2021 Kona Remote 160 DL on test – lots of fun at a high price

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 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

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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.

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.

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.

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