While many other companies have produced multiple downhill bike designs over the years, Kona's Operator has seen more of an evolutionary approach than revolutionary. Kona would likely admit that this ethos hasn't made their Operator platform the most popular downhill bike in recent times, but we have to applaud them for sticking to their guns and refining the design rather than starting from scratch every other year. 2014 will see the Operator take its next step forward, though, with Kona employing a carbon fiber front triangle that they are claiming sheds quite a bit of weight while also measuring up even stronger than the aluminum version in the test lab. If that line sounds familiar, it is because the "lighter but stronger" proclamation is one that we've all heard before, but Kona is promising that the new bike will include a surprising factor that will set it apart from its super-bike competition. What could it be? You'll have to wait until early April for the Pinkbike exclusive launch to find out.
Judging by the very finished look of Graham Agassiz's team bike pictured above (which Kona says weighs dead-on 34lb with a Vivid Air RC2 shock), Kona is well on their way to a final production version and we don't expect to see much in the way of any major changes compared to the model that will be released to the public. Besides the front triangle's move to carbon, there are some big differences between the bike pictured here and the 2013 aluminum version, with changes that alter the bike's suspension kinematics, and some important technical updates to the bike's pivots. Those developments were tested in secrecy on an aluminum version throughout the summer in the Whistler Bike Park, with work going ahead on the final carbon version in December.
2014 Carbon Operator
• Intended use: downhill race/freeride
• Rear wheel travel: 200mm/7.8''
• Carbon fiber front triangle
• Aluminum rear stays
• Aluminum rocker link w/ carbon bridge
• Head angle: 64°
• Press Fit 104mm bottom bracket
• ISCG-05 chain guide tabs
• 12 x 157mm rear axle spacing
• Integrated fork bump stops
• Internal or external cable routing options
• Availability: TBA
• MSRP: TBA
Stay tuned to Pinkbike for an exclusive and in-depth look at the new Carbon Operator.www.konaworld.comPhotos by Joe Sales
"Oh look, its the new Kona carbon DH bike!"
"looks like a session"
"MOTHERf*ckER IT IS NOT A f*ckING SESSION NOR DOES IT LOOK LIKE A f*ckING SESSION."
Rant over... I think...
PS: the Kona looks dope, i didn't like old konas but their last bunch of bikes are looking real good
i have to say my nippels got hard the moment i saw the bike... get aggy on one
Yes you are correct, kona and yeti were using this frame design long before anyone else. Back when kona came out with the first stab and stinky models trek was basically a road bike company with a couple really crappy mtb's. Treks first dh bike was this single pivot piece of crap that looked like kmart special delivery boy bikes. For many years trek was bottom of the line in mountain and then turned it around when the world cup became popular. Most of these pinksters think trek invented everything because they werent alive back then in treks dark ages of single pivots. They need to put out a mtb encyclopedia for these young bucks.
In reality the TREK (and others) looks like the Kona and not the other way round. Kona has been using the "walking beam" set-up forever. Probably since before 85% of Pinkbike users were born.
sorry mad-duck! haha!
However I do not like the fact that they are going to a press fit BB they are nothing but problems down the road! It is a huge price to pay for saving a little in manufacturing costs and ease of alignment!
I don't like that the are blending carbon and aluminum on the rocker link, carbon bonded to aluminum has a tendency to come apart. Hopefully the stresses are low enough to keep this from happening. I would have rather seen a all carbon or all aluminum both are better choices in my eyes.
I don't like that it appears they have really killed the amazing stand over of the current aluminum operator.
Lastly a question for those engineer types out there...To me the new linkage and shock placement seems like it would place more load on the shock shaft and bearings compared to the old design could this increase stiction, bearing or bushing wear? I would like to see some data against the old design... what are your thoughts?
As for Raleigh Techniums I have no first hand knowledge however depending on the area, type of fitting, type of epoxy etc. aluminum to carbon bonds are known to have a tendency to fail and that is why most manufactures take care to limit the number and types of joints used.
