Kona Big Honzo

$998.99

$100 shipping for bicycles priced under $1500 (within the lower 48).

The Big Honzo is a killer bike for the price. It’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t. Hubs featuring Boost spacing hold nice, beefy 2.8” tires.


Overview

The Big Honzo is a killer bike for the price. It’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t. Hubs featuring Boost spacing hold nice, beefy 2.8” tires. This is the perfect bike for when you need a little extra grip rolling over tricky roots and rocks.

Geometry & Ride Characteristics

CAD of MD Kona Big Honzo(Use BikeInsights.com to compare/contrast bicycle geometries)

The Kona Big Honzo features a geometry that is both versatile and agile, designed to tackle a variety of trails. Its head tube angle is moderately slack, providing a blend of quick steering and stability. The steep seat tube angle positions the rider for efficient pedaling, enhancing climbing capabilities. The bike also boasts relatively short chainstays, which contribute to its nimbleness, particularly in tight turns. The varying reach across sizes ensures a tailored and comfortable riding position, making it adaptable to riders of different heights.

When it comes to ride feel, the Kona Big Honzo offers a blend of responsiveness and control. The front suspension fork with moderate travel absorbs bumps and obstacles, providing a smooth ride on rough trails. The bike’s geometry contributes to its nimble handling, making it easy to maneuver through technical sections. The short chainstays add to its agility, allowing for quick direction changes. Overall, the Big Honzo is built to offer a balanced, versatile ride that excels in a wide range of trail conditions.

  • Seat Tube Length: Ranging from 370mm to 530mm across sizes, the varying seat tube lengths accommodate riders of different heights, ensuring a more customized fit.
  • Top Tube Length: With lengths from 592mm to 684mm, the top tube offers a comfortable reach, allowing for a natural riding position that enhances control and maneuverability.
  • Reach: Spanning from 425mm to 510mm, the reach is designed to offer a tailored and comfortable riding position, making it adaptable to riders of different heights.
  • Stack: With values from 622mm to 649mm, the stack height is moderate, ensuring a balanced rider position that combines both comfort and performance.
  • Standover Height: Ranging from 723mm to 758mm, the standover height is designed for ease of mounting and dismounting, while also providing ample clearance when riding.
  • Head Tube Angle: At a consistent 67.5 degrees across all sizes, this angle strikes a balance between quick steering and stability, making it versatile for various trail conditions.
  • Head Tube Length: Varying from 95mm to 125mm, the head tube length is designed to offer optimal handling and control, particularly when navigating descents and technical sections.
  • Seat Tube Angle: With a steep angle of 75.0 degrees, this positions the rider more directly over the pedals, enhancing pedaling efficiency and climbing capabilities.
  • Chainstay Length: At a uniform 430mm across all sizes, the chainstay length contributes to the bike’s agility, particularly in tight turns and technical sections.
  • Bottom Bracket Drop: At a consistent 50mm, this drop helps in lowering the bike’s center of gravity, which is crucial for stability and balance.
  • Bottom Bracket Height: At a consistent 310mm, this height balances pedal clearance with a low center of gravity. This is key for better handling and control on technical trails.
  • Wheelbase: Ranging from 1144mm to 1241mm, the wheelbase is neither too long nor too short, offering a good balance between stability at speed and agility.
  • Front Center: With values from 719mm to 815mm, the front center distance is designed for optimal weight distribution, affecting both stability and agility.
  • Fork Length: At a consistent 541mm across all sizes, the fork length is designed to offer a balanced combination of steering responsiveness and stability.
  • Fork Offset: At a uniform 51mm, the fork offset is designed to provide stable yet responsive steering, making it easier to navigate through technical terrains.

vs. the Kona Big Honzo DL

The Kona Big Honzo DL is a performance-oriented and slightly more expensive version of the Kona Big Honzo. While both bikes share the same frame, the primary differences lie in their fork and drivetrain as follows:

