Overview
The Big Honzo is a killer bike for the price. It’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t. Hubs featuring Boost spacing hold nice, beefy 2.8” tires. This is the perfect bike for when you need a little extra grip rolling over tricky roots and rocks.
Geometry & Ride Characteristics
The Kona Big Honzo features a geometry that is both versatile and agile, designed to tackle a variety of trails. Its head tube angle is moderately slack, providing a blend of quick steering and stability. The steep seat tube angle positions the rider for efficient pedaling, enhancing climbing capabilities. The bike also boasts relatively short chainstays, which contribute to its nimbleness, particularly in tight turns. The varying reach across sizes ensures a tailored and comfortable riding position, making it adaptable to riders of different heights.
When it comes to ride feel, the Kona Big Honzo offers a blend of responsiveness and control. The front suspension fork with moderate travel absorbs bumps and obstacles, providing a smooth ride on rough trails. The bike’s geometry contributes to its nimble handling, making it easy to maneuver through technical sections. The short chainstays add to its agility, allowing for quick direction changes. Overall, the Big Honzo is built to offer a balanced, versatile ride that excels in a wide range of trail conditions.
- Seat Tube Length: Ranging from 370mm to 530mm across sizes, the varying seat tube lengths accommodate riders of different heights, ensuring a more customized fit.
- Top Tube Length: With lengths from 592mm to 684mm, the top tube offers a comfortable reach, allowing for a natural riding position that enhances control and maneuverability.
- Reach: Spanning from 425mm to 510mm, the reach is designed to offer a tailored and comfortable riding position, making it adaptable to riders of different heights.
- Stack: With values from 622mm to 649mm, the stack height is moderate, ensuring a balanced rider position that combines both comfort and performance.
- Standover Height: Ranging from 723mm to 758mm, the standover height is designed for ease of mounting and dismounting, while also providing ample clearance when riding.
- Head Tube Angle: At a consistent 67.5 degrees across all sizes, this angle strikes a balance between quick steering and stability, making it versatile for various trail conditions.
- Head Tube Length: Varying from 95mm to 125mm, the head tube length is designed to offer optimal handling and control, particularly when navigating descents and technical sections.
- Seat Tube Angle: With a steep angle of 75.0 degrees, this positions the rider more directly over the pedals, enhancing pedaling efficiency and climbing capabilities.
- Chainstay Length: At a uniform 430mm across all sizes, the chainstay length contributes to the bike’s agility, particularly in tight turns and technical sections.
- Bottom Bracket Drop: At a consistent 50mm, this drop helps in lowering the bike’s center of gravity, which is crucial for stability and balance.
- Bottom Bracket Height: At a consistent 310mm, this height balances pedal clearance with a low center of gravity. This is key for better handling and control on technical trails.
- Wheelbase: Ranging from 1144mm to 1241mm, the wheelbase is neither too long nor too short, offering a good balance between stability at speed and agility.
- Front Center: With values from 719mm to 815mm, the front center distance is designed for optimal weight distribution, affecting both stability and agility.
- Fork Length: At a consistent 541mm across all sizes, the fork length is designed to offer a balanced combination of steering responsiveness and stability.
- Fork Offset: At a uniform 51mm, the fork offset is designed to provide stable yet responsive steering, making it easier to navigate through technical terrains.
vs. the Kona Big Honzo DL
The Kona Big Honzo DL is a performance-oriented and slightly more expensive version of the Kona Big Honzo. While both bikes share the same frame, the primary differences lie in their fork and drivetrain as follows:
- Drivetrain
- Kona Big Honzo DL: Features a Shimano Deore 12-speed crankarm with a 32t chainring and comes with a Shimano Deore 10-51t 12-speed cassette. This setup provides a broader range of gearing options, making it adaptable for a variety of terrains, from steep climbs to technical descents.
- Kona Big Honzo: Equipped with either a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm and a 30t chainring, paired with either a Shimano Deore 11-51t 11-speed or Microshift Advent X 11-48t 10-speed cassette. This configuration offers a moderate range of gearing options, well-suited for less demanding terrains.
- Fork
- Kona Big Honzo DL: Equipped with a RockShox 35 Silver TK Solo Air fork, providing a smoother suspension experience and enhanced performance on more challenging terrains.
- Kona Big Honzo: Comes with a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, offering a basic level of suspension that is adequate for moderate trails.
vs. the Surly Karate Monkey SUS
The Surly Karate Monkey SUS and the Kona Big Honzo ride quite differently. The Karate Monkey SUS features a chromoly steel frame and a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork with 140mm travel, providing a plush and responsive ride on rough terrains. It also comes with a Shimano Deore XT 12-speed drivetrain, offering a wide gear range suitable for various conditions. On the other hand, the Kona Big Honzo has an aluminum frame and a more basic Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, making it less plush but still capable on moderate trails. The drivetrain options on the Big Honzo are more modest, making it relatively less versatile but also more budget-friendly.
