Kona Honzo CR Trail DL - Review

The Honzo CR is essentially a rowdy trail rig made to laugh at bikes with more pivots than they probably need and $1,000 shocks, but the hardtail game certainly isn't for everyone - it obviously requires more skill to unlock their capabilities. With this in mind, Kona added 15mm to the new Honzo's reach on the large-sized frame (making for a very roomy 475mm cockpit) with the goal of creating the most competent package possible.



Frame Details

Without any sort of multi-link rear suspension design and the shock that goes along with it, I assumed that the Honzo CR frame wouldn't be worth looking at for more than a few minutes. But while it may be a ''just'' carbon hardtail, it also looks pretty sharp, no doubt due to the clean lines, low-slung top tube, and relatively slack 68° head angle that gives the bike an aggressive stance. I sometimes get way too excited about complicated rear suspension designs that promise the world, but there's something about a sleek hardtail that is probably always going to win me over. I'm likely not alone in thinking that, either.




Like most companies, Kona has gone with a monocoque front triangle that's molded into a single piece. The back of the bike is also manufactured as a single unit before being joined to the front-end by way of overlapping ferrule connections at the base of the chain stays and seat stays.

''These connection joints are then wrapped with additional carbon fiber layers and placed in the final curing mold,'' Kona Product Manager Ian Schmitt explained of the manufacturing process. ''The secondary curing cycle merges the two sub-frame components into a co-molded single frame,'' which all sounds a bunch easier than it probably is.


BMX bikes have a ton of standover clearance and mega-tight rear-ends... so does the Honzo CR.



The streamlined carbon frame nixes a feature that I thought it would have - ISCG 05 tabs - but does have one that I'm a bit surprised to see - Boost rear hub spacing. To be fair, neither the aluminum or titanium Honzo's have ISCG 05 tabs on them either, but they are something that some trail riders might appreciate.

''We had a lot of internal discussion before ultimately making the decision to eschew the guide option on the Honzo CR bikes,'' Schmitt says. ''The carbon bike was designed to be positioned as a fast and efficient cross-country (what is cross-country anyway?) trail bike that could be raced or ridden on steep Squamish trails. The advent and proliferation of good quality 1x drivetrains with chain-retaining rings helped ease our minds when we made the decision to leave the ISCG 05 tabs off.''


The Honzo CR won't accept a chain guide, but it is ready for your Boost rear hub. Kona says that there's a good reason for this.

A Honzo CR pilot will also never be mounting a lightweight upper-only guide or a front derailleur, as there is no direct-mount concession due to Kona's desire to get the bike's rear wheel as close as possible to the back of the seat tube. The result is a chainstay length of just 415mm (16.3 inches), but Schmitt says that number is only possible due to employing everyone's favorite punching bag: Boost hub spacing. More on that below.



3 Questions With the Kona's Ian Schmitt

Mike Levy: Boost on the back of a hardtail... Is this really needed?

Ian Schmitt: When we began the design process for the Carbon Honzo we viewed Boost as the future for rear thru-axle designs. It offered improved chainline and additional space where the chainring is closest to the chainstay. We needed to take advantage of this space in order to keep the rear end at 415mm with the carbon material. The steel and aluminum bikes can rely on a plate-style chainstay yoke which doesn’t require much space as it is just a flat piece of material. Carbon construction requires a hollow tube all the way to the chainstay/bottom bracket juncture, which occupies more space than the plate-style yoke. Boost made it possible to bring all of our Honzo design requirements (chainstay length, stiffness, tire clearance) into a carbon fiber frame. If we had used 12 x 142mm, we likely would have had to make concessions somewhere in the design.

Kona says that Boost hub spacing was required for the Honzo's short 415mm chainstay length.

Levy: Is it fair to say that the Honzo and the Process 111 are kinda built for the same type of rider? Someone who likes the snappy feel of less travel, but also the new-school geometry and abilities that can make riding fun?

