Kona Magic Link Active Geometry - Intuitive Adaptability

Download Magic Link Illustrated Manuals (PDF): CADABRA | COILAIR

With the ability to change geometry, travel length and suspension performance based entirely on rider and trail input, Kona's patented Magic Link Active Geometry is one of the most intuitive and adaptable rear-travel suspension platforms ever invented.

By using both a main air shock and a coil-sprung auxiliary shock, Magic Link is able to deliver relatively quick, linear, cross-country-oriented suspension that's ideally suited for climbing, and, without flicking a switch or making any external adjustments, Magic Link changes to a longer, more progressive, noticeably plush suspension designed to take on big hits and technical terrain. Here's how:

• Climbing: Effective pedal pressure keeps the Magic Link's auxiliary shock from engaging, so the rider is only using the main shock. This results in good pedaling efficiency by enabling comfortable geometry and firmer, more linear suspension characteristics. Everything you need for good power transfer.
• Cross-country: Tire drag, faster corners and bigger bumps cause the Magic Link's auxiliary shock to move deeper into its travel. Chainstays elongate, the saddle and bottom bracket lower, and the headtube slackens, all amounting to an agile, confident riding position, with increased wheel traction and plusher travel.
• Descents: When the main shock and the auxiliary shock fully engage, Magic Link lets the bike's geometry slacken considerably, enabling the rider to position themselves further behind the bike, with a lower center of gravity and extended rear triangle for increased stability. Rear wheel travel also increases, and the rear shock becomes more progressive to avoid bottom out.
• Variable Spring Rate: One of Magic Link's more unique characteristics is its use of two shocks. The result is a highly adaptable variable spring rate that enables the bike's rear suspension to be quick and short on the climb, and slower and more plush during the descent. Two shocks working together in series also allows the rear wheel to pop over big, sharp bumps with virtually no resistance. Because the main shock becomes more progressive as the link engages, it won't blow through the travel or bottom out. It's important to remember that the auxiliary shock is in a constant state of flux depending on pedal (rider) and trail (terrain) input.
• Extended Travel: Finally, Magic Link also has the ability to lengthen rear travel. In our Cadabra models, travel ranges from 100mm in climbing mode to 160mm when fully engaged. In our CoilAir series travel ranges from 125mm to 200mm. In our 2+2 cross-country models, travel ranges from 50mm to 100mm.

Magic Link is the preferred ride of our Kona Team Enduro Riders Karim Amour, Matt Slaven and Alex Stock.

Kona 7005 Aluminum

Kona 7005 Aluminum is used extensively throughout our fleet of mountain, asphalt and road bicycles. A tough, durable, affordable, light alloy, Kona 7005 delivers fantastic, reliable performance that lasts for thousands of rides. It is, by far, the ultimate aluminum tubing on the market today. Much of our 7005 tubing is butted and/or formed, meaning the tubing's wall thickness can be increased or decreased, as well as shaped, allowing us to fine-tune a particular frame's ride characteristics depending on its intended application.

Hydroformed Tubing

Hydroforming is a tube-shaping technology that uses high-pressure liquid to form the shape of a tube and align its grain structure. Quite simply, the technology delivers a sound structure and ride performance like no other tubing in the world. The process results in a seamless, continuous, aligned piece of metal-right down to the fiber structure itself.

Hydroformed tubing is especially advantageous at weld points where tubes can be flared to increase weld areas, adding strength without adding weight in the form of extra gussets. The result is a strong, flawless frame with great lateral stability, durability and responsiveness. Not to mention, it looks real sharp too.

Internal Headset

By having the headset bearing located inside the headtube (called zero stack), rather than the top and bottom, we are able to achieve a number of advantages when it comes to front-end stiffness, durability and overall riding performance. The major benefit of an internal headset is the extra layer of protection it provides the bearings against the elements. Additionally, the bearings are commonly available angular contact bearings, which are easily and inexpensively replaced. An internal headset also reduces stack height, so the height of the stem and bars are more adjustable, giving the rider the best fit possible.

Tapered Headtube

For 2012, you'll find a large majority of Kona bicycles featuring zero stack, tapered headtubes. From cyclocross to cross-country, 29ers right through to longer-travel dual-suspension models, like our Entourage and Operator, a tapered headtube provides more support at the intersection of the toptube and downtube, greatly improving stability and overall performance.

The design also offers a more solid interface between forks with tapered steertubes and the bicycle frame itself. More girth at the bottom of the headtube better distributes shock force, prolonging the bearing life of the headset itself. The inherent strength of its triangular design also means a stronger steering position and improved balance, giving the rider more control in rough terrain. A zero stack, tapered headtube also puts strength where the load is going-into the lower headset cup-maximizing bearing durability where it's needed.

Kona Sizing and Fit

Sizing and fit have always been one of the main strengths of the Kona Ride. With more stock sizes available than any other bike company, our size scale is designed to be continuous from platform to platform and is easy to understand from the perspective of the consumer because our simplified system allows easy fine-tuning that creates a perfect marriage of bike and rider.

On our Trail/All-Mountain and XC Race bikes, we feature longer toptubes coupled with shorter stems and slightly shorter headset stack heights. The steps between sizes are at half-inch to one-inch increments, with up to seven sizes that can range from 14 to 22 inches on many models. In the asphalt range, size gaps are at even 15 to 20mm steps. There are still up to six sizes, from 46cm to 61cm on most models.

When it's called for, seat posts are either offset or straight to maximize the reach and power output of the rider. More importantly, our comprehensive bike sizing allows Kona dealers and riders to determine their fit more easily from model to model and category to category.

Lifetime Warranty

Kona warrants to the original owner that their new Kona bicycle frame purchased from an authorized Kona dealer shall be free of defective materials or workmanship for the lifetime of ownership by the original owner. This warranty is limited to five years for carbon fiber frames and three years for electric pedal-assist frames.

During this warranty period, Kona shall repair or replace, at its sole option, the bicycle frame if Kona determines the frame is defective and subject to this limited warranty. The original owner shall pay all labor and shipping charges connected with the repair or replacement of the bicycle frame. Please see the Kona owner's manual, provided with your bicycle, for additional information.