- Frame Material
- Surly Karate Monkey SUS: The chromoly steel frame provides a more compliant and comfortable ride, absorbing vibrations and offering a smoother experience on rough terrains.
- Kona Big Honzo: The aluminum frame is lighter and more rigid, which may make it more responsive but potentially less comfortable on bumpy trails.
- Fork
- Surly Karate Monkey SUS: Equipped with a RockShox 35 Gold RL fork that offers 140mm of travel, this fork provides a plush and responsive ride, particularly well-suited for challenging terrains.
- Kona Big Honzo: Features a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, which offers a more basic level of suspension that is adequate for moderate trails but may lack the plushness for more technical terrains.
- Drivetrain
- Surly Karate Monkey SUS: Comes with a Shimano Deore XT 12-speed drivetrain, offering a wide gear range that is versatile enough to handle steep climbs, fast descents, and everything in between.
- Kona Big Honzo: Offers either a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm and a more modest 11-speed or 10-speed cassette, making it less versatile in gear options and better suited for less demanding terrains.
- Ride Feel
- Surly Karate Monkey SUS: The combination of a steel frame and a higher-end fork offers a plush and responsive ride, making it particularly comfortable and capable on rough terrains.
- Kona Big Honzo: With its aluminum frame and more basic fork, the ride is capable but less plush, making it more suited for moderate trails and less demanding terrains.
- Geometry
- Surly Karate Monkey SUS: Features a more relaxed geometry that leans towards comfort and stability, making it versatile for both long rides and technical trails.
- Kona Big Honzo: Designed with a more aggressive geometry that includes a steeper seat tube angle and a moderately slack head tube angle, aiming for a balance between agility and stability, especially on faster descents.
vs. the Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+
The Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+ and the Kona Big Honzo are both trail-oriented bikes, but they offer different ride experiences. The Timberjack features a RockShox 35 Silver TK Air fork with 130mm travel and a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain, providing a smooth and versatile ride across various terrains. In contrast, the Big Honzo comes with a more basic Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork and offers less versatile drivetrain options. The Timberjack’s aluminum frame is designed for agility and responsiveness, while the Big Honzo focuses more on stability. Both bikes cater to different preferences and budgets, with the Timberjack offering higher-end components.
- Fork
- Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: Equipped with a RockShox 35 Silver TK Air fork with 130mm of travel, providing a smooth and responsive suspension system that excels on various terrains.
- Kona Big Honzo: Features a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork, which offers a more basic level of suspension that is adequate for moderate trails but may lack the plushness for more technical terrains.
- Drivetrain
- Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: Comes with a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain, offering a wide gear range that is versatile enough to handle steep climbs, fast descents, and everything in between.
- Kona Big Honzo: Offers either a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm and a more modest 11-speed or 10-speed cassette, making it less versatile in gear options and better suited for less demanding terrains.
- Ride Feel
- Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: The combination of an agile aluminum frame and a higher-end fork offers a responsive and versatile ride, making it particularly comfortable and capable on a variety of terrains.
- Kona Big Honzo: With its aluminum frame and more basic fork, the ride is capable but less plush, making it more suited for moderate trails and less demanding terrains.
- Geometry
- Salsa Timberjack SLX 27.5+: Features a geometry designed for agility and responsiveness, making it well-suited for quick turns and technical trails.
- Kona Big Honzo: Designed with a more balanced geometry that includes a steeper seat tube angle and a moderately slack head tube angle, aiming for a balance between agility and stability.
Features
11-speed Shimano Deore: Unlike many bikes in this price range that offer limited drivetrain options, the Kona Big Honzo allows riders to choose between a Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarm, and either a Shimano Deore 11-51t 11-speed or Microshift Advent X 11-48t 10-speed cassette. This customization enhances the bike’s versatility for different riding conditions.
TranzX Dropper Seatpost: While dropper posts are often considered a premium feature, the Kona Big Honzo includes one as standard. This not only adds value but also enhances the bike’s versatility, especially for riders who transition between climbing and descending.
Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring Fork: Many bikes in this budget-friendly category come with basic suspension forks. However, the Kona Big Honzo features a Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring fork with 130mm of travel, offering a more reliable and consistent performance for moderate trails.
Bag, Rack and Fender Mounting Points
The Kona Big Honzo is has a few mounting points to cater to all your bikepacking needs:
Rear Rack Mounts: The Kona Honzo comes with a rear rack mount, offering the flexibility to carry a variety of bags, gear, or panniers. These mounts are strategically placed to distribute weight evenly, making it easier to manage the bike’s handling during long rides.
