Takeaway: A capably versatile bike for an impressive price.
- WTB Trail Boss tires bite into dirt to keep you planted.
- Snappy 1x 10-speed Shimano Deore has a moderately wide range ready for all but the steepest pitches.
- Stable and slack geometry lets you take on techie downhills with just a 100mm fork.
- Doesn’t come with a dropper post.
Price: $999
Weight: 31.3 lb. (S)
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On paper, the Kona Mahuna looks like what it is: A budget friendly, progressive hardtail ready to roll some singletrack. But under our legs, it offered a surprisingly lively ride quality that we wouldn’t have anticipated by looking at it. In building the Mahuna, Kona made some really smart spec and design choices—aggressive tires and slack geometry, to name a couple—that come together to create a responsive, eager ride that feels lighter than its 31 pounds.
5 Things We Love About the Kona Mahuna
Efficient Brakes
Smooth and crisp without any sudden jerking.
Solid, Playful Ride
The aluminum frame is sturdy and nimble.
Dirt-Loving Tires
Wide WTB Trail Boss tires grip it and rip it.
100mm of Travel
A RockShox 30 Silver TK Solo Air Fork takes the edge off.
QR Seatpost
Allows for on-the-fly or pre-descent adjustments.
With a longer, slacker geometry than many hardtails, the Mahuna handled almost everything we threw at it, including some of the most technical, rocky trails in our area of eastern Pennsylvania. The slightly longer reach and higher stack puts the rider farther back from the handlebar, in a more comfortable, upright position that allows you to tackle rowdier descents. The 68 degree head tube angle is still consistent with XC geometry, keeping the front wheel tucked in closer to the handlebar for more responsive handling. And as it is, the Mahuna doesn’t feel like overkill for a cruise along the bike path, either.
Frame: Aluminum
Fork: RockShox 30 Silver TK Solo Air 100mm
Drivetrain: 10-speed Shimano Deore
Brakes: Shimano Hydraulic (rotors: 180mm front, 160mm rear)
Chainring: 28t
Cassette: 11-42t
Headset: FSA No.57B
Handlebar: Kona XC/BC Riser
Stem: Kona XC
Seatpost: Kona Thumb 31.6mm
Seat clamp: Kona QR
Crank arms: FSA Alpha Drive 1x
Front hub: Formula 100x9mm
Rear hub: Shimano 135x10mm
Rims: WTB ST i27 TCS 2.0
Tires: WTB Trail Boss 29x2.25”
Grips: Kona Key Grip Slip on
Saddle: Kona XC
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
I rode the Mahuna on some tricky singletrack with dramatic pitches, and found it’s best suited for steady, consistent climbs free of big rocks and step-ups. Even with a chainring on the smaller end (28-teeth), the lightest gear on the 11-42 cassette still felt a bit too hard on steep, tricky ascents, which was where the weight of the bike started to really show by slowing us down. A few bigger cogs on the cassette might have helped, but that’s an easy upgrade should you chose to make it later.
The tightly-packed, boxy tread on the WTB Trail Boss tires contributes to the Mahuna’s lighter ride feel. At high speeds, they roll fast but are quick to bite into dirt when you stomp the pedals or pull the brakes. The chunky tread on the edges helps keep you upright and planted through corners and off-camber sections, too. These help make the bike a lot more responsive to sudden input, meaning you’ll spend less time spinning out or sliding and make good use of your power. Hardy aluminum rims hold up over rocky and rooted trails and are much less susceptible to damage than carbon.
The Mahuna also comes with tubeless-compatible rims and internal dropper post routing, giving you more opportunities to make it a bit friendlier on rough terrain in the future. If you’re looking to shred some dirt or cruise gravel, the Kona Mahuna is a smart investment to get out there, and has the flexibility for upgrades if your needs grow.
Riley Missel is an experienced road racer, mountain biker, national champion on the track, and a former Bicycling editor. She is a USA Cycling-certified Level 1 coach, a loud and very stoked Spin instructor, and she will definitely stop the ride to pet that dog.
