FAST BIKE FRIDAY – KONA PROCESS X

For this Fast Bike Friday feature we’re donning our goggles and strapping on our backpacks for a look at Kona’s full-on Enduro World Series worthy bike – introducing the long travel Kona Process X Enduro mountain bike…

Seven years ago Kona launched their original Process model and it was an instant hit with mountain bikers who were looking for a trail bike with aggressive geometry, great pedaling efficiency and the ability to attack descents with gusto. Kona’s Process range now includes 12 different bikes with choices between models with 134mm travel, 153mm travel and now a whopping 161mm of travel under the guise of the Process X that we’re focused on today.

The all-new carbon fibre Process X is packed full of Enduro-focused features and some brilliantly spec’d components which we’ll look at in some detail in a moment, but first of all it’s important to highlight just how versatile this bike is when it comes to adjustability, with loads of scope for you to custom-tune this bike to suit your riding style and help you to master the most demanding Enduro stages out there. This bike is a tinkerer’s dream! Regardless of whether you plan to race it, want to complete clean runs with no dabs in the unforgiving Lake District hills or simply rip up your local trail centre the Kona Process X will make your riding way more fun thanks to its long, slack geometry, tons of suspension travel and all of those customisable features to help give you exactly the ride qualities you’re looking for.

Long, slack geometry and tons of travel, the Process X features a 63.5° head angle and a 77.5° seat angle…

The Kona Process X features a stunning paintjob…

The carbon fibre Process X features plenty of frame protection…

So, why Process X? Well the X denotes that this particular Process features two different axle positions; by swapping the axle position you can quickly change the Process’s chainstay length from 435mm to 450mm changing the wheelbase of the bike to give either a longer, more stable ride or a shorter, more agile ride. Changing the axle position also changes the amount of suspension travel in the rear; in the 435mm setting the suspension travel is 158mm and in the 450mm setting it is 161mm so that means that the setting with the longer wheelbase is also slightly more capable of handling the big hits making this configuration the best choice for your most demanding, aggressive riding or racing.

Change your chainstay length and amount of suspension travel with the adjustable axle position…

The Process X uses Kona’s proven single pivot ‘Beamer’ suspension design and features an aluminium rocker link between the carbon front triangle and rear swingarm; in another stroke of engineering genius Kona have included a pair of flip chips in the rocker link that, when swapped around, allow you to change your rear wheel from a 29er (the Process X comes spec’d with a pair of 29er wheels) to a smaller 27.5” wheel giving you a ‘Mullet’ configuration. This 29 / 27.5” setup has steadily been gaining more and more popularity with gravity-focused mountain bikers who want all the benefits of a fast rolling large front wheel, that’s capable of ploughing through everything at speed and a smaller, more agile rear wheel that makes it slightly easier to throw the bike around. It’s a configuration that suits smaller riders too, helping them to throw their weight backwards over the rear wheel on the steeps without any awkward rear wheel hang-ups.

The Process X features an aluminium rocker link…

Kona’s flip chips mean you can change your rear wheel from a 29er to a 27.5″ for a ‘Mullet’ setup…

The Process X comes spec’d with a Fox DPX2 Performance Elite rear shock giving 161mm of travel (or 158mm if the adjustable chainstay length is set to 435mm); the Fox DPX2 shock has been designed specifically to cope with the demands of Enduro and aggressive trail riding and features a twin-tube recirculating oil damper to provide small hit sensitivity as well as being able to handle those big hits that you’ll inevitably encounter. The DPX2 Performance Elite includes a 3-position lever on the shock allowing you to choose from open, medium and firm modes; you can quickly tune the amount of rebound too with the red dial and easily set the air spring pressure to suit rider weight and required sag.

The Fox DPX Performance Elite has been designed specifically to cope with the type of riding you’ll be throwing the Process X into…

Trailside tweaks are quick and easy with the 3 position mode lever and rebound dial…

It’s only right that an Enduro-focused mountain bike should come with a suspension fork specifically developed to cope with the demands of Enduro racing and aggressive trail riding; to meet the brief Kona have spec’d the Process X with a very capable pair of Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks with a whopping 170mm of travel. Optimised for long travel this fork is packed full of technical features to help make the Kona Process X excel when you point it downhill; as well as those super-wide 38mm stanchions which help provide superb lateral stiffness and enhanced steering even under the most extreme forces encountered when cornering downhill, the Fox 38s feature a floating axle which helps to provide smoother movement throughout the entire range of the fork’s travel which dramatically improves sensitivity to smaller hits.

The Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper fork was developed specifically to meet the demands of Enduro…

The Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks also feature lower leg channels which dramatically increases air volume in the lower legs; why is this important? Well, when a fork compresses the volume of the air in the lower legs decreases; the more the compression the more the pressure increases which actually prevents the fork achieving full travel. These channels help reduce that pressure while also helping the bath oil to circulate further up into the fork’s lower legs helping to keep the foam rings and bushings lubricated as the fork moves through its travel.

A FLOAT EVOL air spring features technology which increases negative air spring volume helping to optimise the fork’s small bump sensitivity; the FLOAT EVOL air spring is renowned for its ‘linear spring curve’ which basically means that under compression the air spring consistently travels through plushness, extra mid-stroke support and tunable bottom-out progression. Those lower leg channels we just highlighted work in perfect unison with the FLOAT EVOL air shock helping to reduce air pressure captured in the lower legs and allowing the EVOL to move freely with no additional forces applied.

The Fox FLOAT EVOL air shock is renowned for its linear spring curve…

As the model name suggests these Fox 38 Performance Grip Damper forks include Fox’s GRIP damper, inspired from their MOTO background it uses their FIT sealed cartridge technology combined with an independent floating piston. GRIP allows excess oil to purge through specially designed ports at the top of the damper helping to maintain consistent damping.  There are three compression damping positions which can be easily adjusted on the top of the fork – Open, Medium and Firm.

Choose between Open, Medium and Firm with the Fox GRIP damper…

When it comes to the drivetrain, gears and braking componentry Kona have spec’d a mix of Shimano parts taken from the XT, SLX and Deore groupsets. This mix of components is not unusual in the bike trade with many bike brands doing the same to enable them to manage to hit specific price points while meeting the correct level of functionality; it’s a balancing act that in this case Kona have got spot on, a Deore chainset with a 32T chainring is matched up with a wide ratio 12 speed 10-51T Shimano SLX cassette to give you all of the gear ratios you should need for general riding regardless of whether you’re heading uphill on a transition stage between two timed runs at an Enduro event or are simply heading into the hills and mountains to seek out the longest downhill run you can find.

A Shimano Deore chainset with 32T narrow / wide chainring is compact and efficient…

In a shrewd move with their ‘mix and match’ groupset approach Kona have ensured the two most important working parts of the Process X’s drivetrain are higher quality Shimano XT components; the 12 speed trigger shifter on the right of the handle bars works brilliantly with Shimano’s XT 12 speed rear derailleur, providing crisp, precise gear changes every time you press the trigger; it doesn’t matter if you’re out of the saddle putting the power down in a short uphill sprint or are quickly changing up the block as you exit a tight berm every gear change is safe and consistent.

Crisp, precise gear shifts are guaranteed with Shimano XT…

With a bike that’s designed to go as fast as possible downhill there is a real need for a pair of dependable brakes to help you scrub off speed going into technical sections and stay in control as the unpredictable trail opens out in front of you. Kona have spec’d Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes and as you’d expect with such a gravity-focused mountain bike they’ve gone with powerful 4-piston options to quickly and effectively slow you down without overheating. To provide plenty of braking surface and tons of brake pad grip Kona have gone with 203mm disc rotors front and rear; no surprises really, these are the standards you’d expect on a modern Enduro bike.

Shimano Deore components take care of braking duties…

Four piston brake calipers and 203mm diameter disc rotors help scrub off speed quickly and effectively…

Kona have spec’d the Process X with a TranzX Dropper seatpost with an internal cable that’s activated via a Shimano lever on the left of the handlebar. This 31.6mm wide seatpost features plenty of drop to get your saddle out of the way quickly and efficiently when you hit those steep, technical descents.

