Straight out of Eurobike we headed over to the Austrian ski resort of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for a chance to see and ride Kona’s 2015 range, in particular the Process range. Last year saw the introduction of the Process model; Kona’s go-to trail/enduro/razzing about bike. For this year the Process range has been expanded and updated.
Process
The whole Process range has been designed to have a super short back end and a long front. Kona has made the chainstays as short as possible. As you climb up through the sizes, the standover stays pretty much the same; from M to L there is a 10mm difference. The real change in sizes is the reach and how the front end just gets longer and longer.
Process 134A DL
The Process 134A DL is Kona’s shorter travel Process bike. Held up front with a RockShox Revelation RL Solo Air 140mm fork, 27.5 inch wheels and a Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes.
Available in sizes S, M, L, XL, our Dan rode a large, not his preferred size but still it rode well, especially on the steep and slick ‘enduro’ trails at Sefaus-Fiss-Ladis.
Price for the Process 134A DL is £3299, with the lower specced Process 134 coming in at £2399.
Process 153
The Process 153 was introduced last year as the hard hitting enduro machine. This year that stays the same, the 153’s only changes come in the form of a KS dropper post and SRAM X9 Type 2 derailleur.
https://vimeo.com/106974862
Available in sizes S, M, L, XL the 27.5in wheeled 150mm full suspension bike is the go-to bike for most people in the Kona enduro market. The 153 felt ace when riding and handled everything we chucked at it, it’s a very capable bike. Really nice to look and a well rounded enduro whippet.
The Process 153 is priced at £2899 and we reckon it’s going to prove a very popular bike.
Process 111
Maybe the dark horse of the Process range is the 111. You wouldn’t think a 120mm 29er would be that capable or playful. However, after shortening the chainstays, lowering the BB, taking the front mech out of the equation and making a bigger cockpit the 111 is as capable and playful as the 153.
Once again available in sizes S, M, L, XL with similar standover throughout, we’d recommend trying a size bigger than you usually ride to feel the benefit of the extra front centre. The 111 comes equipped with a SRAM 1×11 drivetrain, Shimano XT brakes and a Pike up front.
We were blown away with how well the 29er handled, hitting everything at the same speed as on the 153 but a lot smoother and in places even faster. There’s a definite realigning going on with the introduction of long, low, aggressive short travel 29ers and we’re liking it (and testing three of them, including the Process, in the next issue of the magazine).
The 111 is £3599.
Explosif
Kona’s classic hardtail is now adopting 27.5 wheels and stealth dropper routing. Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes and drivetrain with XT Shadow Plus RD and a RockShox Recon Gold RL 120mm fork.
The Explosif looks like a really nice all rounded hardtail, it may seem a little on the pricey side at £1699 but you get what you pay for. Available sizes 15in, 17in, 19in, 21in.
More information at Konaworld.
Read Dan’s thoughts on the launch here
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from the reviews these bikes get they (at least to me) have even more WANT appeal than the carbon rimmed beauties you see around the 5 & 6k mark, I’d love to try one and have the spare cash !!