KONA PROCESS 153 DL

As a large it has a shape second to none, a true large in many respects. It’s a bike that can be charged, pedalled, pumped and pushed into any predicament. What makes this possible are the angles which form an aggressive attitude, the extremely tough rear end and, because it’s the only aluminium bike on test, a bike that can be dragged through the hedge backwards.

It’s true that what allows the Process to be pushed so hard is the RockShox suspension front and rear. The front is the straightforward 160mm Pike, which works wonders once it has a volume spacer dropped into the left hand leg, and the multi position Monarch Plus gives it a quickly adjustable compression tune option. Both faultless.

The Process has (one of) the best manners out of all the bikes we have tested. True this is partly the RS but it has to be more than a coincidence that the bike is our only aluminium offering. The Kona simply feels slightly better damped than some of the carbon bikes on test because the aluminium provides an element of comfort in a time of carbon insensitivity. It’s a basher that’s for sure, a bike whose heart lies madly in a Ligurian gully full of rock. Air, corners, tech, it is mad for it.

As good as it is there are definitely areas in which the Process can be improved. Long legged mud tyres are tight on the front mech, that low standover even on the large bikes can be an issue for some riders in that the post cannot be used at an optimum height in both high or low positions. The noise levels could be improved and we had constant problems with broken derailleur hangers when the chain came off up front pulling the mech and skinny hanger with it.

It needs a clean up. A 1×10 or 11 would quieten the bike and possibly remove derailment issues. The bar is an awkward shape, the stainless spokes are a bit dated and the seatpost is temperamental particularly when altering the amount of post inserted into the seattube. A quick tug on the cable as it exits onto the downtube usually does the job.

For all its minor niggles the Process has been a favourite on countless rides when playing both home or away. It always delivers an upbeat ride and its always settled. OK, a shade expensive for an aluminium bike, that standover too short for some long legged riders and the noise a slight pain in the arse. But it’s good, its very good, in fact its one of the best 160mm travel bikes we’ve ever tested and it hasn’t even got 160mm travel! It’s definitely one of the most capable of taking the bigger hits of these on test and it can do everything you want from all–day rides to uplift. It also comes in a good XL size which is where there is currently a shortage of quality bikes. The Spicy matches it in suspension sensitivity, beats it as an all–rounder but the French bike has nowhere near the chassis muscle of the Process. I guess it depends where your priorities lie but as a bike that’ll take abuse it’s top of the list.

Process 153 DL £3999

www.konaworld.com

Specs

Frame: Kona Process 153

Fork: RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 160

Shock: RockShox Monarch Plus RC3

Cassette: SRAM XG1070 11–36

Derailleur: SRAM X0 Type 2

Chain: KMX X10

Chainguide: n/a

Crank: SRAM X9

Brakes/Discs: Shimano XT 180/160mm

Bottom Bracket: SRAM Press fit 92

Bar: Race Face Atlas FR

Headset: FSA Orbit

Hubs: Shimano XT

Spokes: Sanvik Stainless 14g

Rims: WTB Frequency Team

Seatpost: KS Lev Integra

Stem: Kona 40mm

Tyres: Maxxis High Roller 27.5×2.3”

Sizes: S, M, L, XL

NORCO RANGE 7.1

The Range and Spicy are the closest soul mates of those in the mix. The dual position Pike on the higher end Range LE makes it easy to under inflate, which leads to a front–heavy ride. Push the pressure up, or choose the Solo Air as on the 7.1 and the Norco rides better, but is still fractionally weighted too much frontwards. As a large it’s very slightly too small, like the Spicy. Its nature is a bike that can climb and descend all day, it’s also under the 30lb mark and fitted out with the loveable SRAM X01 – both features which we all want in a bike.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the simpler Pike is better than the dual position and also that the Cane Creek air shock on the higher spec Range feels lifeless compared to the Kona and Spicy, which is part of the reason we would have chosen the 7.1 Range over the LE. When using the Cane Creek on the Norco both the compression and rebound need to be running very light to get as much life out of the bike as possible. The Monarch runs so much better, this is something we have found on many other bikes this year.

It’s fun, it’s upbeat, it can do everything. The Norco offers up a solid ride. We’ve taken the aluminium Range to horrid places in the Alps and Italian Riviera and it casually slurped up every bit of it, however the carbon Range turns what is slightly more uplift based into a true all round grafter. It would be good to try the XL version as there was constantly too much weight bias to the front on the large.

The cable on carbon more than anything is its greatest niggle but that can be remedied. Some riders might be looking for wheel and minor hardware upgrades, but overall it’s workable.

Whilst the 7.1 shares many similarities with its higher spec sister it loses out in a few weight saving areas such as wheels, bar and stem, but that’s about it, for at its heart you still have the unburstable chassis which is the bike’s main selling point. When many carbon bikes are slightly too stiff or too flimsy the Norco is all bike.

It’s solid. It has stood the test of time better than most with its chunky matt black chassis and beats the Spicy on value. It’s the battle with the Process that’s interesting at around the £4000 mark, where the Process is a better on sizing and superior geometry numbers but the Norco is carbon and lighter. Visually it’s one of the most striking bikes and the overall componentry gives it a good balance visually. Like the Spicy the Norco can easily double as a long travel bike and be your general duty beat bike too. Most of all we like the simple durable nature of the Norco, it’s unfussy and over really rough ground it simply hits the right note through its chassis.

Range 7.1 £4500

www.evanscycles.com

Specs

Frame: Norco Range 7.1

Fork: RockShox Pike Solo Air RC 160mm

Shock: RockShox Monarch Plus RC3

Cassette: SRAM XG1195 10-42

Derailleur: SRAM X0 11 speed

Chain: SRAM PC XX1

Chainguide: n/a

Crank: SRAM X1

Brakes/Disc: Avid Elixir 7 180/160mm

Bottom Bracket: SRAM

Bar: Kore Mega 20mmx760mm

Headset: Cane Creek 40 series tapered

Hubs: Kore Durox

Spokes: Kore

Rims: Kore Mega

Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth

Stem: Kore Durox

Tyres: Maxxis High Roller 27.5×2.3”

Sizes: S, M, L, XL