July 1st, 2011 2:49pm
Kona, yes the very same company that has been around but perhaps a bit lethargic on the big hit scene for several years, has begun to come out of its sleepy hiatus. We are starting to see new product designs coming out the company that was one of the first to produce DH, Freeride, all mountain bikes. And what I have seen, I really really like.
I think this is a direct result of the company having some key riders like Graham Agazzi riding their products and giving them feedback and Kona actually listening. Kudos to Kona. And from what I can see, it is paying off. Like today, I spotted this little secret release and it blew me away. I found this on the Kona COG blog spot via Facebook.
Yes, it is an all mountain bike sporting 29er wheels. Now, I still haven't bought in on the 29er story and still own a 26in XC rig, but we have tested and reviewed several 29ers and not until now did I say...I gotta have one or at least test ride one for you - our readers -...here is the skinny on the 2012 Satori by Kona.
Fitting with Kona's authentically fun and quirky attitude - here is their take on the name and product overview.
Born from the ethereal minds of Kona’s product group, the new 2012 Satori is a 130mm travel, aggressively oriented, all-mountain 29-inch wheel mountain bike designed to blaze through technical, rough terrain while still excelling at being light, nimble and quick of climb. We chose the name wisely. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, satori refers to a flash of sudden awareness, or individual enlightenment, and is considered a “first step” or embarkation toward nirvana. On a more specific (and somewhat weirder) tangent, satori has been described as being similar to awakening one day with an additional pair of arms. Bonus! In the case of Kona’s all-new 2012 Satori, we’ve substituted those new arms with a pair of 29-inch wheels. We think you’ll like them.
Kona claims to be able to make their 29er nimble, light and good looking. Staying true to their 4-bar suspension roots for shock tune-ability Kona tweaked their traditional linkage by using a Walking Beam linkage configuration (still a 4-bar). The Satori uses a Swing Link design that allows increased stand over for a more aggressively oriented 29er bike. Another key feature of the bike are its short chain-stays, one of the main design elements contributing to its quickness and agility when it comes to more technical terrain. I love short chain stays. It helps the bike snappier in the corners. If they can maintain stability with the bike they will have a winner on their hands.
The inspiration for the bike came from our US sales force, many of whom are die-hard 29er lovers, all of whom are extremely skilled bike handlers who like to push trail and rider limits. The design brief was to make a slacker (head tube angle is 68°), shorter, longer travel (130mm) dual suspension 29er that could find that sweet spot between plush travel and aggressive geometry, without sacrifice climbing efficiency and trail quickness. It’s purposed specifically for those who ride on rough, rolling, technical terrain where big wheels and longer travel enables you to lay to waste anything in your path.
The frame is made using 6061 shaped aluminum for a light, strong, super stiff frameset. The bike uses a 142×12 rear axle and a 20mm front fork thru axle, both using a Maxle QR. The front fork is a Rock Shox Revelation 29er RLT with tapered steertube, while the rear shock is a Fox Float RP2 XV, which features an extra volume chamber to reduce ramp-up and retain plush, consistent suspension characteristics through the entire stroke.
The Satori comes with wide 710mm bars, an Easton Vice 29 wheelset, Maxxis Ardent tires (2.4 front, 2.25 rear) and a SRAM X7/X9 drive train. The prototype you see in these photos weighs in at 27.5 pounds. The 2012 production model will probably weigh in at 28.5 to 29 pounds. The Satori will be available at a Kona dealer near you Fall 2011.
Nice clean 1.5" tapered head tube - and burly derailuer - yeah!
The 2012 Kona Satori Prototype - Look for it a dealer near you this fall.
Location: News >> 2012 Kona Satori - Holy Moly!
© 2025 Bicycle World TV
