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Kona’s Entourage Closer to Production, Bass is Ready To Rip

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More and more freeride, slopestyle and DJ riders are looking for the one bike. Similar to the point of an All Mountain bike, the new crop of short to medium travel freeride bike are meant to be capable of all sorts of jumps and out of bounds riding. When riders talk about the one bike, what they really mean is the one bike that gets it done on the dirt jumps, slopestyle course, big mountain freeride, and downhill courses as well.

When it comes to riders looking for a more dirt jump oriented ride, Kona offers up their Bass which is understandably Paul Basagoitia’s signature bike. For 2011 Kona shortened the rear end, added a tapered head tube, and made some spec changes all in the name of making it completely shred-able right out of the box. To highlight that fact, the latest video that was shot, edited and produced by Trent Palmer, features Paul doing just that.

Check out the latest on the All New Kona Entourage after the break!


If you haven’t seen it already, check out the video of Graham Agassiz torture testing the new Entourage prototype in Kamloops and Cashe Creek.

To address this need for an all purpose freeride bike, Kona is working on the the all new 170mm, all-purpose Entourage. The Entourage is an evolution in the design of freeride bikes as it actually features chainstays that are shorter than the original Bass, yet is a 170mm travel bike that weighs in around 33-36 pounds. However don’t let the weight fool you as the Entourage features massive main pivot bearings which have 40mm ODs and run on 17mm axles. This bike is built for the long haul and anything you can throw at it in between. In addition to some stout pivots, the Entourage features the same 150 x 12mm rear axle as found on the operator line up which is sure to keep the rear end of the bike from flexing, and in a nod to bike shops, means one fewer set of parts to have to keep in stock.

Kona is quick to point out that this is not a long travel All Mountain, pedal bike. The slack geometry with a low BB makes this is a purpose built, mini-Dh bike, a bike that is meant for seriously challenging terrain, yet is more agile and nimble than a full on DH bike. It also should make for a great DH rig for smaller, petite riders.

Interestingly, Kona points out that they specifically chose a round down tube to prevent the formation of dents that is so common with today’s flat bottomed, square tubed DH bikes.

 

Will the Entourage be the new standard for a do everything freeride bike? We’ll have to wait and see.

 

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