2018 Kona Process 153 AL 29 Bike
(discontinued)
Where To Buy | |||
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Shipping available to the contiguous 48 states and Washington DC.
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
1 member reviews
Having had a 153 650b since 2014 I was keen tp try the 153 29, & my comparison here is pretty much with that.
After 4 months, some riding & racing all over the UK Im loving it.
Its not light, 15.5 kg with pedals for my medium! Fortunately shock lockout & steep seatangle means it climbs really well.
Stock, the bike is a bit undergeared & the Yari is great until it gets really fast & rough, when the MoCo damper spikes.
So ive put it on a diet, wheels come taped for tubeless, so that was easy, bars swapped for carbon & a lighter WTB saddle, also a shimano 11-46 XT cassette adds a lot more range & saves weight. Ive also swapped out the Sram Level T brakes for lighter & better Hopes (level Ts were OK but I had the odd inconsistent moment on DH stuff, 4pots wouldve been better)
Trans-X dropper is excellent, levers a bit basic but post works perfectly, easily as good as Lev or Reverb & so far very reliable. NX drivetrain is fine.
Best upgrade has been a Novyparts splug damper €150 and its transformed the fork & bike (Fast do a similar one even cheaper in the UK & a 3 way adjustable Yari-Up)
The rear shock is OK, its better than the monarch on the old 153, but not as good as the Avalanche tuned DHX I got for that bike. Would like to upgrade to a DPX2/Toapz/X2 when funds allow though as its shown up by the forks now.
The frame itself is incredibly stiff, even more so than my old 153. the ride is completely silent & the chain never gets thrown the way it did with that bike on rough stuff, Ive done several races in Wales & Scotland and never lost the chain, even without a guide.
The wheels are heavy, very heavy, means that it takes a bit of effort to get them turning, a lighter set is on my upgrade wishlist. DHF tyres are great, but 2.3 is too narrow for the front, 2.5 at least!
Mud clearance seems only a bit better than the old 153, but actually Ive ridden through very claggy stuff (UK has had a very wet winter) & its not jammed up once.
Its reasonably long and the big wheels take a bit more effort & lean in turns, but you come out of corners with more speed, helped I think by the short stays, it eats drops & technical sections for breakfast, npthing can stop it.
Ive got faster & faster on this bike as Ive realised you have to push it a bit harder than the old 153 to get the most out of it.
As stock its a great bike, bit heavy for an all rounder but I think lighter wheels would change that. Its biggest weakness is the MoCo damper in the forks, budget for an aftermarket damper and its a different beast.
Overall I love it!
Specifications
Rear: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO Dual 29" x 2.3", tubeless ready
Frame size S - Race 250 size
Two-year limited warranty on complete bicycle (Europe)
Lifetime limited warranty on bicycle frame (with exception of carbon frames)
Integrated chainstay protection
Where To Buy | |||
---|---|---|---|
Shipping available to the contiguous 48 states and Washington DC.
|
|||
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
|||
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
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