REASONS TO BUY
Sharp handling
Precise
Excellent on flow trails
REASONS TO AVOID
Harsh rear end
Jarring over rough terrain
Kona Big Honzo Review
A stout and precise trail bike that shines on flow trails and suffers on rough terrain
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
RELATED: Best Hardtail Mountain Bike
Our Verdict
The Kona Big Honzo is a sharp-handling hardtail with a decisively stiff feel. The Maxxis Rekon 2.8-inch tires are responsive, provide a small element of cushion, and allow riders to change lines quickly. Cornering abilities are precise on mellow and flowy terrain. The Big Honzo is a respectable climber in and out of the saddle so long as the trail surface is smooth. Things get rough over chunky terrain. The short chainstays and stiff frame design translate the trail surface directly to the rider beyond normal levels for a plus-sized hardtail. This results in a particularly harsh and jarring ride over rocks. The build kit is respectable, but weak brakes and fork are two striking lowlights. Riders who want a responsive and nimble hardtail might like the Big Honzo, just be prepared for a very jarring ride over rocks and roots.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Kona Big Honzo sees some tweaks for the 2021 model year. First, the price drops $100 to $1,699. This bicycle now runs a longer-travel 130mm fork, WTB Ranger tires, and a 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. April 2021
Three professional mountain bike testers rode the Kona Big Honzo and Devinci Kobain against our reigning hardtail champion, the Specialized Fuse. We spent weeks aboard these squish-less bikes to determine the relative ride characteristics of each rig.
With no suspension linkages to worry about, riders can have a blast splashing around.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Fun Factor
The Big Honzo's sharp handling makes for a reasonably fun ride. The frame geometry inspires plenty of playful maneuvers. The catch? This bike relies on the right terrain to provide a grin-inducing experience.
Short, 417mm, chainstays allow riders to lift the front wheel with ease. Given the short rear end, riders can load up the back wheel and hop over obstacles. The Big Honzo is a blast on flow trails and jump lines. Carving through the berms and pumping over rolls is effective. Despite the 2.8" rubber, this bike still manages to maintain an agile feel. The Big Honzo is in the same ballpark as the snappy Santa Cruz Chameleon which makes you feel like you're riding a dirt jump bike.
As fun as flow trails are, this bike can dish out a beating on technical or rough trails. We will cover this phenomenon in more detail in the Downhill Performance section, but it is not fun when your bike feels like a jackhammer on the slightest sense of chop.
The 2.8 Maxxis Rekons offer sharp handling.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Downhill Performance
We are somewhat disappointed in the downhill performance of the Big Honzo. This bike can't stand up to being ridden hard like the Specialized Fuse 29. While the components were sub-par and didn't help the cause, our main qualms were with the unrelenting frame design.
The Big Honzo makes the small to moderate size hits feel much more substantial. The short and stout chainstays and seat stays are so rigid that they translate the trail surface very directly. Dropping tire pressure only helps a little bit. This bike beats you up on rocky or rooty terrain. Finishing up a 10-mile ride makes your body feel like it just underwent a much more substantial endeavor. The larger volume tires and slightly more forgiving rear end on the Specialized Fuse are a bit more user-friendly.
With the ultra-stiff rear end, impacts can be a little rough on the Big Honzo.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The body positioning aboard the Big Honzo is interesting. The 450mm reach measurement is on the longer end of hardtails we've tested. That said, it still feels relatively cramped. Despite having a longer wheelbase than the Devinci Kobain, the Big Honzo feels short. When carrying speed over rocks, the short feel and stiff rear end can be disconcerting. It feels like the rider might get tossed straight over the bars at any time.
The components on this $1,799 Big Honzo fit the price tag reasonably well. What's the catch? Riders looking to push their riding skills and charge may have serious problems with the Shimano M315 brakes. There is very little stopping power and the performance when wet is miserable. The RockShox Recon fork isn't excellent, but it works well enough.
The Kona provides a nice climbing position, sitting or standing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Climbing Performance
The Big Honzo is a reliable climber with solid geometry. Motoring up sweeping and smooth singletrack is pleasant. The theme of harsh rear-end feedback persists on the climb; this forces riders to get up out of the saddle to pedal through rocks. The components found on our test bike worked well on the ascent.
The Big Honzo has a comfortable and relatively upright climbing position. Here the cockpit feels pleasantly compact despite having a sizeable reach. Steering is direct, and the front wheel stays on the ground through uphill switchbacks. Our medium test bike weighs in at 29 lbs 6 oz. It never feels bulky, sluggish, or hefty on the ascent. Having the rear axle short and tucked into the BB can sometimes lead to an unstable rear end that causes riders to “loop out” under pedaling forces. The Big Honzo rear end has plenty of traction.
