Connor Fearon and Graham Agassiz Rally the 27.5 Kona Operator at Retallack
The word is out: we’ve got a new Operator.
That word was out long ago. If you truly want to develop upcoming technology in race situations at the UCI Downhill World Cup, you’re going to show some of your cards. And if you’ve been following along, you know that we’ve been developing this bike for the past two seasons under Kona Gravity rider Connor Fearon.
You probably also know that the Operator is the bike Graham Agassiz sends to stratospheric heights at the FEST series and at Red Bull Rampage. Aggy and Connor push their Operators to the limit in different ways, and we needed to build a bike that was suited to their needs as much as it was to the privateer racer’s or to those banging laps in the bike park.
In creating a new Operator, we wanted to retain the traits that riders like Aggy really love, while continuing to develop the bike that Connor needs to compete at the top level. It’s gotta be agile. It’s gotta be planted. It has to be fun to ride, and it’s gotta rip around corners. In short, it's gotta ride like a Kona.
In all cases the new Operator needed to be durable and well-built: a bike that our top riders could smash on race courses and big hits, day in and day out. Our riders and our bike park partners need to have confidence in a bike that will hold up, lap after lap, for more than just one event. Our bikes have been evolving for nearly three decades, and the new Operator is another step in that lineage. The evolution of a bike that can compete at the top level while still being the bike you’d choose to ride on your day off.
Two years in a row we’ve had Aggy and Connor join us at Retallack for test sessions on the Operator. For these two, whose schedules rarely coincide, coming together at Retallack is a bit of a celebration. Aggy’s spent a lot of time riding and building in Retallack’s high mountain terrain and Connor has fallen in love with the place. While they may both compete at the top level in their respective disciplines, the pure joy of ripping amazing trails on a bike you love is undeniable.
![Retallack Lodge has etched itself high up in both Graham Agassiz and Connor Fearon s top riding locations. Both riders have made multiple trips to this Kootenay BC mecca of riding. The fun and playful riding styles both riders adopt when hitting the trails there just make you want to grab your bike and ride.]()
![Although Retallack has its fair share of alpine riding much of the good stuff can be found deep in the fir spruce and hemlock lower down. Aggy in the trees.]()
![Not at all fazed by the classic another one Aggy and Connor ponder that fact that they have yet again been stitched up by the filmers.]()
![Speed and Style a Retallack hip two ways. Yum.]()
![Aggy leads Connor through a set of Retallack s perfectly sculpted subalpine booters.]()
![Retallack s tight and technical trails received a masterclass from Aggy and Connor as the pair kept things low and extremely fast for the cameras.]()
![With Connor firmly locked in his cross hairs Aggy gets barreled in BC interior loam.]()
![Red Bull Rampage and Aggy are always a recipe for some of the tastiest lines and burliest moves. The big mountain freerider is a crowd favorite but more importantly is highly regarded by his peers for his line selection and steeze.]()
![There are not many riders out there that can manhandle a bike as effortlessly as Aggy.]()
![The 2016 Rampage blank canvas and its new format was welcomed by the riders including Aggy who teamed up with good friends James Doerfling and Kurt Sorge to build one of the rowdiest and most creative lines on the hill. Lofting above spectators and fellow competitors lines Aggy pilots his 27.5 Operator on one of his final practice runs.]()
![The Dream Team. Kona Gravity Team mechanic and manager Mathieu Dupelle and World Cup racer Connor Fearon s involvement in the development of the new 27.5 Operator platform has been absolutely vital. The feedback provided by the two helped Ian Schmitt and the product team produce not only a bombproof World Cup racing machine but also helped Connor finish the 2016 World Cup season on the podium]()
![The journey for the podium was a long one for Connor and the Operator one that began at Lourdes in France where Connor kicked things off with a solid eighth place. His lucky 13 number plate replaced with a single digit Connor then headed for his homeland of Austraila for the second round where due to a slipped pedal on the final straight he finished in 12th place. His teammate and mentor Josh Button however rode Connor s 2015 27.5 Operator prototype on to the Podium shocking the field with a solid fifth place finish.]()
