I wonder if this bike will appear in the wild - RIP Kona...

@themoodyteam

3 ай бұрын

Neil should hang onto it 😮

I love it! Love the badge too. I hope Kona brings it down to Australia!

Can’t wait to see what races this shows up in. Really a cool bike.

Looks great, thanks for the review 😮

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

No problem 👍

It's a carbon Sutra (U)LTD. Nothing wrong with that, I prefer non-boost. I generally like metal so this bike is not for me, but - woah - the carbon fork on the CR/DL is an exact fit on the Sutra (U)LTD, I can't wait until this is available separately this will finally give a carbon fork option for the Sutra without geometry compromises. Nice to see them releasing another dropbar bike. I really didn't expect this.

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

I didn't even pick up on that, thanks for sharing and watching.

@larrywhite8590

3 ай бұрын

@@BIKEPACKINGcom Yep an EC49x40 lower headcup/crownrace would let the Ouroborous CR/DL fork work on the Sutra (U)LTD. I do wonder if they are going to offer a carbon fork option on the Sutra as well.

@smup2I

3 ай бұрын

SEIDO (Bombtrack) MGV is 415mm so pretty close and a bang for the bug.

@larrywhite8590

3 ай бұрын

@@smup2I it’s 410 and will only clear 2.25 without fenders.

@jaybe6188

3 ай бұрын

Is it? That would be fucking great. Looking to replace mine on the LTD

Very thorough review, Neil, as always! Very cool bike, and glad to see it coming from Kona. For whatever reason, I've always had a soft spot for them...

@gravgrav

3 ай бұрын

They have a soul. Read a nineties Kona catalog. The spirit of the brand has never died!

@themoodyteam

3 ай бұрын

@@gravgravdon’t hold your breath 😂

@gravgrav

3 ай бұрын

@@themoodyteam I don’t think they’re going anywhere. Kent screwed them but they are still viable.

@themoodyteam

3 ай бұрын

@@gravgrav’Kent screwed them’… more like ‘Kent screwed up’? Some reports I’ve seen claim that Kent have been trying to sell Kona for a number of years. Which is surely longer than they’ve owned the company 🙄 In the present cycling-inferno-market I can’t believe that anyone would buy the company, which is sad 😢

Well honed review. Perhaps not this specific bike but I'm starting to think carbon frame would be fun at age 74.

Surprised Kona is still making bikes - I wouldn't surprised if they went into administration tomorrow. All their bikes over the last few years have been super behind the mark, specced super poorly (particularly after they were purchased by a non-cycling conglomerate).

@Cassienope

3 ай бұрын

It's like you can see into the very near future.

@miscuser

3 ай бұрын

Spooky

@lenolenoleno

3 ай бұрын

@@Cassienope Haha - that is oddly spooky. Though it probably had more to do with the timing of this video and me commenting (probably the first bike I've seen Kona put any half-assed effort into making in the last 3-4 years. I say half assed as it's really just a carbon Sutra ULTD with a fork on it. Hardly anything "new").

I've wanted this thing for 2 years when they first previewed it to dealers, maybe i can get one for half off at the estate sale?

Great review but is Kona going bankrupt? Pulled tent at Sea Otter same day as this bike went live on the website

@DR_1_1

3 ай бұрын

Maybe they find a solution...

@barfo281

2 ай бұрын

As of May 18th, 2024, you can't buy ANYTHING on KonaWorld - nothing is available. And they also removed their "find locally" button from their bike pages (dealer locator still works for now). Kona is done. It's over.

I like kona and i like weird bikes. I also like mythology and quirky stuff. I feel like i have to buy this thing eventually...

When will you review the Curve GMX?

This is similar to my Canyon carbon frame XC hardtail that I put drop bars onto. Except that it has less suspension and less tire clearance.

@gravgrav

3 ай бұрын

I have steel handrail and a sutra ULTD. the sutra is better w drops and the unit/juice/mcr are better w flats. This is a carbon sutra Ltd.

