Kona is looking ready for 2011 with the release of their
completely revised downhill bike, the Supreme Operator. Inside you can find
exclusive photos of the new machine, as well as geometry and spec info.Read on...2011 Kona Supreme OperatorKona's DH bike for 2011 uses a revised frame that features their reliable suspension design combined with drastically shaped frame tubes. A tapered headtube, loads of stand over clearance, and new clevis type pivots are just some of the additions.
Kona's long standing Stab downhill bike gets a complete revamp for the upcoming 2011 season, including a name change to the Operator. The Stab has long been known to be one of the more stable big bikes out there and has been a favourite of riders who benefit from a bike that is able to plow through the roughest of tracks, but possibly at the expense of not being maneuverable as some when things get tight. Kona looks to address this issue with the 2011 Operator by not only dropping an impressive amount of weight - the size small Supreme Operator pictured here comes in at 38 lbs - but also using revised geometry. The bike's shorter chainstays should add up to a more playful machine that responds better to rider input and line changes.
Up front you'll find a short tapered headtube that hides a integrated headset
2011 Kona Supreme Operator details
- Entirely new frame for 2011
- 200 mm of rear wheel travel
- Tapered headtube
- Large sealed bearings a aluminum pivot axles
- No more floating brake
- Shorter chainstays than the Stab
- Total weight: 35 lbs
- Color: Red polished
- Sizes: small, medium, large
- Available as a frame only
- Available November, 2010
- MSRP $$6599 CAD
Updated hardware holds together the new clevis type dropout pivots - stiffness and additional bearing life are the goals. I for one am happy to see a standard thru-axle on the back. Note the replaceable pinch bolt inserts as well.
Although it is far from fashionable to continue using what is proven to work well and be reliable, its nice to see Kona sticking with their time tested suspension design. After many years of small tweaks and adjustments Kona has produced a system that works well without all the hoopla associated with a new system. The 2011 version sees an upgrade to much bigger sealed bearings in each pivot and massive aluminum axles that tie everything together. At the rear of the bike you'll spot clevis type pivots that promise to add a bit of stiffness while improving bearing life.
Operator geometry
2011 Supreme Operator spec list - good to go out of the gate.
Mike's opinion: While I fully expect a lot of readers to balk at Kona's continued use of the four-bar design, I'm happy to see them stick with it and fine tune the system through the years. Kona's proven and reliable linkage activated single pivot arrangement has been in use for many seasons and there is no reason to scoff at the design simply because we are inundated with new acronym filled press releases every month. I'm excited to get some saddle time on the new bike and see if the changes that they've made have addressed some of the Stab's shortcomings. If so, this bright red bike could be the underdog that surprises a lot of people during the upcoming season.
The rear shift cable runs internally though the chainstay for cleaner lines and some added protection
2011 Kona Operator FRThe 2011 Kona Operator FR is looks to be ready for some serious throw down sessions.
The Operator FR uses the same frame as the Supreme, but with a more freeride friendly parts selection that looks burly enough to survive a summer in Whistler bike part under any grom. Just as is found on its bike brother, the Supreme, the front of the bike sports a tapered headtube that works well with long travel single crown forks like the 180 mm Domain that the bike comes stock with. A Fox Van R controls the bike's 200 mm of travel. The big silver bike should have riders dusting the cobwebs off their shovels and chainsaws to build some new and large features.
The FR model features the same tapered headtube as it's big brother, the Supreme Operator
2011 Kona Operator FR details
- Entirely new frame for 2011
- 200 mm of rear wheel travel
- Tapered headtube
- Large sealed bearings a aluminum pivot axles
- No more floating brake
- Shorter chainstays than the Stab
- Use's the same frame as the Supreme Operator
- Color: brushed silver
- Sizes: small, medium, large
- Available as a frame only
- Available November, 2010
- MSRP $$2799.00 CAD
Operator FR full spec
Massive bearings and clevis pivots out back on the Operator FR
*
There will be a mid priced offering, the Operator in a DH version too and it will be priced at $3299.00*
Visit the
Kona website to see their entire lineup - the Operator is from the future, you won't find it there yet!
I'm in the market for an FR bike next year, and I'll definitely be checking out that Operator.
and has anyone even seen a pic of a 09+ broken kona??
kona haters get a life, pretty sure paul bass and the rest of the kona team think they are good, so who are you to slag them off? as im pretty sure they can ride a bike better than any of you. oh and dont start with the whole they pay them, paul b could have ridden for anyone but chose kona and has stuck with them.
rant over.
a friend spent 6grand building a bike, that's close to 10K cad$
so stop complaining about price
also i hope this is stronger then previous deigns due to the metal used, 7000 series alu.
The shear magnitude of neg props that I'm expecting to rain down on me, will do nothing more than to arouse me in such a way that it will fuel my dislike for Kona's even more. Until of course they change their design. Given how adverse Kona is to change, i don't think i'll see this in my lifetime.
why all the comments about the headtube snapping? its a 7005 series aluminium alloy taper headtube..loads of companies using a similar design
Working on getting my local sales rep to "drop one off" at our shop. I'll post back if/when this happens.
That said, the prototype looked a lot cooler. The production frame is all over the place. As much as I didn't really like the old Stabs, I reckon they looked better. :/
first of all, new frame design. The more horizontal seatstays and repositioning of the pivot points result in less brake infuence on the suspension.
Weight is an important factor. With the function being much less with the new design, it is a great place to save 800 grams.
Also, trails have changed, riding has changed. Tracks are more flowing, man made then they used to be. This calls for a different bike alltogether.
It looks like Joe Smith has been racing this bike on the WC this season, and if it holds up the the tracks this year, then it should be fine for almost anyone! It's good to see Kona revamp their line
lOVE OPERATOR FR!!!!
And who thinks kona are unreliable and brake its complete rubbish and it is was one the best freeride bikes on the market right now so if u thinks konas crap go cry to ur mum!
Cheers anyway, though.
www.jehlebikes.de/kona-operator-dh-2011.html
[img]http://www.jehlebikes.de/pics/11523/kona-operator-dh-2011.jpg[/img]
i'll let you guys know what its like
Intense M9!
PS: The polished look is great. Like Lapierre or Honda.
www.jehlebikes.de/kona-operator-dh-2011.html
It is still fundamentally the same ol' KONA platform that will still Jack up without the floating break. but when it comes down to looks, KONA has it in the bag. they must have some very talented graphic designers on there team.
But the headtube badge? hmmm
cog.konaworld.com/archives/6874
2. 6500$!?!?!?!?! O_O
3. I could get a decent bike for that price.
4. Cool designs for 2011.