Kona Process 153 29 Review - 2019 Bible of Bike Tests

[@jordanarmstrong8358]

As a 2018 Process 153 29er owner, this review makes me happy. Basically sums up my thoughts about mine, and I couldn't agree more (although mine is aluminum, not carbon). Is it light? No. Is it an all around great machine that you can ride basically on any terrain and elevation without much compromise? Yup!

[@bengordon2330]

I've gone from carbon back to aluminium, no regrets. You ride ofetn enough, the weight saving to energy expenditure is marginal. If you don't ride that often, it's for bragging rights anyway. Geometry makes a bike these days, not a few ounces here and there. Glad you're enjoying your bike, keep having fun !

[@bikeninja956]

right so talking about that, how is that uber slack seat tube angle on climbs tho? Lov'n this bikes' vibe, just not sure about that seat tube dim...

[@jordanarmstrong8358]

@@bikeninja956 trolling? What is "uber slack" about a 76 (fine, 75.8) seat tube angle? What are you comparing it to? Seated climbs are great. She's a mountain goat.

[@bikeninja956]

@@jordanarmstrong8358 trend is pushing to steeper dude. 77 even 78.. that fucking seat tube looks like it's ready to blast off into space. Maybe it's just camera distortion or the super long dropper length tho.

[@jordanarmstrong8358]

@@bikeninja956 I still don't think that makes this worthy of being called "uber slack" in terms of seat tube angle. Sling a leg over one and feel it for yourself. You may find 78-79 is too steep.

[@keihinherault9577]

If anyone is worried about tire clearance in the rear, I fit a 2.5 minion and it has no clearance issues. A 2.6 is where the problems start

[@stephenbonner5280]

I am glad to hear 2.5 fits , what size did you put on the front

[@keihinherault9577]

@@stephenbonner5280 I slapped a 2.6 on there. The bike looks great with the big tires, and it's handling the winter conditions well.

[@jamola1096]

just upgraded from the 27.5 aluminum to the 29 carbon w/ megneg air can on the shock (both 2019). Blown away by how playful and capable these bikes are. The 29 is a serious shredding machine but still is so snappy in corners and jumps really well too. With the megneg it is noticeably more supportive and easier to find a sweet spot for climbing/descending/bottom-out resistance

[@RideWithGravity]

When my Bronson has her last ride, I could easily see this taking her place. Kona has gone to a bonkers level of fun and shred-capability with this one. 🤘😎🤘

[@yam831]

Great review. I really enjoyed the day I spent demoing this bike. It's my favorite so far. Fast, but very playful. Would love to hear a direct comparison with the other "playful" trail/enduro bikes like the Ripmo and Offering.

[@alpine_pro5814]

I rode this bike last Summer at a demo at Grand Targhee, ID. It was my favorite bike out of all bikes the whole demo. I even rode a Yeti SB 150 and I still liked it more. Process 153 is a badass bike! You feel like you can go as fast as you want and the Process feels composed and smooth. Nice review! I have my heart set on another bike, but If I can't get it I will be purchasing Process 153.

[@thetinkerer5763]

What was your bike of choice?

[@alpine_pro5814]

@@thetinkerer5763 I got a Specialized SW frame and build a bike from there. Thought I would try something different.

[@shotgunscott]

Great review but that rear tire size limitation just removed it from my list. I'm a bigger guy and the 2.3 just doesn't have enough volume to keep me from either wrecking rims or I have to run really high pressure. I wonder why they didn't use a traditional 4 Bar instead of the faux bar?

[@bikeninja956]

yep 100%, why does it feel like there's ALWAYS a catch...lol

[@Trugoy1]

I run a 2.6 on my 2020 with zero issues

[@Briangnc96]

I wanna see the Process 29er here with a 44mm offset, Fox Suspension and Carbon hoops. I wonder if his could be a sub 30 bike bu who cares I'm 6ft and 270 so a cpl lbs heaier is fine. I'm going to demo demo the Process 153 (29er) against the RM Instinct BC, and Ripmo soon and can''t wait

[@yam831]

Have you done your demos yet? I liked the process better than the instinct, but haven't been on the Ripmo yet.

[@bikeninja956]

seriously great review guys, appreciated.

[@bikeninja956]

So could you not mullet it and rock a larger tire on the rear tho?

[@energ8t]

An excellent review guys. I'm actually curious to ride this now

[@milktop1]

Short chain stays are going to be more playful but you lose some stability.

[@sparky001]

Anyone know how the 153 and 165 compares in terms of riding, climbing and jumps?

[@avgazz7423]

Looking at buying a 2019 Kona Process 153 used for $2500? Good deal?

[@clmfilms8103]

Sounds like a good deal, is it the base model, or a carbon one?

[@palooza90210]

Just got the Process 153 CR 29 (the blue one) super excited to get out on it now :) Just gotta sit and stare at it in the basement until our winter is over :(

[@sladoid]

imgur.com/a/zmw88Mu I also have the blue one :)

[@bensherer3386]

You can run a 2.5 on the rear of this bike

[@bikeninja956]

what about binding on a muddy day? any issues?

[@stevebond5326]

can you please tell me how this linkage compares to the older kona process linkage? love the bible tests but where is the rest of the panel? aren't there 12 people?

[@anttiharing]

The rear end is VERY stiff at least on the carbon models and the linkage is more linear in my opinion, on a air shock I had to max out on tokens, running a coil right now and it needs a lot of compression to not bottom out, gonna try out the progressive coil springs someday or the megneg air can.

[@williammurphy666]

When looking over all bikes, was price taken into consideration? why, because there can be a 3k difference on these bad boys

[@jamowie4866]

These bikes are crazy expensive in Europe ?!

[@TheBikeRoom]

First review that’s got me changing my plans. But I didn’t want to go to sleep just yet anyway. I’m going to visit that Kona website and rekindle the love affair I had with that wacky brand that got me dropping money for their Tanuki b4 26ers died.

[@karynmiller1291]

The best enduro bike ever!!

[@SeptemRoptem]

I need a test for the San Quentin

[@AmericusMaximus]

They repeatedly contradict themselves on suspension.

[@willyjaybobindy3402]

Still press fit, though... : /

[@yam831]

Yea, that's a bummer. But Kona used a PF92 and with how burly it's built I think you can use the beefy retro-fit threaded BB...

[@stevel6932]

Sucky but not a deal breaker for me. My last PF BB was quiet, durable and easy to replace.

[@davidmorris8121]

Great descriptions of these bike's characteristics, beautiful, beautiful terrain, which is appropriate to these bike's capabilities! Guys, you've smashed it this time! And for all my fawning, please send me a Yeti SB100! (a medium will work)

[@Antweak83]

Does it still have brake jack knife?

[@rpiian]

Trail Weaks If you mean anti-rise then yes, the single pivot rear suspension is not as active under braking compared to other designs. But conversely, a little anti-rise is good on steeps as it actually negates a bikes tendency to endo by compressing the suspension slightly under rear braking. It’s debatable, but honestly after demoing a LG AL/DL 29er, I never noticed that about the bike, only it’s playfulness, poppy nature, and INSANE standover. The maneuverability on this bike is incredible (coming from a Med Process 134 owner).

[@loginpatrycjusza]

Sb150 in gx or this? What do you think?

[@wojtekl1345]

This.

[@brentokada2521]

SB 150 is gonna be a racier bike. Slacker HT and longer chainstays. Demo’ed the process and it was suuuper playful with short chainstays. Just wants to boost extra credit lines and manual everywhere on the trail.

[@yam831]

My experience with it was the same. Mike Levy said "the process is more fun than fast". Not that it can't go fast, but the primary goal was a fun, playful bike. That's what they delivered.

[@scottpratico1315]

"Its not the most sophisticated suspension" to "its $6000" to " great suspension on both end of this build" Huh what?

[@juliuscharlie8112]

Mike is summing up the component spec ... fork and shock, not the suspension design

[@operatorone8862]

Can be able to use 27.5 wheel?

[@stevenjam7119]

Theres a 27.5 specific model

[@olivercole4832]

Great review. Great bike.

[@내루1]

KONA!!!!!!!

[@thephoenixcycle8854]

The color is bad. I mean really, tan???

[@sladoid]

imgur.com/a/zmw88Mu Mine is blue

[@Hawlkeye-e9p]

27.5 overforked

[@LeadMunitions]

Jeez...i guess i have been out of the loop for a good while!! They are talking about this bike like it $500 bucks 😂 Its 6grand for crying out loud!!

[@anttiharing]

6 grand is mid to lower high end nowadays, this lifestyle isn't for poor people

[@sladoid]

I've got the blue AL, really enjoy it. imgur.com/a/zmw88Mu

[@CreamyBone]

you risk subscribers by flooding their feeds with 25 videos in one shot... makes it look like you don't understand how to use this platform

[@Cakeborb]

Better than previous years where you had to wait a few days for the review of the one bike you're interested in to come out. Nobody cares about the organization of your subscriptions page, don't be so lazy you can't scroll down.