Kona Cinder Cone (2018)

Kona’s Cinder Cone has long worn the badge of a performance-oriented, get-on-and-go hardtail, evolving year after year to stay on the cutting edge of technology. Its latest incarnation is built around an aluminum frame that delivers explosive response, great handling, and incredibly low weight. A RockShox fork eats up chunky trails to keep you on track, while the quick handling 27.5-inch Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires ensures you can carve whatever line you care to dream up. SRAM gets your wheels rolling with their sweet-shifting NX 1x11-speed drivetrain, and Shimano’s hydraulic disc brakes give you fingertip modulation to reverse the speed needle just in time to nail that switchback. To maximize your smile factor, Kona’s cockpit parts look good and feel even better, keeping the weight down and the control firmly in your hands. Like to get a little rowdier than cross-country sometimes? Kona does, too, so they gave the Cinder Cone internal dropper post routing, just for fellow rock gardeners like you.