Author Archives: mitchell

Hei Hei Supreme Reflections – “A well balanced carbon trail killer.”

Posted on 06/11/2013 by mitchell

We recently received this spot of feedback from Neil Adams, a longtime mountain bike industry guy and shredder who currently works at The Path Bike Shop in Orange County, CA. Neil sells lots of brands beside Kona, and his “reflections” are most welcome, we’re very proud of the Hei Hei Supreme and all it’s capable of. Read More→

Posted in Racing, Review, XC | Leave a comment

AfriKid Bikes Donated to Kenyan Primary School

Posted on 05/31/2013 by mitchell

Two years ago, Kona answered a call from two women working for A Better World Canada. Melissa Farahat and Kelly Mac Vicar had a vision to help kids that had to walk five kilometres to school one way. In response to their request and the demands of the project, Kona designers came up with a version of our popular AfricaBike, the AfriKid, what was basically a 24″ version of the bike, with features like internal gearing, a basket, strong frame and tough wheels for harsh rural Kenyan roads. We then went ahead and donated 65 bikes out of the 205 bikes given out, allowing A Better World Canada to purchase the remaining bikes at our factory cost. To read about the bike give away, click the photo or go HERE. On behalf of Kona, we would like to congratulate Melissa and Kelly on their great work, as well as A Better World Canada for their unwavering commitment to helping those in need. Read More→

Posted in Advocacy, Kona AfricaBike | Leave a comment

Tough Weekend for Two Kona Team Athletes

Posted on 05/21/2013 by mitchell

Racing on opposite sides of the globe, two of the Kona Team’s gnarlier riders had big get offs this past weekend. French Enduro rider, Karim Amour, braved snow in last weekend’s Kali Open Enduro, finishing 10th place overall but falling in the last stage of the race and partially breaking his collar bone. Knowing how professional and strong Karim is, we expect him back in the saddle very soon. Read More→

Posted in Downhill, Enduro, The Team | Leave a comment

Kona Sea Otter in Photos

Posted on 04/25/2013 by mitchell

For the first time in a few years, Kona had a booth displaying bikes at Sea Otter. The goal was to tell the world about our exciting new line-up of 2013 and 2014 carbon bikes. Models on display were the 2013 Hei Hei Supreme, 2013 Red Zone, 2014 Major Jake and the 2014 Supreme Operator and Operator. The booth was buzzing all four days of the show. With awesome California sunshine, huge crowds, and tons of press from all over the world, we had a blast showing off our new bikes. With our XC Team tearing up the competition (Barry Wicks finished 8th in a super competitive XC men’s race, and Spencer Paxson finished 6th in the CX on a Red Zone), it was nothing but positive vibes for the Kona Crew. Check out the photos by Kona Communications dude, Mitchell Scott.

The booth was super busy with press. Here Gravity Project Manager Chris Mandell give Bike Magazine the lowdown on the new Supreme Operator. Read More→

Posted in cyclocross, Downhill, News, Racing, Review, Road, Sneak Peeks, Uncategorized, XC | Leave a comment

The Wicknasty’s Red Zone Ready for the Rouge Roubaix

Posted on 03/01/2013 by mitchell

St. Francisville, LA – Fresh off a 1,3,4 weekend in Fontana, California, the Kona team will be at the Rouge Roubaix next weekend, ready to race the gnarly roads of Northern Lousiana and Southern Mississippi. Bikes of choice will be the new Red Zone, the new superlight all-weather, all-surface carbon road ride from Kona. Here’s a sneak peek of Barry Wick’s personal ride.

