Product Release
Introducing the 2019 Kona Big Honzo
It all started 30 years ago with a hardtail. We think it’s fitting that we continue to innovate what a hardtail can be. The Honzo changed the game for modern hardtails when it came out. Over the years it's been refined and tweaked. All of the things that you expect from the original Honzo have been preserved in the Big Honzo, with some added flexibility. The Big Honzo allows you to run up to a 27.5 x 3.0the or 2.6 x 29 tire, has 130mm of front suspension, and comes in 3 frame materials (carbon, aluminum or steel). This is the bike for people who demand a flexible setup for rallying their local trails one day and loading up for a multi-day bike packing trip the next. The original Honzo was ahead of its time. The Big Honzo has arrived just in time.
Scroll for detail shots of the nicely sorted Big Honzo.
Who wants to ride there on any bike?
For more on the Big Honzo head to Konaworld.com
Comments
fartymarty
5 years, 9 months ago
Am I the only one disappointed by the geo?
Reply
Cory Booker
5 years, 8 months ago
In what way? Any specific numbers that are disappointing? I think it looks spot-on for my local riding, so I’m curious.
Reply
fartymarty
5 years, 8 months ago
HA specifically. 66 would have given better options with an angle set to either slacken or steepen.
Reply
Perry Schebel
5 years, 8 months ago
nice length, and aggressive bb drop, but surprised they didn't kick the ha out more. looking at close to 69* sagged.
Reply
Skyler
5 years, 8 months ago
A lot of progressive hardtails are really pushing the slack HA thing right now. The Honzo is actually kind of alone for having progressive XC geo, rather than the common cookie-cutter XC race geo or something pushing hard in the low/slack direction, which gives up a lot of climbing ability. It's nice that there's a well-considered middle ground option.
Reply
Nouseforaname
5 years, 8 months ago
Nope. Was expecting better - ie slacker, more reach. Those numbers might have been gold 5 years ago, but they're pretty dated now. Even Chromag - not usually quick with the winds of change - is longer and slacker.
Reply
Skyler
5 years, 8 months ago
More reach? The size XL has a 510mm reach... That's like 15-20mm longer than anything other than a Geometron.
Reply
Nouseforaname
5 years, 8 months ago
I was wrong about Chromag being longer - the Honzo and the Rootdown are pretty similar for reach. HA is pretty different though. How long has the Rootdown been kicking for? Easy to make the argument that the OG Honzo made people realize what 29r hardtails could do, and led to bikes like the Rootdown. Now Kona's off the back.
Yes - more reach. Honzo was well ahead of the curve when it came out, not just for the reach, but BB height, head angle pushing what was acceptable for 29rs. I guess i'm just disappointed that they seem to have taken their foot off the gas. Kona seem to embrace mega steep bleeding edge SA on some bikes, then back to slacker on this release.
Reply
DMVancouver
5 years, 8 months ago
In my view, these bikes are pretty long. Hardtails have their reach increase as the fork sags, whereas a full-suspension’s reach stays the same or shrinks through sagging of both ends. A medium hardtail with 450 reach is a long bike.
Agreed on the head angle though, but you can always bump up the fork to 150 for an extra degree.
Reply
Andy Eunson
5 years, 8 months ago
Chromag are based on 160 travel forks though. The Kona is based on a 130. But I agree the Kona does seem a bit on the steep side. Riding it is the test though.
Reply
Kenny
5 years, 8 months ago
Check the seat tube angle though. You put a 160 on the honzo to try to slacken it out and your seat is now out over the back axle. Not ideal for most people...
skidrc
5 years, 8 months ago
2015 saw a lot of change on the rootdown. Basically going from a Surface to a Surface hybrid to a Primer. Now the Primer/Rootdown have a very slack HTA.
Reply
Todd Hellinga
5 years, 8 months ago
more reach?! lol...I remember demo'ing the honzo CR a couple years ago, and the medium at 450 and me being a 5'10" guy couldn't even get over the front end properly for prolonged steep climbs and the front end wandered around aimlessly constantly, and that was with the absolute shortest ranger stem possible....won't disagree re. HA though
Reply
Cam McRae
5 years, 8 months ago
I used to think like that but after riding the XL Bronson with a reach of 489mm I am fully hooked. It has changed my life. I am 6' on the nose.
Reply
Kenny
5 years, 8 months ago
Not at all. I made the same comment in the PB press release. I don't get how Kona, a PNW based company, and well known for being progressive one the geometry side (ie Kona process bikes) builds a new frame with this geo. Especially since hardtails get steeper as they go into their travel.
Seems crazy they don't make a hardtail more in the 65 HTA range and 76 STA.
Reply
Morgan Heater
5 years, 8 months ago
They seem plenty long, but I would have liked 65 HTA before sag.
Reply
grcgrc
5 years, 8 months ago
It looks nice, but I'm not about to go out & purchase one. The video was a little too artsy for my (admittedly) pedestrian sensibilities.
A well done press release. That's all.
Reply
Bogey
5 years, 8 months ago
Definitely could have used a degree or two chopped off of the HA but the frame is plenty long (at least in the XL). The stack is also pretty big so I'd need to slam the stem and go with a flatish bar.
STA is pretty good too - I wouldn't want it any steeper considering it'll get steeper with sag.
I will very likely be riding one of these in a few months if the XL frames are available (typically very hard to get).
Reply
Please log in to leave a comment.