Kona’s Process range was established in 2014 and quickly made a mark on the sport with bikes that were reputed for their capability and versatility.
Drawing on experience from every iteration of the Process and over two years of development time, Kona has taken some of the characteristics of the popular 29-inch-wheeled Process 111 and flowed them into the new 2020 Process 134, the first bike in the range’s history to go full-carbon.
While it is true that there has previously been a Process 134 in the range, Kona is unequivocal in stating that this new bike is a progression of (and replacement for) the 111.
The new bike adds a little more bounce to that of the short-travel 111, going up to 134mm, funnily enough, and is designed to be paired with a 140mm fork. As one might expect, it also gets longer and slacker.
Kona also took notes from its bigger sibling, the Process 153, but made the suspension a little more progressive to limit blowing through the shorter travel of the 134.
Using experience from both bikes, the brand’s designers set out to create a bike not too extreme in any sense, but instead built for the widest possible range of riding, something it says it achieved in the new Process 134.
There are six models available in two wheel sizes: four 29-inch and two 27.5-inch. Two of those 29ers are full-carbon, the other two aluminium; both 27.5-inch options are only available in aluminium.
The wheelbase ranges from 1,159 to 1,255mm across the four bigger-wheeled sizes (S–XL). For the 27.5-inch versions the wheelbase range is 1,131 to 1,259mm across five sizes (XS–XL). Reach spans 425 to 510mm on the 29ers and 400 to 510mm on the 27.5in versions.
The head angle is 66 degrees on both wheel sizes, with a seat angle of 76.5 and 76.8 degrees (29/27.5in). A longer straight section of seat tube allows greater insertion depth for longer-travel dropper posts, while plenty of internal cable routing options ensure clean lines no matter which side you run your brakes.
Ample tyre and chainring clearance allow riders to go big in both areas, while a drop-down chainstay aims to reduce noise from chain rattle. Details such as a thick rubber chainstay protector and thick down-tube protection complete an altogether neat package.
All in all, the 2020 Process 134 promises a dynamic character for trail riding and, if its predecessor is anything to go by, will no doubt be happy to punch above its weight in tougher mountain terrain and the occasional bike park.
Kona Process 134 models
Kona Process 134 CR DL (Dee Lux) 29
- Frame: Kona Carbon 134mm travel
- Fork: RockShox Pike Ultimate RC2 Charger 2 DebonAir 140mm tapered, 110mm spacing
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Trunnion
- Cranks: SRAM Descendant Carbon DUB
- Derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM G2 RSC
- Wheels: WTB KOM Light i30 TCS with DT Swiss 370 hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR 3C
- Price: £6,199 / €6,499 / $5,999
Kona Process 134 CR 29
- Frame: Kona Carbon 134mm travel
- Fork: Fox Float 34 Performance 140mm tapered, 110mm spacing
- Shock: Fox DPX2 Performance Elite
- Cranks: SRAM NX Eagle DUB
- Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Guide R
- Wheels: WTB KOM Light i30 TCS with DT Swiss 370 hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR 3C
- Price: £5,199 / €5,499 / $4,999
Kona Process 134 DL 29
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 134mm travel
- Fork: RockShox Pike Select RC Charger DebonAir 140mm tapered, 110mm spacing
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Ultimate Trunnion
- Cranks: SRAM NX Eagle DUB
- Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Guide R
- Wheels: WTB KOM Light i30 TCS with Formula hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR 3C
- Price: £3,799 / €3,999 / $3,699
Kona Process 134 29
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 134mm travel
- Fork: RockShox Recon RL Motion Control Solo Air 140mm tapered, 110mm spacing
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select Trunnion
- Cranks: SRAM SX Eagle
- Derailleur: SRAM SX Eagle
- Brakes: Shimano Hydraulic
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 TCS with Shimano hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR DUAL
- Price: £2,399 / €2,499 / $2,399
Kona Process 134 DL 27.5
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 134mm travel
- Fork: RockShox Pike Select RC Charger DebonAir 140mm tapered, 110mm spacing
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Ultimate Trunnion
- Cranks: SRAM NX Eagle DUB
- Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Guide R
- Wheels: WTB KOM Light i30 TCS with Formula hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR 3C
- Price: £3,799 / €3,999 / $3,699
Kona Process 134 27.5
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted 134mm travel
- Fork: RockShox Recon RL Motion Control Solo Air 140mm tapered, 110mm spacing
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select Trunnion
- Cranks: SRAM SX Eagle
- Derailleur: SRAM SX Eagle
- Brakes: Shimano Hydraulic
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 TCS with Shimano hubs
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO TR DUAL
- Price: £2,399 / €2,499 / $2,399
