🚨Update!!! It just leaked that they are up FOR SALE! www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2024/04/19/kent-outdoors-looking-buyer-kona-bikes Please "Like" and also " Share" to keep the conversation going. More insights from my perspective with 30 years of experience in the cycling Industry in the playlist: kzread.info/head/PLdfUXv0-z1u42bZpCLWmT2VtNW-7AIf2A

@wayofthehike

Ай бұрын

Ugh, that’s pretty much the end for them I fear. Maybe they can somehow survive but unlikely. And they literally just announced a new bike last week. Not good for Kona and a real shame.

Kona needs to be rebooted as a boutique brand, like it used to be. Smaller volumes, more innovation and cooler designs and colours.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

I totally agree!

@CraigEngstrom1

Ай бұрын

Agree. I only buy Kona and this will be devastating. I think they went off the rails the last few years. I love their unique steel takes on road and gravel bikes. But been a few years since they made the 853 version of rove and no wheelhouse in a while.

@tomrussell7899

Ай бұрын

My Rove DL is a wonderful bike. I love it. I want another one for backup. It's one of the only bikes that fits my short legs. 650B x 48 tires on a size 48 Rove DL is the perfect bike for me.

Ice cream truck is a Surly.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Nice catch, I was thinking the patty wagon.

@kossmanneault683

Ай бұрын

I was thrown off by that as well, I thought he was suggesting they were the same company! Played that part back a few times lol

Oh my gosh. 😢 Kona has helped me becoming a dirty and better person. Their Rove ST is such a joy to ride. Hope they survive.

Kona was founded in Vancouver. Hopefully, they can right the ship.

Awesome video.. I really want Kona to survive, great bikes, great geometry and have always been well made..

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Same here, but we will see now who buys them. Will they be built up or put in Walmart.

Like with Trek, I'm not gonna pay thousands of dollars for a bike made in Taiwan.

@MikeBeatty-xt3kn

Ай бұрын

actually a lot of product manufacturing has moved to Vietnam and Cambodia. Mostly first rate quality work. I assemble Cannondales, Ibis, and other brands built in Vietnam.

What a shame, I always loved my Kona's. Always a blast to ride

ice cream truck is Surly, not Kona

@bubby372

Ай бұрын

LMAO

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Yeah, got mixed up and was thinking of the Paddy Wagon.

You got us telling our Kona stories, a Local was very good Road & Mountain, could have been Pro and did win a Texas Crit going over 30mph, sold me that bike and I've used it methodically since those 90's days & nights , Hoale Titanium for the Win O/O°

Kona hasn't been at the forefront of mountain bike innovation for a long time. Most of their mountain bikes are stale. They've seemed more focused on Gravel bikes for the last few years. While Gravel bikes have probably been hot for the last few years, I guessing that the market has been saturated at this point and everybody that wanted one, has one.

Icecream truck is Surly

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Yep, nice catch.

I used to race the Cactus Cup and the Sea Otter Classic back in the day.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Nice!

Great show Guy. We have been talking about this Kona deal for a few days now and I agree. PS. Surly makes the Ice cream truck. Cheers! - M

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

LOL. Oops I do get Kona, Surly, Soma, and Salsa models mixed up. The question now is who has the money to by them... Pon Holding? Sure in hell is not Trek, Specialized, Giant or QBP.

@alexkleine9737

Ай бұрын

@@IKnowAGuyBicycles Pon Holding would be great.

@daniellarson3068

Ай бұрын

@@IKnowAGuyBicycles Mr. Internet says Surly is owned by Quality Bike Parts. They are the same people that own All City Bicycles, another troubled brand.

I read that Kona just replaced their CFO. He put the kibosh to the race team expenditures back in November and now the trade show at Sea Otter. Every company is for sale at some price. Most likely the CFO is flexing his muscles to show that everyone (including potential buyers) that their cost cutting measures are serious. Only time will tell.

Kona had a unusual position of the largest boutique brand. Kent lost the message that Kona was a grassroots local support fan brand. The direct to consumer move turned off their main supporters. Then it was obvious when the buy one get one happened it was a fire sale as there was no new inventory coming in. There were no Process bikes in stock after Christmas. I personally took advantage of the buy one get one on a Process X. I also own a Nukeproof which finds itself in the same situation. Hopefully they find a buyer who realizes their value is it's punk rock underground vibe, and doesn't just buy the IP and slap a Kona logo on a Walmart bike like Mongoose.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Well said.

