2014 Kona Process 153 Bike

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I bought the Process 153 in mid jun. The bike has an instant feel of going fast downhill. The slighly bigger wheels does the job well and maintan momentum on flatter parts. Suspension works very well: the pike is almost as sensitive as my old Marzcocci 66. Rear suspension is great. Climbing is ok. I have taken the bike to some epic mountain 5-6 ours climbs and yes its ok for that - but it shines on the downhills. I have also done some enduro racing on the bike and its an awesome descender. The climbs did not kill me eihter.

Compared to Trek Slash (mid model 2014) I think the slash has better wheels but the fork is far more better on the Kona. Still think the Slash did handle well. A bit more playful at 17.5 inch (my kona is a medium bike).

Given the DH capacity of the bike there are some parts that simply does not keep up with the rest of the bike: breaks are far too week (shimano deore). 2 pistons are to small for this kind of bike even if there are a propper 203 mm up front.  Uppgrading this winter.

Tyres are also a bit slippery. Rolls well but the front tyre (mine came with a 60 A high roller up front and a 3 c high roller back) are far to slippery in the wet. I would say the same for rear tyre.  High speed flat landings on loose surface (we have a lot of them)  feels a lot better after upgrading to Magic Mary (vertstar compond) front and Hans Dampf (trailstar) back.

I have also switched crank arms since both as been bent after rellatively small hits. The wheels holds up well.

On real natural trails this bike is at home like a fish in water. Small to medium drops, rock gardens, off camber drifts and so on is just what the kona whants for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Size (me 5.10 and 32-33 inseam) and bike is size medium and feels a bit big compared to other medium bikes in my garage: scott scale and nukeproof scalp. Can´t see how this would be a bike for people being 157 cm ( I am 178 cm),  Kona gives it a range from 157 cm to 183 cm tall for medium......

Overall: great geometry for me. Think again if your are like 2 inch shorter and aim of a medium.

Had the bike for 3 months now and every time I ride it just seems to get better!

My medium was 14.5kg with pedals and came with i25 rather than i23 rims as listed

The Bars are nice and wide clutch mech, brakes (with big discs) have worked impressively, grips are nice too, saddle is very comfy, the cranks are ok but they are flexy compared to the frame (can tell when I push on them by hand dont really notice when riding).

Wheels seem great if not the lightest, came already taped for tubeless so just had to add some fluid and valves, HR2 tyres are very grippy and tough, but a bit heavy and draggy on the climbs! They come up big but mud clearance is still reasonable.

The KS dropzone works very nicely, however the lever actuator under the seat has clogged up a few times on very gritty and muddy rides.

The Monarch RT isnt bad the lockout is more of a propedal and it helps on climbs, however after only a hundred km it had to go back for a service and SRAM said it was full of dirty water- never been jet washed but had ridden in a lot of very wet weather, hopefully just a failed seal or something.

The Pikes have been brilliant, needed both tokens to get them progressive enough but very stiff and sit in their travel very well, plush over the small stuff but handle big hits very well and dont dive under braking, the lockout works well but only need it on smooth climbs. (Fox will need to come up with something very good to beat these)

Bike rides really well, its not the fastest climber but not bad, less draggy tyres help a lot, the suspension helps you on technical climbs. Theres hardly any pedal feedback, the suspension feels firm until you need it and on descents it eats up everything. The geometry just works so well, giving loads of confidence hitting big stuff,drops and jumping and the bike feels massively stiff, you really notice it on corners, -it rails them so well. Its a fast bike. Ive done 50k xc epics and days at the bike park. The long top tube, tiny stem, wide bars look odd at first but the short stiff rear is so confidence inspiring just cant help but act like a hooligan every time you ride.

Since getting it Ive added a RF 30t narrow wide ring, hope m4 evo brakes and swapped the tyres out for something less draggy till I hit the alps in the summer! The wide chainstays need some taping up or they will scuff as well. Might look to some lighter wheels and replace the stock cassette with something lighter when it wears out, but even as standard its an excellent package.