Schmitt: Absolutely. The Honzo and the 111 share a lot of similarities in their DNA. The original Honzo was one of the first production bikes to eschew a front derailleur and prioritize ride feel and playfulness over gear range. We clearly used what we’d learned when the 111 became a reality. This bike was essentially a squishy Honzo that would help to take the edge off when you made mistakes. That being said, there was a bit of a learning curve when alternating between the 111 and Honzo frames during testing. You’d get used to pushing the 111 and having that forgiveness and get back on the Honzo only to be reminded, usually after thinking “yeah I can jump that,” that you were most assuredly still on the hardtail. Had a few exciting moments there...



Levy: The reach is longer on the new Honzo CR than on the aluminum bikes, but the other important numbers are the same. How did you end up here?

Schmitt: The Carbon Honzo is just the first bike to be seen by the media with increased reach numbers. We’ve adjusted the fit of our Process and Honzo by adding 15 - 20mm of reach in all of the frame sizes. We found that as we grew more accustomed to the original geometry, there was a demand and internal ask for increased reach. There was much experimentation before making the decision to move forward with longer reach, but we are quite pleased as the bikes are more stable and still do not feel gargantuan in tight corners.

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Specifications

Specifications Release Date 2016 Price $4599 Fork RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 120mm Headset FSA Cassette SRAM XG1180 10-42t Crankarms SRAM X01 Bottom Bracket SRAM PF92 Rear Derailleur SRAM X01 Chain SRAM PC1130 Shifter Pods SRAM X01 Handlebar Kona XC/BC 35 Stem Kona XC/BS 35 Grips ODI Ruffian Brakes SRAM Guide RSC Hubs SRAM 900 Spokes Sandvik 14g Rim WTB Asym i29 TCS Tires Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR 3C, 2.3'' / Maxxis Ardent EXO DUAL TR, 2.35'' Seat WTB SL8 Seatpost KS LEV Integra w/ Southpaw remote Compare to other All Mountain/Enduro/XC

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Riding the HONZO CR

Climbing

Riding the Honzo reminded me of an important fact that I may have forgotten: you don't need rear suspension to go fast or have a good time. That has always been Kona's m.o. with their Honzo range, to show that hardtails aren't only for people in stretchy tights who don't eat ice cream sandwiches for lunch (they are sandwiches, aren't they?), so it isn't exactly a surprise to learn that the latest, lighter weight model is still all about giggles and good times.

But before the chuckling, there must be climbing. The price has to be paid, at least it does in my mind, although the Honzo CR doesn't charge much. After all, a 25 lb carbon fiber hardtail is going to make anyone feel damn good about themselves when they need to smash up some gravel road that's so steep it feels like it's pointing straight down into Hell rather than straight up like it actually is. A light-ish bike doing that isn't noteworthy, though, because that's what it should do. The Honzo CR also gets along acceptably on technical trails, even with its long front end. The length does mean you'll have to think about where your front wheel is, however, and you can't just turn your noggin off like you can on a steeper, shorter bike. There were one or two ultra-tight corners that forced me to pull out some trials moves, and riders used to shorter bikes will notice the Honzo's front-end feeling a bit light now and then, but I'd say that it's well within being manageable, kooky hops and trackstands aside.

Nothing can eat up a smooth climb like a lightweight carbon hardtail.

I also tagged my pedals on a handful of occasions while trying to squeeze in a few extra cranks up technical climbs, and while I'd argue that pedal strikes are always down to rider error, the healthy 65mm of bottom bracket drop that the Honzo sports meant that I had to keep my timing in mind instead of spinning wildly through a mess of roots and rocks. Yes, the 310mm bottom bracket height is similar to cross-country hardtails out there (a Trek Procaliber sits at 311mm with 58mm drop, 310mm and 61mm for a Specialized Stumpjumper HT) and obviously lower than the static numbers quoted for short-travel full-suspension bikes, but the Honzo's pedals always felt a bit closer than that number would suggest. That could also play a role in why the Honzo is one of the best cornering bikes I've ridden once the climbing is behind you.

The length does mean you'll have to think about where your front wheel is, and you can't just turn your noggin off like you can on a steeper, shorter bike.

The Honzo's 415mm chainstays, made possible by Kona ditching any and all possibility to mount a front derailleur, had me forgetting that the bike even had a rear wheel attached to it when I was snaking through tight switchbacks. This also makes for mega amounts of traction, and the black bike never let me down so long as I wasn't a complete dumbass about my line choices. We all have our moments. The copious traction also helps when you're working to get the Honzo's front-end around or through a slow-speed technical challenge.

