Last week we spent a few hours over at the Kona booth during Eurobike to catch up on what’s new in the range for 2020.
Once again Kona had erected their impressive booth for Eurobike 2019, and once again, the Canadian brand were delivering the goods by way of all new bikes, updates, and redesigns.
2020 Kona Bikes at Eurobike video
2020 Kona Remote 160
One of the highlights on the Kona stand was the new Kona Remote 160 e-MTB. Regular readers of Singletrack will have already seen our exclusive coverage of this e-Bike, but in-case you missed it here are the details.
The new Remote 160 is basically the answer to the question “What would happen if they made a Process e-Bike”. Sure it’s not called the Process, but in essence, this 160mm travel full-suspension bike is what big-mountain e-Bike fans have been waiting for.
While adopting aggressive geometry and the versatile enduro platform made famous by the Process, the new Remote 160 also receives a Shimano E8000 motor, and the latest BT-E8035 internal battery. In contrast the Remote CTRL, the original Kona eMTB still uses a larger Bosch Gen 3 motor and matching internal battery.
The new Shimano battery offers the same 504Wh capacity as the older external battery, but is slimmer, has a lower-profile and also benefits from a few additional features. The 8035 battery no longer uses keys to remove the battery, instead, a single 4mm Allen key can be used to unlatch it. The new battery also uses an easier to use access power button, located on the top tube of the Remote 160, and because of the more compact size, it should be easier to carry a spare battery if you wanted to.
Kona ships the Remote 160 with 27.5in plus tyres, but the frame can be built with 29in wheels if you preferred or even ran with mismatched wheel sizes. Something we have been testing with our review bike.
Component highlights of the 2020 Kona Remote 160 include a RockShox Lyrik fork, 4 pot Code brakes, and an SRAM drivetrain. You can read more about the Remote 160 here in our exclusive first look article.
2020 Kona Process 134
The 2020 Kona Process 134 is the spiritual successor to the original Process 111, but as well as being available as a playful short-travel 29er, Kona is also offering the 134 as a 27.5in wheeled bike too.
As well as offering a choice of wheel sizes, Kona is offering a choice of frame material options. Riders can choose a 29er in alloy or carbon, or a carbon or alloy frame in 27.5in. Regardless of which model you choose, you’ll be on a bike with a low standover height, progressive geometry, 134mm of rear-wheel travel and 140mm up front.
This attention-grabbing model is the Process 134 CR/DL 29, featuring a full Kona carbon frame, RockShox Pike Ulitmate RC2 fork, Super Deluxe rear shock, and SRAM G2 RSC disc brakes for ultimate stopping power.
Like the original 111, the 134 isn’t the biggest travel bike in the Kona range, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t designed for gnarly terrain and the wheel and tyre choice confirms this. Both front and rear tyres are Minion DHF EXO RR 3C tyres, the front being a slightly wider 2.5in WT version and the rear a 2.3in.
2020 Kona bikes
If big travel e-Bikes, or aggressive carbon full-suspension bikes aren’t your thing then not to worry as Kona’s 2020 range will certainly have something for you.
From carbon CX bikes, and steel hardtails, to electric cargo bikes and kids bikes that we wish we could ride, there was something for everyone over at the Kona booth.
For more details, or to see more of the 2020 Kona range then head on over to the Kona website.