The Kona Remote 160 DL is here to expand the eMTB portfolio of the iconic mountain bike brand. It’s based on the proven Remote 160, but it features the new Shimano EP8 motor and rolls on 29” wheels front and back. Our test reveals whether it lives up to its € 6,999 price tag.

Kona Remote 160 DL | Shimano EP8 | 504 Wh | 160/160 mm | 24.56 kg | € 6,999

The Kona Remote 160 DL in detail

Kona is a brand with a rich history: it wasn’t long ago that the Kona Stinky dominated bike parks around the world. Last year, the Canadian brand presented their full-suspension Remote 160 eMTB and with the Remote 160 DL they’ve now released a new flagship model featuring Shimano’s EP8 motor and 29” wheels. Despite the new motor, Kona continue to rely on a small 504 Wh battery, which can be removed from the bike using an Allen key. Kona wanted the lower weight of the small battery for a more agile handling. Unfortunately, with its larger dimensions, the bigger battery doesn’t fit into the frame. The motor is rounded off with the new compact SW-EM8000-L remote and the new EM800 colour display, which now also offers full connectivity with all Shimano apps. The ergonomics of the remote have also been revised, making it more comfortable to use. The new Shimano motor allows riders to customise the three support modes, Eco, Trail and Boost via the app and to save up to two individual profiles. That way you can quickly switch between two motor configurations. For more details about the new motor and our favourite settings, check out our dedicated article on the new EP8.

The Kona Remote 160 DL is powered by Shimano’s new EP8 motor and the 504 Wh battery
The new EM8000 remote is now more ergonomic and very easy to use
Finally, the colour display now also has the necessary connectivity options for Shimano’s apps and to couple the motor with third-party devices.
To start the Kona Remote 160 DL, simply push the button on the top tube.
Rough around the edges – considering the price, we would have expected a nicer frame. The weld seams look a little rustic and the proportions aren’t balanced.
The spoke magnet is an absolute no-go. Shimano themselves offer a speed sensor that can easily be integrated into the brake rotor.
The battery can be removed from the frame using a 4 mm Allen key

The charging socket is positioned on the seat tube and the start button on the top tube, both within easy reach. The cables of the Kona are mostly routed internally. However, the routing of the shifter cable could have been solved more elegantly at the rear where it makes a large loop and is very exposed. The classic spoke magnet is out of place too, especially since Shimano offer their own stylish solution to integrate it into the brake rotor. The frame’s oversized tubing is rounded off by large bearings that promise to guarantee a long service life. The green-blue paintwork with yellow lettering immediately catches the eye and is a good conversation starter on the trail.

The chainstay protector is rather short. However, we didn’t find any paint chips on the chainstay and the bike was pleasantly quiet overall.
There is significant room for improvement regarding the routing of the drivetrain cable as it makes a huge loop before reaching the derailleur and is very exposed

Unfortunately, the frame and features of the Kona Remote 160 DL don’t do its high price tag justice!

There is room for improvement regarding tire clearance also – things get pretty tight in the rear with the 2.5” ASSEGAI fitted
There is enough room in the front triangle to accommodate a water bottle, which is always practical

The features of the Kona Remote 160 DL

The spec of the Kona Remote 160 DL isn’t anything special considering the high price of € 6,999. There is hardly any room for criticism in terms of functionality, but if you spend that much money on a bike, you should be able to expect a lot more, especially since it doesn’t have an expensive carbon frame. Shifting is taken care of by SRAM’s GX and NX components, whereby Kona seem to have mixed up their priorities, combining an expensive rear derailleur with a budget shifter and low-end cassette. What’s particularly annoying about this is that since the cassette works on an HG freehub body, upgrading to a higher-quality SRAM or Shimano cassette at a later date requires a significant investment. You get a set of SRAM CODE R brakes with 200 mm rotors to keep the 24.56 kg bike in control. Nothing wrong with that as such. However, the ZEB fork is certified to take an even larger rotor and considering the kind of riding the bike is designed for, we would have liked a 220 mm version.

Kona rely on RockShox suspension with a ZEB Select+ fork…
…and a Super Deluxe Select shock. However, the only thing you’ll be able to adjust on the shock is the rebound.
For the shifting, Kona set the wrong priorities, combining a GX derailleur with a low-end cassette and shifter
The NX cassette is robust, but offers a smaller gear range and relies on the otherwise poorly compatible HG freehub body
The feel of the shifting is largely determined by the shifter and Kona cut corners here too by speccing the NX model
The SRAM CODE R brakes perform reliably. Given the price, we would have liked the more sensitive and easier to modulate RSC model. Bigger 220 mm rotors would suit the Kona well too.