![If there is one sure thing when it comes to racing World Cups in Europe its that no matter what the forecast says there will be rain. Leogang this year was no exception with the weather swapping constantly between full blown sunshine to a muddy and boggy rainfest.]()
![After a tenth place at Fort William Connor kept things low fast and stylish at Leogang wowing photographers and spectators as he piloted his Operator to yet another top ten finish this time in eighth place.]()
![The track at Lenzerheide for round five of the World Cup would prove to be a near perfect match for the Operator and Connor s aggressive riding style. With the single number nine back on the bike Connor would demolish most of the field in a stellar run and find himself standing on the podium in fifth place as a reward.]()
![Round six brought Connor to Mont Sainte Anne on the east coast of Canada. The popular course proved as challenging as ever and a real mix up of riders finishing in the top 20 would assure that Connor would retain his season-high position of fifth heading into the final round in Andorra.]()
![After qualifying in Andorra Connor was just a single point ahead of his nearest rival in the hunt for finishing fifth overall in the 2016 World Cup Series. Connor would ride onto the platform in fifth place that day and solidify his and the 27.5 Operator s standout season securing fifth place in the overall standing.]()
![2017 Kona Operator image]()
27.5 Operator Technical Details
The 27.5 Operator sees a number of changes which continue the evolution of our long travel platform. To retain the snappy and lively feel we’ve put a 423mm chainstay on all sizes, increased the reach across the board, and combined this with a 63º head angle. The Beamer suspension design has been updated with a more progressive leverage curve for increased bottom out resistance and a raised main pivot for improved pedaling performance. With bearings in all suspension pivots, and now in the upper shock mount as well, the new Operator will continue the legacy of Kona’s legendary durability.
![2017 Kona Operator]()
Supreme Operator
Frame Material: Kona DH 6061 Aluminum Butted 200mm Travel
Wheel Size: 27.5
Wheels: Novatec Demon
Suspension Platform: Beamer
Front/Rear Suspension: 200mm/200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer WC 200mm
Shock: RockShox Kage RC
Crankset: SRAM XO1 DH
Drivetrain: SRAM XO1 DH 7spd
Cockpit: ODI Flight Control bar, ODI Adjustable stem, Ruffian MX grips
Brakes: SRAM Guide Ultimate
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF DH 3C 27.5x2.5"
Saddle: WTB High Tail
![2017 Kona Operator]()
Operator DL
Frame Material: Kona DH 6061 Aluminum Butted 200mm Travel
Wheel Size: 27.5
Wheels: Mavic EX729
Suspension Platform: Beamer
Front/Rear Suspension: 200mm/200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer RC 200mm
Shock: RockShox Kage RC
Crankset: Shimano Zee
Drivetrain: SRAM GX 10spd
Cockpit: Kona DH bar, Kona Direct Mount stem, Kona Slog grips
Brakes: SRAM Guide R
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF DH 3C 27.5x2.5"
Saddle: WTB Volt Sport SE 250
![2017 Kona Operator]()
Operator
Frame Material: Kona DH 6061 Aluminum Butted 200mm Travel
Wheel Size: 27.5
Wheels: Sun Ringle MTX 33 Sleeved
Suspension Platform: Beamer
Front/Rear Suspension: 200mm/200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer RC 200mm
Shock: RockShox Kage R
Crankset: RaceFace Chester
Drivetrain: SRAM X7 9spd
Cockpit: Kona DH bar, Kona Direct Mount stem, Kona S-LOG grips
Brakes: SRAM Guide R
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF DH 27.5x2.5"
Saddle: Kona DH
![2017 Kona Operator Geo chart]()
For more information on the 27.5 Operator and the rest of our 2017 bikes, head to Konaworld.com.
Photos by Blake Jorgenson, Duncan Philpott, Ale di Lullo, and Caleb Smith.
About Kona:
At Kona, we're all about the freedom and empowerment of the bicycle. We have been since 1988. We still have the same founding owners. We're still populated by a staff of keen, active, impassioned cyclists. We're not big, nor are we that small. Just a dedicated group of cyclists making bicycles for people who love bikes - no matter if that love is new or long established.
MENTIONS: @konaworld / @aggy / @C-Fearon / @retallacklodge / @duncanp / @aledilullophotography
That word was out long ago. If you truly want to develop upcoming technology in race situations at the UCI Downhill World Cup, you’re going to show some of your cards. And if you’ve been following along, you know that we’ve been developing this bike for the past two seasons under Kona Gravity rider Connor Fearon.
