For those who haven’t heard, Kona is again as a rider-owned model. There was a (transient!) time period throughout Sea Otter when it appeared like bikes Kona had been engaged on for years would by no means see the sunshine of day. However now that Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron are again on the helm, they’re losing no time in rolling out not one, however two new Processes.
The Kona Course of has been their go-big-or-go-home play bike since 2014, topping out with a really long-travel Course of X collection for park, DH, and enduro racing, however largely residing within the huge path bike world of s#!t consuming grins. That model is again and higher than ever, together with an equally re-creation of the shorter journey Course of 134 for shredders who like to underbike.
New Kona Course of 153
The Course of 153 will get 153mm rear wheel journey, paired with 160mm forks, and is available in carbon and alloy frames, two trim ranges every. Carbon frames have totally guided inner routing for every thing, with a “Y Connector” letting you correctly route your rear brake regardless of which aspect of the bar you run it on (moto or common). Alloy frames have exterior routing for every thing however the dropper publish.
The large replace is a flip chip behind the rocker that allows you to alter geometry to suit 29er or 27.5″ wheels within the again. Entrance is 29er solely. All Small sized bikes ship as a mullet, others come as full 29ers.
The suspension kinematics are up to date to work equally effectively with air or coil shocks. The leverage ratio drops from about 2.82 to 2.38 (with a 29er rear wheel), which ought to imply a superb little bit of ramp towards the top to stop backside out. The curve is identical with a 27.5″ rear wheel, it simply begins a bit increased, round 2.94 dropping to 2.49.
The body will get higher bottle cage placement for simpler entry and removing, plus software mounting factors beneath the highest tube. Additional body safety on the downtube, BB shell, and chainstay is added.
The seat tube is shorter, preserving the bike’s weight low and providing nice standover clearance. It additionally has deeper publish insertion, making room for droppers, starting from 175mm as much as 200mm or extra relying on body measurement and dropper mannequin.
Kona Course of 134
For those who like the thought of a Kona however want that sweet-spot mid-travel bike that works effectively nearly anyplace, the brand new third era Course of 134 might be it. Similar suspension format for getting rowdy, however with a bit snappier pedaling efficiency.
It additionally will get the flip chip and MX functionality, has two carbon and two alloy fashions. And it’s appropriate with air and coil shocks, has higher bottle clearance, software mounts, and further body safety. Principally, it’s the identical, simply with much less journey. Even the pivot and bearing {hardware} is identical throughout all fashions, body supplies, and sizes, making it simpler on outlets to hold spares.
