I know I'm a luddite and incurable cynic but I reckon this is asking for trouble.  I reckon it will be a pig to get set up correctly and most will end up back at the shop due to cock-ups, user error or people just not knowing how to get the best from it.

Gimmick anyone?

It sounds heavy to me and Konas never seem to be particularly light for their class to begin with... On the other hand, Kona have been sticking with the same suspension design for so long that I'm slightly more convinced that this isn't a gimmick than if a more flighty company had produced it. I kind of think that this must be pretty impressive to persuade Kona to abandon their faux-bar comfort zone!

It's the future

Sell your old bikes now

I'm sure it will all work, and probably doesn't weigh much etc.

I'm just concerned on how it will feel, and even handle.

Having tried a number of different variable travel/variable angle concepts in the past, its always a case of 'same bike - different behaviour'. Indeed, thats the point - to tweak the bikes behaviour to suit the current circumstances.

The thing is, bikes like my Nitrous handle differently in their 'shorter steeper' mode, and can be ridden in a different manner than the 'longer slacker' mode. As long as I know which I'm using, I can ride accordingly.

The Kona however appears to be able to change its characteristics on its own, mid corner. I'm sure you'd get used to it but I suspect it will be disconcerting at first to suddenly find the steering tighten or slacken.......

Unfortunately dave, that's the only pic we have of the bike. if i had gone to the kona launch we would have a lot better photos of the Magic link gubbins. we'll try and get some more photos as soon as we see one in the flesh

Dave, if we see the bikes in real life you get a picture from the other side. Manufacturer's shots are generally from the chainset side.

Can you wait until Tuesday?

In the meantime - fully forward:

And fully backward:

Definitely in the "wait and see" camp here. I think it'll stand or fall on how predictable and controlled the shift is. They'll have had to work hard to keep everything stiff, too - the end of the shock is usually a particularly firmly-anchored bit, even if it's between two parts of the suspension in a Pace or Fusion style.

If it shifts according to braking and pedalling (one way or the other) what happen when you have to brake on the flat  just before going into a steep uphill.. Or more importantly what happens when you're pedalling downhill.. people do do this don't they, or is it just me?? Whats wrong with moving forward or back on your seat..? Change for changes sake as we are increasinglly seeing more and more of in the cycle industry....

4Assedmonkey.... yeah gimmick. Next year they'll be bring out rounder wheels.. whatever next!

what happen when you have to brake on the flat  just before going into a steep uphill.. Or more importantly what happens when you're pedalling downhill..

Well, these would be the questions. I'm not sure who brakes going into hills, but I'd like to think that the response of the Link is proportional to the force, so light braking at low speed isn't going to affect it much. Similarly, pedalling at speed downhill isn't going to put as much force into the system as pedalling slowly uphill. And of course, if it's the sort of hill you're pedalling down then you might not want things to be all slack and soft anyway. But like I say, wait and see. I mean, I'm not sure I like the idea of things changing by themselves, but if they do it in a predictable way then that should be fine. It's certainly an interesting idea, seems churlish to dismiss it based on a couple of pictures (one of which hides the mechanism )

Well, I too would attempt to pull the theory apart if it were the concept of anyone but Kona, who fall into the "if it ain't broke..." camp.

 I still can't get my head around how it works.  I have visions of a heaving and pitching nightmare when bowling into a berm and pedalling my way out.  I'm sure the reality is different, but the thought that the geometry could slacken/steepen depending on my stance on the bike gives me a cold sweat.  

 I am rarely solely pedalling or solely hanging off the back of the bike descending, my position on the bike is as fluid as the terrain I am riding on. 

 Good luck to Kona for trying something new though, I'll be waiting for definitive tests with baited breath.

That’s the other thought I had.  Where would you be riding where a heavy-ish 6” travel bike on climbs needs to become a 7.5” travel bike for the downs – especially with the same fork on?

I can’t think of many things I’d ride where I’d need more than a six inch susser anyway.  If it went from a taught 4” for climbs to a laid back 6” on the downs then I can kind of see a benefit.  As it is I don't see the reason for it.

Have you tried a Bionicon 4AM? A normal bike has to be a compromise for every situation, an adjustable frame actually makes more sense for a mountain bike. But of course it is in the execution.

There is an 'confidential' flash anim here that explains it:

magiclink

I think the travel increase is something of a secondary effect rather than a primary goal. Kona's pushing the geometry change and different suspension feel and then going, "Oh, by the way, you get more travel too". 4-6 would be handier in the UK, though, certainly. I'd imagine that if this one flies that it'll find its way on to other models for 2009...

the thought that the geometry could slacken/steepen depending on my stance on the bike

It changes according to pedalling, bump or brake forces. It doesn't know where your weight is. Assuming that I'm reading this blurb right