You probably also know that the Operator is the bike Graham Agassiz sends to stratospheric heights at the FEST series and at Red Bull Rampage. Aggy and Connor push their Operators to the limit in different ways, and we needed to build a bike that was suited to their needs as much as it was to the privateer racer’s or to those banging laps in the bike park.
In creating a new Operator, we wanted to retain the traits that riders like Aggy really love, while continuing to develop the bike that Connor needs to compete at the top level. It’s gotta be agile. It’s gotta be planted. It has to be fun to ride, and it’s gotta rip around corners. In short, it's gotta ride like a Kona.
In all cases the new Operator needed to be durable and well-built: a bike that our top riders could smash on race courses and big hits, day in and day out. Our riders and our bike park partners need to have confidence in a bike that will hold up, lap after lap, for more than just one event. Our bikes have been evolving for nearly three decades, and the new Operator is another step in that lineage. The evolution of a bike that can compete at the top level while still being the bike you’d choose to ride on your day off.
Two years in a row we’ve had Aggy and Connor join us at Retallack for test sessions on the Operator. For these two, whose schedules rarely coincide, coming together at Retallack is a bit of a celebration. Aggy’s spent a lot of time riding and building in Retallack’s high mountain terrain and Connor has fallen in love with the place. While they may both compete at the top level in their respective disciplines, the pure joy of ripping amazing trails on a bike you love is undeniable.
Retallack Lodge has etched itself high up in both Graham Agassiz and Connor Fearon's top riding locations. Both riders have made multiple trips to this Kootenay, BC mecca of riding. The fun and playful riding styles both riders adopt when hitting the trails here just makes you want to grab your bike and ride.
Although Retallack has its fair share of alpine riding much of the good stuff can be found deep in the fir, spruce and hemlock lower down. Aggy in the trees.
Not at all fazed by the classic "another one" Aggy and Connor ponder that fact that they have yet again been stitched up by the filmers.
Speed and Style: a Retallack hip, two ways. Yum.
Aggy leads Connor through a set of Retallack's perfectly sculpted subalpine booters.
Retallack's tight and technical trails received a masterclass from Aggy and Connor as the pair kept things low and extremely fast for the cameras.
With Connor firmly locked in his crosshairs, Aggy gets barreled in BC interior loam.
Red Bull Rampage and Aggy are always a recipe for some of the tastiest lines and burliest moves. The big mountain freerider is a crowd favorite, but more importantly is highly regarded by his peers for his line selection and steeze.
There are not many riders out there that can manhandle a bike as effortlessly as Aggy.
The 2016 Rampage blank canvas and its new format was welcomed by the riders, including Aggy, who teamed up with good friends James Doerfling and Kurt Sorge to build one of the rowdiest and most creative lines on the hill. Lofting above spectators and fellow competitors' lines, Aggy pilots his 27.5 Operator on one of his final practice runs.
The Dream Team. Kona Gravity Team mechanic and manager Mathieu Dupelle and World Cup racer Connor Fearon's involvement in the development of the new 27.5 Operator platform has been absolutely vital. The feedback provided by the two helped Ian Schmitt and the product team produce not only a bombproof World Cup racing machine but also helped Connor finish the 2016 World Cup season on the podium!
The journey for the podium was a long one for Connor and the Operator, one that began at Lourdes in France where Connor kicked things off with a solid eighth place. His lucky 13 number plate replaced with a single digit, Connor then headed for his homeland of Austraila for the second round where, due to a slipped pedal on the final straight he finished in 12th place. His teammate and mentor Josh Button, however, rode Connor's 2015 27.5 Operator prototype on to the Podium, shocking the field with a solid fifth place finish.
If there is one sure thing when it comes to racing World Cups in Europe, it's that no matter what the forecast says, there will be rain. Leogang this year was no exception with the weather swapping constantly between full blown sunshine to a muddy and boggy rainfest.
After a tenth place finish in Fort William, Connor kept things low fast and stylish at Leogang, wowing photographers and spectators as he piloted his operator to yet another top ten finish - this time in eighth place.
The track at Lenzerheide for round five of the World Cup would prove to be a near perfect match for the Operator and Connor's aggressive riding style. With the single number nine back on the bike, Connor would demolish most of the field in a stellar run and find himself standing on the podium in fifth place as a reward.