Kona Big Honzo Featured in the Wild
Kona Big Honzo Review (2020 Model) – YouTube
In this video review by TobyMTBWindsor, the Kona Big Honzo 2020 model is presented as a reliable hardtail option for those looking to ride on red and black trails. The reviewer appreciates the bike’s RockShox Recon fork with 130mm travel and Shimano DRS brakes, but he’s not a fan of the stock tires, citing their lack of grip. He also mentions the bike’s external routing, which he finds less tidy but acknowledges could be useful for those who do frequent maintenance. The reviewer states, “if you’re looking for a good hardtail that you can want to progress on because you’ve just started out but it’ll last you a few years, this is definitely a good one.”
The reviewer from Bonzaicyclewerx has spent a month riding the 2020 Kona Big Honzo and shares his comprehensive thoughts. The bike comes stock with features like a RockShox Recon 130mm fork, SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain, and WTB Ranger Tires measuring 27.5 x 2.8. The reviewer made several upgrades, including a SRAM XX1 AXS Wireless electronic upgrade kit and Maxxis Rekon+ Maxx Terra tires. He praises the bike’s aggressive aluminum geometry and highlights its adaptability, stating that they “rode it stock for a bit then swapped/added a couple of items.”
Mike’s Bike Park Review of the Kona Big Honzo
In this review, Mike from Mike’s Bike Park delves into the features of the Kona Big Honzo, describing it as a versatile hardtail ideal for both beginners looking to skip the entry-level phase and seasoned riders seeking an upgrade. He highlights the bike’s lightweight aluminum frame, modern geometry with a 67-degree head tube angle, and Shimano Deore 1×11 drivetrain. Mike also praises the bike’s tubeless compatibility and the inclusion of a dropper post, saying, “this bike feels so good when I ride it around.” He emphasizes that the Kona Big Honzo offers a unique blend of speed, control, and comfort, making it a standout choice in its category.
Specs
Build Kit
The Kona Big Honzo comes with either Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm crankarms and offers a choice between an 11-speed Shimano Deore or a 10-speed Microshift Advent X cassette. For stopping power, it’s equipped with Shimano MT201 hydraulic brake calipers and rotors. Additional highlights include a TranzX internal dropper seatpost and WTB Ranger 27.5×2.8″ tires, making it well-suited for a variety of trail conditions.
Frameset
- Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
- Fork: Suntour XCR34 LOR DS Coil Spring 130mm
- Rear Shock: n/a
Drivetrain
- Front Derailleur: n/a
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore or Microshift Advent X
- Cassette: Shimano Deore 11-51t 11spd or Microshift Advent X 11-48t 10spd
- Crankset: Shimano MT5100 or Prowheel Charm
- Chainrings: 30t
- Shifter: Shimano Deore or Microshift Advent X
- Chain: KMC X11 or KMC X10
- Chainguide: n/a
- B/B: Shimano 73mm or Prowheel BB73
Brakes
- Brake Calipers: Shimano MT201 Hydraulic
- Brake Levers: Shimano MT201 Hydraulic
- Rotors: Front – Shimano RT10 180mm (centerlock), Rear – Shimano RT10 160mm (centerlock)
Components
- Headset: Feimen HP-H868B
- Stem: Kona XC
- Handlebar: Kona XC/BC
- Grips / Bar Tape: Kona Key Grip Slip on
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper Internal 31.6mm
- Saddle: Kona Trail
- Seatclamp: Kona Clamp
Wheels
- Front Wheel: WTB ST i35 TCS 2.0, Shimano or Formula 110x15mm (centerlock)
- Rear Wheel: WTB ST i35 TCS 2.0, Shimano or Formula 148x12mm (centerlock)
- Spokes: Stainless Black 14g
- Tires: Front – WTB Ranger 27.5×2.8″, Rear – WTB Ranger 27.5×2.8″
Frame Construction
The Kona Big Honzo DL features a frame made from Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted, known for its strength and durability. It features a Kona Plus Fork with 110mm spacing. One of the standout features is its modular/sliding dropouts, and also allows for easy adjustment of the bike’s geometry and the option to run it as a single-speed or with a derailleur. The bike features a tapered head tube design, which enhances steering strength and balance, providing riders with more control in rough terrain. It is designed to accommodate a variety of wheel and tire sizes.