  • Drivetrain
    • Kona Big Honzo DL: Features a Shimano Deore 12-speed crankarm with a 32t chainring and comes with a Shimano Deore 10-51t 12-speed cassette. This setup provides a broader range of gearing options, making it adaptable for a variety of terrains, from steep climbs to technical descents.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Equipped with either a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm and a 30t chainring, paired with either a Shimano Deore 11-51t 11-speed or Microshift Advent X 11-48t 10-speed cassette. This configuration offers a moderate range of gearing options, well-suited for less demanding terrains.
  • Fork
    • Kona Big Honzo DL: Equipped with a RockShox 35 Silver TK Solo Air fork, providing a smoother suspension experience and enhanced performance on more challenging terrains.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Comes with a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, offering a basic level of suspension that is adequate for moderate trails.

vs. the Surly Karate Monkey SUS

The Surly Karate Monkey SUS and the Kona Big Honzo ride quite differently. The Karate Monkey SUS features a chromoly steel frame and a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork with 140mm travel, providing a plush and responsive ride on rough terrains. It also comes with a Shimano Deore XT 12-speed drivetrain, offering a wide gear range suitable for various conditions. On the other hand, the Kona Big Honzo has an aluminum frame and a more basic Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, making it less plush but still capable on moderate trails. The drivetrain options on the Big Honzo are more modest, making it relatively less versatile but also more budget-friendly.

  • Frame Material
    • Surly Karate Monkey SUS: The chromoly steel frame provides a more compliant and comfortable ride, absorbing vibrations and offering a smoother experience on rough terrains.
    • Kona Big Honzo: The aluminum frame is lighter and more rigid, which may make it more responsive but potentially less comfortable on bumpy trails.
  • Fork
    • Surly Karate Monkey SUS: Equipped with a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork that offers 140mm of travel, this fork provides a plush and responsive ride, particularly well-suited for challenging terrains.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Features a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, which offers a more basic level of suspension that is adequate for moderate trails but may lack the plushness for more technical terrains.
  • Drivetrain
    • Surly Karate Monkey SUS: Comes with a Shimano Deore XT 12-speed drivetrain, offering a wide gear range that is versatile enough to handle steep climbs, fast descents, and everything in between.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Offers either a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm and a more modest 11-speed or 10-speed cassette, making it less versatile in gear options and better suited for less demanding terrains.
  • Ride Feel
    • Surly Karate Monkey SUS: The combination of a steel frame and a higher-end fork offers a plush and responsive ride, making it particularly comfortable and capable on rough terrains.
    • Kona Big Honzo: With its aluminum frame and more basic fork, the ride is capable but less plush, making it more suited for moderate trails and less demanding terrains.
  • Geometry
    • Surly Karate Monkey SUS: Features a more relaxed geometry that leans towards comfort and stability, making it versatile for both long rides and technical trails.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Designed with a more aggressive geometry that includes a steeper seat tube angle and a moderately slack head tube angle, aiming for a balance between agility and stability, especially on faster descents.

vs. the Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+

The Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+ and the Kona Big Honzo are both trail-oriented bikes, but they offer different ride experiences. The Timberjack features a RockShox 35 Silver TK Air fork with 130mm travel and a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain, providing a smooth and versatile ride across various terrains. In contrast, the Big Honzo comes with a more basic Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork and offers less versatile drivetrain options. The Timberjack’s aluminum frame is designed for agility and responsiveness, while the Big Honzo focuses more on stability. Both bikes cater to different preferences and budgets, with the Timberjack offering higher-end components.

  • Fork
    • Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: Equipped with a RockShox 35 Silver TK Air fork with 130mm of travel, providing a smooth and responsive suspension system that excels on various terrains.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Features a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, which offers a more basic level of suspension that is adequate for moderate trails but may lack the plushness for more technical terrains.
  • Drivetrain
    • Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: Comes with a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain, offering a wide gear range that is versatile enough to handle steep climbs, fast descents, and everything in between.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Offers either a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm and a more modest 11-speed or 10-speed cassette, making it less versatile in gear options and better suited for less demanding terrains.
  • Ride Feel
    • Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: The combination of an agile aluminum frame and a higher-end fork offers a responsive and versatile ride, making it particularly comfortable and capable on a variety of terrains.
    • Kona Big Honzo: With its aluminum frame and more basic fork, the ride is capable but less plush, making it more suited for moderate trails and less demanding terrains.
  • Geometry
    • Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: Features a geometry designed for agility and responsiveness, making it well-suited for quick turns and technical trails.
    • Kona Big Honzo: Designed with a more balanced geometry that includes a steeper seat tube angle and a moderately slack head tube angle, aiming for a balance between agility and stability.