Round six brought Connor to Mont Sainte Anne on the east coast of Canada. The popular course proved as challenging as ever and a real mix up of riders finishing in the top 20 would assure that Connor would retain his season-high position of fifth heading into the final round in Andorra.
After qualifying in Andorra, Connor was just a single point ahead of his nearest rival in the hunt for finishing fifth overall in the 2016 World Cup Series. Connor would ride onto the platform in fifth place that day, solidifying his and the 27.5 Operator's standout season, and securing fifth place in the overall standing.
27.5 Operator Technical Details
The 27.5 Operator sees a number of changes which continue the evolution of our long travel platform. To retain the snappy and lively feel we’ve put a 423mm chainstay on all sizes, increased the reach across the board, and combined this with a 63º head angle. The Beamer suspension design has been updated with a more progressive leverage curve for increased bottom out resistance and a raised main pivot for improved pedaling performance. With bearings in all suspension pivots, and now in the upper shock mount as well, the new Operator will continue the legacy of Kona’s legendary durability.
Supreme Operator
Frame Material: Kona DH 6061 Aluminum Butted 200mm Travel
Wheel Size: 27.5
Wheels: Novatec Demon
Suspension Platform: Beamer
Front/Rear Suspension: 200mm/200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer WC 200mm
Shock: RockShox Kage RC
Crankset: SRAM XO1 DH
Drivetrain: SRAM XO1 DH 7spd
Cockpit: ODI Flight Control bar, ODI Adjustable stem, Ruffian MX grips
Brakes: SRAM Guide Ultimate
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF DH 3C 27.5x2.5"
Saddle: WTB High Tail
Operator DL
Frame Material: Kona DH 6061 Aluminum Butted 200mm Travel
Wheel Size: 27.5
Wheels: Mavic EX729
Suspension Platform: Beamer
Front/Rear Suspension: 200mm/200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer RC 200mm
Shock: RockShox Kage RC
Crankset: Shimano Zee
Drivetrain: SRAM GX 10spd
Cockpit: Kona DH bar, Kona Direct Mount stem, Kona Slog grips
Brakes: SRAM Guide R
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF DH 3C 27.5x2.5"
Saddle: WTB Volt Sport SE 250
Operator
Frame Material: Kona DH 6061 Aluminum Butted 200mm Travel
Wheel Size: 27.5
Wheels: Sun Ringle MTX 33 Sleeved
Suspension Platform: Beamer
Front/Rear Suspension: 200mm/200mm
Fork: RockShox Boxxer RC 200mm
Shock: RockShox Kage R
Crankset: RaceFace Chester
Drivetrain: SRAM X7 9spd
Cockpit: Kona DH bar, Kona Direct Mount stem, Kona S-LOG grips
Brakes: SRAM Guide R
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF DH 27.5x2.5"
Saddle: Kona DH
For more information on the 27.5 Operator and the rest of our 2017 bikes, head to Konaworld.com.
Photos by Blake Jorgenson, Duncan Philpott, Ale di Lullo, and Caleb Smith.
About Kona:
At Kona, we're all about the freedom and empowerment of the bicycle. We have been since 1988. We still have the same founding owners. We're still populated by a staff of keen, active, impassioned cyclists. We're not big, nor are we that small. Just a dedicated group of cyclists making bicycles for people who love bikes - no matter if that love is new or long established.
MENTIONS: @konaworld / @aggy / @C-Fearon / @retallacklodge / @duncanp / @aledilullophotography
Author Info:
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good luck with that...
YT TUES pro Cf: 5500$
-carbon frame
-fox 40kashima air - fox x2 float
-e13 carbon wheels
-sram xo1 carbon
-and the rest
-aaron gwin approved
How is kona hoping to sell bikes??
It's normal that Kona Bikes costs so muchand YT not..
And I think it's better if they make better Aluminium models than Carbon bikes...if you buy a carbonkona you risk your life...Alu-konas not..
But seriously, £8k for an Alu bike, not even a fantastically sexy one, that would need the shock swapped out immediately? Borderline ridiculous.
You could get yourself a top spec carbon 2017 demo (with an Ohlins shock!) for nearly £1.5k less.
Or even a carbon 2017 V10 which is kitted out with 40's and a DHX2! FOR LESS GODDAMN CASH.
