Bike Check: Aggy's 2015 Kona Process 167

Aug 8, 2014
by Mike Kazimer  
2015 Kona Process 167
For the past week, Kona dealers from all across the United States and Canada have been making their way to Bellingham, Washington, to attend the company's annual Dealer Launch event, which includes informational seminars, test ride opportunities, and plenty of late night visits to local watering holes, all intended to showcase the 2015 bike lineup. Several Kona team athletes were in attendance as well, including Graham Agassiz, who stopped by on his way up to Crankworx Whistler with his new Process 167 in tow. Aggy was forced to take some time off the bike over the winter due to an injury, but he's back charging at full throttle, with multiple projects to keep him busy, including hosting his own Fest series event and filming on a glacier outside of Pemberton, BC, for an upcoming film from Anthill Films and Teton Gravity Research.


Bike Details

The 167 is the longest travel bike in Kona's Process series, and it's the only one that rolls on 26” wheels. New bikes designed around 26” wheels are something of a rarity this season, but Kona's designers wanted to to create an updated version of their Entourage, a bike park / freeride bike, without sacrificing any of the handling characteristics that made that bike so well received. By sticking with 26” wheels, Kona was able to give the aluminum framed Process 167 super-short 415mm chainstays with a slack, 65° head angle and a low bottom bracket. The bike uses what Kona calls their Rocker Independent Suspension, a link driven single pivot configuration that has the bike's seat stays attached to an aluminum rocker that is in turn attached to a U-shaped yoke to drive the rear shock. For 2015 the Process 167's stock build kit is aimed at riders who will be earning their turns, with a dropper post and a 1x11 drivetrain, but Aggy had his build up with a more gravity oriented spec, which he'll likely be racing in the Crankworx Air DH race.

Kona Process 167
  The front brake line is routed through the top cap and out the underside of the steer tube to prevent it from getting tangled during barspins or tailwhips. The housing is taped together for the same reason, and to create a clean, uncluttered look at the front of the bike.


Kona Process 167
  Custom levers on a set of Avid Trail brakes are one of the perks of being on SRAM's BlackBox program. Chromag's Overture saddle was designed specifically for slopestyle and freeriders, with a shape that's meant to be easy for riders to pinch between their legs when throwing tricks. A set of Sensus' Disisdaboss lock on grips are installed on a Chromag FU40 handlebar.


Kona Process 167
  RockShox's Vivid Air R2C takes care of the 167mm of rear suspension, and the bike is outfitted with a Pike RCT3 up front. Graham had the option of running a Lyrik, but said he chose to go with the Pike because he prefers the feel of the Charger damper, the same damper that's found in the RockShox Boxxer on his downhill bike. A 1x10 drivetrain has been installed, with Truvativ X0 carbon cranks, an X0 rear derailleur, a Chromag single ring, and an e*thirteen chain device to keep the chain in place even when hitting the biggest drops imaginable.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks Kona


Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,731 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
63644 views
Pole Bicycles Has Filed for Bankruptcy
63625 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
43816 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
43318 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
41573 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in TWO WEEKS!
37835 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
37714 views
Randoms Round 1 - Sea Otter 2024
37508 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

87 Comments
  • 169 5
 Ok. Graham don t be stupid, give me that bike, now.
  • 45 2
 No one needs to get hurt Graham. Think about your children!
  • 36 0
 Really wish the Lyrik had a charger damper or the Pike was available in 170mm of travel with a 20mm through axle. This sounds like the perfect bike for how I like to ride, but I was really hoping when it came out Rockshox would announce that the Lyrik would get the charger damper.
  • 11 2
 Yeah man, if they can put same charger in Pike and Boxxer chassis, they can definitely do the same with the Lyrik. I've wondered many times why they still didn't do it. Maybe they want other companies to have at least a little chance to stay in the game. Lyrik chassis with Pike performance would be a killer.
  • 18 1
 They must have something in the pipeline surely. Seems like a huge hole in there range.
  • 4 8
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Aug 8, 2014 at 14:48) (Below Threshold)
 180mm usd single crown. carbon. 27'5. enduro. e.
  • 3 0
 I totally agree! I'm really hoping for Rockshox to eventually offer up a charger damper upgrade kit for the Lyrik like the one that they have for the Boxxer. If they ever bring that out, I will be first in line to grab it. In fact, I'll crawl to their head office on my knees to get my hands on one. Come on RS! Bring one out pretty please!
  • 3 2
 That Chromag seat is the coolest looking seat I've ever seen on a bike!
  • 2 2
 Chromag definitely makes some really hype stuff, saddles included, but I really gotta give a nod to Charge / Fabric. I just recently picked up their Scoop saddle, and not only does it look super sleek, but the physical construction is so minimalist, the seat cover material is dope, and the comfort... man it's so comfortable Smile
  • 3 2
 Chromag everything is the best
  • 1 0
 I recently spoke to cruikshanks about this. He said it doesn't work right now due to shaft/body length interference issues.
  • 4 0
 youngtech89, you mean the charger with the Lyrik right? But that only applies if you try to install the existing Pike internals into the Lyrik. Now if RockShox actually make a 'damper upgrade kit' specifically designed for the Lyrik, like they did with the Boxxer, then we'd be in business. Here's hoping they do Smile
  • 2 0
 I bet they will bring out the lyric in charger. just waiting, more testing
  • 2 1
 its stupid not to because its soooooo goood
  • 2 0
 I believe they have the lyrik charger on hand. Just waiting the moment where they are threaten by the latest fox 36.
  • 1 0
 would make sense
  • 3 0
 guess they let the lyrik, a 26 only fork, die and focus on just producing pikes with different travel options
  • 3 0
 I feel your pain @bOObdesign
  • 3 0
 yea, its sad
  • 3 0
 26 for life #RIPLYRIK
  • 17 0
 I honestly thought that killing the Entourage will be a bad thing to do, but now I'm unimaginably eager to watch this bike (and AGGY of course) shred some gnar and I;m even more eager to start saving some money for this truly "do-it-all" trail slayer...

Holy mother of Bikes, brilliant job Kona! :o
  • 26 7
 Want!! It's a shame that this bike will be 1/10ths of a second slower than similar 650b's thoFrown
  • 14 2
 My mum came in while I was looking at this, I switched over to porn, easier to explain.
  • 12 0
 That bike looks really really nice
  • 6 0
 I want to ride 26iers so long i can buy them, i live in the middle of the alps here you need bombproof stuff. Thanks to Kona you are my heros. And to all other Brands rethink your roll, in this 650b dictatorship!
  • 14 4
 26
  • 6 1
 Love the setup. What would be nice to start seeing from companies like Kona that produce gravity/park specific bikes is to offer similarly spec's bikes like Grams out of the box.
Anyone that's bought a stock park bike knows the routine of tearing 50-70% of the bike down to rebuild it back up to withstand actual trails or park riding.
  • 6 0
 Dream bike! 3 i thought when they release the process 153 "please make a burlier one with more travel"... and they did it, well done Kona. Oh, and if you have too many of them, ya know, don't hesitate i'm here!
  • 6 0
 In case anyone from Kona reads this, will the 167 be available in frame only?
  • 3 10
flag FindlayReade (Aug 8, 2014 at 14:59) (Below Threshold)
 For 2015 the Process 167's stock build kit is aimed at riders who will be earning their turns, with a dropper post and a 1x11 drivetrain
  • 3 0
 That's exacly what I want to use it for, except I'd keep my 1-10 with a 42t One-Up cog.
  • 9 0
 JJonathan Yes the 167 will be a frame only.
  • 6 0
 This shall be my new ride. Thanks
  • 4 0
 Ffs, don't you guys ever learn? I love everything about the new Kona bikes and the fact they are brave enough to make a new bike with 26 inch wheels is just awesome. And so being obsessed with carbon ffs!
  • 4 0
 kona listens to their consumers.
  • 4 0
 26 for life! Best bike I' ve seen in a long time. Bikes made for fun got so rare these days. I already loved the entourage. If only I had the cash to buy one
  • 1 0
 Can't figure it out: what's the use of having the brake through the head tube if the shifter is on the bar? Surely the shifter housing will wind up just like the brake hose would have? Or is it just less annoying to have one wind up than both?
  • 1 0
 Since he taped the shifter cable and brake line together it wraps around almost the same as one cable and with the front line through the headtube the bars can be spun multiple times without getting tangled as hell
  • 4 0
 For an even cleaner look. Go to a local automotive or hardware store and pick up a length of 3/8" electrical heat shrink tubing (acklands has the best selection). Use electrical tape to tape the start and end of where you want your shifter & brake cable joined then disconnect them, slide tubing over. Reattach the cables then shrink the tubing around the cables with a heat gun or lighter. And presto! Looks super clean and cleans up your cables perfectly!
  • 4 0
 Nice reverse mounted DHF up front...hmmm
  • 2 0
 Ha ha was just scanning the comments to see if anyone had picked up on that! Good spot :-)
  • 4 0
 If the 153 rides like a beast...I can only imagine the 167
  • 2 0
 Sweet ride, this is probably my next frame set if available like you say. Metric@180 and CCDBA turns this into a 31 lb DH machine that climbs like Billy too.
  • 1 0
 Showing the bike built like this was probably the best marketing kona could have done. Also, does anyone know if it will be available as frame only?
  • 1 0
 love it, built up like this, or in OEM guise,

but what does it weigh??? - nothing on the Kona site... unless i'm being thick?
  • 1 0
 Gotta love living in Bham. Aggy's hangin at the same park I got engaged and married!
  • 1 0
 I wonder if the 153 rear triangle could be put on that for a 167mm/650b bike...
  • 1 0
 Just got this bike Friday (frame only) killer bike...thinking of putting a boxxer on it
  • 4 1
 cool top cap!
  • 1 0
 very cool. Is that something retail consumers can get at? I wonder what the star fangled nut looks like.
  • 1 0
 Oh, thanks to @brycepiwek, I've looked up the system to learn it has no star fangled nut.
  • 4 2
 I really would love to know how this bike climbs.
  • 2 0
 Can't speak about other processes (I've heard they slay uphill, though), but Aggy's in particular wouldn't climb well, I'm sure of it - the 1 x 10 with such a small big ring on the cogset would result in the hardest uphill pedalling ever. He must have built it up largely as a freeride/slope bike, and less of an AM machine.
  • 4 0
 I meant the stock version. Can't wait for a review of this bad mammer jammer
  • 1 1
 This bike needs a longer seat tube in the bigger sizes to get decent seat post extension!!
  • 2 1
 OK, but how does he keep the Lyrik a2c height with the pike?
Is it a Pike 27,5 or just another custom magic pike?
  • 2 0
 Or he just has 10mm less stack height... not the end of the world.
  • 1 1
 10mm less stack height results to steeper head angle, i dont think anyone likes that
Plus lower BB height in an already low BB design = pedal hit the ground
  • 2 0
 I think he'll be just fine with a 65.5 degree head angle and an ever so slightly lower bb, especially since he doesn't have it set up for pedaling.
  • 2 1
 When are they going to review the new Kona DH bikes? So sick!
  • 2 1
 i was gonna say want but on closer inspection NEED one
  • 3 1
 Why no Entourage? Frown
  • 1 0
 this has the same geo and pedals better, with a lower standover... explain the downsides?
  • 1 0
 how has he got the Vivid Air R2C in that size?
  • 1 0
 Any discussion of a carbon process at said meetings?
  • 3 1
 A carbon Process is in the works, but it's not ready yet, and Kona wasn't able to say exactly when it would be launched.
  • 5 0
 I heard that they're are working to make this carbon process to work and look just like the definition "work of art" and that's why it takes so long.
i'm prett sure it's worth to wait though... Smile
  • 3 0
 Great news. Frame only too I hope.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what brand that top cap is?
  • 3 0
 Sram/rockshox turncoat
  • 1 1
 I already said it on this thread, but that top cap system is super cool.
  • 1 0
 Thanks mate!
  • 4 2
 My next bike
  • 2 2
 Still has 2 wheels. Nothing new here, except the picture is taken by a lake. Unusual.
  • 2 1
 hey its my next bike right there
  • 1 0
 I'd move to Bellingham to become Kona's janitor to ride this bike........
  • 2 0
 Chain guides are so 2012
  • 1 0
 good bike! But why not carbon？
  • 2 1
 beast
  • 4 3
 kona & aggy 4ever 3
  • 1 1
 Not sure i get off on that hose running through the fork steerer
  • 2 1
 CLEANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
  • 1 1
 Looks really balanced. i want one!
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.049332
Mobile Version of Website