Long, low and slack was a phrase rarely used in 2012 when the original steel Honzo was launched with the aim of becoming the best hardtail on sale. But with a hardtail history dating back to the 1980s Kona was in a good place to push forward with fresh thinking. The Honzo’s frame design breaking new ground back then, with 1×9 gearing, super-short chainstays, a 68º head angle and a stubby stem. Oh, and it was a 29er too… It proved such a successful formula it paved the way for the brand to evolve the entire range – in Kona’s words it was ‘The hardtail that started a revolution’.

Kona Honzo

Fast forward 10 years and the entry-level aluminium Honzo (the cheapest bike on test at £1,599) costs just one pound less than the original. It comes specced with a 120mm travel RockShox fork and a no-nonsense Shimano 11-speed Deore drivetrain. And while the Honzo DL, with its longer travel fork, premium Maxxis rubber and 12-speed gearing looks more comparable to the other hardtails in this test, it’s a huge jump up in price at £2,399.

Kona was an early pioneer of the sloping top tube frame design and it’s a key part of the Honzo’s DNA. It gives the 6061 butted aluminium frame an exceptionally low standover height, which considering it rolls on 29in wheels for all four frame sizes, is good to see.

Chainstays are ultra short at 415mm

When it comes to geometry, the Kona doesn’t exactly mirror its three rivals; its 66.5º head angle is a touch steeper and the 415mm chainstays are notably shorter. However, the 479mm reach on the size L is on point, as is the short 455mm seat tube that allows you to run a longer dropper post on each frame size. In fact, Kona even fits an adjustable stroke TranzX + Rad dropper, which makes moving up a frame size a genuinely viable option.

Recon fork may lack the bigger stanchions of rivals, but proved stiff enough in shorter 120mm-travel guise

Suspension

Kona uses a RockShox Recon RL Solo Air fork to the Honzo, where its 120mm travel matches the Whyte 629’s burlier built fork. Yes, the slimmer 32mm steel upper legs and a more basic air spring made us question whether the Recon would compromise the Honzo’s ability, especially with a 90kg test rider on board.

We needn’t have worried though as out on the trail any reservations soon faded. Considering its stature and price, the Recon held its own with a solid performance in rough, twisty singletrack. However, we did need to add an extra 20-30psi of pressure to the RockShox guidelines to give the support needed in steeper terrain.

Reliable Shimano brakes are let down by resin-only rotors. You’ll need new discs if you want to upgrade to more durable sintered brake pads

Components

To stay within the tight budget Kona fits a 1×11 Shimano Deore drivetrain, where a combination of the 11-51T cassette and 30T chainring actually gives it the lowest climbing gear ratio in this test. Shifting was superb throughout the test and we didn’t miss that extra cog one bit.

Light action Shimano remote pairs with adjustable stroke dropper post

The build kit isn’t without fault though. And while even Shimano basic hydraulic brakes are ultra reliable, the twin-piston calipers on the Kona use resin pads and specific rotors which don’t give the bite or modulation needed in wet or steep terrain and you can’t simply upgrade to sintered brake pads to increase the stopping power. Also while the Kona bar, stem and saddle are all first rate, we’d recommend upgrading the stock grips for something softer before leaving the shop.

Low slung top tube gives plenty of clearance

Performance

The silent and smooth ride quality of the Honzo was instantly noticeable – even in the rough – the securely harnessed external cable routing was completely rattle-free. Vee Tire’s Flow Snap rubber impressed us too – not only did the tyres dish out impressive grip, they also gave a noticeably well-damped feel to the ride.

Vee Tire combines a soft compound aggressive tread up front with a faster rolling rear

Being the only size large bike on test, the Kona has the shortest wheelbase by some margin. It’s mostly down to the ultra-short 415mm chainstays though, as the front centre measurement is only 3mm shy of the XL Merida Big Trail 600 and the reach is actually longer. The tight back end lets you pop the front wheel up easily, giving the bike a lively and playful feel even though it is the cheapest and heaviest bike in this test.