#KONA PROCESS 3 FOR XC FULL#

Also while the asymmetric rear end and curved seat tube let them tuck the rear tire right into the frame with 425mm chainstays, that’s only 2mm shorter than the stays on the 29er.

That includes 66-degree head angle, 76.3-degree effective seat angle and ‘happy average' 475mm reach on a large. While some brands shape their smaller wheeled bikes differently from their 29ers to emphasize the changes in dynamics, Kona essentially uses the same Process geometry. Asymmetric chainstays (dropped on the drive side) mean plenty of room for bigger tires than the 2.4in fitted, and no worries about mud build-up. These use pivots ahead of the hollowed-out dropouts, making the Process rear-end a single pivot set up with a simple arcing wheel path rather than a more complex axle track. This connects to the top of the trunnion mount RockShox Deluxe Ultimate rear damper with a bearing for maximum smoothness while the back end gets double-sided ‘Clevis’ joints onto the chunky rectangular upper stays. The curved seat tube also carries the shoe for the pivot bearings halfway along the massive two-piece welded rocker link. The rear stays are only lightly taped too, rather than rubber-armored to protect the stays and help keep chain noise to a minimum.

#KONA PROCESS 3 FOR XC FULL#

Despite this being a rowdy-focused bike there’s no chain guide as standard, but you do get ISCG tabs to handle a full spec chain device. There’s a massive gusset up the front of the extended seat tube which rounds out above a curved box section that holds the oversized main pivot bearing pipe level and just ahead of the chainring top center. In contrast, the top tube is straight and severely sloped with a tapering rectangular form. This has a flare and stiffening crease at the tapered head tube end and a flattened profile at the broad 92mm press-fit bottom bracket shell. The mainframe is dominated aesthetically by a dramatically S-bent down tube. There’s a definite ‘game of two halves’ going on with the frame proportions too.

Kona process 3 for xc