Kona Process 153 DL review!

[@JeffKendallWeed]

HUGE thanks to Jenson USA for making this possible! Pop over to Jenson's website to learn more about the Process, and at no extra cost to you, anything you purchase from this link will help support my channel: bit.ly/KonaProcess153DL2023JKW

[@JIBBING_1980S]

What spokes u use?

[@kevwilliams1]

I wish I was even a fraction of the talent this man has, I’m accident prone and can’t comprehend going like he does wow what a rider

[@kazenokami5133]

Your riding style stuns every fking time..Out of this world.

[@SpencerBaum]

A new Jeff video! This day can't get any better!

[@jokermtb]

the Kona Wah Wah 2 pedal is my most favorite pedal EVER.....on the aluminums one from the composite. Same difference, except they don't crack after a season's riding.

[@mc540flip]

Good thing you’re skilled in snow riding-Sedona was dumped on yesterday, so much snow. The Process 153 looks so fun!

[@steveo_bikes]

I have a 2021 Process 153DL and I love it some of the things I changed on mine was I upgraded the stock fork to 170mm which made a huge difference, From there I upgraded the rear shock to a DVO Jade x and it has made this bike soo much better. Also added TRP DHR-Evo brakes, Tairin wheels. The list goes on...

[@rpiian]

I was hoping this was your next build! I'm finishing my 153 build as we speak :) (170 Z1 Bomber Coil, Bomber CR Coil, NOBL TR37s, also in Medium - but bright yellow!)

[@sierratangoandras]

Oh yes, coil ftw! 🥳How was it?!

[@rpiian]

@ So good. Bit of trial and error with spring rates. To be expected. Started at 500 Sprindex coil (wound to 550). But settled on Cane creek progressive 550-675 on Kitsuma Coil. I’m around 210 geared up. I also reduced the Z1 Bomber from 170 to 160 and upped the spring rate to the firm spring. All those changes resulted in a bike that was much more pleasant and predictable to jump, and that can take bigger hits. Also ran a taller rise bar (50mil TAG metals) with all the spacers, and the bike feels/corners better than ever! Also climbs miles better than before.

[@sierratangoandras]

@@rpiian Noicee! One would think the higher rise bar+spacers would put your bodyweight too far back, so to hinder the climb capabilities, but as you said it climbs well 😮.

[@rpiian]

@@sierratangoandras It totally would, if not for the insanely stubby headtube. 90mm on the Med 29er! While that is some of the magic of the 153, I still prefer a tall stack, which looks a bit exaggerated on this frame 😄

[@petedog9581]

I too would've long-forked it out of the box. I just did that on my Stumpy w a 2023 Pike Select 150. It totally changed the behavior of the bike from the Fox 34 that came stock. Way less twitchy and more composed, and 10mm increase in travel. I did put a 10mm longer stem on it and rearranged my stack on the steerer... Voila! perfect. You do a great job explaining the adjustments/improvements you do to the stock bikes and show the results.

[@Bearded_Mountain_Biker]

I rode a 2015 Process 134 for years! I loved that bike. Living on Vancouver Island with fun BC Black Diamond trails, the bike handled everything I threw at it! I swapped out the Revelation fork for a slightly longer and stiffer front end and it was dialed after that. When I bought my next rig, I handed it down to my 12 year old and he hucks it off the big jumps with a smile on his face!

[@Dempsey222]

I hate hooking pedal on stumps. Had some bad crashes doing that. The stumps even get pros like Jeff. Glad to see you are okay.

[@vjams]

Kona wah wah pedals are my favorite out of vaults, sam hill, roost, deftraps, one ups, on my 3rd set and nothing comes close to the large platform that are also thin, light and grippy.. Best shin openers with supper long sharp pins.

[@rodg6707]

On the chainstay length debate, what’s your position ? (compared to Paul Aston’s)

[@shredderdad6995]

Great bike l, got mine a few months ago and loving it. Definitely a higher handlebars for me. My trails are chunky, rocks, steep and fast double black trails. I am able to go faster and more confident then before on my process 153 DL.

[@joshjohnson5902]

Need more info on the not approved vacuum bleed...

