Kona’s 2019 Newcomers Go Big On 29ers

Kona is 30 years old this year and has many treats in store for you. There are new carbon bikes, new steel hardtails, new drop bar bikes and new e-bikes.

Among them is a limited edition Honzo ST – which has been done for the anniversary and which is limited to 201 bikes, all finished in a sterling silver paint.

Kona Honzo ST

 

Carbon Operator 29er (or is it?)

From steel hardtails to carbon 29er downhill bikes… The new Operator has already been raced in disguise (well, orange paint…) by Connor Fearon for several months now. The Operator 29 is obviously a 29er DH bike in keeping with how those things are all going, but the bike will also run 27.5in tyres… More on that in a second.

The Operator has flip chips on the rocker which effectively shorten the seatstays and allow the bike to sit back. Angles on the 29er are apparently a laid back 62°

Kona Process 153 Carbon

Previously, the carbon Process 153 was only offered in 27.5in, so it was kind of inevitable that the big wheeler version of this 160(ish)mm travel beast would become available. It’s vary similar to the existing 27.5in bike, though Kona has been doing some refining on its moulds in the meantime, with a new hollow carbon rocker and a tweak to some cable ports.

 

 

Kona Big Honzo

The Big Honzo is Kona’s slack but beefy carbon 27.5plus bike. And now it comes in carbon. Thanks to some very clever carbon shaping, there’s room for huge 3in tyres out back.

 

 

 

Kona Electric Ute

Kona’s workhorse stretch e-bike, the Ute, gets some additions, including this great double kickstand so that your bike won’t fall over when it’s being loaded full of shopping (or kids).

 

 

 

 

Remote Control

Kona also showed its prototype full suspension e-bike. With handmade decals and little information available, we can tell you that it features Bosch’s new 500W battery and the Bosch CX Performance motor, which includes an intuitive, variable assistance MTB mode.

 

Kona Libre DL

And finally, something a little different, the Kona Libre DL. An adventure bike that’s been dubbed an ‘Any road’ bike. The Libre (it’s all about freedom, right?) will take big 700 x 45mm tyres, or 650C ballooners… There’ll be two versions – this one with 1 x 11 and all the bells and whistles and a cheaper spec one with a double chainset (yes, those are still a thing).

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