As Kona exhaled a sigh of relief and regained its footing under the founders, the brand just announced the new Process 153 and Process 134 models. The Process lineup has been lauded as legit do-it-all machines for a decade and this third generation further solidifies their legacy. Read on for the updates…
Process 134 and 153 Quick Hits
- 134 mm / 140 mm travel Process 134
- 153 mm / 160 mm travel Process 153
- Mullet Flip Chip – Choose your wheel size; 27.5 for maximum play, 29 for speed to plow. A convenient flip chip located on the seat stay / rocker connection makes choosing between rear wheel sizes a snap. Size Small comes stock with a 27.5” rear wheel and all other sizes come with 29” rear wheels
- Compatible with UDH and SRAM T-type drivetrain
- Air or coil rear shock compatible. Revised suspension kinematics for improved small bump sensitivity and balanced progressivity whether running air or coil.
- Shorter seat tube, deeper seat post insertion, more frame sizes
- Improved water bottle clearance, more water bottle mounts
- Integrated tool / accessory mount on underside of top tube
- Enhanced frame protection
- Carbon frames feature fully guided internal cable / hose routing with a Y connector allowing clean hose direction for either moto or regular style brakes. This is internal routing done right!
- Aluminum frames feature full external cable / hose routing (except for dropper post) for unbeatable user friendly, hassle-free performance and serviceability
- Bearing and pivot hardware cross-compatibility – all Process models use the same dependable, easily sourced hardware
Pricing:
- Process 153 CR/DL $5,499
- Process 153 CR $4,499
- Process 153 DL $2,999
- Process 153 Base $2,499
- Process 134 CR/DL $5,499
- Process 134 CR $4,199
- Process 134 DL $2,999
- Process 134 Base $1,899
Highlights for both models include tweaks to the already excellent Process geometry, with increased reach across all sizes along with a reduction in head angle, flip-chips that allow switching between dual 29” wheels or a 27.5”/29” mullet setup, shorter seat tubes with deeper seatpost insertion to facilitate longer travel dropper posts, revised suspension kinematics to optimize performance with both air and coil shocks, and UDH hanger compatibility. The frame size range on the Process 153 has been expanded to S, M, L, and XL.
134 Geometry
153 Geometry
Build Kits
As with all Process models, there will be four variants of each model. The 134 and 153 Process will both be available in two carbon fiber (Process CR/DL, Process CR) and two aluminum (Process DL, Process) builds. The carbon fiber frames feature fully guided internal cable and hose routing, and the aluminum frames utilize completely external cable routing for the ultimate in user-friendly ease of maintenance.
All frames now feature more water bottle mount options and an increase in clearance – hallelujah sayeth the desert rats – as well as integrated tool mounts to keep your back free of riding packs. For those weary of full suspensions due to the added maintenance, fear not, a the Kona pivot bearing hardware is universal across all models, making maintenance all the easier.
Check out more at Kona!
