Video: Connor Fearon Gets Rowdy on His Hardtail

Jun 30, 2020
by Kona Bikes  
Connor Fearon - The Hard Way

by konaworld
Views: 12,878    Faves: 32    Comments: 1


Back in May last year, Connor Fearon showed up at a round of the South Australian Enduro series on this carbon Honzo hardtail. After a solid day racing, he would walk away with the win. "That was the first time I had raced my Honzo at an enduro event! I wanted to change things up and even the playing field with my friends who aren’t professional riders."

The few photos that came out of that race didn't quite capture the speed that Connor must have been riding, so when Adelaide's Covid-19 restrictions eased recently, we tasked local filmer Ryan Finlay with capturing Connor's raw speed and skill on board the Honzo. We think It's safe to say that they both nailed it.

"Lots of people think I’m racing a cross country bike but the Honzo is nothing like that. It’s built for going downhill and it was really fast. I think for a lot of the sections the Honzo was faster. It really opened my eyes to what a good hardtail is capable of."

Posted In:
Videos Riding Videos Hardtails Kona Kona Honzo Connor Fearon


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57 Comments
  • 30 0
 Hardtail stories popping up everyday now. Donut we care about forward thinking ultra progressive full sussers anymore?
  • 16 0
 Ahh donut now I get it....

Must’ve been Adelaide reaction
  • 11 0
 We all just have to grim and bare the fact that HTs are better.
  • 15 1
 Donut underestimate the capability of a good hardtail. It can run rings around some suspension bikes on the right trail. If that kind of thing is your jam...
  • 1 2
 Plus with the COVID increasing the number of trail users, HT are more accessible. Remember it's about building the community with advertisers. Winter/Spring has gotta bring a huge push for trial advocacy as we are getting crowded.
  • 10 0
 @trails801: wooooosh, grim fail
  • 12 0
 I owned this bike. It was great, but the alloy Honzo I owned before it was one of the best bikes Iv ever owned. I really really regret selling it. I gave that bike a very hard time and it laughed at everything. I still think about it.....and im on a 170mm 29er enduro now !!!! The only thing is Kona prices in the UK. Got a bit to much this past while. I dont understand it.
  • 8 0
 Love Kona bikes but the price vs spec ratio in the UK is pretty outrageous.
  • 2 0
 as a Carbonzo owner myself, I have to ask...what made you like the alloy version so much more than the carbon one?
  • 2 0
 @rodeoknight: dont know really. Everything about the alloy bike just worked for me. It was a beast of a bike. I had so much fun on it, and i honestly gave that bike a hard time. It took it all and wanted more. I only sold it as I upgraded to the carbon honzo, but we didnt get on. Iv just bought a Cotic BFE Max aswell !!!! Hopefully it goes well.
  • 3 0
 Are you #dialed?
  • 13 2
 Epic, some people might realize one day that for their use a hardtail is more than enough!
  • 4 0
 meh, i NEED 8" of travel for running into kerbs while sitting
  • 8 0
 Available in the UK at the bargain price of £38,000,000.00


