First Look: Kona Process 153 & 134 – Pinkbike

Definitely worth seeing.

Frame details

Carbon frames feature fully internal cable routing, with a Y-connector to make it easier to route the rear brake line on either side of the head tube. Meanwhile, alloy frames have fully external routing (except for the dropper post) for easier home maintenance.

There’s an accessory mount under the down tube plus room for a full-size water bottle. Frame protection has been improved and Kona use the same widely available pivot bearings in their Process range to make it easier to source spares.

There aren’t specific numbers for seatpost insertion depth, but sizes L and XL come with 200mm posts, and sizes M and S come with 175mm. Kona says some aftermarket 240mm posts will fit sizes XL and L.

Delay

As expected, Kona sticks with their linkage-driven single-pivot suspension layout. This is sometimes referred to as a “faux-bar” because it looks like a Horst-link four-bar, but the rear axle is connected directly to the main pivot.

The leverage ratio has been adjusted to provide 16% progression through the stroke (in the case of the 153 with 29″ wheels), which should be just enough to work well with coil shocks, but probably better suited to air (all models come with air shocks). Anti-squat is quite generous, but not excessive, so it should behave neutrally while pedaling.

The leverage and suspension travel are slightly greater on a 27.5″ rear wheel than on a 29″ rear wheel (which is often the case). This may require a slightly different shock setup.

Geometry

While the reach figures have increased and the head angles have been slackened, Kona hasn’t done anything too crazy with the Process’ shape. Chainstays remain 435mm across the size range, and neither model features the chainstay-length adjustment you’ll find on the Kona Process X.

The seat tube angles aren’t exactly steep, and slacken slightly as you go up in size. In recent years, we’ve seen more brands move to steeper seat tubes for taller riders to compensate for the more rearward weight distribution they otherwise experience.

Builds