Miss that old Kona logo

It looks like a very cool xc to me

Be cooler if Kona came out with 2 new carbon Honzo’s… 110mm or 120mm XCish/downcountry and either a 130mm or 140mm trail hardtail. I had a steel honzo that I really dug other than the fact it was a hardtail that weighed over 30 pounds.

It looks like it was almost a direct cutthroat competitor if they just allowed for bigger tires.

I love the bike, but feel a bit disappointed by relatively narrow rear tire. I ride Kona Libre, now CR, previously AL, and was hoping for a major upgrade in this area. Anyways, what is on your 90's alternative playlist?

@gravgrav

3 ай бұрын

I think they’re limited until they go boost.

@mr.fatcyclist5836

3 ай бұрын

@@gravgrav hard to say, 3T made a frame for 142 x 12 axle that fits 700x57, so maybe there is a chance to squeeze 2.25...

Only 2.1 tire clearance, no rack mounts makes this worse than 90's mt bike. I don't get it.... any Mt bike would be a better bike.

@sempi8159

3 ай бұрын

Agreed

@gravgrav

3 ай бұрын

This is the race version of The Sutra LTD. Sutra is the same geo and clears 2.5. 2.25 w fenders. Racks etc. if I had Ouroboros I’m not racking it up.

@StainFPS

3 ай бұрын

I definitely get your points, but I think Kona is perfectly aware of that. First is the tire clearance, 2.1 is plenty enough, lots of studies have shown that the threshold between rolling resistance and confort is 700x50 (29x2.0 inches), plus that’s a Gravel, 2.1 is pretty big considering the average Gravel tire is around 42mm wide. Second is the lack of cargo mounts, and here I think Kona is aware of the solutions out there for eyeletless racks and stuffs. Most Tour Divide or Silk Road bikes are Carbon MTB or Gravels, and brands like Tailfin or Old Man Mountains have created solutions to that, cargo cages for suspension forks, eyeletless racks for both front and rear.

@jackmcandle6955

3 ай бұрын

iDK it looks more like a gravel bike .

@nathanaelshumsky2977

3 ай бұрын

The carbon version of this bike has a max clearance of 29x2.5 in the front tire and I think it has frame bag mounts but no suspension. Pretty odd I would probably just do what Dylan Johnson did he bought a XC bike and put drop bar handles on it lol

No rack mounts on that bike and a press fit BB is no bueno!

I still don't understand why fork manufacturers aren't using boost forks with half of travel. I cut a Fox 32 to 50 mm and it looks cool.

Does the frame have attachment points for panniers?

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

It does not have rack mounts, unfortunately, but there are ways around that if you really want to add a rear rack. like using Old Man Mountain Axle Fit Kit. Kona does mention that front racks will work on their carbon fork however.

Rad bike!

It looks strange. But it would be interesting to ride on it!

Solid review. Did I miss pricing?

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

I asked Kona and they said they don’t have them nailed down yet. The supreme build is going to be a pretty penny.

Mark my words, most manufacturers will be offering something like this in the next few years: ie short-travel suspension-corrected geometry and more tyre clearance than a traditional gravel bike.

Great video. I have made my hardtail work well for me even without many mounting positions. Ive made some videos about it on my channel

the best thing about his video is that you are wearing socks w sandals!

What`s the general idea behind making a long headtube and having a 40mm fork? Stack is high, fork is heavy and requires maintenance but don't offer much travel. Seems to me like the worst of both worlds.

@Paksusuoli95

3 ай бұрын

I don't know how many mm's of travel a cabron fork offers (Probably less than 4 mm?) So it's already a hell of a lot more.

@Indik47

3 ай бұрын

@@Paksusuoli95 Living with all the negatives of a suspension fork for a 40mm is just not worth it IMO. Just make the headtube shorter and put something like a Rock shox SID or FOX stepcast. Same price, same maintenance, ~150g heavier but miles better in terms of performance.

