Bike Check: Caleb Holonko's 27.5" Kona Process X
In case you haven't heard of Caleb Holonko, the dirt jumper turned freerider from North Vancouver, BC unleashed a mind-exploding video last week that silenced MTB YouTubers. Caleb rode his Kona Operator in that edit, but on display here is a freshly built Process X. Normally, this bike is a 29er enduro bike, but with a few modifications Caleb built it up as a maneuverable, heavy-hitting freeride machine that is capable of bar spins and other shenanigans.
Caleb Holonko's Process X
Frame: Process X, size medium
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Air, 200 PSI, one token
Fork: RockShox 27.5" Zeb Ultimate 180mm, 65 PSI, 3 tokens
Wheels: ENVE M9 27.5" rims / Hope Pro 4 hubs
Tires: Maxxis Assegai Maxx Grip DD front / Minion DHR II DH casing rear, 25 / 28 PSI
Cranks: SRAM GX cranks 165mm / SRAM Eagle SL chainring 34-tooth
Pedals: HT Harrier Ae05 Pedals
Shifting: SRAM GX AXS derailleur / shifter / XX1 cassette and chain
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC w/ rainbow hardware
Cockpit: SRAM Descendant DH 35mm rise bar and 40mm length stem / ODI longneck locking grips
Saddle/Post: Chromag Overture LTD, SRAM AXS 170mm
More info: konaworld.com
Frame: Process X, size medium
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Air, 200 PSI, one token
Fork: RockShox 27.5" Zeb Ultimate 180mm, 65 PSI, 3 tokens
Wheels: ENVE M9 27.5" rims / Hope Pro 4 hubs
Tires: Maxxis Assegai Maxx Grip DD front / Minion DHR II DH casing rear, 25 / 28 PSI
Cranks: SRAM GX cranks 165mm / SRAM Eagle SL chainring 34-tooth
Pedals: HT Harrier Ae05 Pedals
Shifting: SRAM GX AXS derailleur / shifter / XX1 cassette and chain
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC w/ rainbow hardware
Cockpit: SRAM Descendant DH 35mm rise bar and 40mm length stem / ODI longneck locking grips
Saddle/Post: Chromag Overture LTD, SRAM AXS 170mm
More info: konaworld.com
The Process X can accept either a 29" or 27.5" rear wheel. To retain the head and seat tube angle, there is a flip-chip on the seatstay/rocker link pivot. There are also two chainstay lengths options, 435 and 450mm. For quick handling and popping jumps, the shorter of the two works best.
Caleb removed the paint and polished the stock rocker link to match the rest of the silver components. You can see the flip-chip in the seatstay/rockerlink pivot is set to the 29" position.
Even with a 27.5 ZEB fork at 180mm of travel, the smaller front wheel would steepen the head tube angle, so Caleb opts for the 29" wheel setting on the flip-chip to counteract that change.
This version of the RockShox Super Deluxe Air has hydraulic bottom out, and has the HSC set to -2 clicks from closed. It's pumped to 200 PSI.
A OneUp Bash chainguide is rotated forwards for minimal drag when throwing crankflips. Shorter 165mm cranks give a little more ground clearance.
A blacked-out, wide range SRAM Eagle cassette and GX wireless shifting get him back to the top. ENVE M9 rims feature a protective strip ward off pinch flats.
Shiny raw aluminum parts and deep blue paint are a classy look. Enduro Bearing's Maxhit Stainless headset features bearings that press directly into the frame, and is guaranteed to survive a lifetime.
The routing on the brake hoses is set up with minimal obstructions for bar spins and tail-whips. Caleb cuts his bars to 760mm.
Buttons that go bzzz help detangle the controls for barspins.
This isn't a slopestyle bike, so why not have a dropper post to help you pedal up the hill?
Blackbox labelled parts are only for special riders. This unique top cap that routes the front brake line down through the steer tube was a thoughtful finishing touch courtesy of SRAM.
SRAM Code RSC levers are positioning way inboard on the bars and at a moderately flat angle.
Slip-on ODI Longneck grips use a classic mushroom pattern and have plenty of purchase to catch.
As for rotors, a 200 mm up front and 180 out back modulate the smaller wheels well.
All the rainbow bits.
