip for a 1 hour race.
This year we did have a Tues. night series that was held on a Motocross dirt track. Not a typical cross course but ti was a blast. We had 8 races with a championship 9th race. Way too much for and the first race cost $10 and if you were dumb like me and race two the second was only $5.
I just can’t get over racing cross when it is hot out.
Thanks for the replies. I live in Maine and plan to use the bike for winter riding. I have done road racing, but no cyclocross racing. If I did it would be strictly for fun. I have been using an old Puch, so this will be a real upgrade for me. I am going to test ride both bikes from my local shop. Sounds like people like both the Jake and the Conquest. Any issue with reliability of the bikes? Don.
I haven’t heard any complaints from anyone about either cross bike. They’ll probably outlive us all 
I just bought the Specialized TriCross Sport at a killer deal from my local bike shop, they gave it to me for cost basically and threw in a set of cyclocross tires. It’s not the most high tech bike out there with it’s Sora 8-speed but for winter riding that’s all I want anyway. As parts fail or wear out I’ll jsut replace with 10-speed 105 or something like that. I like it a lot so far but I think I’d like just about any cross bike since it’s so fun! I know you asked about specific bikes but my point is this…cyclocross is a blast!!
Thanks. I will look into Specialized also. I have a Specialized road bike and love ii. Don.
Take a look at the Tricross Comp rather than the Sport, it is a much better spec’d bike.
Woofy–I haven’t gotten to race this season, but will be riding the cross bike this winter a lot. I definitely plan to race next fall.
And yea Kurt…CROSS RULZ!
Tits, beer, dirt and sweat…what more could you want? 
clm