Kona Process 153 Review

The 153mm of rear-wheel travel is delivered by a linkage-tuned single-pivot suspension design. Kona has a well-deserved reputation for building durable frames, with a huge rocker and bearings the bike feels incredibly strong when ploughing through the roughest sections of trail. Both the carbon and aluminium models both have 6061 butted aluminium chainstays but the carbon version uses Kona's DH carbon for the seat stays, rocker and mainframe. Kona does not hold back on the colour with eye-catching designs throughout the range, including this stunning "Prism Rust Purple" on the top line CR/DL 27.5 model.

The Process is renowned for how much fun it is to ride on the trail, it does encourage you to be active on the bike, popping off any lip to find a downslope and smashing through the rough stuff with it's smooth suspension. A lot of this is due to its geometry. Both the 27.5" and 29" bikes have the same key measurements and angles. A 66° head angle may not be quite as slack as some other enduro bikes, but it does give a lively and energetic feel on the trail.

The rear travel on the 153mm platform is very plush in its initial movement. Running slightly less sag than you usually would gives a very lively ride feeling, the design is very supportive in the mid-stroke, encouraging you to play with the bike, it makes you want to find trail features to create transitions and pop manuals, there is great support in the corners. Though the suspension is not as progressive as some other bikes it creates a smooth and engaging ride.

The 160mm forks are mostly handled by Rockshox, the forks ability and technology increase through the range from the Yari RC found on the base level bikes to the incredible Lyric Ultimate that is now considered the very best Enduro fork available. On the third level of the model tier, the CR carbon bikes come with Fox suspension, the ever-capable Fox 36 performance forks and the smooth Fox Float DPX2 shock.

The huge range offered by SRAM on their Eagle drivetrains has now become expected on high-end mountain bikes. The 1x12 speed drivetrains with massive 50t cassettes have proven reliable, the energy that you can save by spinning away in that 50t ring means you can stay out and ride longer. The entry-level bikes use the SX/NX combination through to the top flight enduro groupset of SRAM X01 on the CR/DL models.

In typical Kona fashion, the finishing kit is chosen to be reliable, dependable and strong without being too heavy. The bars feel great with the super short stem and 35mm clamp, even the grips feel good. WTB saddles and dropper posts on every bike from cable actuated Trans-X droppers on the entry-level bikes through to RockShox reverb hydraulic posts on the top models, Kona even adds the 1x remote for the Reverb.

All bikes in the range use WTB rims, there are a few different models of rim throughout the range of bikes, but all are wide, strong and give a confident feel on the trail. Hubs are from Formula or DT swiss through the range, proven to be reliable and roll fast with boost spacing both front and rear.

Every bike has the excellent new Maxxis Assegai front tyre. Designed with the help of multiple downhill world champion legend Greg Minnaar, Maxxis has managed to create a tyre that feels as dependable and predictable as the Minion DHF but it has even more grip with a very predictable drift point in a wider range of conditions, a real highlight of the spec. Kona uses the venerable Minion DHR on the rear, arguably one of the very best rear tyres available.