Kona King Kahuna 29 Features:

• Kona Race Light Scandium butted frameset
• Fox F29 RL 80mm fork with 15qr
• Drivetrain: Mostly Shimano XT with Deore and SLX here and there
• Shimano SLX disc brakes
• Easton XC2 wheelset
• Kona cockpit (bars, stem, seatpost, grips)
• Weight: 26.6 lbs (as tested)
• MSRP: $2799

Kona King Kahuna 29er Review

While hardtails sometimes lack the character of their full-suspension brethren, they still offer plenty of individual personality that makes one unique from another. This year is really the year of the 29er. All it takes is a call to your local bike shop and you’ll quickly find out that most of the hot big-wheeled bikes are either gone or in limited supply. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the new King Kahuna for testing this Spring and have enjoyed carving up the singletrack onboard this momentum-loving machine.

Without question, 29ers simply roll faster and smoother — obvious physics lays that out pretty clearly. But, what your physics professor can’t tell you is just how different that rolling momentum feels on the trail. Let me tell you… the difference is immediately-noticed.

Like any 29er, the King Kahuna requires strong legs and lungs to get the most of it. Wallowing in the granny gear doesn’t bring out the best in this big-wheeler. If you can keep powering through the middle ring on your ascents, you’ll cover more ground in less time. The low-profile Kenda Small Block 2.1 tires have provided ample traction in all conditions and offer extremely-fast rolling.

The mostly-XT drivetrain has performed very well under load and the SLX stoppers have confidently kept me from dumping on steep switchbacks. Shifting is a little more vague than with comparable SRAM drivetrains, but it wasn’t unacceptable by any means… just very Shimano-like.

My 18-inch test bike came improperly-equipped (according to specs) with a 120 mm Kona stem. Looking at the specs, it should have come with a 105 mm stem (a big difference). A quick swap for the Easton EA70 100 mm stem got me back in business and in a much less stretched-out position. Once set up properly, the bike feels comfortable. Not too racy, but just racy enough to let you know you could shave your legs, throw on the spandex and compete on the race track.

Seated climbs were always met with consistent traction. Standing climbs, however, required a little more careful body positioning to maintain traction. Too far forward or back and the rear wheel lost purchase. Slight adjustments will quickly yield the best body position for standing climbs.

While many believe 29ers lack quickness and maneuver like Greyhound buses, one run on the King Kahuna will help them learn to believe otherwise. Once again, the key is momentum. Once rolling, the Kahuna just flows through singletrack and stays perched on the trail with its wide contact-patch. I have felt very confident bombing down winding singletrack and have yet to feel top-heavy or awkward.

Hammering things home… Kona really knows how to make fun mountain bikes with excellent trail manners and the King Kahuna shines on the singletrack. I can rail this bike hard and fast and it just keeps swooping from turn-to-turn.

I am getting old, I suppose because while this hardtail is sweet and is far better than riding a 26-inch hardtail, you’re still going to feel it when the trails are rutted or hoof-happy. Occasionally, my lower-back would feel just a bit tight after pounding down a descent — I probably just need to build up some hardtail back muscles, I suppose.

Good King Kahuna

• Feels very comfortable on the trail
• Rolls over everything in sight
• Capably climbs with the best hardtails on the market
• Kona cockpit bits are flashy… not your typical house-brand stuff
• Scandium frame is quick and nimble
• Digging the pewter paint color and overall finish quality
• Sloped top-tube provides excellent standover
• Love the tires (mine has Kenda Small Block 2.1′s, but the spec shows Maxxis Aspen’s)
• Fox 32 F29 with 15qr adds stiffness

Bad King Kahuna

• Standing climbs require careful body positioning
• Came equipped with an uber-long stem
• Oh seatpost quick-release, where have you gone?
• A tapered head-tube would be welcome (maybe for 2011?)

Bottom Line: Kona King Kahuna 29er

The performance-oriented scandium frame is very stiff and will react in a split-second. While it’s no full-suspension and lacks the vertical softness of carbon fiber, if you’re looking for a solid hard-tail 29er, the King Kahuna is a great player. Like most 29ers this year, this one may be difficult to find, so keep your eyes peeled.

Buy Now: Visit KonaWorld.com for a Local Dealer

With that solid suspension design, you get a reliable and predictable Kona-signature ride in all conditions–especially on the down. This bike has been a ton of fun over the past several months and is a prime example of just what makes Kona’s well… Kona’s.