Madness, complete madness.
www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_818_scategory_187
www.konaworld.com/supreme_operator.cfm
Below is a link for the top end Devinci Wilson, exact same drivetrain and brakes, and the top end Vivid R2C instead of the cheap Kage RC, $600 less. Kona has nice bikes, but way over priced for what you get
www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_818_scategory_187
Dude, Kona is pretty much like the Dacia of mountainbikes, whereas YT started from being the Volkswagen and right now is on its best way to graduate to be the Porsche in a few years. Just wait and see. The operator carbon was the first acceptable bike from Kona in like 15 years. YT brings one big hit (pun intended) after the other.
I rode the capra and the jeffsy, and quite honestly they are nothing special. They are literally just what they advertise and spec to be, nothing more or less, and they are good in the sense that with some effort, you can push those bikes to be either fun or fast, but not both. Kona bikes have a special feel to them. While YT focuses on the medium setting between "Race Sled" and "Fest-Bike" kona turns the dial straight away to simply be the funnest bike they can physically produce. I left my experience on the 111 with massive confidence and a great smile on my face, the bike was a bit flexed out and maybe didn't have the best spec or performance but it was FUN.
Hearing you talk about Kona it sounds to me like you just had a fair share of good experiences with the Kona brand which makes you sympathize with it... because to be honest I didn't see Kona come up with anything appealing since the Stinky until the Session-Lookalike Operator Carbon came out. Technologically there was definitely no advancement whatsoever.
But yeah, tastes are different after all... so that's just my opinion. I don't mean to be bashing Kona, in fact I really like the Operator Carbon, but in between there was really nothing for me as the bikes were mostly ugly, heavy and had no particular quality whatsoever, and therefore I just could not agree with Kona still being considered a botique brand. To me it feels more like Kona is trying to rise from the dead - and they certainly chose the wrong pricing policy for that.
P.S.: I'm riding a Specialized and it is a lot of FUN, although it seems to be very cool to hate anything they make nowadays. So no, I'm not a YT nazi.
YT makes very vanilla-type bikes. Very good in the sense that they do no more or less than what is asked.
My stance on kona and the bikes that I perceive them to make is very personal, but countless magazines and websites have said the same thing I am saying. There have been many front-page articles on all of their Process models even before the 2014 operator (Which I bought at the end of the season) came out. I rode a 153 and was simply blown away by the confidence in the bike. For years after the stinky they have been pumping out quality rigs that may not have been pretty or light, but they worked for thousands of people, I see their bikes every day on the trail and the local kona dealer cleans inventory regularly. They are special and getting more and more popular by the day, just as EVIL and Canyon are here in the USA.
I understand your gripes on spec and pricing, but for US$2000 on an alloy frame and all the specs for the standard and DL, I can totally see that as fair.
There's a dirt mag interview with Semuneck from 2015 rampage, when asked why he still rides 26, he answers "less of a sail"........
The mountain bike began with 26": and will continue to dominate.
26 4 life and proud of it
if Kona wanted it to be good for free ride too would make it convertible with head angle and rear end adjustments
Have they done this?
This is Fearon and Aggy. They could both rip on pretty much anything. It should probably have two wheels, but that's really only a suggestion.
I would love to see some close up slo mo footage of the suspension doing its thing or how the suspension works with the tires to keep traction.
Great video but it does not show in detail how the bike is performing.
I would have like to seen a bit better pricing on these bikes but if you look across the whole range of bikes Kona has out right now there are a few that seem a little higher than they should be. I will say though I see a good amount of 2016 153DLs out there and that bike retailed for 6000.00 CAD so obviously the pricing isn't scaring everyone off. You could also just buy a frameset... Get some new lowers for your fork to accommodate 27.5 (I know this works for the boxxer) get some mid level wheels, swap your drivetrain over and other parts from your last DH bike and boom, saved yourself some cash... Probably sell that rear shock too
I feel others feel this way too.... Kona if you gonna sell elite alloy bikes for gravity and enduro maybe turn the price dial down juuuust a little bit. Your bikes are dope and they ride like a dream, just gotta turn down the scary part for a lot of people and that's the price tag for your alloy bikes. It's hard to find a company making a bad bike nowadays, so if it's not gonna be carbon that puts you on people's purchasing radar you gotta allow for the price to do that.
With that stated, I find it humorous that Kona's company motto is "built to ride"... I am not aware of other uses?