It's been a few years since we last saw a new bike from Kona, but the legendary Canadian freeride brand are back at it, announcing they are adding two new alloy bikes to their Process full-suspension mountain bike range. The first is an all-alloy version of their Process X enduro bike while the second is the radical Process DH that's specced with a dual crown fork for getting wild in the bike park.
Kona hasn't released a new bike since 2020 when they unveiled the carbon Process X – a longer travel burly version of their Process 134 trail bike. The new alloy-constructed Process X framesets are designed for lapping the most demanding trails and bike parks over and over, but come in at a cheaper price point.
Kona has used the same frame layout from the carbon Process X for their alloy bikes. The suspension is a linkage-driven single pivot that delivers 162mm of rear wheel travel. Geometry is very similar too, with the same 465mm reach (medium), 63.5-degree head angle, and 30mm bottom bracket drop (20mm on a small). The main geometry difference is the stack, which has been raised 17mm, 12mm, or 7mm, depending on the frame size. Seat tubes have been kept short to allow long droppers to be used and give riders a little more flexibility with sizing too.
There's a flip-chip on the top of the seatstay which allows the frame to be set up in either a full 29er or a mullet wheel combo. At the rear, the dropouts are now UDH-compatible to bring the Process up to date with recent drivetrain changes.
The Aluminum Process X slots into the Kona range at a new lower price point thanks to the 6061 aluminum frame. The burly build comes with a 170mm Marzocchi Bomber 71 fork and Fox DHX Performance coil shock. It was a reliable 12-speed Shimano drivetrain, 29er wheels (the size small comes setup mullet), and grippy Maxxis tires.
The Process X DH uses the same aluminum Process X frame but beefs it up for day in day out bike park sends by speccing a dual crown RockShox Boxxer Select up front with 190mm of travel. The Process X ships with a mullet wheel setup, although it can be changed to a 29er using the flip-chip if you prefer the feeling of big wheels. You won't want to pedal much further than the first lift station on this as it features a downhill-focused SRAM 9-speed drivetrain with a chain guide and a rigid seatpost, this keeps everything simple and reliable lap after lap though.
The Aluminum Process X will retail for $4,499 / $5,399 CAD and the Aluminum Process X DH will cost $4,699 / $5,399 CAD. For more details, head over to Konaworld.com.
Kona Aluminum Process X
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
- Fork: XX
- Shock: Fox DHX Performance Trunnion 162mm
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT/SLX/Deore, 12sp
- Brakes: Shimano Deore, 203mm rotors
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper +RAD
- Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i30, Shimano hubs
- Tires: Maxxis Assegai 29 x 2.5in WT 3C EXO+ (F) | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29 x 2.4in WT 3C EXO+ (R) (27.5x2.4 WT size small)
- Price: $4,499 / $5,399 CAD
Kona Aluminum Process X DH
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
- Fork: RockShox Boxxer Select DebonAir 190mm
- Shock: RockShox Super Delux Coil Trunnion 162mm
- Drivetrain: SRAM X7/X5, 9sp
- Brakes: SRAM Guide T, 20omm rotors
- Seatpost: Kona
- Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i30, Formula hubs
- Tires: Maxxis Assegai 29 x 2.5in WT 3C EXO+ (F) | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29 x 2.4in WT 3C EXO+ (R)
- Price: $4,699 / $5,399 CAD