A Chromag Overture LTD saddle is wide and short which makes it easy to pinch for no handed tricks and keeps it out of the way while moving about the bike.
The "X" in the Process name comes from the idea that the frame isn't tied to any rear wheel size. Caleb proved that you can also use the geometry adjustments to run it as a dual 27.5" wheeled bike too.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
Bike industry "your only choice is 29er, or 29er"
Me: Can I order a Large 27.5 Slayer frame?
Rocky: No, Slayer only comes in 29er size large
Me: what about the park edition?
Rocky: yes that's 27.5
Me: Can I buy a park edition frame?
Rocky: No.
Any mullet can be a full 27.5 bike by just upping the 29er fork airshaft by 20mm.
And if you want 37mm offset 27.5 fork, add a 10mm stack crown race and use a fork with 30mm more travel.
Yea totally. When I had the OG pivot firebird I found it so frickin high up in the air. It cornered badly and on steep stuff felt like the forks were turning in under you all the time.
I chucked some 27.5 wheels on front and back and it was amazing. Rode it like that for a few years...
That's not the way it works. Industry decides what they want to sell and to they have decided to to ditch full 27.5 and only sell full 29 or 29/27.5.
They decide what we get and market the product accordingly. Can't be bothered supplying too many sizes even if consumers want.
and retards have to get their raises somehow.
as far it concerns me, the phasing out of 26" wheels ruined the sport for me completely. i'd get a 27.5 dh bike but that's already pushing it, i'm just too short to have any use for a 29. and what about the kids, what are they supposed to do with 29ers? it looks AND IS ridicuous.
So, if you want them back, call your senator... or I mean like, just go buy one that is available; they are out there being made still.
I’m fine with people using and manufacturers making 29ers as long as they also make a 27.5 option, variant, or have it compatible with 27.5 wheels.
Just because 29” wheels claim to be ‘faster’, ‘confidence inspiring’, and have better rollover, doesn’t mean I want them and will sacrifice agility for those ‘benefits’.
But if I am forced to to move to 29 front and rear then I won’t ever buy another bike...
Like have the frame, which you pick the size, and then the rear triangle which you pick the wheel setup (29, MX, or 27.5).
And then bikes which come stock as whatever, like 29, you can buy a different rear triangle for to switch it to a mullet or 27.5.
Totally agree 120% The problem is the people with the experience to know the difference like you and I and most people here in the comments of PB, vital etc make up a tiny proportion of sales. Most people just buy what they read is cool or what a shop salesperson tells them is cool. And that is based on marketing/sales cycles from big corps.
My favourite brands are Transition and Hope, because they give us options...
Yes you are so right! Manufacturers decide what to push in the market place and we just have to suck it up.
Remember when 29 was dead and 27.5 was the real deal?
Didn't take too long for an about face back to 29 as the best. But they didn't steer easy so we get a 27.5 rear wheel to solve that.
Manufacturers don't want to make too many options so set about killing 27.5.
Isn't marketing a wonderful thing!
Everyone knows the sweet spot is 155. Pffft
there fixed it fir ya@speed10:
In fact, the video and photos in which Caleb sends it were done Ollie Jones and Kaz Yamamura, who are on the Mahalo My Dude crew and who I would call "YouTubers".
I don't quite understand where this conflict is coming from.
It's more down to to good old jealousy. People love to shit on others that have had great success with out of norm business models.
21 year kid that lives a few house down from me is making $10k a month streaming playing video games on twitch or whatever... respect to those having fun and making bank... even more respect to those that aren't even pro level riders, yet found a niche and enough people seem to enjoy it that they're making money doing what they love!
Being core is cool until you're 30 and still digging ditches and eating ramen in your parents basement. At least these people had an idea and enough fortitude to go and make it happen without caring what others think.
EDIT - Haha, didn't even realize I was responding to BCpov until I finished my comment. Good on ya Eric... full respect to you and Yuka... keep killing it!!
Get outa here Mike!! Ahahaha
*From a guy that runs his brake through his steer
knollybikes.com/en-ca/products/warden-168
Doesn't that guide usually NOT touch the chain or chainring, like, at all?
These are just bicycles. They don't need a new ECU and wiring harness just cuz you want to try a different wheel size.
A lot of bitching on here from people that are better pink bikers than mountain bikers