Given the popularity of long-forked hardtails in the UK, it's initially surprising that more major manufacturers don't make such a thing. Most of the big names are still ploughing a vaguely XC-shaped furrow in the hardtail market - you might get the odd riser bar or pair of fat tyres, but it'll still be 100mm up front and racy angles. This is a less surprising decision when you realise that pretty much nowhere else in the world buys UK-style trail hardtails - if you're a global brand it's a big ask to develop a range of bikes that you may only be able to shift in one market.
For 2010, though, Kona has added its name to the list with three bikes specifically designed for the UK. Longer forks, bigger brakes, larger clearances and mud-friendly full-length cable outers all feature, while the zeitgeist is further surfed by the more expensive two of the three bikes being made of steel.
Top of the range is the Buffer. Tubing is described as "Kona Chromoly" so could be almost anything, while the fork is a 120mm travel RockShox Recon SL with a 20mm Maxle for front-end stoutitude. Components are mostly Shimano Deore, with a rear mech upgrade to XT, while the wheels are shod with the borderline-ubiquitous 2.35in Kenda Nevegal tyres. The Buffer will cost £1,200.
For £300 less, the Kona Blink uses the same frame as the Buffer but kits it out with slightly cheaper bits. The transmission is still mostly Deore, but the rear mech only gets bumped to SLX level and the brakes are Shimano's "non-series" 486. The main difference is the fork, which is a 120mm Tora SL with a regular QR.
Entry level for the UK-specific range is the Bolt, which uses a tweaked version of Kona's 6061 aluminium Blast frame kitted out with a Suntour Radon 120mm fork, Deore/SLX transmission and Tektro Auriga Comp brakes. The Bolt comes in at £650.
All three bikes are available in seven sizes from 14 to 22in and will be in Kona dealers from March.