Reminds me of an evil chamios hagar.

I bet this bike would look way better if specced with the new Cane Creek fork

Almost looks like my Salsa Fargo

these gravel forks definitely lagging behind in terms of tire clearance.

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

Totally agree!

@larrywhite8590

3 ай бұрын

@@BIKEPACKINGcom I suspect this is all to keep weight down, wider means more material, both in the crown and elsewhere to keep stiffness.

Tire clearance is almost a deal breaker on this

Geometry changes are cyclical. IE if you buy a 2010 hardtail, you’ll have the same bike except it is $3000 cheaper

That is a very nice bike. With the Ouroboros and the Stigmata having a suspension fork, my husband really wants to get one too.

I'd refer : Kona now no longer exists as a company .... so you may get a bargain (given time) .... but no manufacturer warranty ...

@smithbrownjones

Ай бұрын

I just read, it's been bought back from Kent Outdoors by its original ownwers/founders.... so.... 🤷🏽‍♂️

2 күн бұрын

they back

No rear rack mounts!? No downtube mounts!? Ffs

Sadly, what I have found with KOna is their inability to maintain stock. Maybe spend more time on maintaining what you have and not produce a product that is for a niche market.

OUROBOROS SUPREME €10.999,00

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

We were told pricing would not be available for some time, that said, its not going to be cheap. Nice to have more options and builds however.

New Kona Ouroboros...YEA, gimmie one! Edgie 90's grunge rock? Nyet! Notish fa gouche! Nadda! 🤮

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

lol, it gets better or worse, depending on who you ask, my music preference is bluegrass, jam, classic rock and 90s!

hate the font of kona. just use the regular logo!x

Kona killing off its dealers was not cool.

It’s a mountain bike with drop bars. Gravel bike do me a favour it’s more manufacturers gibberish

It's pronounced EURO-BORIS. It's Greek.

This isn't innovation, it's just more stupid ways for the N+1 idiocy from the bike industry.

Socks & Sandals, NO!

Ugly bike, too many holes and openings especially under the BB. I’ll stick with my ‘94 Cindercone, better in every way.

@user-in1up9mp2t

3 ай бұрын

Ты не пробовал ничего другого

what bs review! What quality of bearings are used, how well are they adjusted from factory, how well are the wheels built from factory, how well is the frame made, etc. Knowing kona it is probably disappointing to find out, but that's exactly what reviews are for. Review does not mean you should regurgitate sale material to cash in on sponsor money.

@BIKEPACKINGcom

3 ай бұрын

Sorry to disappoint you, unfortunately for you, ride quality and frame highlights are the most important factors for me, and many others, and that's why we focus on that in our reviews. I mentioned the relatively soft derailleur hanger Kona used in the past was nixed for the UDH, and if the wheels were not true, or i had issues with the headset, bottom bracket or wheel bearings, I would have mentioned it. No money ever exchanges hands in our reviews, we understand there are publications out there that offer that service, but we want nothing to do with that. Finally, its people like you that are exhausting to deal with, so if you don’t like what we publish, you're welcome to not watch.

@angelicabrewer3711

Ай бұрын

Literally everything he gave was his opinion. That's what a review is lol

with such a high stack why not take all those stem spacers and put them above the stem? looks like you could get yourself down about 30mm!

Why don't you love your bikes a bit more and clean them. I mean...a channel like you guys have, and the love for nature and cycling, does that have to come with mixing them in lol? Clean up before you present please. Unless you're on the road. These bikes cost a lot. They need to be cleaned after use. Period! ;) Hehe

First! Awesome bike. Kona's r&d is doing some great stuff. Let me know if you need a bike tester @Konabikes3353

That is a very nice bike. With the Ouroboros and the Stigmata having a suspension fork my husband really wants to get one too.