KONA Entourage Proto : Review
Review by Brandon Watts
Well I think it finally happened... a mini DH bike with trick-ability has been born. If it isn't apparent with the sleighing by team rider Graham Agassiz, then you might just have to get on one and see for yourself; but for now let me explain my experience. I have been one of the lucky few to test the new 2012 Entourage by Kona, and after a week encompassing various riding types, I can conclude that it is a fun all-around gravity focused bike! What does that mean? Well for us in the Northwest it means that you can session the jumps trails around BHAM for half the day, then cut onto the steep and gnarly DH runs while keeping up with full bodied downhill bikes! This is all made possible due to shorter re-designed swing arm in the 'Walking Beam 4 Bar linkage', a slack 65 degree head tube, and low Bottom Bracket allowing the bike to rock steep gnarly sections, and corner harder with a low and balanced center of gravity. The low BB height at 13.5" and shorter wheelbase of 47.5" allow the bike to pop steep 'dirt jump' style lips and tranny's, while creating an agile bike throughout corners. The shorter wheelbase coupled with the shorter 2012 Chainstay lengths allow the bike to be playful and responsive on the big open corners and "manual worthy" straight shots. As far as a freerider and their ideal bike is concerned, I would say the new geometry and low standover make the Entourage a nimble slopestyle bike fit for the jump trails and occasional DH runs....
Over the course of my week with the Entourage, I tried riding everything around our local shred zone; even the pedal accessed Galbraith Mountain. The Entourage is a light enough bike to pedal up the mountain, but I would not suggest this bike to anyone looking for an All-Mountain set up. With the right upgrades you could get this bike closer to an all-mountain pedaler, but it is a bike designed for the occasional short pedal and long flowy descents. With that said, my Galbraith runs were fun on the flowy trails of Evolution, SST, Unemployment Line and Atomic Dog, but the pedally trails were a bit 'slug-ish' or required a ton of work to keep speed. My overall review of this bike was great, and I would recommend it for any rider looking to buy a Gravity influenced bike that isn't looking to pedal all the time, but does pedal to earn their turns for the fast and flowy Downhill or Jump trails.
Important Technologies encompassed on the Entourage:
Kona Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage
Frame Material Kona DH 7005 Aluminum 170mm Travel Rear Shock Fox DHX RC2 Fork RockShox Lyrik DH RC2 Solo Air 170mm w/20mm TA Crankarms FSA Gap Chainrings 36T B/B FSA BB-7000 Pedals Kona Wah Wah Chain SRAM PC-951 Freewheel SRAM PG 950 11-28 9 spd F/D E*13 SRS+ R/D SRAM X9 SGS Shifters SRAM X9 (RH only) Brake Avid Code 185R / 203F Headset FSA Orbit ZS No. 57 Handlebar Easton Havoc Stem Easton Havoc Seatpost Easton Havoc Front Hub 20mm Formula Disc Rear Hub Formula Disc 12mm x 150mm Spokes Sandvik Stainless 14g Rims Mavic EX729 Front Tire Maxxis Minion DHF 26x2.5 Rear Tire Maxxis High Roller 26x2.5 Paint Color Raw Shot-Peened Aluminum
MSRP: $4099.00 USD
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Photos by Colin Wiseman
