KONA BIKES UNIT-X ¥145,000 (excl. tax)
The Unit series of full-rigid mountain bikes has been a staple in Kona’s lineup for a long time. While only the single-speed "Unit" model was available in Japan previously, the geared "Unit-X" was introduced last year.
Last year, we received many visits and inquiries from people looking for this Unit-X, but it sold out almost entirely both in stores and at the manufacturer through pre-orders, leaving many disappointed that they couldn't get their hands on one.
For those of you who have been waiting impatiently for the 2019 model to arrive, thank you very much for waiting! It has finally landed at our store as of late last year!
Combining supple Reynolds 520 chromoly steel with 27.5+ tires, it delivers the nimble ride quality of a hardtail. Despite being a rigid fork, the air volume of the 27.5+ tires provides excellent stability on descents.
The 1x front and 11-speed rear setup, now a classic combination, is simple and easy to maintain, making it ideal not just for trail riding, but also for bike packing and city riding where reliability is key. It features a SRAM NX 1x11 drivetrain to accommodate a wider range of uses.
The rear features a sliding dropout end, which is an attractive feature because it allows for easy conversion to a single-speed setup without needing a chain tensioner. For example, if you run into a rear derailleur accident during a trail ride, this system lets you maintain an accurate gear ratio and optimal chain tension to keep riding.
It comes equipped with internal routing on the seat tube for future dropper post installation, as well as mounts under the down tube and on the fork for bottle cages or "anything cages." The 44mm head tube also makes it possible to upgrade the rigid fork to a tapered suspension fork (100–120mm travel is recommended).
Furthermore, it is compatible with 29er tires in addition to the 27.5+, so if you have another set of wheels, you can enjoy the bike in various ways depending on your destination or purpose. It’s a bike that can transform into anything based on your imagination—it’s really up to you.
I, JUS, actually own last year's Unit-X model! For the 2018 RIDEALIVE Ina, I used it with 27.5+ wheels for bike packing and trail riding. And for OMM BIKE, the only race I take seriously, I switched to 29er wheels. By the way, I placed 7th in the Tokushima tournament! (Though that was 95% thanks to my buddy, Inocchi from Welldone.)
From city riding to a reliable partner on the trails, the Unit-X is a mountain bike that can accurately handle any situation!
It’s a top recommendation from Circles!