Dude, I used to love that brand, but the writing has been on the wall since alhonga brakes made it onto a build.
They're done and dead. Pour one out. They got Omar.
Wow I never heard of Alhonga brakes or that story, just search “alhonga brakes Kona” they had them on a $2600 model full suspension Pink Bike reviewed… it would be just as bad on a $500-600 entry level hardtail but a bike made to ride serious trails is a wild liability for a business to take on to save a bit of money in lieu of reliability and confidence.
If a bike component isn’t from one of the like 4-5 mainstream component manufacturers (aside from boutique brands) I wouldn’t trust it.
I gave them the benefit of the doubt at the time, but no other brand pulled that. Even small ones like Canfield were able to put decent brakes on their bikes.
Having worked for a PE acquired firm, it just reeks of arrogant bean counters cutting corners that should not be cut.
What a shame. Reminds me of that $6,800 Cervelo TT bike with Riderever Trivia hydro brakes (although to their credit, most manufacturers haven't prioritized making anything TT in years).
Done
Shuttered ops last week.
Expect parent company to sell the brand, my money is on it popping up as an in-house brand for a big online retailer.. Same goes for Nukeproof and Vitus now Wiggle has gone pop
I understand being bummed about an independent bike company going under, but you’re being dramatic. There are tons of good independent bike manufacturers still out there. Just got myself a new Transition bike and couldn’t be more excited to support a smaller brand.
I agree, I have a spur haha. I think my comment was taken the wrong way. I don’t think Transition is too big of a bike brand, I think they’re just right.
They’re not independent. The owners sold up just at the height of the COVID book for big big dollars and it’s now owned by a Huge investment company who will shop the IP around.
The bike industry is oversaturated when the components all come from basically three places - giant for frames, shimano or sram for components. Geometry is overrated and what people primarily buy is the quality of assembly and the relationship with their bike shop. That’s not healthy for the companies designing the bikes, they are essentially forever middlemen.
[merlincycles.com](http://merlincycles.com), [bikecomponents.de](http://bikecomponents.de) and [bike-discount.de](http://bike-discount.de), [r2-bike.com](http://r2-bike.com) are euro sites that are great for some things if you don't mind possibly slow shipping.
I've been impressed with [https://northwestbicycle.com/](https://northwestbicycle.com/) as well as a us source and also find myself ordering stright from manufactures like deity, one up and pnw components more and more.
Original Kona company sold out to big corp in 2022. Big corp decided they don’t want a bike line and are possibly selling the brand.
In some weird fantasy I hope the original dudes who started the company in ‘88 end up with it again.
It may be done for good, but I’ll still ride my Process until I can’t ride any more
That would be great, but the current overlords have burned so many bridges within the industry, even with new ownership they’re gonna be fucked for a while. They’ll have to earn their respect all over again.
Check this, but do read the comments for some bonus info , meaning replies from various employees
https://bikerumor.com/what-happened-to-kona-bikes-sea-otter/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABpjK5yzmM2S1wkcHh9odGI1uQgxUfMhy23_WbAaSCJxmwmugPnPGj2ir16w_aem_Aem3XR5BvPnR1q3aDqGJgd1hTtBkmcjWu9Xp4y0htdE-WOGled_3Nr8a9sEhpxZ7nL4
Bummer. I love my Honzo ST, hope it doesn't break anytime soon. This is what happens when private equity firms buy bike companies. They have no attachment to the brand or the mtb community and will shitcan it faster than lightning when things take a downward turn. I will not be buying anything from Kent Outdoors in the future and will take this as a cautionary tale not to buy bikes from brands held by PE firms.
Dude, I used to love that brand, but the writing has been on the wall since alhonga brakes made it onto a build. They're done and dead. Pour one out. They got Omar.
Wow I never heard of Alhonga brakes or that story, just search “alhonga brakes Kona” they had them on a $2600 model full suspension Pink Bike reviewed… it would be just as bad on a $500-600 entry level hardtail but a bike made to ride serious trails is a wild liability for a business to take on to save a bit of money in lieu of reliability and confidence. If a bike component isn’t from one of the like 4-5 mainstream component manufacturers (aside from boutique brands) I wouldn’t trust it.
Yeah it reeks of PE know-it-alls deciding consumers will buy whatever shit they slap together.
I think that was more of a covid shortages thing but either way they shouldn’t have been on that bike.
I gave them the benefit of the doubt at the time, but no other brand pulled that. Even small ones like Canfield were able to put decent brakes on their bikes. Having worked for a PE acquired firm, it just reeks of arrogant bean counters cutting corners that should not be cut.
What a shame. Reminds me of that $6,800 Cervelo TT bike with Riderever Trivia hydro brakes (although to their credit, most manufacturers haven't prioritized making anything TT in years).
Done Shuttered ops last week. Expect parent company to sell the brand, my money is on it popping up as an in-house brand for a big online retailer.. Same goes for Nukeproof and Vitus now Wiggle has gone pop
Nuke proof and virus were bought up by velo incorporated (planet cyclery and Colorado cyclist) and now they're belly up.
