First Look | Custom 2020 Kona Process 134

On the day of the 2020 Kona Process 134 launch, we take an exclusive look at a very special custom build.

Absent from the range for a couple of years, Kona has now relaunched the shorter travel version of their popular Process bike, the Kona Process 134.

We’ve managed to get an exclusive look at how Scott Belshaw, Kona’s UK sales manager, has built up his own custom 134, using a mix of some of the best UK kit on the market.

Custom 2020 Kona Process 134

Based on the same ‘Beamer’ platform as the longer travel Process 153, the 134 takes the same aggressive approach to geometry and mixes it with a little less travel. The resulting bike is a much more trail focussed bike that will be available both alloy and carbon.

The frame features the same swoopy lines as the 153 and has loads of neat features including a custom Kona chainstay protector, neat cable routing and bottle bosses with enough room for a full-size bottle.

As the name suggests, the 134 benefits from 134mm of rear wheel travel delivered through a linkage driven single pivot design, all controlled by a RockShox Deluxe Ultimate shock. Up front, Scott has upgraded the fork to a 140mm RockShox Pike Ultimate featuring the latest Charger 2.1 damper. The silver finish was chosen to match some of the other items fitted to the frame.

Hidden inside the steerer tube of that Pike Ultimate is a OneUp Components EDC tool. This gives him a range of ‘on bike’ tools and, combined with the bottle mounts, let him ditch his riding pack.

Scott’s bike started life as a Process 134 DL 29 model, and while he’s changed  a lot of components from stock, the drivetrain has remained the same with a SRAM NX Eagle 12 speed shifter coupled to a GX Eagle rear mech and 11-50 tooth cassette. One drivetrain upgrade Scott has made is the addition of a gold chain though, because, well… it’s gold!

Barnoldswick and Burgtec Bling

Cranks and chainring are both provided by Hope with a set of brand new silver Hope Evo cranks paired with a 34 tooth spiderless Retainer chainring.

The Barnoldswick brand also takes on wheel duties with a set of super shiny Hope Pro 4 Silver hubs laced to a set of Fortus 30 rims.

Those rims are shod with an aggressive and toothy Michelin Wild Enduro tyre for plenty of front end grip and a faster rolling Force Enduro out back to help with climbing.         

Stopping is taken care of by another big ‘S’ with a set of Shimano XTR 4 Pot brakes.  Regularly being seen bolted on to World Cup DH bikes, the XTR 4 piston brakes, paired with a 203mm front and 180mm rear rotor, offer plenty of stopping power for when things start to get a bit loose.

Keeping with the aggressive theme of the build, Scott has chosen to install a set of Burgtec Josh Bryceland 800mm wide, 38mm rise bars for added control. These are held in place by Kona stem and finished off with a set of Supacaz grips.

Rounding out the contact points is a Burgtec The Cloud saddle bolted to a Fox Transfer dropper post with 175mm of drop. Scott has even customised this with a Wolf  Tooth ReMote lever.

All in this is a very special build of a trail bike we know many UK riders are going to be interested in. If you need more info on the new Kona Process 134 read our launch news here, and if you have any questions about this bike let us know below.

The Process 134 is available from today and looks like a great option for UK trail riding. Head over to the Kona website to check out the full range and specs.

Ross Demain

Ad Sales Manager

Ross pairs his childlike excitement for bikes with a complete disregard for the wellbeing of his ribs, or his rims. Best known for riding cheeky trails, his time is also spent trail building in his local woods, drinking beer, eating pies and entertaining his two children.

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