This was all the more impressive to me due to the Honzo's 2.25'' Ardent rear tire, a model that I've always felt to be lacking in the drive department - just imagine if you put something on there with some real bite. At least the Ardent rolls quickly.

The traction is there even if the Ardent doesn't help matters, but you'll need to employ some skill when faced with tight terrain.

With climbing manners more in-line with a long and slack-ish mid-travel trail bike, and by far the most efficient rear suspension design* on the market, the Honzo CR possess an interesting combination of qualities. It can be a bit of a handful on exceptionally technical climbs, and don't anticipate cross-country race bike-type performance, but do expect a reasonably capable package.
*sarcasm


Descending

In a lot of ways, the Honzo CR reminds me of Kona's Process series, and especially the short-travel Process 111 that was (and still is) a bit of a bit of a game-changing hooligan of a bike. When I was on the 111, and also when I'm on the Honzo CR, I'm thinking more about goofing off than going fast, although the two are certainly not mutually exclusive; you can go quickly up and down the hill on the Honzo if you want, but you're probably going to be more concerned with smiles than Strava. This is because geometry will always trump suspension or lack thereof, and geometry is something that Kona seems to know a thing or two about.

Much like the Process 111, the Honzo CR inspires a rider to amuse himself at every possible moment, and especially when it wouldn't seem worthwhile on a longer travel full-suspension bike.

Just like its metallic predecessors, the Honzo CR's handling errs more on the all-mountain side of the fence rather than anything close to a nervous steering cross-country bike, and its roomy front-end, 780mm wide handlebar, and 68° head angle make for a relatively stable ride on fast trails - it's much more comfortable while holding a line through an eye-watering corner than you might expect. It's nothing like the flighty hardtail that you may have learned to ride on, that's for sure, but the ultra-tight rear-end, spot-on geo, and 25 lb weight all make it the gas-powered turkey knife of slicing slow and medium-speed corners to bits. It's not just that it's good; it's that it is easy, and a bike that makes you feel like a great rider is probably a great bike. Or it's at least great at cornering.

If the traction is there - there's less on hand without rear suspension - this bike corners incredibly well with only the softest of steering inputs. I will admit to not being entirely convinced by the new-school, mega-long front-ends that many full-suspension bikes are sporting these days, with a lot of them losing much of the nimbleness that can make a trail so much fun. It works on the Honzo, however, because it adds a degree of stability that a hardtail can really benefit from, but doesn't rob the bike of its personality. The large-sized Honzo felt big throughout the first few rides, but it felt spot-on from then on it.

My face may say ''Where's the nearest washroom?'' but the bike says that it's having too much fun to stop.

I'd describe the handling as consistent. With no forgiveness out back and just 120mm of (stiff) travel up front, there's very little change in the bike's angles when you jump on the brakes or point it down something steep. That means that the Honzo is always going to respond how you expect it to; there will be no surprises, but there will be many long manuals, wheelies and possibly much discretionary skidding. Never by me, of course, but maybe from you.

The Honzo CR's angles and attitude are going to have some riders realizing that they can do big-bike things on this so-called little bike, which isn't going to be an issue so long as the line or landing are in order. But carbon fiber or not, I don't think the back of the Honzo CR is any more forgiving than other hardtails, and there were times when on fast, rough ground that I felt like the bike knew all my sins and was taking joy in flogging me for them like some sort of two-wheeled Catholic nun. But that's what hardtails do, especially to people (aka me) who have gotten soft after years and years of having their egos and backsides massaged by the decadent full-suspension bikes.

It's not just that it's good; it's that it is easy, and a bike that makes you feel like a great rider is probably a great bike. Or it's at least great at cornering.

The Honzo CR is nothing like your dad's hardtail when you get going quickly, with handling that's more in-line with a modern trail bike.

