With just under 170mm of travel, sporting a 20mm thru-axle, and rolling on 26'' wheels, Kona's Process 167 could be considered a bit of a throwback to a time when wheels were smaller and travel was bigger. A skeptic might even see the bike as a big fat middle finger to trends that seem to be driven more by the industry itself than what consumers are actually looking for. That said, Kona's catalog includes all sorts of 27.5'' and 29'' wheeled bikes, yet the 167 is the outlier of the lineup that sort of defies the current convention, a misfit in a group of bikes that are, to be fair, already a bit 'out there' compared to what larger and more conservative brands offer. Whatever it is, with a 170mm travel Lyrik fork and dual-ply Maxis Minion DHF tires, the $4,999 USD Process 167 looks ready for action on some serious terrain.
Process 167 Details• Intended use: all-mountain / enduro
• Rear wheel travel: 167mm
• Wheel size: 26''
• Frame material: aluminum
• RockShox Lyrik DH, 170mm
• SRAM 11-speed drivetrain
• Frame only MSRP: $2,249 USD
• MSRP: $4,999 USD
•
www.konaworld.com,
@konaworld In fact, Kona even refers to it as a downhill bike on their website, saying, ''
This is the ultimate gravity bike. Based on the Entourage geometry that wowed park riders around the world, we take the playful confidence of our Process platform, add a big chunk of travel and smaller 26-inch wheels to create one of the most fun downhill bikes on planet shred. Just ask Aggy.'' Mind you, most of us don't live on the same planet as Aggy. We didn't do any threes off of cliffs or seventy-foot gaps, but the 167 did see plenty of action in the Whistler Bike Park and all sorts of rowdy backcountry adventures.
Frame DetailsThe general train of thought says that the more travel you have, the more effort it's going to take to throw the bike around. However, it's not always as simple as that, as Kona proves with this bike. As alluded to above, they set out to create a bike that would be at home on hairball terrain, but they also didn't want a bike that would feel about as alive as a dead fish when the rider wanted to get a little saucy. Their answer was to combine a relatively short rear-end with a roomy front-end, then drop a short stem on to compensate for the longer front-to-center number. This approach has been used for the entire Process lineup since 2013, not to mention by a few other companies in more recent times, and anyone who's ridden one of the bikes, especially the short-travel Process 111, will tell you that they are among the most playful and inspiring machines out there.
Our medium-sized 167 test bike sports a roomy 450mm reach figure that's more in line with what some other companies would call a large-sized bike, while the rear-end sits at just 420mm. Its top tube drops down at a steep angle to provide as much standover height as possible, so much so that all three sizes actually share the same 640mm of crotch clearance and only change in reach and stack. Even the small and medium share the same 387mm long seat tube length, with the large getting an extra 45mm of length for the beanstalks out there.
The aluminum frame comes with all of the de rigueur talking points that you'd expect from such a bike, including a tapered head tube, ISCG 05 chain guide tabs, and a 12 x 142mm thru-axle. There's a port at the bottom of the seat tube for the LEV Integra's housing to enter, although it'd be nice to see this go in at the front of the bike rather than in the middle, while the rear brake hose is routed externally for its entire length. The shift housing travels inside of the down tube then exits briefly before tucking into the chain stay. I'm sad to see another company who hasn't found a way to make room for a bottle inside of the front triangle - the only cage mount is on the underside of the down tube - but I can see most 167 owners either preferring to wear a backpack or being okay with picking up a case of giardiasis from a creek.
The 167's Suspension ExplainedKona has used variations of a single pivot and rocker arm design since, well, since there have been Kona full-suspension bikes, and they've stayed true to that layout while other brands have jumped to different designs every few years. That's not to say that Kona hasn't evolved, though, as that would be very far from the truth. 2013 saw the company debut their Process series of bikes that all employ, you guessed it, a single pivot and rocker arm design. The Process bikes, including the 167mm travel machine shown here, are entirely different animals compared to those old Stinkys, with a smartly configured rear-end that lets them tuck the rear wheel up for a short chain stay length. Rigidity was also a major priority here, with a wide stance to the main pivot and a large diameter axle running through it all, as well as a carbon fiber bridge that joins the two sides of the rocker arm. A clevis shock mount has also been used that allows Kona to go with a full-length seat tube.
