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Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

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In 2012, 130mm was considered “long travel” for a 29er. Obviously, much has changed in the past six years. But thanks to bikes like the original Kona Satori that paved the way, 29ers are now truly long travel. With that said, there’s still a place for mid-travel 29ers, which seems to be why after a five year break, the Kona Satori is making its triumphant return.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

Kona Satori DL

Keeping with the original 130mm of rear suspension travel mated to a 140mm travel fork with 29″ wheels and a 6061 butted aluminum frame, that’s where the similarities end. This time, the Satori platform utilizes the Kona FUSE independent suspension system which also allows for the use of new trunnion mounted shocks. Additional frame details include a PF92 bottom bracket, Boost spacing front and rear, a tapered head tube, and internal dropper routing.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

The FUSE design is fairly simple, but it’s proven to work – just look at the Kona Hei Hei DL for example. Regardless of model, the Satori uses a RockShox Deluxe RL DebonAir Trunnion shock to squeeze the most performance out of the rear end.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

At the front, we start seeing differences between the Satori DL and the Satori, with the DL model opting for a RockShox Revelation RC Solo Air 140mm fork.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

In the past we’ve seen the DL version equipped with more “Shore worthy” components (i.e. shorter stems, wider bars, droppers, etc.), but this time it’s mostly spec level differences. The higher end DL gains a SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain with SRAM Descendant 6K crankset, SRAM Guide R brakes, and a RockShox Reverb dropper.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

Additionally, the platform features WTB STP i29 TCS 29″ wheels with Maxxis Minion DHF/Tomahawk TR dual compound 29 x 2.3″ tires. Due to the upgraded spec, the Satori DL sells for $3,499.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

Kona Satori

The Satori includes all of the details of the DL like the 130/140mm suspension, 29″ wheels, aggressive cockpit with 35mm stem and XC/BC 35 bars, but it employs a slightly different spec to drop the price. Instead of the 1×12 drivetrain of the DL, the Satori offers a 1×10 Shimano Deore drivetrain with a RaceFace Aeffect crank. It also sees a RockShox Recon Gold RL Solo Air Fork, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and a Trans-X internal dropper post.

Kona Satori & Satori DL reemerge as enlightened mid-travel FUSE 29ers

Thanks to the change in spec, the Satori comes in $800 less than the DL, with a a $2,699 price tag.

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DeafDaddy
DeafDaddy
6 years ago

Head tube angle could be a bit slacker, 68 is a bit steep for my taste.

Michael Myers
Michael Myers
6 years ago

78 degree seat tube angle is just insane. I understand that on really steep pitches one can still sit on the comfortable portion of the saddle, but it’s gonna suck for pedaling everywhere else.

TheKaiser
6 years ago
Reply to  Michael Myers

Yeah, it seems like a lot of bikes are going that way these days. It’s probably great for the sort of riding where you are going up long steep climbs, then going down, and then repeating that up/down cycle over and over. But for the (many) places in the world where there is a lot of flat terrain, or even long traverses in the mountains, it seems like there has to be a downside. For a heavy duty enduro bike that might not be much fun on the flats anyway, it makes sense to configure the seat tube for where the bikes are likely to be ridden, but for an all around XC/trail bike, I’m not so sure this is the way to go.

TheKaiser
6 years ago
Reply to  TheKaiser

P.S. Part of the steep seat tube thing is a necessary shift due to reach figures getting longer and longer. If you don’t steepen the seat tube, then the stretch to the bars becomes too great, now that reach figures are 50mm+ longer than they used to be for a given size bike. In effect, it makes the variation in body position from seated to standing less dissimilar.

DeafDaddy
DeafDaddy
6 years ago
Reply to  TheKaiser

Additionally, shorter stems alleviate the longish reach so while the 78-degree seat tube angle may appear bit steep on paper, climbs are generally easier because the rider is positioned more in front of the bottom bracket. That approach helps with stability on climbs and reduces the need to pedal out of the seat (less leg fatigue). Also, dropper posts allows rider to hang behind the seat on descends so the rider doesn’t feel like they’ll go over the bars while seated (if dropper post is raised). Still, that 68-degree head angle could make the bike nervous on descends filled with rocks & roots…

JNH
JNH
6 years ago
Reply to  Michael Myers

Not really, assuming a decent (very short) stem length and bar height (not super low) a seat angle like that gives a fairly upright riding position even on a very long reach bike. It’s a comfortable way to ride about, certainly more than the long stem/slack seat angle position of old. Plus it’s much better for climbing, not sure about the 68 degree head angle though.

Dylan
Dylan
6 years ago

“the Satori platform utilizes the Kona FUSE independent suspension system”. There’s nothing “independent” about it, it’s a flamin’ single pivot with a flex stay! It may work great, but there’s nothing remotely new about it.

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