About the Kona Dawg Supreme

Built as a do-it-all trailbike, the Dawg Supreme sports 6-inches of squish in the rear and just under 6-inches up front (delivered via Fox Float RLC 15qr). Part of the “Backcountry Dual Suspension” lineup, the Dawg has evolved over the years and is now one of the best trail slayers on the market. The Supreme is the coup de gras in the lineup with top-shelf components and pricetag. But, with all that goodness, you get a durable and capable bike.

Features of the Kona Dawg Supreme

• Scandium alloy tubing
• Kona 4-bar Suspension
• Travel: 140mm (front) and 150mm (rear)
• D.O.P.E floating brake option
• Fox Float 32 RLC fork with 15QR Axle
• Fox Float RP23 rear shock
• Drivetrain: Shimano XT with XTR rear derailleur
• Brakes: Shimano XT (excellent stoppers)
• Wheels: Mavic Crossmax ST
• Tires: Maxxis Ignitor 2.35
• Cockpit: Kona XC/BC bar, stem and seatpost (very solid)
• Color: Light Green Metallic
• Weight: 28 lbs.
• MSRP: $4599

Kona Dawg Supreme Review

I love it when I’m able to hang onto a bike for thorough flogging. Such has been the case with the Dawg Supreme as I’ve had it in the stable now for three months. While the weather hasn’t been as cooperative as I’d wished, I’ve still pedaled my way up and down plenty of trails as I’ve discovered what made the Dawg tick.

The overall parts spec of this top-shelf model leaves little to be desired, but the $4599 price-point should include a handful of carbon bits and an adjustable-travel fork. Those shortcomings aside, the bike is really dialed-in with XT/XTR drivetrain, Mavic Crossride ST wheels and great-looking house-brand bars, stem and seatpost.

The squish is handled adeptly by the Fox Float 32 RLC with 15QR axle and the Fox Float RP23 rear shock. You can’t go wrong with a Fox on both ends of your bike and these have performed flawlessly. For my tastes, I’ve set the fork at 70 psi and the shock at 170 psi (5’11″ – 175 lbs).

There remains plenty of debate on the whole 15mm vs. 20mm axle and why we now have both “standards”. In my tests, I can’t tell the difference between the 15 and 20mm axles in lateral stiffness and tracking–I’m just stoked to have multiple options that don’t include the spindly 9mm standard QR axle (which should be abolished from mountain bikes, IMO). The 15QR is perfect for the Dawg.

The overall geometry on the Dawg isn’t entirely “slack” on paper, but it feels slack on the trails–which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise for those familiar with Kona’s heritage. The 68.8-degree head-angle does provide for slightly floppy handling during parking lot tests. When on the trails, the front-end does exhibit some wandering, but a little body english goes a long way toward keeping things under control. Under all but the steepest climbs, I felt like I could keep things tracking straight with the front wheel planted in the dirt. Some finagling with seat height and location (forward) has reduced it even further.

I’m confident that if the Dawg Supreme had the Fox TALAS 32 fork, this wanderlust would disappear completely. This is the “Supreme” model, right? It really should have an adjustable travel fork as that would make this capable climber even more adept. That said, the quality of travel delivered by the Fox Float 32 is smooth and predictable.

I was also very impressed with the ride quality delivered by the Mavic Crossmax ST wheels. While these aren’t the top-of-the-line wheels from Mavic, they are well-suited to the Dawg. With excellent lateral stiffness and a smooth roll, the Crossmax ST is a solid wheelset.

Where Kona’s shine is on the downhill. I keep telling people that Kona has the 4-bar thing down to a science and all it takes is a few seconds of gravity-induced goodness and you’ll instantly fall in love with the way the Dawg simply devours the downhill. There’s no denying that this bike is one of the most comfortable downhillers in the 6″ trailbike category.

What makes it descend so well, you ask? The overbuilt chainstays mean business and the single-piece rocker arm adds to the lateral stiffness strategy going on back there. Kona just has the 4-bar suspension system dialed-in for all-day, all-mountain fun.