Posted in Asphalt, Racing, Road, The Team | 1 Comment

The Kona Process Makes MBA’s Photo of the Day

Posted on 01/29/2013 by mitchell


Patrick Reynoso carves a hard turn on the Kona Process, a bike reviewed in MBA’s March 2013 issue, on sale February 7th. Photo: JK/Mountain Bike Action

Posted in Enduro, Review | Leave a comment

Changing the lives of inner-city youth…on Kona bikes

Posted on 01/11/2013 by mitchell

Richmond Cycling Corps (RCC) is the nation’s premier inner-city youth cycling program. In December of 2012, RCC launched their Youth LAB (Learning Around Bicycles), establishing yet another revolutionary facet to their outreach program. The first project in the ‘LAB’ was to create hand-painted bikes a la Kona Paddy Wagons. The youth elicited words, colors, and imagery from their family, school, RCC, and life within public housing projects to inspire their artwork . With Kona representing the truest essence of passion around bikes, RCC couldn’t ask for a better partner in supporting their passion to change the lives of inner-city youth…on Kona bikes. LIKE them HERE.

Posted in Advocacy | Leave a comment

“I have no doubt the Rove will still be rolling after the Apocalypse” -Bicycle Times

Posted on 01/11/2013 by mitchell

“The Rove ($1,699) is something of a mix of various Kona models: the fit and feel of the Jake the Snake cyclocross bike, eyelets and disc brakes from the Sutra touring bike, and the monstercross sensibility of the (now discontinued) Dew Drop. The Rove is designed for someone who does a little bit of everything: commuting, touring, even cyclocross racing.” Click the photo to read the entire review.

Posted in Asphalt | Leave a comment

Janapar – Three and Half Years on a Kona Explosif

Posted on 01/04/2013 by mitchell

Nearly four years ago we gave Tom Allen an Explosif. In the time since, he went on a very long adventure and made a feature-length documentary about his bike-bound epic. Janapar is now available worldwide on DVD and download. Go HERE to download, purchase or find out about a screening of this amazing tale of one man, a bike, and the Neverending Road. Check out the trailer below.

Posted in Asphalt, Konaworld Travels, Random Weirdness, Videos | Leave a comment

A Kona Merry Christmas

Posted on 12/21/2012 by mitchell

To all our friends and fans all over the world, the best of the holidays to you and yours. May your rides be sweet and long and last forever. Here’s a gift from us to you: Kona’s Christmas Story.

Posted in Dan & Jake, News, Videos | Leave a comment

To the Neverending Road – The New Kona Rove Video

Posted on 12/04/2012 by mitchell

Take a ride with a couple of adventurous cyclists as they say goodbye to pavement and head deep into the mountains of interior British Columbia on their new 2013 Kona Roves. Designed to be the ultimate cyclocross/gravel-grinding/commuting machine, the Kona Cromoly drop-bar Rove pulls in the utilitarian attributes from our best commuter models, spices it with the efficient and comfortable geometry of our long cyclocross heritage, and dashes it with the awesome compliancy and durability of steel tubing. Outfitted with large tire clearance, eyelets for racks, and disc brakes for great stopping power, the Rove will deliver you come dirt, gravel or asphalt for as many Long Sweet Rides as you dare imagine. Here’s our tip of the cap to the Neverending (and sometimes not altogether smooth) Road.

Posted in Asphalt, cyclocross, News, Videos | Leave a comment

2013 Zone Two – Sneak Peek

Posted on 11/30/2012 by mitchell

Nearly three years in development, Kona releases our first ever, custom-designed carbon fiber road bikes—-the Red Zone and the Zone Two. Considering the growth of GranFondo and endurance road riding, the Kona Road Product Development Group decided it was time to design a road bike that seriously considered the ride requirements of this burgeoning discipline. Longer rides necessitate more comfortable geometry, while year-long training necessitates 28c wheelset compatibility. Highlighted by a detail-oriented sub 1000-gram monocoque frame and fork that’s light and speedy, but not delicate or brittle, the Zone Two comes loaded with a host of innovative features, like a press fit BB30 bottom bracket, compact 50-34 gearing, hidden fender eyelets and a tubeless wheelset. Bottom line: The Zone is a pro peloton worthy road race bike that can handle any road surface in any weather condition.


The Zone Two: Tough enough to ride every road surface, comfortable enough to ride forever, and always fast. Weight on the bike is 16.8 lbs. or 7.6 kilos.
Read More→

Posted in 2013, Asphalt, Review, Sneak Peeks | 2 Comments