Riding the carbon Kona was, at least for me, a bit like the re-education of Mike Levy because I had to remember skills that full-suspension long ago made foggy. I could do the same on a more traditional cross-country hardtail, of course, but the Honzo CR's geometry let me re-learn how to go fast on a bike sans rear suspension without feeling like I was going to flip over the handlebar for all three hours of a three-hour ride. Not that things didn't get sketchy now and then...

Just like the 111, the Honzo will fill you with confidence and make you think that this whole hardtail game isn't really any more difficult than on a bike with more travel, which is a neat trick that Kona has pulled off. But, just like the 111, you'll be reminded once in a while that it is, in fact, a lot less lenient of a rider's mistakes than something with more squish. That much should be obvious. The line choices need to be spot-on, and lazy riders will be shown out the front door (even worse than the back door) if they choose poorly. But the perk for getting it right somehow feels much more rewarding than when on a full-suspension bike.

Roots or rocks that you wouldn't even notice on a full-suspension bike need to be taken into consideration, but it will quickly come as second nature due to the Hozno's inspiring handling.

Technical Report

• No Guide - With Kona rightly sacrificing the ability to run a front derailleur in the name of one of the tightest rear-ends out there on a 29er, there is no way to mount a small chain guide via a direct-mount option, and there are no ISCG 05 tabs around the Honzo CR's (or the steel, aluminum, or titanium frames) bottom bracket shell. Narrow-wide chainrings and clutch derailleurs are super duper, but I wouldn't be surprised if a Honzo pilot wanted to bolt on a chain guide as well. That said, I never dropped a chain while riding the bike, so what do I know?


• Bottle Blues - Sadly, there isn't a set of water bottle mounting bosses on the seat tube despite me thinking this would be a no-brainer on a hardtail. Kona says that the shaping of the bike's seat tube limited the clearance in this location (which is certainly true on the smaller frame sizes) but the only thing that I see being limited is my water intake.

With such a roomy front-end, Kona wisely specs a 40mm stem from the factory. Kudos for the 780mm handlebar as well.

The wide WTB i29 rims unlock the traction and low air pressure potential of the bike's tires.

• Wheels and Tires - The WTB i29 aluminum rims and Minion 2.35'' / Ardent 2.25'' tire combo worked well. What I might do, however, is install a higher-volume rear tire on the back of the bike if I was looking for a touch more forgiveness. A set of 2.35'' wide Nobby Nic tires would leave a rider wanting for nothing when it came to traction and volume. I also knocked the rear wheel out of true enough for me to need to give it some love in the stand, but I admit that this likely has more to do with me treating the Honzo CR like a hack during the first few rides. It stayed straight after I gave it a bit of love.

• Short-Travel Pike - The less suspension you're working with, the better it has gotta be, and the 120mm-travel RockShox Pike left nothing to be desired once I sorted out my settings. I found that the lack of rear suspension tended to really drive the fork, so a firmer spring rate and an extra Bottomless Token was required to make me feel confident with the front-end when pushing my luck on the Honzo CR.

It's also a Boosted Pike, mated to a pair of SRAM's Torque Cap hub endcaps... it all felt like a fork to me, no more torsionally rigid than a normal Pike, to be honest.

• KS LEV Integra - I've sure bitched a lot about how touchy these seat posts used to be, so I should probably also point out that I haven't had any troubles with a LEV for quite a while now, including the one on the Honzo CR. Also, KS' mega-adjustable Southpaw remote makes me happier than watching funny cat videos on YouTube for two hours. Kona was smart to go all the way and spec the CR Trail DL with a 150mm-travel dropper for maximum party-time as well.

Pinkbike's Take:

I've always liked things that can do a lot with a little, which, besides maybe saying too much about myself, would also describe the attitude of an ideal Honzo owner. This thing is a fin-less shortboard of the singletrack, a rig that makes a lot of other bikes feel like bloated, albeit safer, longboards, even if its handling is too relaxed to be a real cross-country racer and it has more in common with a rowdy trail bike than a dirt jump rig. If the hardtail way of living intrigues you but you're used to contemporary full-suspension bikes, the Honzo is worth taking a look at. - Mike Levy

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About the Reviewer
Age: 35 • Height: 5'10” • Inseam: 33" • Weight: 165lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None • Instagram: killed_by_death

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 pedaled 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.