Kona Process X CR Review

All in, the Kona Process X CR is an excellent all-mountain bike. And it’s the nicest-looking mountain bike I’ve seen for a number of years.

• Price: £5,499.00
• From: Kona World
• Tested by: Benji for 2 months

Although this carbon CR suffixed version is new, the Process X is fundamentally a design dating back to MY2021 as that’s when the alloy version came out. Although the pace of change has slowed somewhat of late, three years is a significant period of time.

Is the Process X now behind the times? Solely in terms of seat angle, arguably it is. The actual seat angle of this frame is 69°. The claimed effective is 77.9°, which I’d take with a pinch of salt, but with a bit of saddle rail shoving, I could get into a decently effective position over the cranks.

I can happily say that the rest of the bike is bang up to date. In fact, it’s better than a lot of MY2024 in terms of fundamental geometry numbers and build spec. It has big reach numbers (525mm on this XL). It, brilliantly, has long 450mm chainstays (in Long setting, 435mm in Short).

These reach and stay figures give it exceptional balance – especially for taller riders – that quickly overrule any prejudice that long bikes can’t handle tight terrain. This bike flash dances down everything – twisty or blasty.

The rear suspension absolutely requires very careful set-up. A click either way results in quite a big difference; it is all too easy to set up the back end to be energy-robbing bobby, or pack-down happy ‘dead’. It’s not a bike you can set the sag and shred. It needs a number of considered rides to dial in.

FWIW I set it up with rebound five clicks from fully open and compression set to number 8 on the dial (essentially two clicks from fully open).

The rest of the bike has been excellent. Great brakes, great gears, 200mm dropper, normal bottle mounts, proper Maxxis tyres, suitable stem and bars, and comfy saddle. The Fox 38 fork needed all of its volume spacers removing, and all its dampers set to minimum for me to get suitable travel/action out of it – 75kg+ riders won’t have an issue.

All in all, the Process X CR is an excellent all-mountain bike. And it’s the nicest-looking mountain bike I’ve seen for a number of years too. Which doesn’t hurt.

Kona Process X CR specification

• Frame // Kona Carbon, 162mm travel
• Shock // Fox Float X Performance Elite Trunnion
• Fork // Fox 38 Performance Grip 170mm
• Wheels // WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs
• Front Tyre // Maxxis Assegai EXO+ TR 3C 29×2.5″ WT
• Rear Tyre // Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ TR 3C 29×2.4″ WT
• Chainset // Shimano SLX
• Brakes // Shimano Deore 4-Pot, 203/203mm
• Drivetrain // Shimano SLX/XT
• Stem // Kona XC/BC 35
• Handlebars // Kona XC/BC 35
• Grips // Kona Key Grip
• Seat Post // TranzX Dropper +RAD Internal w/ Shimano Lever 31.6mm
• Saddle // WTB Volt

Geometry of our size XL

• Head angle // 63.5°
• Effective seat angle // 77.9°
• Seat tube length // 450mm
• Head tube length // 116mm
• Chainstay // 435/450mm
• Wheelbase // 1308/1323mm
• Effective top tube // 662mm
• BB height // 30mm BB drop
• Reach // 525m

Review Info

Brand:	Kona
Product:	Process X CR
From:	Kona
Price:	£5,499
Tested:	by Benji for 2 months

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