Kona Introduces Five Fun New Bikes - Sea Otter Classic 14

There is a lot to talk about at Kona!

bturman
4/25/2018 1:19pm
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When they aren't bowling 300s, it's full steam ahead at Kona Bikes. The Bellingham-based company used the Sea Otter Classic as a way to show off five new rides that are currently in development or soon to hit bike shop floors. We caught up with Ian Schmitt, a Kona Product Manager, for an overview of the Big Honzo CR DL hardtail, carbon-ified Process 153 CR 29 (1:30 timestamp), ground-up design of the Operator CR 29 (4:09), MTB-inspired Libre DL (6:30), and the Remote Ctrl e-bike (8:07):

Kona Big Honzo CR DL

Kona Process 153 CR DL 29

Kona Operator CR DL 29

Kona Libre DL

Kona Remote Ctrl

Visit www.konaworld.com for more details, and be sure to catch our intro feature from last year's Kona product launch for more details on the Process lineup.

What else was rad at the Sea Otter Classic? Find out!

Photos by Caleb Smith

Related:
Kona
Downhill
Enduro
Trail / All-Mountain
E-Bike
Sea Otter Classic
Hardtail
Road
Sea Otter Classic 2018
14 comments

View replies to: Kona Introduces Five Fun New Bikes - Sea Otter Classic

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mtnrush666
6 years ago
Don't know what all the fuss is about..ain't like Kona's bikes of the past were purdy. They just need the old names to match..."Stinky", "Dawg", etc.
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David.Max
6 years ago
I don't want to be overly negative, but I feel like Kona really need to work on their industrial design language. I know that there are a lot of other important factors to consider when choosing a bike, but it does play a big role when it comes to making such a major purchase.

Other than the the Honzo and the Libre all of these bikes have a really awkward appearance to them. Further, the slack actual seat tube angle on the Process 153 would be and absolute deal breaker for me. I also wonder if the kink in the seat tube is going to be an issue when it comes to installing a longer dropper.

I want to like what Kona is up too, but most of these new offerings really don't do it for me.
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Adam_Schaeffer
6 years ago
Agreed. All the smooth transitions and solid rocker links make them look bulky and lethargic. I'm sure they're tough and strong, but I imagine they would sell more bikes if they had a sleeker, more nimble appearance. Actual seat tube angles are a problem with most brands, not just Kona. Hopefully that's the next geometry change we see that becomes the hot new trend. Long, low, slack, and STEEP!
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Aksel_Lfft
6 years ago
Agreed also. Man the old process design was so spot on (long, very slopy, not too beefy, pure race machine). They were very sexy bikes with very good performances. I don't know why they have changed completely the design...
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maxx
6 years ago
I'm still hung up on the old process as well. I had high hopes for a carbon version of the 153. When the new one was released I was pretty bummed. I would have bought the old version. The new crop is kinda fugly.
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Dogboy
6 years ago
Bummer that you guys aren't keen on the aesthetics, as I ride with a group of shredders that have transitioned from the old Process to the new one and by all accounts the new ones are pretty much better in every way.
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bizutch
6 years ago
The 30 second sales pitch (see Vital videos) states the Process accommodates max travel posts so no problems there. I'm in awe of most all modern bikes. My '06 Turner won't break, but it's archaic compared to all the new stuff.
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rlewis
6 years ago
The seat tube angle for the CR 153 29" is at 76 degrees, which is the same as the Orbea Rallon and the Ibis Ripmo. Two of the better pedaling long travel 29ers I've ridden. The chainstays are cliche Kona at 425mm, which is 10mm shorter than Rallon/Ripmo and 12mm shorter than Tallboy LT, with damn near identical wheel bases and HA to fork rake ratio.Which means, its the same style/concept they've been drawing up for the last couple of years, short out back and long up front. Quit hating, the bike looks rad and is probably a blast to ride.
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Konaworld
6 years ago
Hi David.

Thanks for the comment. Just wanted to clarify a few things however.

The effective STA on the Process models is 76ยฐ.

The seat tube length on the Process models is quite short, 385mm for a small, 410mm for a medium and 450mm for a large.

The bikes also have deep seatpost insertion. The frames will accept the following seat posts all the way to the collar on a RS Reverb, but many riders will find they can upgrade to an even longer post should they choose, given that the actual seat tube length is quite short. Small = 125mm, Medium = 150mm, Large/XL = 170mm.
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Ceecee
6 years ago
Actual seat tube angles can be problematic for over-the-pedal fit for those with long legs, disproportionately long lower legs, and/or those who use flat pedals with a set-forward foot position. I've no idea how numerically significant this group is, but I believe it's what the OP is referring to.
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David.Max
6 years ago
Thanks Konaworld for the reply, but as Ceecee stated its the actual seat tube angle that doesn't really work for me.

I have a 37.5" inseam and because of this I end up running a lot of seat post. Bikes with a slack actual seat post angle position me too far behind the bottom bracket for comfortable climbing even if the listed seat tube angle is relatively steep. Kona certainly isn't alone in this, the Trek Slash being another notable example that comes to mind.

For me it's a deal breaker that eliminates quite a few bikes from real consideration. That said, I also recognize that I'm an outlier in terms of my proportions, and that not every bike will work for every rider. I'm sure the new Process is a great bike, and I wouldn't hesitate to take one for a test ride, but its unlikely that it would make it to the top of my list when its time to shop for a new bike next year.
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Bob Chicken
6 years ago
Chuck Ibis explicitly stated they measured effective STA at what they believed were standarised seat post length for a given frame size, BB to top of seat rails. Do you do the same? Why hasn't this been standarised?
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infrared
6 years ago
I agree with you, I'm in the same boat - 195cm tall with long legs and arms.

Most manufacturers show on their images a saddle which is level with the top of the headset. And that is normally where my saddle is with my 175mm dropper in the lowest position on a XL Transition Patrol 2017 frame!
With the new Process my butt would be over the rear axle, which will be horrible for climbing.
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