The new Kona Process 153 has been long awaited, well it has in our office anyway and on seeing the press information about the brand new 2018 bike, we aren't disappointed. We are being treated to a Kona deluge, two materials to choose from, two wheel sizes and a brand new suspension platform, adding up to a whopping seven bikes to choose from and that's before we mention the burly 165.....

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2018 sees the biggest changes to the bike since its update in 2014, the suspension platform has been overhauled and Kona has added a carbon option to the line up too. Kona says "The Process G2 represents an evolution of that game-changing platform, featuring an updated suspension design with superior pedalling performance, larger bearings for improved stiffness, and an all-new carbon or aluminium frame."

Frame and Suspension

Kona has moved away from the use of a shock yoke and is now employing a vertically orientated trunnion-mount metric shock on the 153 models, in a linkage driven single pivot design. The previous linkage will still be present on the Process 153SE, the 134 and 111 models though. All bikes have 153mm of rear travel, regardless of wheel size.

The carbon version of the bike runs 27.5" wheels and has an alloy rear end, this will be available in two models, the 153 CR/DL 27.5 and the 153 CR 27.5. It also features internal routing whilst the aluminium frames will have cables routed externally. 

The aluminium bike will be available in both wheel sizes and each wheel size offers two different spec models. All 27.5" models get 160mm of front end travel in some form courtesy of Rockshox,  Lyrik RCT3 Solo Air for the most expensive models to Yari Solo Air's at the bottom end of the scale. The 29ers also get 160mm of travel up front, with Rockshox Yari Solo Air 160mm for both models. 

Separate specification for all models could take us all day to list so we'll let you head over to Kona's website to check out your preferred bike - www.konaworld.com

Geometry

So what are the vital stats?

• Kona are retaining the short seat tubes, 410mm on a medium for both 27.5 and 29 models, meaning more riders can size up or run longer dropper posts
• Head angle bucks the trend and gets 0.5 degrees steeper at 66 degrees (27.5 and 29)
• Seat tubes are a pleasing 76 degrees, a degree steeper than the previous bike
• Wheelbase grows on the 27.5" bikes, up just 1mm on a medium bike to 1187mm and up
• Chain stays are a short 425mm on both the 27.5" and 29ers. 

Kona Process Geometry - 27.5"

Kona Process Geometry - 29er

Other good news

• Standover remains low
• You can fit a water bottle in the frame
• Bearings used on all pivots, including big 20mm ID bearings at the main and rocker pivots. 
• Internal cable routing and access port used by the Hei Hei looks neat and tidy

Did you say Kona Process 165? 

Yes, we did. The Process 165, Kona say is more focused on descending and it's not hard to see its intentions! The 165 will be an alloy bike, with 165mm of rear travel (who'd have guessed it?) and will be specced with 170mm Rockshox Lyrik RC Solo Air forks and RockShox Super Deluxe Coil R shock, all costing £3,999.

The head angle gets slackened out to 65 degrees and the seat angle is slightly steeper at 76.2 degrees (medium bike), whilst the reach gets shortened by 10mm across the range due to the slacker head angle. 

New Models

PROCESS 153 CR/DL 27.5 - £6,099

PROCESS 153 CR 27.5 - £4,799

PROCESS 153 AL/DL 27.5 - £3,499

PROCESS 153 AL 27.5 - £3,099

PROCESS 153 AL/DL 29 - £3,499

PROCESS 153 AL 29 - £3,099

We'll leave you with some more gratuitous photos of the Kona Process in its natural habitat and the details for Kona's website so you can start thinking about which model will be making its way to your garage! www.konaworld.com