As for the shock placement it does not appear to be much lower than the current Operator. I do agree lower is generally nicer however it is not a issue with the current bike. If I had to choose between higher Center Of Gravity with better linkage less friction less wear etc.... or lower COG more friction higher wear I would choose the higher COG...
On somewhat of a COG note I would like to see the BB height on the current Operator raised slightly. I feel it is just TO LOW and the pluses out weight the minuses with a slightly higher BB. I am constantly hitting my feet and pedals when landing from Jumps/Drops into rocks, off camber straights, trying to pedal through corners, trying to pedal in rocky straights were I don't on my other bike with higher BB. I have experimented raising the BB 1/4" and I was hitting my pedals much less...jmtc
As for press fit BB I am very happy for you! You are one of the lucky ones!! For every 1 that is not a problem there are 10 that are....Its not just me saying that call brands that use them or make BB for them its a HUGE problem we have had to warranty whole frames because of PFBB problems!!!
I've publicly owed to not buy bicycles with anything but traditional BB's, consumers can make a difference with their choices and voices. Thais what I'm naming my campaign against the new bb's I just decided to launch; Choices & Voices!
Exactly the same happened to sales at my shop last year with the Giant XTC 29er. As soon as details of the new 2013 Composite version were released, not a single sale of the 2012 aluminium version. It went from one of our biggest sellers to a waste of display space in the time it takes to publish 1 press release. Slightly annoying to say the least. Giant UK said it was out of their control, but I suspect it was because (nationally/internationally) they weren't selling enough aluminium versions, and wanted to maintain market exposure.
I won't ever buy a Kona again but I have friends that say they like the Operator. I would hope that building a "better" bike would be focus #1, not having your entire staff Neg prop everything even remotely negative said about their bike here...
Good bikes backed by good companies get good reviews. This is not one of them, as so we have all seen.
The names of the companies actually mimic the feeling of the engineering and manufacturing quality. Shimano sounds clean,
balanced, fluid, and balanced; almost harmonic. The name Sram reminds me of a bad imitation meatloaf, or something I found on the floor that I don't want around. They put more thought into getting all the founders initials into the name than they did actually wondering how it sounds from a marketing perspective. Well, I guess it sounds like it feels. Much better than SunRace though.
P.S. That is one sexy bike, carbon bikes just look so fresh and so clean!
Also, props to whoever pointed out the carbon Kona in the front page "kona house of the big wheel" yesterday - good for you for bringing it up ahead of time!
This new Kona look sick i wanna know if all their freeride/dh range gonna use the same new geometry?
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7921502
Anyone know why kona had opted for a 104mm BB, it seems unusually mre so that hills S-works demo runs a 73 and 135 away from the standard 83/150
I'd me more concerned considering their previous model issues with strength and the fact they felt they needed to go with a 104 when other people are achieving strength reliability with 83 or 73mm BB.
What's the wider BB do for bearing life and pedaling, would it reduce the friction and wear on the crank due to more load distribution?
I think the lifetime warranty itself is pretty awesome. There are virtually no other brands out there who do this. Spesh and Trek for example exclude their DH models, and / or exclude chainstays from the warranty....
Not sure what happened with your Bass and the Operators of your friends but I see no need in slagging their warranty policy, as its one of the best in the market.
hatter |ˈhatər|
noun
a person who makes and sells hats.
but have to say looks f*cking horrid and made out of shitty carbon
www.klassickona.com/oldgold/98bikes/98bikeinfo.html
Trek likeness - others carbon factories buy Trek frames, cut them up and count the layers of carbon...Kona is not known for quality. This is wally world.
I just ordered a Foes Hydro frame and will build it up next week. Together with my daughters 951...80% of the layout, this year, stays with workers here and is not fuelling a big marketing org.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8529617
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9173431
The rear suspension lost her style and the front tubes are too... right ?