Kona Bicycles Winds Down: Brand For Sale: UK Distributor Continues To Import Stock

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Having bought the Kona brand from the founders just two years ago, owners Kent Outdoors have announced they are abandoning the bike market altogether and have put the Kona brand on the market. Kent Outdoors owns a large portfolio of 15 outdoor brands with a specialism in watersports.

The alarm bells first began to ring this week at the Sea Otter Classic event when Kona employees were seen taking their stand down and leaving the site just a day after setting it up.

One insider, who wishes to stay anonymous, told us Kent believe the global bike industry is unlikely to show signs of recovery for 18 months to two years and they are simply not prepared to wait that long. Instead they are exiting the bike market to focus on their water-sports brands where a recovery is already underway. It’s also an open secret that Kent have been presenting Kona as a possible target for a sale for quite some time now.

In a press release yesterday Kent Outdoors stated, “…In connection with the investment of capital and the management team coming onboard, the Company performed a strategic review of its operating units and determined that it would continue to seek a buyer for its bike business, Kona. This move allows the Company to direct its resources toward investment in its key water sports businesses. The bike industry has faced very significant challenges in the post covid world and Kona has not been immune to these headwinds“.

As for the staff at Kona, they are currently being very tight lipped as to what they have been told at a ‘Town Hall’ style meeting on Thursday. However, a source has told us there are extensive job losses as the company is being wound down completely while Kent looks for a buyer for the brand. Kona as a going concern essentially no longer exists. It’s likely any sale agreed of the brand will be for the intellectual property (IP) only. We understand that Kent are looking to offer some staff jobs within it’s other brands although this number is very small with the majority of staff being let go.

We are still waiting for an official announcement from Kent Outdoors regards the levels of job losses and we will update this story when we have more information.

This leaves a number of factories in the far east with a large quantity of unpaid for Kona bikes, which brings us to part two of this story…

Meanwhile in the UK, Kona supplies continue

Kona distributor Mount Green Cycles, based in Bacup, Lancashire have today told us that they intend to continue importing and distributing Kona bikes into the UK market via it’s network of dealers, which kind of sounds really strange with the brand winding down. In a press release sent out to all dealers Mount Green Cycles boss Scott Taylor puts Kona’s problems squarely at the feet of the brand owners and not the state of the market or general Kona bike sales.

In the coming hours Kent Outdoors will put live a press release announcing they are pulling out of the bike business, alongside more positive news for the rest of their portfolio of brands.

This means, through no fault of its staff, its amazing product or its global network of loyal fans, Kona USA and its EU entities will cease trading in the coming months.

Scott Taylor – Mount Green Cycles

Taylor claims that due to Kona owners Kent Outdoors slowing down their supply chains over the last year while they decide what to do with the brand that rather than the typical glut of stock in the system there is actually a shortage of some Kona models with some dealers actually putting in back orders for certain models. Taylor told us he intends to try and satisfy that demand and get some of the stock currently sitting in factories moving into the UK. He can do this due to a quirk of how Kona as a brand has historically dealt with distributors.

Taylor explained to us that rather than distributors buying stock directly from Kona they instead have traditionally paid the factories directly for their orders. With distributors being the customer of the factories Taylor is in the position to be able to deal directly to source his supplies of Kona models. What he can’t do is order more bikes beyond what have already been manufactured so his supply of Kona models is finite although be understands that their is plenty of stock of most models including some as yet not released ranges.

Of course this may all completely change if a buyer is found for the brand, but for the short to medium term at least, UK riders should still be able to buy Kona models with full warranty even if the global brand shuts down completely, claimed Taylor.

While there is a plentiful supply of stock of Kona bikes available, including a whole new range, Taylor cautions that unless a buyer is found for the global Kona brand, ultimately there will be no future for Kona once all currently manufactured stock is sold.

He also explained that his plan is not unique and other distributors around the world with similar direct customer connections with the Kona factories may also decide to buy up and sell some of the the existing stock currently sat in the factories.

So in short, Kona will still have an ongoing presence in the UK via its existing 60+ Kona dealers with full warranty being assured by dealers & Mount Green Cycles with the caveat of ‘While stocks last’.

