Full story found here…Kona blog entry on Bikemag.com.
Photos shot and provided by Alan Davis/Bikemag.com.

Brian Berthold, the man behind Therapy Components, which makes custom floating brake arm kits for full-suspension bikes, has teamed up with Kona this year to develop the brand new, highly unorthodox “Magic Link” bike.

The platform appears on new CoilAir models and the premise is simple: When climbing or pedaling on flat ground, the bike performs much like a traditional 6-inch-travel CoilAir. It’s not until you point the bike downhill, or get into aggressive terrain, that the “magic” happens.

The Magic Link itself is positioned in-line with the lower shock mount, and a secondary spring, tuned to rider weight and riding style, keeps the bike in its 6-inch orientation until more travel is called for. On significant impacts or while the force of the chain is not keeping the link in its neutral position, the magic link rotates backward relative to the shock, allowing the frame to open up into a full 7.4 inches of travel. When activated, the link also slackens the bike’s geometry.

So there you have it: a 6-inch travel bike that transforms into a 7.4-inch freeride machine when needed. We only got a quick taste of the new ride, but initial impressions were good. This seems to be one of the better pedaling 7-plus-inch bikes out there, although this is a highly specific bike designed for a highly specific rider. If you’re into drops and steep lines, but still find yourself having to climb back up the hill to access the goods, then this bike is worth checking out.

198′s Thoughts

That is a lot of linkage. In big hit situations, all of those mechanics make me nervous. I am also willing to bet, that if you are in the market for a 6 inch to 7 inch bike, you are already looking at compromising when it comes to climbing. I can’t see this bike climbing a whole lot better than anything in that market already. Efficient shocks that are either custom tuned or platformed should take care of most of the goal this bike is trying to achieve. Kona does build some burly dh/fr rigs, so they might already know it can handle the abuse, but I will wait to see some in the public’s hands before I am convinced. It also looks like a creaking nightmare with all of the pivots and bolts to maintain on a regular basis. Overall, I think this will bring a lot of publicity to Kona, but in the end…will just be another “suspension design of the day” and fade out.

Video on the Magic Link

Kona’s “Magic Link” Site

Photos shot and provided by Alan Davis/Bikemag.com.