The Mahuna strikes that perfect balance of mountain bike and all-around fun rig. Its 29” wheels easily roll over obstacles and provide a smooth, predictable ride. The fork features 100mm of smooth travel and together with the 29” wheels, helps keep bumps in check. You have complete control over stopping with powerful hydraulic disc brakes. An 11-speed drivetrain makes quick work of tough hills ensuring the Mahuna is as fun going up as it is going down.
“The Kona Mahuna is a solid, playful hardtail for a great price”
– Bicycling Mag
And this is how the Mahuna got the best in test award from MBR Magazine "The latest Kona Mahuna 29er quickly proved to be the class act in the shop bought category of our best hardtail of the year test, 2022.From the very first pedal stroke, the Mahuna felt dialled. And on closer inspection it’s easy to see why. It has the slackest head angle on test, so the steering feels calm and controlled without being so heavy as to feel laboured.
A low standover enhances the Mahuna’s agility
It also has the longest reach measurement, so there’s plenty of room in the cockpit to manoeuvre. This sense of freedom is enhanced further by the shortest seat tube and ample standover clearance. And thinking ahead, the shorter seat tube will also allow you to fit a dropper post with an increased amount of drop. And while longer chainstays aren’t really en vogue, Kona uses them to great effect to provide a very balanced ride. In fact, the Mahuna is the only bike in the entire test to have a wheelbase measurement that even approaches a modern full suspension trail bike, and it is so much better for it.
RockShox Judy fork is air sprung and delivers 100mm of controlled travel
Suspension
We’ve been pretty vocal about capping travel to 120/130mm on hardcore hardtails to limit big swings in the dynamic geomery as the fork compresses. And while we stand by that for higher-end bikes with beefier forks with more sophisticated damping, 100mm seems to be the sweet spot at this price point.
As such, the RockShox Judy on the Mahuna delivers just enough suspension to take the edge of things and maintain steering control without upsetting the overall balance of the bike. Being air-spung it can accommodate a wide range of rider weights too, and the externally adjustable rebound damping can be set to match the spring rate.
The 11sp Shimano Deore clutch derailleur gives a whisper silent ride
Components
With a wide 760mm XC/BC handlebar, steering control on the Kona is second to none. And much as we liked the extra cushioning of the soft rubber grips, because they are not a lock on design that actually clamps to the handlebar, they will start spinning at the slightest sign of rain.
Interestingly, the Tektro disc brakes on the Kona had more stopping power than on the Trek or Whyte, and we chalked that up to the unique combination of the Shimano Centre Lock rotors providing more bite with the two-finger Tektro levers.
Square-taper cranks are the biggest let down in the spec. Cable entry port lets you upgrade to an internal dropper post.
Kona one-ups Whyte by fitting 2.35in Maxxis Forekaster tyres front and rear, and while the open tread pattern isn’t as predictable as, say, a Maxxis Minion, it’s still the best tyre combo in this category by a country mile. In fact, the only blemish on an otherwise stellar build kit is the three-piece square taper chainset.
Kona’s modern geometry pays off with composed, exploitable handling
Performance
Big, bold and beautiful, the Kona Mahuna doesn’t simply talk the 29er hardtail talk, it has the swagger to match. Weight distribution feels very well balanced, so it’s super easy to load the front end of the bike through the pedals, rather than constantly having to remember to weight the handlebar. And this has advantages in every situation, not simply when climbing.
The Mahuna has impeccable trail manners
Stability does come at the expense of agility though, but it’s a trade-off that we think riders of any level will benefit from, especially given that it’s the surefooted nature of the Kona that lets you ride faster, take more chances and roll through the biggest mistakes largely unscathed.
Shorter travel fork keeps the front end keen in spite of the small diameter upper tubes
As such, the Mahuna is a quality bike that you’ll want to upgrade as your riding progresses. And with an inline dropper post, the saddle will be a little further forward, but the cockpit has enough space to handle it, and this will make the Kona even more of a mountain goat.
Don’t let the laid back Hawaiian names fool you; Kona means business with its 2022 Mahuna 29er hardtail. The geometry and riding position are both sorted, the specification is dialled and as a result the ride quality is exemplary for a sub £1k bike. Especially given all of the backup and support that comes with an extensive dealer network. Yes, the square-taper chainset is a chink in its otherwise faultless armour, but given that it’s also £50 cheaper than the Whyte 429, we’re happy to let that go as we were so impressed by the overall handling of the Mahuna.
Details
Frame:6061 butted aluminium
Fork:RockShox Judy Silver TK, 51mm offset, 100mm travel
Wheels:Formula/Shimano 100/135mm hubs, WTB ST i27 TCS rims, Maxxis Forekaster 29x2.35in tyres
Drivetrain:Samox 28t, 175mm chainset, Shimano Deore M5100 1x11sp derailleur and shifter, Shimano Deore 11-51t cassette
Brakes:Tektro HD-M275 2-piston, 180/160mm Shimano rotors
Components:Kona XC/BC 760mm bar, Kona XC 60mm stem, Kona Thumb post, Kona XC saddle
Sizes:S, M, L, XL
Weight:14.6kg (32.19lb)
Contact:konaworld.com
Size tested:L
Rider height:5ft 11in
Head angle:66.5°
Seat angle:75.3°
Effective seat angle:75.3°
BB height:304mm
Chainstay:450mm
Front centre:765mm
Wheelbase:1,215mm
Down tube:730mm
Seat tube:440mm
Top tube:630mm
Reach:465mm"
