{"id":12015,"date":"2022-05-16T18:16:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=12015"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:16:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:16:19","slug":"kona-process-134-dl-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/2022\/05\/16\/kona-process-134-dl-29\/","title":{"rendered":"Kona process 134 DL 29"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Smooth suspension and modern shape encourage behaviour some spec choices can\u2019t handle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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SPEC<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u00a33,899<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frame <\/strong>Butted 6061 aluminium alloy, 134mm trave<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sizes <\/strong>S, M, L*, XL (asterisk indicates size tested)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fork <\/strong>RockShox Pike Select, 140mm travel <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shock <\/strong>RockShox Deluxe Ultimate <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wheelset <\/strong>WTB KOM Team i30 TCS rims on Formula hubs, Maxxis Minion DHF EXO 29×2.5<\/span> WT (f) and Maxxis Dissector EXO 29×2.4 WT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivetrain <\/strong>SRAM NX Eagle with GX Eagle mech and SX Eagle chain (1×12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brakes <\/strong>SRAM G2 RS, 200\/180mm rotors<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bar\/stem <\/strong>Kona XC\/BC 35, 780mm\/Kona XC\/BC 35, 60mm <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seatpost\/saddle <\/strong>TranzX +RAD dropper\/WTB Volt <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight <\/strong>15kg (large, without pedals) www.konaworld. com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

Kona claim the <\/strong>Process 134 DL 29 \u201cstrikes a perfect balance between price, performance and an easy upgrade path\u201d. Is it as good a buy as they say?<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The Canadian brand have given their mid-travel machine an alloy frame and up-to-date trail geometry.<\/p>\n\n

Heavily hydroformed tubes, beefed up with long weld-seams and braces, suggest a bike that should be able to cope with rough tracks, even if the 134mm of rear-wheel travel doesn\u2019t \u2013 on paper, at least \u2013 hint at it being the best choice for super-gnarly trails.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s a similar story with the geometry, where a longish reach (475mm, large), for stability at speed, is paired with a moderate 66-degree head angle and snappy 427mm chainstays, which aid manoeuvrability in tight situations.<\/p>\n\n

The DL 29 is expensive for an alloy bike with a mixed SRAM GX\/NX\/SX Eagle drivetrain and basic G2 brakes.<\/p>\n\n

However, you do get a super-supple RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock propping up the rear end. The 140mm-travel Pike Select fork uses RockShox\u2019s proven Charger RS damper, while Maxxis Minion and Dissector tyres sit on broad WTB rims.<\/p>\n\n

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If you like your bikes to be peppy and engaging up hills, you\u2019ll want to look elsewhere, because the Process 134 isn\u2019t the world\u2019s best climber.<\/p>\n\n

There\u2019s a ton of grip, thanks to the supple rear end, but the bike is held back by pedal bob under power. The seated riding position is good, though, and the shock\u2019s lockout lever is within easy reach, which is fortunate, as you\u2019ll be using it on longer, smoother drags.<\/p>\n\n

However, all is forgiven on the way back down. The suspension is smooth and progressive, giving you a traction-rich connection to the trail, whether wet or dry, firm or loose.<\/p>\n\n

While the geometry might not be radical, the Kona sits into its travel well, its bottom bracket (BB) low to the floor, encouraging you to drop a shoulder and carve corners, or plough through rock gardens. The Process 134 doesn\u2019t have as much pop as some more supportive bikes, or the stiffest front end, but if you like to get loose and allow the bike to deal with what\u2019s coming up, it\u2019s up to the job.<\/p>\n\n

This is where some areas of the spec become unstuck, though. The Select fork is outshone by the beautifully-controlled rear, while the EXO-casing tyres, especially at the back, are prone to punctures when you push the Process as far as it encourages. The G2 RS brakes leave it feeling undergunned, too.<\/p>\n\n

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Kona claim the Process 134 DL 29 \u201cstrikes a perfect balance between price, performance and an easy upgrade path\u201d. Is it as good a buy as they say?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":12401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"138","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"138","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_138-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_138-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"June-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"June-2022","purple_external_id":"June-2022-138-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"June-2022-138-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000112137||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000112137||","purple_android_product":"com.im.mountainbikingukmagazine.408","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.mountainbikingukmagazine.408","purple_ios_product":"com.im.mountainbikingukmagazine.408","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.mountainbikingukmagazine.408","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"0638d426-1edc-44c5-8614-70723dfc91b6","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-05-16T16:16:26Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"ab79a14a-b4ee-492f-a20d-fe2003010bb1","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-05-16T16:16:26Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Aq3mhSrTuSS-iDf4gAwELsQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[85],"tags":[13],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview.jpg",1600,1067,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2022\/05\/RMBK_408_p906-917_suppboty_Trail.RB_20220408_2DX5939_preview.jpg",1600,1067,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Kona claim the Process 134 DL 29 \u201cstrikes a perfect balance between price, performance and an easy upgrade path\u201d. 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