A cable-activated TranzX dropper seatpost gets the saddle out of the way quickly and efficiently…

The TranzX dropper is activated via a neat Shimano lever…

The Kona Process X Enduro bike features a tough pair of fast-rolling 29” wheels (as stock, remember you can always switch out the rear for a slightly smaller 27.5” wheel and run it mullet) with tubeless ready WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS 29” rims which are robust and dependable while still being reasonably lightweight for a spritely feel on the hills; the WTB rims have been built onto DT Swiss 370 thru-axle hubs which feature sealed bearings, completing this durable wheelset built ready for the rigors of Enduro and aggressive trail riding.

DT Swiss 370 thru-axle hubs are durable and dependable…

WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS 29” rims which are robust and dependable…

Kona know that this bike will be ridden very close to its limits most of the time and with this in mind they’ve spec’d a very capable pair of 29er tyres that have been designed to excel on high-speed, loose downhill trails. Up front there’s a Maxxis Assegai; a tyre that’s well-proven on the international downhill racing circuit and is World Cup veteran Greg Minnaar’s signature tyre. The tubeless-ready Assegai features EXO+ construction puncture protection made up of SilkShield running from bead to bead and an additional layer of EXO along the tyre sidewalls; this magic combination greatly increases puncture protection, sidewall durability and pinch-flat resistance making this front tyre a great option for flat-out Enduro racing.

The Maxxis Assegai front tyre is tubeless ready with EXO+ puncture protection…

The versatile Assegai features tall tyre knobs to push through dust and loam to find traction, but also grip on wet roots and rocks…

Out back Kona have spec’d the Process X with a Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ TR 3C 29×2.4” tubeless ready tyre; this tyre has been specifically developed for rear tyre duties with Maxxis taking elements from their legendary Minion DHF front tyre and beefing them up to handle the extra demands of a heavy-duty rear tyre. The tyre’s centre tread has been heavily ramped up to provide more traction and control under heavy braking but still rolls fast thanks to clever knob profiles. Just as the Assegai has up front the Minion DHF includes EXO+ puncture protection and reinforced sidewalls to help hold up to the rigours of aggressive trail riding.

The Maxxis Minion DHR II is a rear-specific tyre designed to meet the demands of aggressive trail riding…

That centre tread provides plenty traction while still being fast-rolling…

The Kona Process X cockpit features a neat oversized 35mm bar and stem combo to help create super-stiff and responsive steering even on steep, tight downhill turns, helping you to really throw the bike around and wrestle your way down the trails.

35mm bar / stem combo keeps steering positive…

The bars are a nice width, giving plenty of leverage to keep in control off the bike without being so wide that clipping trees is a constant risk. Kona have completed the cockpit with a pair of their own lock-on Key Grips which are slim and feel good in gloved or un-gloved hands.

Kona’s own XC/BC 35 handlebars feature a nice rise…

The XC/BC 35 handlebars are wide but not so wide that you’ll risk clipping trees in tight singletrack…

Kona lock-on Key Grips are slim and feel good in gloved or un-gloved hands…

A WTB saddle branded as Kona to match their other own-brand components is a nice shape and will be comfortable for most cyclists; the WTB Volt has a durable finish with a reinforced trim on the rear edges, so when the inevitable spills happen this saddle should hold up well to scuffs and abrasion.

A WTB Volt saddle with Kona branding will suit most riders…

The Kona Process X is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a versatile long-travel Enduro bike that can be raced throughout a year-long Enduro series and ridden hard at your local trails in between races. As we’ve highlighted, the Process X is really versatile when it comes to how the bike can be set up; with the option to run the bike as a 29er or a 29×27.5” mullet and the ability to change the geometry of the bike by adjusting the chainstay length you’ll be able to really fine-tune how the bike rides and feels. Features like this mean you can quickly and easily set up the Process to suit your riding style, the terrain you ride and the sort of challenges you plan to take on; it’s reasonable to assume that during race season you run your Process X in one configuration with more rear suspension travel and when you’re done racing and you want to spend time at your local trails you can change it up to have less suspension travel and a shorter wheelbase for a completely different feel.

The Kona Process X is a fantastically versatile long-travel Enduro bike…

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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