Specifications
Specifications
|
Release Date
|
2015 |
|
Price
|
$5000 |
|
Travel |
167 |
|
Rear Shock |
RockShox Vivid Air RC2 |
|
Fork |
RockShox Lyrik DH RC2DH Solo Air 170mm QR20 |
|
Headset |
FSA Orbit 1.5 ZS No.57 |
|
Cassette |
SRAM XG1180 10-42 11spd |
|
Crankarms |
SRAM X1 1200 |
|
Rear Derailleur |
SRAM XO1 |
|
Chain |
KMX X11 |
|
Shifter Pods |
SRAM X1 |
|
Handlebar |
RaceFace Atlas FR |
|
Stem |
Kona 40mm |
|
Grips |
Kona S-LOG |
|
Brakes |
Avid Guide RS |
|
Hubs |
Novatech |
|
Spokes |
Sandvik 14g Black |
|
Rim |
WTB Frequency Team i25 TCS |
|
Tires |
Maxxis DHF DH 3C 26x2.5" |
|
Seat |
WTB Volt Team |
|
Seatpost |
KS LEV Integra |
|
| |
ClimbingLet's get this climbing stuff behind us. The burly Process 167 is a very specific tool for a very specific job, and that job has nothing to do with climbing. Rather, it's designed to have loads of fun, and fun usually happens when your bike is pointed back down the hill. It's obviously not as single-minded as a downhill bike, but anyone looking forward to pedaling the 167 up a steep or technical climb has probably hit their head a few too many times and can now play hide-and-seek on their own. That won't come as a surprise to you if you've glanced over the bike's geo and spec sheet - it sports heavy dual-ply tires and a 170mm travel fork - but the truth is that a rider who's put the big Process on their shortlist likely won't give a single damn. What they'll probably do is pull their kneepads down to their ankles and work their way to the top of the mountain at whatever pace they feel like going, possibly with some tall cans in their backpacks, which is a pretty smart way to go about the task.
What they shouldn't do is dip into one of those trail pops before getting to the top of the climb, though, because they'll need all of their wits about them if they want to conquer uphill challenges. Riders with plenty of skill in this department might not have trouble, but those who don't possess the balance gene will find themselves dropping a foot on plenty of occasions. There's also no cheater switch on the bike's Vivid shock, and the active and supple suspension can feel pretty draining on long, boring gravel road climbs. It doesn't hurt to dial in the Vivid's blue low-speed compression knob at such times, or to run a set of clipless pedals instead of flats while thinking about spinning circles rather than attacking the ascent. Pro tip: don't attack, just sit back.
The big Process isn't a great climber, even compared to other bikes in the same class - the Slash, Sanction, and Nomad are all better at getting to the top - but I don't think 167 owners will really care that much. The funny thing is that I'm pretty sure Kona doesn't care that much, either, which is sort of admirable in this world of "
OMG, our bikes are the best at everything,'' pitches that makes up so much marketing copy these days.
Descending and SuspensionOur 167 received an extensive tour of the Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton corridor, adventures that had the bike see plenty of action in the bike park, be called upon for trail-bike duty when things were going to get rowdy, and was even privy to a helicopter drop in the backwoods of British Columbia. It didn't take a wild ride in the whirlybird to see that the Process is a special machine, though, as that fact was apparent right from the get-go. It's brilliant from the very first ride because it isn't awkward or finicky to setup, and it's exactly what it sounds like: an even heavier hitting Kona Process, which are a series of bikes that are already known for being simple, rugged, fun, and playful.
It's a simple bike in more ways than one. In a world where some long legged steeds are fitted with funky travel or geometry adjusting doohickeys that look like they're lifted from Rube Goldberg's sketchbook, the Kona is a straight-shooting machine that doesn't employ such trickery. This is a good thing because there are plenty of do-it-all bikes, whereas Kona's intentions are more single-minded, and I'd argue that there's room for such thinking. It's also an uncomplicated bike in terms of what it asks from the rider, which is nothing in particular - anyone could jump on this thing and have fun, just so long as the terrain is there for it.
And speaking of terrain, gobbling up chundery and technical trails is where the Process is a merciless beast that's always got the munchies. The big Vivid shock makes one question why anyone would ever need a coil-sprung damper, while the uncomplicated suspension profile - there's no surprises and it has a clean, progressive curve - means that you can hit some fairly serious descents like you're on monster downhill sled. Funny what great suspension, proper geometry, and some real tires will let you get away with. And like Kona's other Process bikes that are already very playful, manageable and fun rigs, you can choose some questionable lines but always appear at the bottom of a trail with a ginormous grin on your face.