Good Dawg Supreme

• Amazing downhill capabilities
• Responds well to hard cornering
• Rear-triangle is stout
• Solid parts spec (as it should be)
• Kona-brand parts are superior-looking to most house-brands
• Full XT/XTR drivetrain is superb
• XT brakes are excellent stoppers utilizing mineral oil (DOT3 is nasty stuff)
• Excellent weight-to-fun ratio (28 lbs!)

Bad Dawg Supreme

• A tad bit of front-end wander when things are steep and technical
• At this price, it should have the Fox TALAS 32 fork (for adjustable travel)
• Slower climber than other bikes in this range (or maybe I’m the slow one)

The Bottom Line: 2009 Kona Dawg Supreme

The Dawg Supreme has been a stellar steed this Spring.  I’ve enjoyed it on short rides as well as longer rides with 2000 vertical feet of climbing. An adjustable-travel front fork would make this rig unbeatable, but out-of-the-box, the Dawg Supreme is supremely good!

Buy Now: Find Your Local Kona Retailer

Kona has also figured out just the right mix of efficiency without sacrificing downhill capability.  As a result, the same people that have brought you the gap-jumping Kona Clump isn’t afraid to show their mettle in the fickle 29er crowd. That said, how would this 3.5-inch full suspension bike handle the rock gardens and drops of Bootleg Canyon? How well would it climb? Pretty darn well, actually. Lets take a look.

About the 2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe 29er

Built as an XC-friendly 29er, the Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe sports a high-zoot Scandium front triangle and the Kona signature rear triangle. With the added stability of the rocker-arm design, this bike is built to handle trails that would devour other 3.5-inch travel bikes. The Deluxe build sports all the goodies you’d expect from a bike in this price point with a smattering of XT and XTR bits with a Fox RP23 rear shock and a Fox F29 RL fork. Here are a few more details:

• Frame: Kona race light scandium front and aluminum rear triangle
• Sizes: 16, 18 (tested), 19, 20, 22
• Drivetrain: Shimano SLX, XT and XTR mix
• Brakes Shimano XT (nice!)
• Shock: Fox RP23
• Fork: Fox F29 32 RL 80mm
• Wheels/Hubs: FSA XC-290
• Cockpit: Kona XC/BC stem and riser (not your typical house-brand parts)
• MSRP: $3599

2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe 29er Bike Review

Maybe this should be called the Woo Hoo 2-9 because this bike is a complete hoot on the trails. When I first hopped onboard, I was impressed at how fast it accelerated. Maybe that’s because it’s been years since I’ve ridden anything with less than 4-inches of travel in the rear. Every ounce of energy was immediately transferred to the rear wheel and up the trails.

The climb up Bootleg Canyon was a breeze. This bike climbs uphill extremely well–what else would you expect from a honed XC machine? It’s obvious that climbing isn’t going to be an issue on this bike, but how about the down?

With 29-inch wheels, you can get away with less travel while still enjoying a plush ride. The 3.5 inches in the rear and just over 3-inches in the front had me a bit uneasy before pointing it downhill. But, all it took was a few strong pedal strokes and a couple of hard corners before I realized that this bike (though it sits squarely in the XC world) would still handle like a Kona so I could enjoy the best part of the ride.

Twisty, turny singletrack, rock gardens and drops didn’t phase this bike at all. I couldn’t believe how “plush” this bike felt and how stable it was. No doubt this bike isn’t going to feel as squishy as a Coilair, but the beauty of the 29-inch wheel is just that… you don’t need all that squish to make a bike feel “plush”. The suspension soaks up everything equally well from high-speed stutters to drops. This bike is a very capable all-mountain machine that would be killer on all-day epic rides.

Only once did I feel the suspension lock-up when I applied the brakes while pedaling over a bump–something that does appear, albeit rarely, in single-pivot suspension designs. I’m picky, so most people won’t ever notice, but this by no means detracted from the overall fun factor of this bike.

The cockpit felt super-comfortable right out of the box–something you can’t always say with stock bikes sporting house-brand components. The shiny Kona stem/bar combo looks sweet and has just the right stem length and rise, and the bars have the perfect upsweep and rise to put you in the right position to enjoy this bike on the trail.

