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Slaven was sporting a fancy new prototype from Kona with a linkage unlike anything the brand has put out to date. Details are sparse, but rumor has it that we'll see a plastic version in the future…

Click next to see more Pro rides from the 2013 Oregon Enduro opener at Hood River.

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Even More Enduro Bikes from 2013 Hood River Oregon Enduro
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15 comments

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spadmike
13 years ago
I like the looks.
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chooofoojoo
13 years ago
Wonder how specialized will play with that shock yoke.
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b-kul
13 years ago
seriously. at least kona was smart and and made the shock non proprietary.
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donch15
13 years ago
How does that appear to be a non-proprietary shock?

It looks identical to what Specialized does and to use any off the shelf shock, you're going to have to take a dremel to it to make it work.
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chooofoojoo
13 years ago
Have you actually seen any of the latest-gen Spec. Stumpy or Enduro shocks? They have nothing close to a "dremel to make it work" eyelet (or in this case, lack thereof). It's a proprietary machined key-and-bolt interface.

The above Kona appears to be a sandwich-style interface likely using a proprietary mounting hardware in a standard eyelet shock. Still, I believe that Specialized will be all over this as far as patents go.
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donch15
13 years ago
I've owned 2 Enduros and 3 Stumpjumpers with this shock hardware/linkage....so yes, I have seen them.

You can certainly buy a standard shock and if you're handy with a dremel, make it work with the yoke linkage. I've seen it done. How do think PUSH was modifying Monarch Plus's to work on an Enduro?
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erwinmruiz
13 years ago
Love that water bottle
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buttbongo
13 years ago
Ya its like specialized but thank god they finally changing that old boring lawill kona design, no offense to joe lawill who did good in this race. Kona has been stuck at the design table for soooo long. Try anything just dont add two springs or stay with same old ass design.
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chooofoojoo
13 years ago
To my knowledge Kona has never implemented a Lawwill suspension design. Always linkage-driven single pivot. The Yeti, Schwinn and Rotec are the only brands that have used Mert's classic design. *EDIT* forgot about Tomac, they used a Lawwill rear end too.
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jeff.brines
13 years ago
I like it. What patents are being violated in this design though? Its not even an FSR bike. Its a linkage driven single pivot. Nothing new there...
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b-kul
13 years ago
probably none. it just the fact that it looks like a fsr yoke that will probably send spec to their lawyers. they have gone after less...
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chooofoojoo
13 years ago
Bear in mind that I was commenting in no way about the suspension design as a whole, just specifically about the rigidly mounted shock yoke. That is what will raise an eyebrow at Specialized.