Up here in Canada 🇨🇦 Kona didn’t cut out the bike shops. Local bike shops had fully stocked Kona’s and the 2 for 1 deal went through the shops. The direct to consumer was a US model. Kent Outdoors is owned by a equity firm!!! They have stated that they are focussing on their water sports products and Kona IP is for sale. There is no one passionate or will to save Kona at Kent Outdoors. Hopefully company will be bought by someone else and saved otherwise is gone unfortunately

Kona was my first touch on MTB 1989 in Sweden. 🇸🇪one dealer in the country.

@bikenraider99

Ай бұрын

Same. I always wanted a Kona. It took me years, but I eventually got a Jake the Snake. Love it!

@MattiasThyr

Ай бұрын

@@bikenraider99 I had an Explosif, a Kula and a Lava Dome Dont remember the names of my friends bikes I rode 89

Another one may bite the dust. So, I'm out with my 30+ year old Schwinn and I get passed by many people. That's not unusual for me except these people aren't like the people that passed me in years past. These people are on electric bikes. It looks like they sell a lot of electric bikes. Covid is blamed for the bike sales slump. Could the slump have also been because of all these people buying electric powered bikes instead of pure people powered bikes? Could Kona be suffering because of people buying electric bikes instead of "normal" bikes?

Company was originally from Vancouver (Canada) and moved head office not to far to Ferndale for business reasons Im sure. It was purchased by a private equity firm that will probably water down the product like bad snack bar coffee. Period.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Thank you for your insights.

You could probably sell a few "Make Kona Great Again" hats...

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

That would be hilarious.

Please remember it was Ignatz Schwinn who exhumed Major Taylor from his pauper’s grave and gave him a beautiful headstone to boot. Great old company.

Didn’t they just release a bike days ago?

On Pinkbike they stated Kent is seeking a buyer for the brand.

I think these brands/shops that are similar to Kona are going to follow. This isn’t the time to be dropping 8-10k all road bikes. THEY ALL ARE. Read the room people. This is the worst time to do so.

Well this video explains a few things...

Remember the Schwinn Aluminum Pro 684? I had one.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Yep, was that the one that had a locking seatpost and not a seatpost collar on the frame?

@ValiRossi

Ай бұрын

@@IKnowAGuyBicycles You know your bikes my friend. I was trained by the legendary sports physiologist Ron Cates. plus USCF coach Barney King. The 684 was the only road bike I had at the time. I showed up to the first test and they got a kick out of it. This was around 1996.

Unfortunately if they get bought the companies are never the same…IE like GT, Titus etc..

Headquartered in North Vancouver British Columbia, not Seattle WA area.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

I just remember them being in Bellingham, Washington

@denislitisha7136

Ай бұрын

Yes they moved ship over there, but they were founded in North Van

If anyone buys Kona the brand, "there's probably no company left". They'll have Kona by name and that's all. Iv got a Honky Tonk and a Dr Dew but no Ice Cream Truck thank you. Is that a clue that Surly are taking over the bike world ?

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

13 күн бұрын

I goof on the Ice-Cream Truck, it's a salsa brand. But just announced. kzread.info/dash/bejne/emyZmamYmcW8hLw.html

Fourth new video about Kona's downfall I've seen today, but Kona released a new gravel bike, the Ouroboros. I smell marketing ploy.

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Maybe, but they just leaked that Kona is going up for sale.

@charliedillon1400

Ай бұрын

Fairly radical marketing strategy; start industry buzz that you're going out of business, lol! They ordered those John Tomac bikes and made the corny video months ago, now they'll have a fire sale.

Shame. Great bikes. I have 2 Honzos ST and ESD

New CFO shut down the booth when he found out they were giving away a free bike

Would love to see Kona go toe to toe with qbp. Go back to steel only. I’ve owned a honky tonk with dedaccai steel and still have a paddy wagon fixed. Totally regret selling the honky tonk. Go classic slim steel tubes with quality steel and skip the gaspipe. Skip the budget end of the market as that’s seems fairly saturated

We all are having a hard time making it what is difference them and use that ride bikes there always be bike to buy some where

Where do you think Giant is going to shake out as we work through this slump?

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

They are a huge manufacturer in Taiwan/China. Once the other brands pay them back, they should be fine. Or maybe not. All of this is really uncertain.

😢😢😢

@IKnowAGuyBicycles

Ай бұрын

Yeah, it's a bummer.