Last Thursday, I came home to a large Kona box on my front doorstep. Inside this magical brown box was a bike that promises to climb like a 6″ travel all mountain bike but descend like a 7.5″ freeride rig. This bike is the Kona Coilair Supreme equipped with the new Magic Link suspension system. Can this Kona live up to the stoutness that Kona has built its name around? Check below to find out more…

More about the Magic Link from Kona

From KonaWorld.com

The Magic Link isn’t a huge departure from our 4-Bar system. In fact, it uses all of the same design elements of 4-Bar, with one major tweak. The Magic Link is, in its’ simplest terms, a “fifth bar”—an additional moving part that enables a wider range of performance virtues on our Enduro/Freeride line of dual suspension bicycles. For this mid-to-long travel range of bikes—our Coilair series—we felt the 4-Bar wasn’t giving us all that we needed. We wanted a bike that could both climb exceptionally well and descend like a demon, without using any gimmicks or external adjustments. A bike that could adapt to the terrain inherently…by itself. By making further innovations to our tried and true 4-Bar system, we feel we’ve found the solution. A bike that can do it all.

A. Imagine a mid-to-long travel bike that’s designed to excel when it’s climbing or pedaling really hard: 6 inches of relatively stiff, linear rear travel with steeper head and seat angles and raised seat height.

B. Now imagine that same bike when it’s going downwards, braking or hitting big bumps. Not ideal, right? Well imagine that same bike has the ability to change its rear travel to be more progressive, with softer suspension in the initial stages of travel. Not only that, imagine the travel on this bike could grow from 6-inches to 7.4-inches, while its geometry changed to slacker head and seat angles, with an improved wheel path.

Sounds too good to be true? We’re not done yet. Now imagine this change could happen automatically, with no need for the rider to adjust anything, unaware that these changes are happening constantly and seamlessly. Sounds like magic, right?

C. It’s not. By incorporating what can best be described as a “fifth” arm in our 4-Bar platform— a spring that connects the bottom shock mount to the seat tube enabling the bottom rear shock mount to move—we’re able to achieve all of the aforementioned riding characteristics. The ability to climb like a short travel XC bike and descend like a downhill bike all in one, no switches or tools necessary. No sacrificing one for the other. These aren’t two separate modes, either. The Magic Link is constantly reacting to all of the forces acting on it, and it’s not like an on/off switch. It’s never “stuck” in one mode. It just does what you need. Sometimes it’s in between modes, or cycling between modes, but there’s no sudden feeling of change, such as a sudden alteration of the bike’s geometry. The rider is unaware of what’s going on, just having fun, riding like a bat out of hell, up and down. For more on the Kona Coilair Supreme and the new Magic Link…visit KonaWorld.com

What is a initial intro post without a ton of pictures? Check below these shots of the Kona Coilair Supreme for my initial thoughts and a video tour of this new sled from Kona…

More from Mountain Biking by 198 on the Kona Coilair

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Out of the box, this bike is like nothing else. All of the linkage that puts together the new Magic Link from Kona is a sight to look at and brings attention at your local trailhead. The bright orange and white add to the bling appeal and “what the hell is that” reactions. The Coilair Supreme is the highest stage of the Coilair lineup coming in equipped with the best am components from Shimano, Race Face and Mavic. The XT/XTR combo combined with solid Race Face Atlas pieces make for a performing package that can take the abuse that Kona’s are known for.

This bike requires a very specific setup procedure (manual provided with the mountain bike) and some trial and error is going to be a must. With the growing trend of longer travel, pedalable bikes…the Kona Coilair Supreme with the Magic Link is an interesting proposition for riders looking for something more. Stay tuned for more info on this unique sled as we put it through its paces. Can this Kona Coilair Supreme take the abuse that Kona has built its brand name around? There is only one way to find out…