[@thmsvd]

Hey Jeff, could you maybe do a review on for instance the Marin Alpine Trail or Rift Zone? I think these a really interesting bikes which not a lot of people have the chance to testride, so your thoughts on those bikes would be very valuable!

[@thmsvd]

@gmack. yeah already saw it, was really happy to see he reviewed the rift zone, never clicked a video quicker than that one! Thank you for the heads up though!

[@Mtbbodhi]

I absolutely loved my Process 153 CR and could never understand what made it so poppy/jumpy. No other bike has felt the same. And I thought it climbed amazing for a big bike.

[@trailblazeratv6306]

Must have been the shock tune?

[@Mtbbodhi]

@@trailblazeratv6306 i don’t know because it rode amazing from the start. I never played with the shock that much. It was super playful, but also couldn’t handle square edge hits very well. So I put an Ohlins coil shock on it, which smoothed things out quite a bit but also took away some of the pop and made the rear end feel more dead.

[@Coerced]

​@@Mtbbodhi kinematics, axle path, shock tune and definitely short chainstay length.

[@aaronkerth1171]

Get out of the Sedona snow and come down to North Phoenix and ride Pyramid Peak with me and some locals.. trails are filled with jumps, obstacles and flow. You would enjoy would love to show you around.

[@vindeta360]

How does it compare to the RipMo is what I want to know! I'm sure you'll cover that eventually. Keep it up Jeff!

[@stevenkilleen8149]

I find it crazy how different 170mm 160mm bike can feel how 5mm to 10mm can make huge difference

[@TeddyParker]

Mostly geometry, and potentially different shock tune for 'intended rise usage'. But given the same geo and shock tune it's unlikely to be that different.

[@azonicds]

I never understood this "this bike jumps well", let someone not good at jumping jump that bike and it's a bad jumping bike. It's the rider making a bike jump well. Sure they can feel a bit different but that's mostly setup, wheelsize and some geometry numbers. But a good rider can jump almost any bike good in a few minutes. My cents that is :) Thanks for entertaining videos!

[@mountainshredder1471]

Love your bike reviews, they seem genuine and informative, plus entertaining! You should review a Trek Slash. I would love to hear your thoughts on the the Slash

[@crazytrainrc6634]

Been telling ya for years, you're gonna love the way a Kona Manuals 😉

[@outsider1733]

Great review! One question - which would you choose if you could only have one bike to ride PNW trails, southwest, backcountry, mellow and gnarly trails? Thanks!

[@rwdmtb7556]

Super sick video they inspire me to ride more like you every day.

[@Soso64bit]

Nice, ate some dirt and carried on! Great video, and sick bike!

[@joshdesj]

Cool video… Sorry if I missed this somewhere but what trail is this you’re riding? Is this the Bham area??

[@howejohn1]

I've also bent a AL WAHWAH pedal. Its a shame cause I really like them but I don't think I could get another pair. Maybe the composites next time, maybe.

[@ryanpartlan5813]

Nice review on the kona (as someone who has a process x). question i've been meaning to ask for a while now: Do you miss riding the ibis mojo hd5? Cuz from a fun perspective, i feel like you looked like you had the most fun on the hd5 more than any other bike you've reviewed so far.

[@Dream-season]

Excellent video, looks like a fun bike!

[@High_Octane]

I just got a set of industry nine wheels. so nice!!

[@NDemanuele1]

I wonder how these models pedal/climb compared to Ibis bikes? I may recommend them to a friend.

[@John-shreds]

I loved my Konda process. I had a 2018 carbon 153 XL. It was just too small for me. I wish xxl bikes weren't so slack. I miss the playfulness. I have a transition sentinel xxl. I love it, but I don't shred hard enough to use it's full potential.

[@mosaclipz6549]

10:14 TELLY ❤️

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

Seth from Berm Peak. He did put Johnson's baby oil in his bike and used it for a year and ran fine. You should collab with him; He have million subscriber.

[@rekamniar]

Speaking of brakes, can you please review brake pads. I’m in the fence of purchasing a ceramic pad and I think you’re a pretty legit mtb rider to talk about braking. Cheers!

