Kona has announced the release of two new long-travel e-MTB's, the Remote 160 DL and Remote X. It's been four years since Kona last announced an e-MTB and to bring the new Remote bikes in line with the best electric mountain bikes Kona has given them a complete redesign.
Both the Remote 160 DL and Remote X follow the same design cues as the recently released third-generation Process to boost the Remote's performance. Suspension kinematics have been updated to improve small bump performance and greater bottom-out resistance. Although both bikes ship with air shocks, they are also coil-shock compatible too. Shorter seat tubes give more standover clearance and are uninterrupted to give deeper post insertion for longer travel dropper post compatibility. Kona also says that the water bottle clearance has been vastly improved too.
The Remote X and Remote 160 DL target different types of riding. Kona says the Remote 160 DL is an electric version of the Process 153 aimed at enduro-style riding, sporting 160mm of travel front and rear. The Remote X ups the suspension travel to 180mm to take on the gnarliest terrain. Interestingly Kona has opted for 29-inch wheels front and rear on the Remote, rather than using a smaller 27.5-inch rear wheel setup like most other e-MTBs.
Both bikes have the same reach, chainstay, and seat tube angle numbers, set at 480mm reach for a large, 440mm chainstay, and around 77 degrees depending on the size. The Remote 160 DL features a 64.5-degree head angle whereas the Remote X is a degree slacker.
Despite their different purposes, both bikes are powered by the same Shimano EP8 motor and powered by a 612Wh battery. There's a new two-material battery cover on the bottom of the downtube to protect the battery from weather, debris, and impacts. The battery is also securely held in place with two M5 screws to ensure the battery isn't jettisoned mid-ride.
Our take
A long overdue update for Kona's e-MTB range and a promising sign that Kona's future is stronger now that the Canadian brand is back in the hands of Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron.
Tech specs: Kona Remote
Kona Remote 160 DL
- Price: $TBC / £TBC / €TBC
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 160mm Travel
- Fork: RockShox Zeb Select + Charger RC 2.1 DebonAir 160mm Tapered 110 Spacing
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select
- Motor: Shimano EP800 20MPH / 25KPH (Depending on regional specification)
- Battery: Darfon 612Wh
- Brakes: SRAM Code R, 220 front/200mm rear rotors
- Gears: SRAM GX Eagle
- Crankset: Shimano XT
- Wheels: WTB HTZ i30 TCS 2.0
- Front tire: Maxxis Assegai DD TR 3C 29x2.5" WT
- Rear tire: Maxxis Minion DHR II DD TR 3C 29x2.4" WT
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper +RAD Internal 31.6mm
- Saddle: WTB Volt
- Bars: Kona XC/BC 35
- Stem: Kona XC/BC 35
Kona Remote X
- Price: $TBC / £TBC / €TBC
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 160mm Travel
- Fork: Fox 38 Performance 180mm Tapered 110 Spacing
- Shock: Fox Float X Performance Elite
- Motor: Shimano EP800 20MPH / 25KPH (Depending on regional specification)
- Battery: Darfon 612Wh
- Brakes: Shimano SLX, 220 front/203mm rear rotors
- Gears: Shimano Deore
- Crankset: Shimano XT
- Wheels: WTB HTZ i30 TCS 2.0
- Front tire: Maxxis Assegai DD TR 3C 29x2.5" WT
- Rear tire: Maxxis Assegai DD TR 3C 29x2.5" WT
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper +RAD Internal 31.6mm
- Saddle: WTB Volt
- Bars: Kona XC/BC 35
- Stem: Kona XC/BC 35
