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

@Mark I thought Kona UK was in Chertsey?

Could see this coming when Dan and Jake left 😔

Best hang on to this lot then 👍and my 2012 Ti Raijin which was one of 250 frames worldwide, I got one of the last 2 in Europe, it's so similar to today's gravel geo that I've ordered a pair of Gravel Kings for it 👍

So how much are they selling it for ?

Mike Ashley's ears just pricked up.

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

It's just so dismaying when it takes a decent, established brand with it.

Mike Ashley’s ears just pricked up.

now that would absolutely break my heart!

now that would absolutely break my heart!

Most peoples!

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

I think the key to this question is use of the word savvy.

👎🏻

I've been watching a 95 Cinder Cone on eBay, same as my old one.

I think the key to this question is use of the word savvy.

Well, technically it is the word 'supposedly' but that is by the by.

It's just crazy how many investors assumed it would continue. Ridiculous, in fact.

An easy dollar/pound/whatever was seen to be appealing and I suspect many folk didn't really think it all through.
The pandemic made a killing for a lot of the bike industry and many didn't see it stopping as the amount of money was (relatively) flowing in.
A genuine shame but I think people aren't serial bike changers as much as they were, cost of living has impacted a lot of people, so fewer are chopping and changing as frequently. Bike industry still wants us buying new kit yearly, but consumers that do that are fewer these days.
I suspect when the cost of living stuff does ease then more people will have more disposable (or credit) to spend on stuff that isn't house or living bills.
Until then, bike industry will need to dig deep and hope to survive.
That is my uneducated prediction...

^^^^

All of that notwithstanding, though, were they not aware of the second hand market and what would happen after a glut of brand new bikes had been purchased?

It just seems so crackers to me. And I wouldn't care if it was their own* brands and cash that were going down the gurgler. But when it takes down a brand like Kona who were there from the early days, it seems such a shame.

*Obviously they own the brands, but it is not their own since inception.

Absolutely agree...

Capitalism, pffft! Shite eh!

Pick a well known brand that has either been bought and then ran into the ground or just disappeared.

There's dozens of them and that's not even including anything outside the bicycle industry.

Nostalgia is a bitch at times.

Kona, coming to a Sports Direct near you.....

But is this any different to when they were stocked by Halfords?

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

People who buy businesses aren't always interested in running them as successful businesses.

Used to want one in the 90s but went Orange instead. Bought a Cinder Cone for the kids earlier this year, nice bike if a bit generic.

So sad. I loved my Manomano, late 90’s vintage. First bike I took to the Alps.

It seems to me that the original knew what was going on and sold at the top of the market. The buyers were new to the market and bought at the wrong time at the wrong price

Very sad. It’ll leave some gaps in the market. I loved my Kileau which became my first hardtail.

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?

It'll take a brave (or ignorant of what's going on) buyer or retailer to buy the existing stock from the UK distributor.  Or they'd have to be at Chiggle style fire sale pricing.

Kona have their place in MTB history but a bit like say Klein those fond memories don't necessarily require the brand name still being slapped on new bikes. In some ways the legacy is stronger if a third party doesn't try to keep it limping on or do a phoenix with it reappearing years later like Muddy Fox or even Saracen.

As ever the existing staff deserve the most sympathy - I can't imagine there's too many opportunities in the industry elsewhere to apply for right now.

Capitalism, pffft! Shite eh!

I don't think it's capitalism, per se, as without capitalism we wouldn't have the choice we do for cycling. The problem is the impact of venture capitalism, big businesses just focused on making a massive profit no matter what who see small term financial gains as being far more important than the flesh and blood that works to make the profit.

This is getting to be the case more and more these days and many smaller companies are getting screwed over just so a few very rich people can get bigger wallets.

I bought one! The most fun I’ve had on a bicycle in years…

Had this since 2008, ridden over 50.000 km 🙂 Still ride this bike the most.

My first Kona was Coiler, in 2001.

Ah man, this is rubbish!

My first Kona:

And my most recent:

Still have my ‘95 Cindercone.  Hands down my favourite bike.

As a nineties mountain biker Kona were always an iconic brand to me. It’s  sad to see this happen but they aren’t the brand they were. I think I’ll keep my ‘95 Kilauea for the foreseeable…

I had those brakes ^  for a while on my 94 Indian fire trail, Onza's?

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Love a Kona. Still own the Explosif (1997) and the Bandwagon 🙌🏻

My favourite Kona was a Smoke from 2010 ish. It was a cheap low budget commuter with full guards and v brakes. I only bought it on a whim as they were half price somewhere @ £200.

It was the only bike I've ever just ridden and not upgraded straightaway, it did 10x1000's of miles in all weather's commuting to work. It was a great bike - had such a nice feel to it.

Yep, Onza HO. Always wanted some BITD.

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.

I was saving for a Sutra LtD.

But MtB wise, no, not for me.

my only Kona (had been Specialized up til then) is a 95 Kilauea with the SS adapted dropouts. Second hand (probably 3rd hand as it was stock returns). Still a very quick and nimble bike on the right terrain.

The Ute and Minute were brilliant at getting cargo bikes out at sensible prices, I have fond memories of my Ute.

Loving the old steel Kona XC bikes.

My old Stinky after it was driven forwards and backwards through the upgrade machine. Was a fun bike.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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

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

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?