A little while back, our friends at Swift Industries worked with Kona to create a collaboration Rove ST Special Edition touring bike. If you recall this project’s release, it looked really appealing for those wanting a classic touring bike package with bags and everything, ready to hit the road.

My bud Kyle Klain picked one of these up from the Broken Spoke here in Santa Fe when they first dropped. It’s been his bikefishing mobile and commuter before upgrading a few crucial components this year. To test out my new camera setup (more on that later) I met up with Kyle at his office and took his bike for a quick shoot…

For the Valles Caldera, you couldn’t ask for a better-equipped tourer. Earlier this year, Kyle and his wife Kim pedaled throughout this beautiful fly fishing wonderland. Then, later in the summer, we went on a day trip to hit some of the same fishing spots.

The Rove is a crowd favorite all-rounder and the package delivered in the Swift collaboration really makes this bike shine. Included with each bike is a set of Swift Industries Jr. Ranger Panniers, a Paloma handlebar bag, and a Zeitgeist saddlebag. The bikes are fitted with fenders (with mudflaps) and a Tubus Tara Big Apple front Lowrider rack, perfect for panniers.

Once Kyle had the bike for a bit, he swapped out the wheels to carbon Industry Nine i9.35 gravel wheels with WTB Resolute gumwall tires, Thomson bits, a Brooks Cambium, and the cherry on top, Camp and Go Slow Western Rattler bar tape.

I must say, photos don’t do this bike justice, but I’d like to think these get pretty damn close.