If downhill bikes are the serious adults of the mountain bike world that have so much clear deliberateness to them, the 167 has to be the adolescent that just wants to party all night and then sleep in until noon the next day. Consequences? Those are for people who care too much. Come in late to a corner and make a square out of it, or rail around the outside to keep your momentum up; the 167 is happy either way. It's neither twitchy nor lazy relative to what you'd expect of it, which means you can drop your guard and ride it in a way that best suits you and the trail.
| It's really a 'One More Lap' bike. The 167 always makes you want to go for "just another lap", and to restrain oneself from doing so, thereby avoiding the dreaded One More Lap curse, requires supreme self-control... but f*ck it, sometimes you have to break the superstition and go ahead. The problem comes from turning up late to dinner, BBQs with friends, and work. - Seb Kemp, Whistler local |
The 167 can be ridden like it has a few more inches of travel than it does, and it can also bob and weave through tight trails at a good clip thanks to a smart set of geo numbers, but jumping is where the bike shines brightest. It asks for less speed than some other machines to get over the same gaps, meaning you don't have to work nearly as hard at it, and driving your heels into the take off provides double-bounce, trampoline-like pop. Being one half BMX bike and one half chunky all-mountain machine makes the Process a toy that skilled jumpers will use to maximize the terrain to the point where those one-line type of riders won't know what to think if they're watching from behind.
There's not a lot to dislike about the 167 if you're the rider who's more likely to have a full-face helmet strapped to your bag rather than have an energy bar stuffed inside of it, but while the following may seem pretty obvious, it needs to be noted that the Process feels like
a lot of bike on tame terrain. Sure, it's playful and fun when you've got a head of steam, but it's not nearly as inspiring when the trail is equal parts up and down rather than just down - keep in mind that this is a bike that likes to get all the climbing over with right out of the gate.
Technical Report• KS LEV Integra: Another LEV Integra that functioned with zero issues other than the remote's plastic body cracking, which is something that we've seen happen a few times recently. The damaged remote looked like it might allow the housing end to pop out, but that never happened. This is the second plastic remote we've seen crack in the last month, and it'd make more sense if it was aluminum.
• Drivetrain: The X01 / X1 drivetrain performed flawlessly, and the big 42 tooth cog was called upon regularly when it was time to get the Kona to the top of a mountain. There were no derailments, but someone who's going to be doing a few races on the 167 would still be advised to install some sort of small chain guide. Insurance is a good thing to have.
• Lyrik DH RC2DH Solo Air: Our test bike came with a 170mm travel Lyrik DH RC2DH Solo Air that, while being a solid fork that performed well, doesn't quite offer the same front-end traction as a new Charger damper-equipped Lyrik does. Sure, that fork doesn't have the 20mm axle that the 167's Lyrik does, but the damper upgrade is well worth the so-called trade-off.
• RaceFace Atlas FR Handlebar: The full-width Atlas FR handlebar from RaceFace makes a lot of sense for this bike and how it's supposed to be ridden. You can trim it down if you're looking for something slimmer to match your body or to squeeze through tight trees, but it's way easier to cut a handlebar than it is to make one wider.
• Maxxis Minion DHF Tires: You don't put tires from a Corolla onto a Hummer, and you shouldn't put cheesy, single-ply rubber on a bike like the 167. Kona obviously agrees because they spec'd a set of burly, dual-ply Minion DHF tires on the Process that, rubber preferences aside, won't leave anyone looking for more.
Pinkbike's Take: | The Process 167 is a bike that owes its existence to Kona's belief that there are still riders out there who don't give a toss about magazine covers touting the next so-called "quiver killer." Just shut up already about that nonsense and get on a bike that's meant to be good at what you like doing most, right? Well, not always, but that really is the best approach for so many things, and it's especially true when it comes to having fun on a mountain bike. All around perfection is boring when you can have a bike that's so damn good at one task that you can look past its faults in other areas, which is exactly what a 167 owner will end up doing. - Mike Levy |
Visit the feature gallery for high resolution and additional images
About the ReviewerStats: Age: 34 • Height: 5'10” • Inseam: 33" • Weight: 165lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None Mike Levy spent most of the 90s and early 2000s racing downhill bikes and building ill-considered jumps in the woods of British Columbia before realizing that bikes could also be pedalled for hours on end to get to some pretty cool places. These days he spends most of his time doing exactly that, preferring to ride test bikes way out in the local hills rather than any bike park. Over ten years as a professional mechanic before making the move to Pinkbike means that his enthusiasm for two wheels extends beyond simply riding on them, and his appreciation for all things technical is an attribute that meshes nicely with his role of Technical Editor at Pinkbike.
