Kona Honzo ESD

Chimpanzee? Gorilla? Nah, more like Spider Monkey.

 

71" height
73" wingspan

Oo oo oo ah ah ah ah!

 

Measure it and see, flipper boy.

 

Ape Index 1: 1.029
Ape Index 2: +2"

span is 70"
height is 68" when I get out of bed in the morning but it was actually 67.25" just now (after lifting 100s of pounds of weight on a work day.)

 

Hardtail Party recently reviewed it. Looks very interesting.

 

I want.

 

You certainly don't need another SS.

 

He doesn't have a SS like that. And he said want.

 

It's not a matter of need.

 

It looks like Kona isn't the only one to see the marketability of the extremely slack hardtail on this side of the pond...

No adjustable dropouts on this one, though...

 

Lookit those tiny seat stays! How cute!

 

What model is that? San Quentin

 

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Looks Flexy..

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No deal!!!!!!! Did someone else sign into your account???

It seems overall, in the ongoing trickle of new and revised hardtails, the versatility of a sliding or swinging dropout is expendable for a lower retail price. Below I'll elaborate on my regrets for paying more for sliders:










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i saw that too... isn't the seat angle 79degrees if i read the specs correctly... wonder when they'll get to 80+ seat tube angles...

 

Those seat stays should add at least 10mm of travel.

 

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Seat tube angle are "virtual" It can change depending on who does the measuring.
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This seems like a pretty straight seat tube to the bottom bracket though...

 

That is the El Roy... 63 degree head angle and steel... The San Quentin looks to be aluminum and less aggressive on the geometry.

 

I'm going to catch some flack for this one... But in my thinking, if another hardtail comes into the garage, one will be left with shifty bits. If it's the Honzo, I'll transfer everything from the Hightower (150 fork, 30mm wheels, dropper, drivetrain).

I'm just a little torn in my thinking process right now, and I need to clear some room anyway... I have two slots on the hanging rack that I'm looking to open up.

 

I'll catch even more flack. If I put a HT in my garage it will be with shifty bits, a 100mm fork and weigh around 20 lbs.

 

@Voodoo Tom and I were talking about this (kinda...) yesterday. He was on the Pivot with skinny bald tires, which is almost identical in geometry and setup to the aluminum Highball I used to have. I love my hardtails, but I just couldn't go back to that level of body abuse.

I had to take Aleve the other night after piloting the Chameleon down the front range.

 

Yeah I’ve been thinking it’s time for a more forgiving modern geometry hardtail with real tires before I kill myself on the Les... I had a blast chasing you down McGill yesterday. I know the trail and you didn’t so I should’ve been able to keep up easier. You got out about 5-10 seconds in front of me and for the life of me (& near death numerous times) I couldn’t catch you. I was taking quite the beating and you were making it look easy. Methinks you have upped your game a bit though riding in the Gabes all the time...

 

I know a guy who is selling a frame that matches that description...

 

Gotta get loose. Wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles knees, and hips. Built in suspension.
Spine? That's just a stick up my ass that my head's attached to.
One of the reasons I got back into hardtailing was my spine. Specifically, my lower back. No matter what kind of suspension, locked out or not, I would always end up with a stiff lower back after the ride.
I noticed it didn't happen when I rode my hardtail. But other stuff hurt. Like my hands, arms, shoulders, etc.
I had to learn to be loose.
Absorb obscene boulder hits with D3O-like biceps and quads. Holding the grips ever so slightly loose, and unclenching my jaw. Rarely spending time in the saddle on most downhills.
That's how you find the flow. When the bike is moving underneath you, when you compress together in the g-out, when your hips steer, and your tongue sticks out and you're smiling.

 

It was my kidneys that took the abuse when I rode a hardtail. I used to ride a certain trail at speed that beat the out of me. Like the Lauf I would ride a lightweight HT on fire roads and relatively buff ST but with more climbing and descending involved. I think 29×2.25s would take a little sting out of the rougher stuff.

 

I agree. Definitely more shreddage. It’s the Sausage. He’s contagious!

 

Nice to hear the rest of your body finally caught up to your sphincter.

 

Great.... I’m an uptight middle aged white guy with no rhythm.

 

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Thats what' s on my DV9 , Ikons I think. Go carbon or Ti, Alu is too harsh. Steel is too heavy.
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