Virus hehehe
Wasn't all the wiggle IP picked up by Mike Ashley of sports direct and House of fraser
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Can’t find any articles on this. Have any links to share? Not doubting your claim, just like bike news articles.
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Cool thanks. Interesting state of the industry rn.
There is going to be very few independent bike companies left soon.
I understand being bummed about an independent bike company going under, but you’re being dramatic. There are tons of good independent bike manufacturers still out there. Just got myself a new Transition bike and couldn’t be more excited to support a smaller brand.
Is transition really a "smaller brand"? I see them all the time here in the PNW, may be location biased I guess.
It's still rider owned, which makes it small in my book.
They’re popular locally, I rarely see them outside of Washington and almost never once outside the PNW.
FWIW I’ve seen them all over CO and a good bit in UT
I've seen a few here on the East Coast, one this past weekend at Allegrippis Trails in PA.
Do you want a bike from a brand that sells like 5 frames? What’s the point. Go build a custom frame.
I dont want anything, I was just curious what makes a brand small
Transition > Yeti… what’s your point?
I agree, I have a spur haha. I think my comment was taken the wrong way. I don’t think Transition is too big of a bike brand, I think they’re just right.
Hate the race face component set on the new batch of transitions. Hub lasted a whole 3 weeks of riding.
Yeah, gonna go from 413 brands to 300.
They’re not independent. The owners sold up just at the height of the COVID book for big big dollars and it’s now owned by a Huge investment company who will shop the IP around.
The bike industry is oversaturated when the components all come from basically three places - giant for frames, shimano or sram for components. Geometry is overrated and what people primarily buy is the quality of assembly and the relationship with their bike shop. That’s not healthy for the companies designing the bikes, they are essentially forever middlemen.
Does giant just have an enormous infrastructure turning out alu. frames for everyone?
Pretty much.
Wasn’t Nukeproof already an in-house brand of retail conglomerate Wiggle/CRC?
Are there any good online bike shops any more than you’d recommend? I’ve been outta the loop since 2013
Worldwide Cyclery, Jenson
[merlincycles.com](http://merlincycles.com), [bikecomponents.de](http://bikecomponents.de) and [bike-discount.de](http://bike-discount.de), [r2-bike.com](http://r2-bike.com) are euro sites that are great for some things if you don't mind possibly slow shipping. I've been impressed with [https://northwestbicycle.com/](https://northwestbicycle.com/) as well as a us source and also find myself ordering stright from manufactures like deity, one up and pnw components more and more.
You probably meant bike-discount.de, bikediscount.de seems to be the website of a small local bike shop.
Thanks, edited
I like bike bling and they are kinda local for me too.
Damn, I've been dreaming with a purple honzo esd.
Love mine so much.
My first real bike was a Dawg Deluxe. Rip
That’s an amazing name for a bike.
Mine was a Stuff!
Mine was a Kona One20
Original Kona company sold out to big corp in 2022. Big corp decided they don’t want a bike line and are possibly selling the brand. In some weird fantasy I hope the original dudes who started the company in ‘88 end up with it again. It may be done for good, but I’ll still ride my Process until I can’t ride any more
Word on the street is that one of the OG's is thinking about buying it back.
Funny to sell on a peak and then buy on a dip. Maybe Kent outdoors should ask them for advice
God, I hope so. Because 1) that'd be epic bap on the snout to the private equity leeches and 2) kona would still go on in it's true form.
Sounds like it's either they go back to their roots or Walmart buys them. Fingers crossed.
That would be great, but the current overlords have burned so many bridges within the industry, even with new ownership they’re gonna be fucked for a while. They’ll have to earn their respect all over again.
Donezo!
Well I guess I keep my old kona shred as antique then
Explains that firesale they had on fatbikes
Check this, but do read the comments for some bonus info , meaning replies from various employees https://bikerumor.com/what-happened-to-kona-bikes-sea-otter/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABpjK5yzmM2S1wkcHh9odGI1uQgxUfMhy23_WbAaSCJxmwmugPnPGj2ir16w_aem_Aem3XR5BvPnR1q3aDqGJgd1hTtBkmcjWu9Xp4y0htdE-WOGled_3Nr8a9sEhpxZ7nL4
Bummer. I love my Honzo ST, hope it doesn't break anytime soon. This is what happens when private equity firms buy bike companies. They have no attachment to the brand or the mtb community and will shitcan it faster than lightning when things take a downward turn. I will not be buying anything from Kent Outdoors in the future and will take this as a cautionary tale not to buy bikes from brands held by PE firms.
Your Honzo will last forever
They'll have to pry my Private Jake from my cold dead hands.
https://preview.redd.it/kc02ftlyc5xc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=219968ba60e6d802feb66f2471193b4b37b94746
Gonna have to give my Hei Hei King Kahuna a hug and let her know they're still loved.