Last season, we already liked the Satori in the riding fun criterion. For 2013, the bike was given an anabolic steroid treatment and now rolls onto the test track with a fat 34 mm fork, telescopic seatpost and more powerful brakes. Well, muscles are heavier than fat - 15 kilos of action weight (five kilos of heavy wheels!) are heavy even in this league (and out of the question for ambitious touring riders). Manoeuvring through the trees is just as far from the bike as the Strava KOM. Climbing is fun thanks to the successful geometry, it just takes longer. When you get onto the trail, the Satori is hardly followed by any other bike. Full speed ahead, levelling rocks, landing full, enduro style instead of mountain goat. The equipment with the grippy tyres matches this.
ConclusionAt home downhill: Kona's Satori is a brute riding machine for difficult terrain. Unfortunately too heavy for sporting ambitions.
PLUS Five frame sizes, lifetime warranty, sensibly equipped. Stable downhill ride, plenty of suspension travel
MINUS Very heavy bike (fork, frame, wheels), not very agile, tight gearing
The alternative
The new 26-inch Kitsune model was derived from the Satori, offers 130/120 mm travel and is presumably significantly lighter and therefore more suitable for all-mountain riding than the Satori. Price: 2599 euros.
