I still have 4 Kona's. Sold 1.
-My dad's Kilauea from '94 which I inherited and turned into a single speed racer..
-A Hahanna from '95 I bought after my dad's bike got stolen! Fortunately about half a year later I passed it in the street and it was just standing there, unlocked. I took it home laughing out loud all the way back, in complete disbelief I found it.
-I bought my first Kona in 2012, a Kahuna Dl, rode it over it's limits. Had to rebuild it after almost half of it got stolen (long story, but I live in Antwerp, things get stolen a lot). Made a reversed mullet out of it (no kidding: kept the 29" in the back and put a Surly 27,5+ fork in the front with a 2.8 tyre, worked like crazy on the singletracks here in Flanders.
-Bought the still infamous Process 314Dl in 2016. This bike is something else. Everybody always talks about the 111, but the 134 still is my to go to Enduro bike. Okay, I bumped the fork to 160, and put in a different shock (CC DB Air), and okay, I slackened the HA by 2°, but now, when I see the Chromag fully for example, it almost has the same geo numbers.. It's SUCH a fun bike, I ride it till I break it.
-Last but not least, 4 years ago I was able to buy a brand new Kona Honzo ST from 2015. The black one. Gave it the same treatment as my Process (140mm front, -2° HA), and I ride EVERYTHING with it.
When I read the news I was really sad about it, but at the same time, I would never buy a Kona again from their line up from the last 5 or so years. They became a bit too bland. The progressive, quirky side kinda disappeared.. and they got expensive..
But still, it will be a big loss, such an iconic brand..but especially for the people who lover doing their job working at Kona.
April 19, 2024, 4:29 a.m. - Owbugger
I still have 4 Kona's. Sold 1. -My dad's Kilauea from '94 which I inherited and turned into a single speed racer.. -A Hahanna from '95 I bought after my dad's bike got stolen! Fortunately about half a year later I passed it in the street and it was just standing there, unlocked. I took it home laughing out loud all the way back, in complete disbelief I found it. -I bought my first Kona in 2012, a Kahuna Dl, rode it over it's limits. Had to rebuild it after almost half of it got stolen (long story, but I live in Antwerp, things get stolen a lot). Made a reversed mullet out of it (no kidding: kept the 29" in the back and put a Surly 27,5+ fork in the front with a 2.8 tyre, worked like crazy on the singletracks here in Flanders. -Bought the still infamous Process 314Dl in 2016. This bike is something else. Everybody always talks about the 111, but the 134 still is my to go to Enduro bike. Okay, I bumped the fork to 160, and put in a different shock (CC DB Air), and okay, I slackened the HA by 2°, but now, when I see the Chromag fully for example, it almost has the same geo numbers.. It's SUCH a fun bike, I ride it till I break it. -Last but not least, 4 years ago I was able to buy a brand new Kona Honzo ST from 2015. The black one. Gave it the same treatment as my Process (140mm front, -2° HA), and I ride EVERYTHING with it. When I read the news I was really sad about it, but at the same time, I would never buy a Kona again from their line up from the last 5 or so years. They became a bit too bland. The progressive, quirky side kinda disappeared.. and they got expensive.. But still, it will be a big loss, such an iconic brand..but especially for the people who lover doing their job working at Kona.