[@lemonadejars]

My favourite 5 letter KZbinr Jeff!

[@JeffKendallWeed]

😂 thanks James!

[@tomassanesson902]

Awesome beautiful bike 👍👍

[@chrish8871]

Is your clutch off? Must be tricky swapping bikes so often ? Love your work keep riding ❤

[@dasanoneia4730]

wah wah II was my first flats but i destroyed 2 pair of them since switched to deathtraps no need to experiment anymore

[@pedalhound]

I broke two spindals on WahWah's....great pedals, shame about the shitty spindals. I am on Diety Deftraps now and friggin love them....lasting longer than my Wah Wah's did too!

[@tybronder172]

I was just about to ask for a review on this. How is it as an Enduro race-ish bike? I also need to get to a place like Bellingham to learn how to corner in soft dirt instead of "kitty litter" gravel.

[@youling1997]

Jenson, send this man new cassettes please.

[@MTBPlaygrounds]

I never learned to do table tops until I had my process 153 275. This bike might be under rated but this bike rides so sick!! I have heard that the short wheelbase is unstable on straight fast descends but riding on clippless with this bike helped

[@waldowsxxghostxx8577]

Is that rear Rock shox super deluxe select+ worth keeping on or is it a must to upgrade to the super deluxe ultimate?

[@zoomzoomgt]

Kona process 134 (base) or the orbea occam h30? And why

[@akosyjonathan]

Pls try to review transition sentinel. Pla

[@Wiroe]

2:58 Seth did that yes

[@Eric.V.]

Crashing ALWAYS happens where it shouldn’t…on something you’ve done a thousand times before 😎

[@dannioutside]

anyone know what water bottles can fit on this thing?

[@JeffKendallWeed]

Size medium has much less clearance than a L or XL.

[@michaeledwards5241]

There’s no bad bikes anymore, I’m guessing the payments received will reflect on the review😉

[@ekolto]

This one can’t hold a water bottle… how do you design a bike with water bottle mounts that can’t hold even a small water bottle.

[@dtolios]

​@@ekolto I am stoked that my RM element fits 2x24oz bottles inside the frame...hard to go back to 1 for riding in SoCal most of the year... none? I have a hydration vest, but damn, so much better without one...

[@jltrack]

@@ekoltoI own the Process 134 in a size XL. I can fit a 26ox bottle just fine. Bummer that the smaller frames can’t fit regular bottles

[@zaksmith792]

Kind of but I definitely vouch for my 153 cr/dl... Prefer it to even the wreckoning and most Santa that I've been on but! Each to their own 😂 at the time, for 6.5 budget and at my shop,, it was the one 👌

[@raid3rraptorzz434]

do you think a 2014 process 153 for $1100 is a good deal?

[@peniakfoto]

Oh man this is the right bike for you! 🙂 Nice ZEB int he front, and by the way, it's perfectly o.k. to add 10-20mm travel on that fork (I tried it on my own Process 153 size XL). Also I completly agree about may be too low stack...

[@paulwintermute1495]

Jeff... replace your rear brake pads. That is all.

[@JeffKendallWeed]

😂

[@kenny_kaos]

Hmm so no more official shimano or PNW sponsorships?

[@Matt-py4sc]

Shimano has been gone for a minute, PNW is a recent departure :(

[@rpiian]

@@Matt-py4sc Dang…well good thing he’s got these spare parts kicking around!

[@hannesnohl8627]

Someone got a haircut. Nice

[@mnmike59]

Oh Goodie, Another bike review.😐

[@Jacob99174]

JFK weed in the house!

[@jayswavely6371]

I can't do wheelies on a trail. I would bust my old arse.

[@noahbock5454]

3.00 sam pilgrim

[@Navs126]

174cm = 5’7” 177cm = 5’8”

[@JeffKendallWeed]

Nope. 5’ 8” is 68”. 68x2.54 is 173. I’m just below 5’ 9”, right around 174 cm. Our system is based on 12, not 10.

[@mrpachuco696]

Algorithm

[@JeffKendallWeed]

👍🤣