For the suspension, Kona rely on a RockShox ZEB Select+ fork and a Super Deluxe Select shock. Unfortunately, you’ll have to make do without the high-speed compression settings on the fork and you can only adjust the rebound setting on the sock, besides which there are no levers at all – don’t bother looking for a climb switch when you’re riding uphill. However, we can assure you that you won’t need the climb switch anyway, but more on that later. Providing grip is a set of MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires with the EXO casing up front and EXO+ on the rear. The Kona cockpit isn’t anything fancy, but it does the job. Not so with the budget TranzX dropper post. It pops up very slowly and occasionally gets stuck halfway – we expect a lot more at this price.

The TranzX dropper post is out of place on this bike, popping up very slowly if at all
The MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires offer good grip. But if you want to ride the Kona hard, you will soon find yourself having to invest in tires with a thicker, more robust casing. Otherwise, you’ll have to stop regularly to fix punctures.

The geometry of the Kona Remote 160 DL

The Kona Remote isn’t only visually reminiscent of the non-motorised Process, their geometry is also very similar. Most notable on the Remote 160 DL are the chainstays, which are very short for an eMTB, measuring only 435 mm. The 467 mm reach is neither super long nor too short and the 64° head angle is on the slack side. To guarantee optimal handling with the 29” wheels, Kona have lowered the bottom bracket some more compared to the previous model. It now sits 25 mm below the axles of the wheels, which should have you feeling comfortably integrated on the bike

The geometry at a glance:

Size S M L XL
Seat tube 385 mm 410 mm 450 mm 485 mm
Top tube 582 mm 609 mm 638 mm 677 mm
Head tube 115 mm 120 mm 130 mm 140 mm
Head angle 64° 64° 64° 64°
Seat angle 75.1° 75° 74.9° 74.8°
Chainstay 435 mm 435 mm 435 mm 435 mm
BB Height 350 mm 350 mm 350 mm 350 mm
Wheelbase 1198 mm 1225 mm 1254 mm 1294 mm
Reach 417 mm 442 mm 467 mm 502 mm
Stack 620 mm 625 mm 635 mm 644 mm

The Kona Remote 160 DL on the trail

Turn it on, climb aboard, have fun! This is the motto of the KONA Remote 160 DL. The bike offers a very comfortable riding position from the get-go. For riders who like taking on steep climbs or who have long legs, we recommend pushing the saddle forward. The 74.9° seat tube angle isn’t super steep and the effective angle steepens with the dropper post extended due to the kink in the seat tube. Despite the short chainstays, the front end always stays planted and in control. The new Shimano EP8 motor’s standard configuration in profile 1 is great as is. It’s easy to control, feels very natural and offers lots of assistance when needed. You’ll find everything you need to know about the new EP8 motor in our dedicated article including all the specs and an in-depth review. The suspension doesn’t sag on the climbs and yet it generates tons of traction, so you’ll never feel the need to lock out the shock. During our test, we often thought that we had too little pressure in the tires, that’s how sensitively the Remote 160 rolls over obstacles, allowing it to generate huge amounts of traction – excellent! Combine that with the balanced geometry of the Kona and the new EP8 motor and you get a bike that conquers even the nastiest climbs without any issues.

The riding position is comfortable and the suspension is tuned excellently, allowing the Kona to climb with confidence
The Kona is made for exploring new places

Tuning tips: larger brake rotors and more robust tires

When the trail slopes downhill and you drop the saddle, you’ll feel comfortably integrated on the Remote 160 DL and never like you might lose control of the situation. One of the reasons for this is the stack of spacers under the stem, keeping the cockpit nice and high. The rear end sensitively filters out bumps, provides a lot of traction and still offers good support. Thanks to the short rear end and the balanced geometry, the Remote 160 DL is very agile and playful despite not being the lightest eMTB out there at 24.56 kg.

Bergab begeistert das Remote 160 DL mit massig Fahrspaß

The bike deals with fast direction changes just as readily as tight sections. Those who like to play with the terrain, always trying to catch air and generally ride their bike very actively will love the Kona! And yet, the bike is very balanced and good-natured to ride with direct and precise steering – thumbs up!

The suspension of the Remote 160 DL is in a class of its own!

If we would look at only the handling and riding characteristics, the new Kona Remote 160 DL would be worth every penny. After all, it climbs confidently and comfortably while being tons of fun and confidence-inspiring on the descents. The suspension works great, and the settings of the motor are spot on. Unfortunately, the componentry doesn’t do the price justice and a lot of the smaller details tarnish the otherwise positive impression of the Kona Remote 160 DL.

Tops

  • excellent climber
  • very balanced and fun downhill
  • well-tuned motor

Flops

  • spec not appropriate for the price
  • little attention to detail on the frame
  • new shimano EP8 motor rattles
Helmet Specialized Ambush | Glasses Oakley Jawbreaker | Jersey VOID Pro | Short Specialized Enduro

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