The short and stiff rear end makes climbing rough terrain jarring. You need to get up and out of the saddle and power over it. Staying seated provides a harsh and unpleasant bounce. Your best bet is to stand up, gas it, and hope the rock garden is short. This is similar to the very stiff rear end of the Ibis DV9 that can also feel quite harsh over chatter on the ascents.
The SRAM NX 1x11 with a 30:42 climbing gear worked well. The Maxxis Rekon 2.8-tries hooked up nicely in all conditions.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Build
Our Big Honzo test bike retails for $1,799. The build kit is serviceable and offers a few key highlights. There are also some less than impressive specifications.
The RockShox Recon is far from a nice fork. But it works.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Fork
The 120mm RockShox Recon RL fork has 32mm steel stanchions. The only external adjustments are low-speed compression/lockout and several clicks of rebound. There is no mistaking the Recon for a RockShox Pike or Fox 32 or 34, but it works.
Wheels and Tires
Our test bike rolls on WTB Scraper rims with a 40mm inner diameter. The rims are laced to Shimano Deore hubs. The wide rims make for a fantastic tire profile. Shimano Deore hubs are fine, but the freehub engagement is poor.
We like the precision that the 2.8-inch Maxxis Rekon tires offer.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Maxxis Rekon 27.5 x 2.8 tires are a nice specification. After testing a substantial amount of plus-sized tires, we much prefer the responsiveness and the more aggressive feel of 2.8-inch tires compared to the wider 3.0-inch options. The Rekon has defined and reliable shoulder knobs that add to the responsive and confident feeling of the narrower tires.
The SRAM NX 1x11 drivetrain proved once again to be reliable.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Groupset
Our Big Honzo was outfitted with a SRAM NX 1x11 drivetrain with a 30x42t climbing gear. SRAM NX has proven to be a reliable option on many test bikes. Shifting remained solid throughout testing, and the derailleur never came out of adjustment.
Shimano M315 brakes lack braking power and require a hefty squeeze.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Shimano M315 brakes are bad. When the trail gets steep, and the speedometer rises, it can take a substantial squeeze to slow you down. There is no noticeable brake pump or fade, just a general lack of power.
Handlebars, Seat and Seatpost
The Big Honzo comes stock with a 150mm Trans-X cable-actuated, stealth, dropper post. This dropper has proven reliable on multiple test bikes. Cable tension can be thrown off when adjusting the saddle height. Once correctly set, the post functioned well.
The wallet-friendly Trans-X dropper post worked well.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Kona BC aluminum bars are a hefty 800mm wide with a 35.0mm clamp diameter. A slightly narrower bar might be nice for folks who frequent tight and narrow trails.
Build Options
Our Kona Big Honzo is one of two available 27.5+ build kits. It retails for $1,799.
The Big Honzo DL sells for $2,399. This build kit features a more burly RockShox Revelation RC fork with burly 35mm stanchions. The shifter is upgraded to a SRAM GX as opposed to the NX on our test bike. Braking duties are updated to the SRAM Level T brakes. The tires, dropper post, cockpit, cranks, and rear derailleur all remain the same. If you have a little extra cash on hand, it might be beneficial to bump up to the DL build kit.
Value
Reliable performance meets a reliable build kit with the Big Honzo. It is easy to call this a decent value. While some of the components are lacking, the all-important tire specification is solid. It can be difficult to find a trail-worthy hardtail at this price with a dropper post; the Big Honzo is exactly that.
The Honzo is also available in steel and carbon fiber in the 29-inch version.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Suggested Upgrades
The Big Honzo is a solid buy. That said, there are a few components that we would recommend upgrading sooner than later.
We would ditch the Shimano M315 brakes right away. If you ride fast or steep trails, these brakes are underpowered. Many online retailers have great deals on brakes. A set of Shimano Deore brakes can be purchased for about $80 and Shimano SLX for approximately $140.
A more pricey endeavor would be to address the lackluster RockShox Recon fork. The high-end RockShox Pike can be found online for approximately $650. If that is a little too spendy, the RockShox Yari can fit the 2.8-inch tires and can be found online for about $575. The Yari has the same chassis as the RockShox Lyrik but has a downgraded damper.
Smooth terrain is the most fun terrain aboard the Devinci.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
The Kona Big Honzo is a reliable hardtail that excels on smooth and flowy terrain. Sharp handling and a short rear end make this bike tremendously fun carving, flowing, and pumping down the hill. Rocky and choppy terrain is far less pleasant as the stiff frame translates the jarring forces very directly. For $1,799, this bike is a solid value.
—
Pat Donahue, Clark Tate, Joshua Hutchens
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