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Home Forums Kona Bicycles Winds Down: Brand For Sale: UK Distributor Continues To Import Stock

Viewing 24 posts - 41 through 64 (of 64 total)
  • Kona Bicycles Winds Down: Brand For Sale: UK Distributor Continues To Import Stock
  • jkomo
    Full Member

    They really are the coolest brand, making such nice looking bikes, with lovely paint jobs. Surely one of the stuffier bike brands might take a look.

    DaveyBoyWonder
    Free Member

    So apart from a bit of 90’s nostalgia, have they actually made a bike in the last decade that anybody wanted enough to buy?

    Personally no but I’ll admit to not really following what the likes of Specialized, Trek, Kona, Giant are producing these days. There was the Canzo (?) which looked pretty cool and things like the Paddywagon but very niche bikes in their range.

    1995 with the squared off Kona logos was peak Kona for me.

    Speeder
    Full Member

    I hope the owners haven’t taken the decision to simply nuke the company/brand without consulting with the staff if there was the will to take the business on in some way.  It wouldn’t be a safe bet for sure but it would be a terrible shame to simply lose all the experience and know how.

    jamj1974
    Full Member

    So apart from a bit of 90’s nostalgia, have they actually made a bike in the last decade that anybody wanted enough to buy?

    Yes – but probably not the same kind of Kona bike that I used to ride and race.   Now with needing to ride an ebike, riding hard or racing firmly off the cards – not so much.

    The Electric Ute seemed a good bike, but I won’t buy more than one ebike.  I also wanted a Unit – but life had other ideas.

    finbar
    Free Member

    The Kona Process from 2015 (ish?) was the last innovative/good bike they did I think, chonky frame and build but relatively short travel at 130mm.

    1
    austen
    Full Member

    I also had a mid 90’s Kona that I loved until it was stolen, currently have a Unit and a Jake which were both just what I wanted at the time.  I’ll certainly miss them if they go, but if they do make it through I wonder if they should be a bit more Surly and return to some more niche bikes.

    Need to go shopping for replacement hangers just in case…

    1
    scotroutes
    Full Member

    It was 2007 that I bought my Kona Sutra. It was a bit “weird” at the time, with its 700x35C tyres, disk brakes and comfy ride but these days it would just be seem as yet another gravel bike.

    1
    TedC
    Full Member

    Mine. ‘94 Explosif still a WIP. And yes, the Circuit FS, is technically not a Kona Sex One, but is in everything but paint.IMG_5674IMG_5680

    1
    DaveyBoyWonder
    Free Member

    ^if that was last summer, there were some awesome bikes on that stand… nearly bought a mint GT Tequesta that I didn’t need.

    Del
    Full Member

    My honzo ESD is a right laugh and is a decent spec for ~1800. At RRP it would not be. Not many mainstream brands are making bikes with that sort of geo and sliding dropouts as far as I’m aware?

    kenneththecurtain
    Free Member

    So apart from a bit of 90’s nostalgia, have they actually made a bike in the last decade that anybody wanted enough to buy?

    My 2016-ish Process 111 was excellent, and quite ahead of the game – LLS short travel 29er before that was really a thing.

    branes
    Free Member

    Yep. 2014 Process 111 relit my MTB passion after dabbling as a Mamil for a while. One of the first mainstream LLS, that plus its 1x and dropper made it all click into place for me.

    2
    robertajobb
    Full Member

    Need to stop using the misleading euphemism ‘let go’.  They are not being ‘let’ go.  They are being made REDUNDANT.  A loss of a job and income FORCED on staff, not something offered as a kind gesture of good will.

     

    thelooseone
    Full Member

    I’ve previously owned a 2016 Process 111 DL, at the time it was the longest, slackest, best fitting, best handling bike i’d ever owned.

    cookeaa
    Full Member

    How come so many supposedly financially savvy investors didn’t realise the covid peak was a blip, not the norm?

    Most investment/business/financial management is just glorified gambling, Take away the MBAs and most of these clowns would be sat in a betting shop convinced they had a “system” for spotting winners.

    It’s the difference between chasing profits having bought a company you don’t understand, and having some insights into the markets they operate in and recognizing when a situation is unsustainable.

    The money bitches ruin everything, short term gain over long term sustainability. Capitalism is doomed, etc… 😞

    2
    chakaping
    Full Member

    The Kona Process from 2015 (ish?) was the last innovative/good bike they did I think, chonky frame and build but relatively short travel at 130mm.

