Kona Launches New Budget DH Bike – The Precept 200, Plus New 26″ Process 167 Freeride Bike

At every World Cup Downhill race, we fawn over the latest and greatest prototypes. And while carbon wizardry and one-off suspension components fuel innovation at the upper echelons of the sport, it’s bikes like the three thousand dollar Precept 200 that make it affordable for everyone else.

The new model mimics the geometry of the World Cup Proven Supreme Operator, but uses a Swinger Independent Suspension (*cough* linkage driven single pivot *cough*) to provide reliable plush travel.

Sporting proven 26″ technology and a 64 degree headtube, the bike is suitable slack enough for any course. A non-direct mount stem likely helps reduce costs, and will slip in the event of a huge crash, rather than bend the handlebars or crown.

This Swinger Independent Suspension system is utilized by Kona’s Precept line of entry level trail bikes. In this iteration, it allows for 200mm of travel at a great price point. Another advantage to the design is that it’s dead simple.

As long as the shock is tuned appropriately, we’ve found this suspension platform performs well while offering a fun ride, and is generally very reliable.

With the goal of keeping price low and maximizing durability, the Precept has been spec’d with a Domain Fork, powerful Code R 4 piston brakes, burly Sun MTX rims, a Sram X7 drivetrain, Kona Wah Wah pedals, and Maxxis DHF Tires.

We love seeing affordable well spec’d bikes being offered, and with three different sized available, this should fit everyone from growing groms to weekend warriors.

Process 167

Also sporting 26″ wheels, the Process 167 is an DH/Freeride/Enduro bike, that features super short 415mm chainstays, 170mm of travel, and a slack 65 degree head tube angle.

Designed for play, the $4,999 bike uses the same rocker independent suspension system found on the rest of the Process bikes.

The build kit features a burly Lyrik fork, X01 drivetrain, new Avid Guide brakes, wide Frequency i25 rims, and KS Lev Post.

Rather than follow the marketing hype and make compromises, Kona chose to go the 26″ route with this model because it allowed them to make the chainstays as short as possible, lower the BB, and dial in the geometry, without making geometry sacrifices.

If you want to call this bike the new Stinky, Kona is ok with that. #26AintDead #LongLiveFreeride

Stay tuned to Kona next week for the full 2015 product announcement.