Back from the brink, Kona introduces slightly updated (but updated!) Process trail and enduro bikes

In what is surely a good sign, Kona just announced the third generation of their popular Process 153 and Process 134 mountain bikes in both carbon and aluminum frames. While the updates aren’t huge, the refresh brings welcome changes, and perhaps more importantly, demonstrates that the Kona brand is alive and well.

Unlike the transition from the first to second generation, the third generation Process is aesthetically pretty similar to the previous iteration. The shock position remains the same, though Kona has worked to improve clearances within the front triangle for bigger water bottles. They’ve even added accessory mounts, too.

Kona says both the Process 134 and 153 can run a coil or air shock, though all the builds currently on offer are running air, so interested buyers will need to purchase a coil shock on their own. Carbon bikes feature internal frame routing while the aluminum models feature external routing; clearly Kona understands their buyers. All the new frames are UDH-compatible, and top-end builds are offered with a SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain.

Kona Process 134 G3

The Process 134 is the brand’s full suspension trail bike with 140/134mm of suspension travel front/rear. This bike sees the most changes this time around, starting with the geometry.

The head tube angle on the Process 134 is slackened by half a degree to 65.5° and the seat tube angle is a touch steeper at 76.7°. Reaches have grown by about 5mm, as have the chainstay lengths. Overall, the geometry changes are pretty minor, and most riders likely won’t be able to tell much of a difference.

	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube length	380	380	420	450
Top tube length	570	599	628	666
Reach	430	455	480	515
Stack	605	615	625	635
Standover	700	700	710	720
Head tube angle	65.5º	65.5º	65.5º	65.5º
Head tube length	94	105	116	127
Seat tube angle	76.9º	76.9º	76.7º	76.6º
Chainstay length	435	435	435	435
Bottom bracket drop	23	33	33	33
Bottom bracket height	342	342	342	342
Wheelbase	1171	1200	1230	1269
Front center	738	767	797	836
Fork length	551	551	551	551
Fork offset	44	44	44	44

Previously, the Process 134 was offered with 29er or 27.5″ wheels. This time around, sizes medium through XL will roll on matched 29er wheels while size small frames will be fitted with mixed wheels. An integrated flip chip allows the larger sizes to switch to mixed wheels, though buyers will obviously need to purchase a 27.5″ wheel and tire on their own.

Builds for the Kona Process 134 are priced from $1,899 to $5,499.

Kona Process 153 G3

The third generation Kona Process 153 appears little changed from the previous version, with nearly (or actually?) identical geometry to the previous version. Like the Process 134, the 160/153mm enduro bike rolls on 29er wheels for sizes medium through extra large, while size small is mixed wheel.

	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube length	380	380	420	450
Top tube length	574	599	628	667
Reach	430	455	480	515
Stack	615	615	625	635
Standover	690	700	710	720
Head tube angle	64.5º	64.5º	64.5º	64.5º
Head tube length	94	94	105	116
Seat tube angle	76.9º	76.9º	76.7º	76.6º
Chainstay length	435	435	435	435
Bottom bracket drop	20	30	30	30
Bottom bracket height	345	345	345	345
Wheelbase	1190	1215	1244	1284
Front center	756	781	811	851
Fork length	571	571	571	571
Fork offset	44	44	44	44

The Process 153 will be offered in aluminum and carbon fiber models, with prices ranging from $2,499 to $5,499.

See all the builds and find out more at konabikes.com.