    They did the burly short travel Process 111 29er, which I had and was amazing.

    And the 650b wheeled Process 135 and 153 – I also had the latter and that was brilliant too.

    Both pedalled like shit TBH, but were progressive for the time and really well balanced.

    My P153 in Finale:

    1
    kimbers
    Full Member

    Process 153 you say…

    10003845_10152203173292477_1638384982421623932_o

    loved that bike, so much fun to ride, it wasnt a great pedaller but I did the Mega, couple of EWS at tweedlove (the 1st one was ridiculously long),

    The next Gen Process was much more of an allrounder, but by then everyone was doing progressive geometry

    I have a 1997 Lava Dome (semi-retired)

    a 2002 Bear D-L (semi-retired)

    a 2006  Dew DL that I got rusted to a standstill off ebay and now lives at Euston

    a 2013 Dew DL that I use for commuting to the station every day

    a 2014 Unit- Used loads for towing kids to nursery, family adventures, long off road treks

    a 2018 Process 153 29 – ridden and raced all over the UK, getting a bit old now , but it has an angleset and suspension Ive got just right so seeing no need to change

    a 2021 Honzo DL- I ride it more than I thought I would, 2.6 tyres and its insanely capable for a hardtail

    chakaping
    Full Member

    That’s a decent collection Kimbers, have you considered buying the brand as well?

    You’d probably do a better job than the recent owners who ran it into the ground (IMO).

    In seriousness, I guess someone will pick up the brand and do a tighter range of gravel & trail bikes, a bit like Marin has been brought back as a credible brand.

    kimbers
    Full Member

    This was the planned price list for 23/24, some of these not released yet

    I know what bikes Id like them to make, but that doesnt necessarily relate to what turns a profit

    Its cool that they make a fatbike like the Woo & Wo, or even the new Ouroboros bikes, but how many do they sell?

    kona

    DaveyBoyWonder
    Free Member

    ^ thats a huge range of bikes. And to think people were laying into Orange (me included) for their range being too confusing… 17 different adult hardtails?!

    1
    snotrag
    Full Member

    Seeing as we are doing the rose tinted history lesson – this was my first ‘proper’ mountain bike, an upgrade when I was about 15 from the various BSO’s after months of pleading and saving. Can still remember driving down to JE James and handing over £279.99, and staring for hours at the Marin B17 on the rack.

    I went absolutely mad with the upgrades on the bike over the next couple of years – it ended up with Manitou X Vert Pros, Easton bars, Race Face cranks, Mavic D521 rims, Tioga Facotry DH Tyres (rear knobs trimmed off with side cutters to clear the frame), an XT parallel push rear brake and – behold – the very first XT 4pot hydraulic brake on the front (remember those? BR M750?)

    Glow in the dark decals too.

    And then I got it nicked off me at knife point in Leeds…. I still live in hope that all those enornous stoppies and jumping it off bus shelters were putting the strain on the headtube and that as the perp rode off, it snapped and implaed him to the ground.

     

    Hahanna

    kimbers
    Full Member

    thats a huge range of bikes. And to think people were laying into Orange (me included) for their range being too confusing… 17 different adult hardtails?!

    That’s obviously a big problem, I think some of the models might be due to over ordering in the COVID boom and then not being able to shift them with the glut that followed.

    Kona have a bit of a problem, what is their core product? is it quirky/ niche gravel / bike packing models like the unit or snake with iconic P2forks ?  Is it the freeride park bikes like the Stinky’s of yesteryear ? and everyone needs some ebikes in their lineup these days

    and what do most brands sell the most of, sub £1000 hardtails with budget specs to hit the price point?

    Id love to buy the brand of i won the lottery but its a tough market to crack and right now there’s some huge discounts on RRP out their,  my local specialized concept store was selling stuff at half price or better, big brands might be able to handle that, but smaller ones ?

    1
    kimbers
    Full Member

    So the G3 processes have appeared a year late!

    Id like to try the 153 in mx

    Video is good too

    kimbers
    Full Member

    and RRPs on the new Processes are a fair bit cheaper than they have been for a while

    https://www.konaworld.com/en-uk/pages/kona-processg3

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