Good Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe

• The most plush 3.5-inch travel bike I’ve ridden
• Can tackle terrain that would devour most bikes in this category
• Very comfortable right out of the box
• Climbs straight on steep fire roads or narrow singletrack
• Feels very light, but still remains stable when pushed hard
• Flickable and fun in all terrain–not something commonly said about 29ers
• Love the 6-sided downtube… nice touch
• Worthy component spec

Bad Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe

• Single-pivot design can have brake jack or pedal feedback, though it’s rare
• Come on… put a quick-release seatpost collar on there guys!

The Bottom Line on the 2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe 29er

I had a complete blast on this bike. Going into it, I was expecting it to feel completely cross-country, but I was surprised when it handled as well as it did on the rocky, technical terrain in Bootleg Canyon. I found myself grinning ear-to-ear as I pointed it straight through sections that would make most bikes in this category keel over and die. The rear end is stout and tracks perfectly straight and the ultralight Scandium frame keeps things easy while pounding out that epic climb. For the money, this one is hard to beat, but if you’re on a budget, the standard Hei Hei 2-9 drops a grand in price and likely performs just as well.

More Info: Visit KonaWorld.com to Find a Local Dealer

Miles of trails wind through Bootleg Canyon with plenty of options for DH, freeride and epic trail rides. It’s not quite buffed-out Utah singletrack, but it will definitely do in a pinch. Day one has come and gone and between Kendall and myself, we’ve got a quick take on 9 new bikes coming your way in the next few days.  Here’s a quick take on some of the sweetest trail bikes on the market for 2009 (well, some are on the market now). More detailed reviews to follow… stay tuned.

2009 Niner RIP 9

Niner did a great job of keeping this bike a secret. Utilizing the best innovations from the new WFO 9, the 2009 Niner RIP 9 is the real deal. Everything but the seat tube is changed and all for the better. I flogged the 2008 RIP 9 all summer long and absolutely loved it, but a quick ride on the 2009 version and I’m in love.

Read my full 2009 Niner RIP 9 review >>

2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9

Not to be outdone in the 29-er world, Kona is coming on strong with their own big wheeler. This bike was one of the most surprising bikes of the day… very impressive!

Read my full 2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 29er review >>

2009 Rocky Mountain Altitude 90 RSL

A full-carbon beauty of a trailbike from Rocky Mountain, this bike changes the game in both suspension and geometry design. Definitely one of the most buzzworthy bikes of the test, but does it live up to the hype?

Read my Rocky Mountain Altitude 90 RSL review >>

2009 Pivot Mach 5

I’ve spent the better part of the past year trying to get saddle time on the Pivot Mach 5 trailbike. After an hour in the saddle, It was worth the wait–this bike is a thing of beauty!

2009 Ibis Mojo

This is one of the most sought-after trailbikes on the market and rightly-so. With nearly 1000 Ibis Mojo frames on backorder, the wait-time is long, but it will definitely be worth standing in line for.

My partner-in-crime, Kendall Card also rode… more pics coming soon!

• Pivot Mach 429
• Intense Spyder 29
• Turner Sultan
• Kona CoilAir

At least 4 more bikes to ride tomorrow. Gotta love the Outdoor Demo!

For 2009, the Coilair goes through the refinement machine as some new features and tweaks are introduced. For starters, the entire front triangle is new with a tapered head tube (1 1/8″ upper and 1 1/2″ lower cup), beefed-up downtube, new, beefier rocker-arms and refined Magic Link. The new paintjobs are also stunning.  Here are the details of these new Enduro/Freeride bikes from Kona.

2009 Kona Coilair Supreme

Coilair Supreme Features:

• Kona Clump 7005 AluminumMagic System 6+1″ Travel Frame
• Fox 36 Talas RC2 165mm Travel Fork
• Fox RP23 Rear Shock
• Shimano XTR/XT Drivetrain
• Mavic Crossmax ST Wheelset

2009 Kona Coilair Deluxe

Coilair Deluxe Features:

• Kona Clump 7005 AluminumMagic System 6+1″ Travel Frame
• RaceFace Evolve XC X-Type Crank/BB
• Fox RP23 Rear Shock
• Shimano XT/SLX Drivetrain
• Mavic Crossline Wheelset
• Shimano SLX Hydraulic Disc Brakes

2009 Kona Coilair

Coilair Features:

• Kona Clump 7005 AluminumMagic System 6+1″ Travel Frame
• Marzocchi 55-TST2 160mm Travel Fork
• Fox RP2 Rear Shock
• FSA Moto-X Integrated Crankset/BB
• Shimano 575 Hydraulic Disc Brakes

More Info: Visit KonaWorld.com

If I want to put on the miles and vert, I turn to my roadie. With several excellent road rides in my backyard, I mix up my mountain biking with a day or two per week on the skinny tires. I’m not a road “purist”, you might say because I don’t shave my legs and I use my mountain shoes and Crank Brothers Smarty pedals, but I climb faster than many and have just as much fun. This summer, I’ve been riding a new road bike, the Kona Zing. Here’s how it has performed.