If it takes an hour to get to the top and 10 mins to descend, wouldn't 45 mins to the top and 11 mins to descend sound better? I just went to a carbon bike with 20mm less rear travel and I'm BARELY slower going down but way faster going up.
Spending more proportional time going down is better. I'm not a lazy shuttler so that matters to me.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/12686458
In any event, I'll take a 25% reduction on the way up if it means 10% longer on the way down. 15 mins gained and 1 min lost is WELL worth it.
I'm fractionally slower descending on my stupid rigid 26" than my big bike. Hit most of the features too. You know what i don't do on the lame bike? Progress. I hit all the features i know, all the lines i know, and after a few rides on it I'm faster and more cowardly than ever. Your attitude is dumb, and i want to improve and if that means more pain climbing on lap 3... so be it. I'll adapt.
If you want to be some douchey try-hard, go for it, but I do this for fun and I'll take a bike that gets me to the top faster over one that sucks at climbing.
It's strange being called a douchey try-hard by someone who times their climbs and descents. I just wanna improve myself and that doesn't really happen so much on a minimalist bike.
1.) Are you living in 1995? Strava tracks segments and notifies you when you set a PR automatically. It popped up so I wanted to see by how much I beat my old time by.
2.) I never said anything about a minimalist bike. I just said you shouldn't just not care how fast your bike is up a hill just because you prefer descending.
Folks should put money where their mouth is, but that is a hard lesson when you are still getting an allowance from your parents.
www.pinkbike.com/u/demon666/album/Process-167
I have images , i will be putting a new Lyrik and swapping over this winter
@Pikasam & @choppertank3e I wouldn't buy this bike full stop until somebody else had already bought it and took the hit on depreciation for me (no offence to anyone, as previously stated - I'm poor). I think Kona is still in image recovery, despite they're great bikes of late. But 420 is a bit short to begin with...not sure where 19mm comes from but at 430/435 I'd still be interested.
@demon666 that's cool, no clearance issue at full travel?
I've been riding a long time & I am all for "real" new innovation but there have been quite of bit of just total BS tech as of late.
Ride whatever size wheels you want, but the wheel size superiority (or inferiority depending on how you look at it) complex goes in both directions.
You're little wheels are no more fun than your buddies bigger ones. Just ride your bike.
excuse me one minute guys
They are different to hop/manual, this is a case or riding style and skill, but the cumbersome feel of bigger wheels is inherant to the wheel.
Sadly.
Science proves it
Its called gyroscopic effect
Background: people and industry talk so much sht on internet of one wheel size being better than another that it leaves people angry and confused. We want to put stop to this
Aim:decrease anxiety on internet, make people live meaningful lives, cut the spending on chasing silver bullet
Method: as above
Expected Result: 26" is the bestest,
Conclusion: 26 for life
If that's the your point of reference...you are disqualified from the conversation, sorry.
You reference point is the equivalent of comparing a Toyota Tacoma to a Porsche 911, simply b/c they have the same diameter tires.
If I had all the money in the world I'd have many different bikes with all the different wheel sizes but,
I don't. Far from it
So I have to have my DH/FR bike, 4X and trail bike set up with interchangeable wheels, tyres and axles. I also ride bmx. So 'my' best option for 'my' bikes is 26, I have a fat stack of spare 26 tyres
And for 'my' personal riding style what ever
Ahhh you know what
f*ck it this boring
26 fo life YO!
I might be 41 but I ain't retired yet
on my three bikes that I own are 26" and the rear is 142x12, just love it.
Welcome back 26".
not "f*ck you"
:p
Is it because I am british and we are expected to be polite? Cos if so then...
Well, then thank you very much
Quote of the year
By the way, have you seen me, I've been looking for ages?
"I'm sad to see there's no where for a bottle mount inside the frame"
What's with the bottle mount obsession?
bonkywonky How big is your bottle? The largest one I've seen was 1l and there's no way it would last me a whole day of riding.
I don't have an issue with a bottle on the downtube, but I don't live where cattle graze
I agree it would be an awesome rental fleet bike...a good way to keep the genre viable too
i run a bottle on my 167 , sucks when it,s mucky but for quick rides with no packs it,s great option
this bike would make 100% sense for rent.
