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Today’s Deals2018 Kona
Process 153 SE
A 27.5″ aluminum frame full suspension enduro bike with upper mid-range components.
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Manufacturer Price
$2,199| Frame | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 153 / 160mm |
| Fork | Suntour AION |
| Shock | RockShox Monarch R |
| Wheels | 27.5″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 11 |
| Groupset | NX |
| Brakes | Shimano Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
5'0" – 5'8"
5'2" – 6'1"
5'9" – 6'6"
5'10" – 6'6"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
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Summary
The Kona Process 153 is a versatile enduro bike praised for its balanced ride quality, impressive suspension performance, and playful handling. It excels on steep, chunky trails and offers respectable climbing efficiency, though some reviews note it can feel sluggish on technical climbs. The bike's geometry and suspension setup are frequently highlighted as strengths, providing a stable yet fun ride.
Neutral, balanced-feeling all-mountain bike
Competitive suspension platform with supple performance
Playful handling and stable at speed
Respectable value for the build
Improved climbing characteristics over previous versions
Can feel sluggish on technical climbs
Front-end grip can suffer if not managed during cornering
Heavier than some competitors
Not as nimble at slow speeds
Some builds may lack in component quality
Kona’s original Process bikes were a watershed moment in modern mountain-bike development.
BIKE MagazineThe Process 153 can be a handful on technical sections, and it’s not difficult to lose the front tire if you keep your weight over the short chainstays during corneringBicycling
The Kona Process 153 CR/DL 29 is a top-of-the-line bike.
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Dec 2019
I’ll happily admit I wasn’t immediately convinced with 29” wheels. The feelings of a snappy and playful bike have always resonated with me more than trucking capabilities and rollover capacity. So, I’ve kind of stuck to 27.5” wheels. For most of the 29” bikes that I’ve ridden, it’s hard to not notice the extra inch-and-a-half in diameter, both on the way up and the way down. So, naturally, when I jumped on the Kona Process 153 CR/DL 29, I knew it’d take a lot to change my mind about this whole wheel-size thing. However, the last time I a rode a Process 153, it was the first iteration of the company’s 27.5” model and I was immediately smitten. The thing cornered like a dream yet trucked like a train. It delivered a new standard of playfulness that I hoped every bike afterward would live up to. And so, due to the faith I had in Kona after that experience, I was as curious as I was happy to see how they adapted the Process 153 to work with 29” wheels. As a company rooted in Ferndale, WA, just north of Bellingham, Kona is well aware of the ways in which modern trail bikes are being pushed to the limit, and they’ve certainly done a good job in keeping up with the times. The Process itself is marketed as a “go-everywhere, do-anything workhorse” and its credentials have been continually updated with the ever-changing specs of the industry. So, the question is, can Kona translate the ethos of the Process between wheel sizes? There’s only one way to find out.
Sep 2019 · Dan Roe
Long, low, and flickable, the Process 153 enduro bike is more rip than race.
160mm fork, 153mm frame
Equally capable for technical descending and boosting airs
Weighs 31 pounds (size Large)
Mar 2019 · Alan Muldoon
The Process has evolved over the years and the latest Kona Process 153 DL 29 sports 153mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork, just like the 27.5in bike.
Solid and bombproof.
Excessively weighty and sluggish.
Dec 2018 · Guy Kesteven
The latest super-plush RockShox Lyrik RC2 fork and Super Deluxe RCT shock are a stunning pairing in terms of smooth control too, and SRAM’s Code RSCs are my favourite aggro anchors, with 200mm rotors front and rear for extra grunt. . .
Dec 2018 · Mike Levy
Next up in our Field Test series is Kona's big-wheeled 29er enduro bike, this time in carbon fiber.
Surprisingly adept climber
More fun than fast
Extremely stiff and solid feeling
More fun than fast
Not a featherweight
Suspension isn’t as deep or supple feeling as some other bikes
Apr 2018 · John Bennett
Kona took some of their best alloy bikes and created carbon versions that were on display at the Sea Otter Classic. - Mtbr.com
Feb 2018 · Christoph Bayer
Many enthusiasts have been waiting for this bike for a long time: the new Kona Process! The previous model was known for its super-fun riding characteristics. The successor should be able to do it all a little better, so we were curious to find out if it could! For an overview of the test fleet […]
| Frame | Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 153mm Travel BB Standard: BB86/BB92, Press Fit Color: Matt Charcoal w/ Black & Orange Decals |
|---|---|
| Fork | Suntour Aion RC 160mm Air Tapered Travel: 160mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | RockShox Monarch R Travel: 153mm |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM GXP PF92 |
| Headset | FSA No.57B |
| Stem | Kona XC/BC 35 |
| Handlebar | Kona XC/BC 35 |
| Saddle | Kona OB |
| Seatpost | Trans-X Dropper Internal 31.6mm Type: Dropper |
| Pedals | n/a |
| Grips | Kona S-LOG |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM NX |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | n/a |
| Crank | SRAM NX, 30t X-Sync |
| Shifters | SRAM NX |
| Cassette | SRAM PG1130 11-42t 11spd |
| Chain | SRAM PC1100 |
| Chain Guide | n/a |
| Brakes | Shimano Hydraulic Type: Shimano Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano Hydraulic |
| Rims | WTB SX25 |
|---|---|
| Spokes | Stainless Black 14g |
| Front Hub | Shimano Deore 100x15mm (centerlock) |
| Rear Hub | Shimano Deore 142x12mm (centerlock) |
| Tires | Front: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR DUAL 27.5x2.3", Rear: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR DUAL 27.5x2.3" |
| Disc Rotors | Shimano RT10 180mm (centerlock) |
First added January 9
Last updated September 3
Not listed for 2,826 days