HONZO CR TRAIL DL

Price: £4,399.00

From: Kona Bikes, konaworld.com

Kona is a brand that has been doing the hardtail very well for a long time. It’s delivered some cracking entry-level bikes and top-flight cross-country race machines over its 29-year history, but the brand is better known for its approach to producing capable hardtails that place the primary focus on fun, rather than on price or weight. And with a knack for reading the mountain bike market like a tarot card, Kona has also made a bit of a habit for setting wider industry trends in its wake.

Take the original Honzo that was launched in 2012 – a burly steel 29er hardtail that was anything but cross-country. The Honzo wasn’t quite the first rad 29er hardtail to hit the market (the Banshee Paradox and Canfield Yelli Screamy preceded it), but Kona did a lot to win over non-cross-country riders to the big wheels. And boy did it bring the rad to the 29er party.

With its slack head angle, tight 420mm chainstays and burly parts spec, the Honzo quickly became the benchmark for other big wheel trail bikes. It was heavy and somewhat under-geared with its 1x10 drivetrain, but it was mighty tough and mega fun for ripping apart singletrack. Its addictive ride quality set the bar for 29er trail bikes, and many other brands are still trying catch on today.

For 2017, the Honzo is now exclusively produced in alloy and carbon options. There are seven models in total (four alloy and three carbon), and all are built around the same geometry with a 120mm travel fork.