Geometry
| SIZE | S | M | L | XL | |
| 1 | ST LENGTH | 370 | 420 | 470 | 530 |
| 2 | TT LENGTH | 592 | 619 | 647 | 684 |
| 3 | REACH | 425 | 450 | 475 | 510 |
| 4 | STACK | 622 | 631 | 640 | 649 |
| 5 | STANDOVER | 723 | 729 | 736 | 758 |
| 6 | HT ANGLE | 67.5 | 67.5 | 67.5 | 67.5 |
| 7 | HT LENGTH | 95 | 105 | 115 | 125 |
| 8 | ST ANGLE | 75.0 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 75.0 |
| 9 | CS LENGTH | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 |
| 10 | BB DROP | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| 11 | BB HEIGHT | 310 | 310 | 310 | 310 |
| 12 | WHEELBASE | 1144 | 1173 | 1202 | 1241 |
| 13 | FRONT CENTER | 719 | 747 | 776 | 815 |
| 14 | FORK LENGTH | 541 | 541 | 541 | 541 |
| 15 | FORK OFFSET | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
Warranty
WARRANTY REGISTRATIONS
Registration is no longer necessary for your Kona warranty to be valid.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Kona Bicycle Company ( “Kona” ) makes the following limited Warranty:
ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON COMPLETE BICYCLE (USA, UK & CANADA)
Kona warrants to the original owner that this new Kona bicycle shall be free of defective materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original purchase in the United States or Canada and operated under normal conditions and use. During this one-year period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, all parts that are found by Kona to be defective and subject to this limited warranty. The original owner shall pay all labor charges connected with the repair or replacement of all parts. On Kona electric pedal-assist bikes, the electronic system is covered by a two-year warranty, whereby accidents or consumer mistakes like shorting polarity are not covered. Warranty on the battery is for one year, at the end of that period, the battery is guaranteed to retain at least 70% of its original capacity.
TWO YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON COMPLETE BICYCLE (EUROPE)
Kona warrants to the original owner that this newly purchased Kona bicycle shall be free of defective materials and workmanship for the two-year period stated under EU consumer protection laws, dated from the original purchase and subject to normal conditions and use. During this two-year period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, all parts that are found by Kona to be defective and therein subject to this limited warranty.
THREE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON KONA BRANDED BICYCLE FORKS.
LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY ON BICYCLE FRAME (USA, CANADA, UK & EUROPE ONLY)*
Kona further warrants to the original owner that the frame of this new Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer shall be free of defective materials or workmanship for the lifetime of the product. This is ONLY VALID ON NON-CARBON FRAMES. During this warranty period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, the bicycle frame if Kona determines the frame is defective and subject to this limited warranty. The color on the warranty frame may vary from the color of the original frame. The original owner shall pay all labor and shipping charges connected with the repair or replacement of the bicycle frame. This warranty is only valid in the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe.
*This is valid on all non-carbon Kona bicycle frames. CARBON FRAMES receive 3-year warranty.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
This limited warranty is made only to the original owner of this Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer, and it shall remain in force only as long as the original owner retains ownership of the Kona bicycle. This limited warranty is not transferable. In order to obtain service under this Limited Warranty, the original owner must deliver the Kona bicycle, and the bill of sale or other dated proof of purchase document identifying the Kona bicycle by frame number/serial number, to an authorized Kona dealer. This Limited Warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear, nor to defects, malfunctions or failures that result from the abuse, neglect, improper maintenance, alteration, modification, accident, or misuse (including without limitation bicycle racing, bicycle motocross, stunt bicycling, commercial use or rental use) of the Kona bicycle. Damage caused by transporting bicycle, especially across the tailgate of a pickup truck – even when a pad is used – voids warranty.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE ONLY EXPRESS OR LIMITED WARRANTY APPLICABLE TO KONA BICYCLES. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SHALL BE LIMITED IN SCOPE AND DURATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. KONA SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY ANY PARTY. THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS OF WARRANTY ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER REMEDIES.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS; YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE OR PROVINCE TO PROVINCE. SOME STATES OR PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; SO, THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH HEREIN MAY NOT BE EXTENDED, ENLARGED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY ANY KONA DEALER, AGENT OR EMPLOYEE, AND KONA DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY OR MAKE ANY WARRANTY EXCEPT AS STATED IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY.
WARRANTY ONLY APPLIES IN USA, CANADA, UK AND EUROPE. PLEASE SEE YOUR DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE SPECIFIC WARRANTY IN YOUR COUNTRY. WARRANTY VALID ONLY IF BICYCLE IS ASSEMBLED BY AN AUTHORIZED KONA DEALER.
NOTE:
Warranty is made only to the original owner of this Kona bicycle purchased from an authorized Kona dealer, and it shall remain in force only as long as the original owner retains ownership of the Kona bicycle. This limited warranty is not transferable.