Right on
  • 3 0
 Lol. Theres a new Honzo being released soon aswell. £89,000,000. "Yeti make dentists bikes, we make astronauts bikes"
  • 6 0
 To further level the playing field. Connor will be racing on 24" kids bike.
  • 7 0
 Keep the Hardtail content coming!
  • 3 0
 I'd love to see a HT category at enduro races. Or a new ruling that stipulates if a rider has a mechanical problem on the descents, they can choose to fix their current bike to jump on a HT to finish the stage or race. Just for s & giggles.
  • 1 0
 Here in Finland we have a hardtail category at enduro races! Lots of people showing up there as well and some are pretty effin fast too.
  • 2 0
 Good video. Initially it was either Caldwell or Steel City Media. Almost as if they were trying to sell the next Cotic BFe. Looks British to me though of course I don't mind seeing the world infested with their good taste Smile .
  • 3 0
 I am almost certain Cotic have used the same song at some point. Good vid though.
  • 3 0
 @philseparation: it was in 26 ain't dead! Second that riff started i was like "oh yeaahhhh"
  • 1 0
 @Artikay13: Alright, so that was Steel City Media then. Caldwell also has a bit more a wild style of filming.
  • 1 0
 @Artikay13: bloody knew it! Now that vid is a classic.
  • 4 0
 legend. . . one of my favorite riders to watch :-) Now I get my trusty hardtail out for a spin
  • 1 0
 Choice of music is obviously a reference to one of my favourite ht videos of all time, Cotic's "26 ain't dead". Although Mr Fearon is a joy to watch on a hardtail, I must say that as an edit I still prefer Cotic' s version. Song worked better there too.
  • 1 0
 Came here for nostalgia for my old honzo + to watch Connor shred. Segwayed to the added nostalgia + shred of the epic 26' Bfe cotic vid from a few years ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfZylC-n4qE

All edits with this song have the same energy, 10/10 will attempt questionable lines on my hard-tail again.
  • 1 0
 Are people still buying Konas? Just anecdotally, here in the pnw I see transitions, evil and norcos, I can't remember the last time I saw a new Kona. I hope the brand is doing ok.
  • 1 0
 I’m in Michigan and I feel like I see them pretty often. I also ride near a Kona dealer so I’m sure that plays into a bit.
  • 1 0
 i also live in the nebulous 'PNW' and there aren't as many around as ye olde days, but i still do see a few newer ones. i don't see why not, they continue to make great bikes, but they have lost some cool factor it seems, and they don't market very much. when you see guys like Connor riding for them, in his crazy style, i'm not sure why they aren't more popular.
  • 3 0
 Rad riding as usual. A dash of phone action in the middle to keep the kids interested. Mighty nice Honzo.
  • 3 0
 Rear tire is screaming on every braking!
  • 3 0
 Is that played in fast forward ?
  • 3 1
 i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/328/854/8d6.jpg
  • 6 0
 Fearon is in fast forward mode himself all the time
  • 4 0
 RIP back wheel
  • 2 0
 WTH.... Is it honzo week ? First the new red steed now this... keep it coming PB. Maybe steel ht's of whistmas ?
  • 4 0
 #hardtailforlife
  • 3 0
 He just rode away without closing the garage door. This guy is unhinged!
  • 2 0
 When HSC LSC HSR LSR Clearly is you..... Send on the Conner!
  • 1 0
 He beat Troy at that Enduro too, and I'm guessing Troy wasn't on a hard tail
  • 1 0
 Own that bike - now all I need to do is using it the Connor-way - awesome riding!
  • 2 0
 Please include a bone shaking rock gardens in next videos
  • 2 0
 So weird, that's exactly what I look like riding my aluminium Honzo...
  • 1 0
 Not sure I would be as confident ragging my £10k+ spec carbon Kona hardtail if I hadn't been give it ????
  • 2 0
 Good riding but...... he has a Datto 1200 ute. Legend.
  • 1 0
 What trail is that he is riding??
  • 1 1
 Just me or have Kona gone from being competitively priced to eye-watering in the UK?
  • 1 0
 this is 100% the same song that cotic used in the "26 aint dead" video!!
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what HT pedals those are?
  • 1 0
 It's always inspiring seeing Connor shred his hardtail.
  • 1 0
 As if Connor wasn't already mean enough to his rear wheel and tire hahaha
  • 1 0
 I have a Honzo Ti and it is my best friend. We go everywhere together.
  • 1 0
 same song from the old Cotic vid....26 aint dead maybe??
  • 3 3
 Sweet. Who would have thought a hardtail could be downcou ntry Wink
  • 1 1
 Can you buy it specced liké that????
  • 6 1
 If you can then it would be a tough call between one of these and a 500ft super yacht







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