About the 2008 Kona Zing Road Bike

Kona is definitely more widely-known in the mountain bike world. Their mountain bikes have been ridden by both XC champions and freeride hucksters alike. With an absolute dedication to pumping out quality bikes, that same dedication can be found in their small, but potent lineup of road bikes.

The Kona Zing is the entry-level road bike for Kona (topped by the Kona Zing Deluxe and Kona King Zing). But, entry-level for Kona is a pretty good parts spec compared to the entry-level roadies from other manufacturers. With a aluminum butted frame, solid Mavic Aksium wheelset, Shimano 105/Ultegra drivetrain and a Kona Carbon fork, the Zing is no slouch. here are a few more highlights.

• Frame: 7005 Kona Butted Tubes
• Fork: Kona Carbon Race
• Drivetrain: Shimano 105 cockpit, front derailleur and cassette (12-25) with Ultegra rear derailleur
• Cranks: FSA Gossamer Compact (34 and 50T chainrings)
• Brakes: Tektro R-720
• Wheels: Mavic Aksium
• Tires: Continental Ultrasport
• Color: blue/black
• Sizes: 49, 53, 56, 58, 61 cm
• MSRP: $1199

Kona Zing Road Bike Review

With a few hundred miles and at least 30,000 vertical feet climbed on the Zing, I’ve got a good bead on its performance. While it’s not all about suspension designs and linkages, the Zing is simple, affordable and perfect for recreational road cyclists.

When I first took the Zing for a spin around the park, I immediately felt the smoothness of the carbon fork. My previous road bike was a GT aluminum frame with a chromoly fork. Believe me… carbon forks are important and there’s a reason why people rave about them.  Small road vibrations and even large bumps are smoothed out considerably by the Kona Carbon Race fork.

Though the frameset is aluminum, it appears to be well built to handle small bump compliance. The wheel and frame combo provides just enough to take the edge off–not quite as much as a carbon frame would, but much better than other aluminum frames I’ve ridden. Everything is still snappy while sprinting or on standing climbs.

I’ve also been impressed with the performance of the Shimano 105 drivetrain. Shifts are smooth and natural and the 105 Dual Control levers are simple and easy to use. My previous road bike sported Shimano Sora shifters, which I hated, so the 105′s represent a huge step forward in ergonomics and precision. I’ve been told that Shimano 105 drivetrain is great for most riders unless you race. Well, I’m not planning on riding competitively and have found them to be outstanding performers.

Every other component has performed flawlessly and the overall package represents a great value if you’re looking for a mid-level road bike without taking out a 2nd mortgage.

On long rides, I’ve appreciated the revised hood design of the brake levers as well as the flat top of the ergonomic bars. There are plenty of hand positions to mix things up and I’ve found hand numbness to be kept at a minimum. The only thing I need to change is the seat. The included seat offers little comfort and should be pitched.

Good Zing

• Kona carbon fork smooths things out
• Shimano 105 drivetrain offers outstanding performance for the money
• Flat top bars add comfort
• Mavic Aksium wheelset
• Solid value at $1199 MSRP
• You won’t find too many on the road — I like that

Bad Zing

• Selle Italia X2 Man SE saddle is pretty uncomfortable
• A carbon fiber seatpost would do wonders on this bike
• Very, very faint pinging sound in the rear wheel while climbing that I haven’t been able to isolate

The Bottom Line on the Kona Zing

For the money, the Kona Zing is solid. No, it’s not a carbon frame, but the combination of the Kona carbon fork and Mavic Aksium wheels provide enough small bump compliance to make the Zing a great overall performer. Standing sprints are excellent and responsive and long climbs are cool and collected. The Shimano 105/Ultegra drivetrain is all I need and helps keep the price down.

Buy Now: Visit Konaworld.com to Find a Local Dealer