Kona have produced three new hardtails designed specifically for UK riders.
The Buffer is the top-end model at £1,200 with a chromoly steel frame, RockShox Recon SL forks with 20mm through-axle, FSA Comet cranks, and a mix of Shimano Deore and XT for shifting.
Using the same frame as the Buffer, the more affordable Blink will set you back £900 and has a RockShox Tora SL 120mm fork, FSA Alphadrive crankset, a mix of Shimano SLX and Deore, and a Kona handlebar, stem and seatpost.
Kona’s entry-level long-travel hardtail is based on a tweaked version of the company’s aluminium Blast frame and uses Suntour’s Radon 120mm forks, FSA Alphadrive cranks, and a mix of Deore and SLX.
The new models have been produced as a result of rider demand, as Ben Gaby, of UK distributors Paligap, told us: “We get a lot of feedback from customers about the Kona brand. I get lots of emails from very loyal customers who have ideas on new models. Some are very out there and then we get the ones that make a lot of sense.
The top-end Kona Buffer
“The 120mm-travel hardtail is one such platform that we’ve been asked to develop again and again. So back in 2008 we started looking at the idea more closely. We kicked ideas around the office (most of the Paligap staff ride off-road), then took these out to our dealer network for further clarification and started speccing the bikes and choosing frame materials, etc.”
The three new models will be available to buy in the UK in March 2010. Look out for a review soon on BikeRadar.
You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar.