SPEC DECK

Zeron 35, 130mm travel (coil spring)

60mm/Kona Key slip-on

SEATPOST/SADDLE Sonder rigid/Sonder Abode

TranzX dropper/WTB Silverado Sport

Kona Thumb rigid/WTB Volt

DIMENSIONS

Sonder’s Frontier is responsive but stiffer and less damped-feeling than some all-day adventure rivals

Great handling and a smooth ride –worthy of a higher score if it wasn’t so rattly and noisy

Kona have nailed the ride, and good brakes and a low-slung frame boost confidence if you’re feeling frisky

KOThe three bikes here represent just how differently similar-looking hardtails can ride once you hit the dirt. In terms of capability and sheer fun, for dynamic riding on purpose-built trails, the Kona and GT feel leagues ahead of the Sonder. That’s partially to be expected, considering that Alpkit’s design intentions for the Frontier lean more towards all-day rides and bikepacking. However, we weren’t totally sold on its ride quality anywhere, either in terms of how easy it was to adapt to its steering and handling, or of its comfort and damping, since the frame feels a bit jarring over choppy ground.

GT’s Zaskar and Kona’s Kahuna, on the other hand, are both sorted bikes, albeit quite different beasts. The longer, calmerfeeling GT is much more capable on rougher, more technical trails and gets closer towards an aggro-hardtail attitude. It bombs downhill and hits gap jumps brilliantly, and has a stable, safe feel to it, while still being chuckable. Sadly, it’s one of the noisiest bikes we’ve tested for ages, and you might be entering into a world of pain trying to quieten the cables rattling around inside its frame. Frankly, GT should have sorted this on such a good bike.

That leaves Kona’s easy-to-adapt-to, fast and urgent-feeling Kahuna, which is simply a sorted bike for everyday riding. With its solid Deore drivetrain and Shimano brakes, it feels efficient from the get-go, even without a bolt-through rear axle or dropper post. The Maxxis Forekaster tyres boost performance by working well in all conditions, and the Kona also looks fantastic, with its compact frame and swanky paint job.

WORKSHOP SKILLS