I can't stop laughing watching beginners struggling their way down the bikepark tracks at walking speed with a 63° head angle, 200mm travel f+r, a steering angle restricted to 60°, and a 125cm wheelbase. And maybe 650b wheels nowadays. It's plain ridiculous. They could have so much more fun and be a lot safer on that machine. Just to make it clear, I don't see the bike as a beginners bike, any experienced rider looking for fun might give it a try as well.
What a wonderful dialled bike you made Kona!
Process 167
Canfield Balance
Banshee Rune
Guerilla Gravity Mega Trail
Any others?
Any more?
To play devils advocate...
* The Rune is a DW link.
* Is that bottomless feeling from the suspension design or the shock?
I think they're all great bikes personally and most likely would've been happy an all of them.
From the Kona site...
"The Process 167 is the ultimate in DH/freeride/hardcore enduro, with the pedaling performance to get you to the top....."
Since it says enduro in there, I think it can be compared.
As for wheel base, the Rune is only .4 shorter for a large while the Megatrail is .4 longer.
It's in good company on this list.
What are you reading into this? I just Ctr+F'd this page and nobody here (the article included) said or intimated that it (The Process) climbs like an XC. I'm pretty sure nobody thinks any of the bikes mentioned above do either.
When people like a lot of us here say it climbs well, a good number of us are saying this in comparison to our DH or freeride bikes. And this makes sense too as NOBODY is worried about an XC bike that descends like an Operator, Jedi, Demo, etc....
The are "self shuttle" bikes. This term can't possibly apply to most XC people (and their bikes) who are (to put it plainly) too afraid to hit the stuff "self shuttle" types will.
The Nomad was on my wish list for sure before finding the deal on the Balance.
And lastly, are you saying they're working on a Carbon version of the Balance?
I agree there are some that would believe their AM/Endurbro rigs make for kick-a$$ XC platforms AND that they are better then XC bikes. With that in mind, do you believe bfm-team implied (because he certainly didn't out and out say it) that his Meta is better then dedicated XC bikes when he said "My Commencal Meta SX 26" rips the shit out of any trail, up or down !"?
Considering "this" thread started as a conversation about bikes we'd like to see compared to each other, perhaps you should bring up your concerns elsewhere?
It's not fast going up (and it couldn't be with a 170mm fork, 160mm rear travel and 15kilos), but it is pedal-able to the top at a slow and friendly pace, it's no race up the mountain or king of the hill... and I believe that this is the same for all enduro/all mountain bikes: having fun pedalling uphill at a "breathable" pace along with your mates, enjoy the view from the top and then rip down the trail !
Any XC bike would "kill" us climbing, but that's not the point, these bikes are about fun and we are definitely having MORE of it on our bikes, so thanks, Kona, for still making fun bikes !
P.S. Not just KONA, but this started because of the 167...
I would prefer a Monarch RC3+ or DB Air CS (the Monarch pedal lock out is better in my opinion) for race days/weekends.
Keep up the great work Kona.
I don't need another bike, and I don't just have cash laying around, but I feel the need to purchase one of these for the cause. And with Kona's geometry I will have another flawless shred sled to pass other riders on the trails, regardless of their wheel size.
26!!!!!
Going to a 170mm 650b fork wouldn't be too far off the mark. Offset just makes up for the wheel size.
Let's ride the sh*t out of them !
www.pinkbike.com/u/izzy49/album/bikes
There is one more thing i disagree: ...than what consumers are actually looking for... Because of all that 27,5 new era people forgot about their 26 inch bikes(which are super fun to ride on), they buy what industry give them. Most riders abandoned 26"mostly because of TREND, NEW bikes.
"Intended use: all-mountain / enduro"
Sorry, an AM/enduro bike has to do with climbing
It's a Park = Freeride = Mini DH bike.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/11312844
Thanks for help!
Thanks Kona-the process lineup are just plain brilliant riding bikes and the 167 fills a void that this industry seems to have forgotten about. I really recommend riders out there get a test ride on any of these process bikes.
cheers
I hope that some day i can replace the CoilAir with a Process 167
If your on the ball. Kona does a good job on backing their product. Better than most bike manufacturers.
If you snooze you have two years.
My spesh has a life time warranty. I have never registered any bike i have owned. Never been asked to do so.
Do the carbon models have a life time warranty?
("off brand" might be a stretch but Kona certainly isn't a BIG name)