I recently looked at budget mountain bikes versus second hand. For this head to head I bought a Kona Big Honzo 2022 for £500. Having lived with the MTB for the past few weeks I decided it was time to do a review of the bike I bought. At first glance, the Big Honzo looks like something dreamed up by a mad scientist with a vendetta against smooth terrain. Its chunky 27.5in tyres suggest it could ride over lava if it had to, while the slack geometry screams, “Go ahead, point me down a cliff.”
Summary of the Kona Big Honzo 2022 Review
Trivelo Score – 4 /5
Right, let’s get one thing straight: the Kona Big Honzo 2022 isn’t a budget MTB. It’s not for the timid Sunday riders who potter about on gravel paths, dodging squirrels and sipping artisanal coffee. No, this bike is a real mountain bike. My summary from riding it is you don’t need to spend thousands to get performance. So much so, that I have now added this bike into my garage. I had originally planned to buy it for the comparison article and move it on but I love it too much to see it go.
Pros
- Massive ascent performance capability with that rear cassette.
- Quality spec on every component
Cons
- I still hate that paint job
The Ride
Throw a leg over it, and you’ll notice something immediately: it’s playful. Almost annoyingly so. It dares you to do stupid things. I’m no expert mountain biker so need putting in my place. My history is all road bikes with my mountain bike a trusty workhorse. The Kona tempted me into some real mountain biking. Including some embarassing cock ups where I seriously overcooked it.
The lightweight aluminum frame coupled with the 140mm RockShox Recon fork tempts you into tackling lines you’ve no business even looking at. Compared to rivals like the Trek Roscoe 7, which also boasts a 140mm fork, the Big Honzo feels slightly more composed on rough descents, thanks to its balanced geometry.
Wheels and Tyres
Now, let’s talk tyres. The Big Honzo rolls on 27.5 x 2.8-inch Maxxis Rekon EXO+ rubber. These are the mountain biking equivalent of snowshoes, providing insane grip on loose and technical terrain. Compared to the 29er setup on the Specialized Fuse Expert, the Honzo’s 27.5 wheels make it more agile, but at the cost of top-end speed. On flats and smooth descents, the Fuse feels like a missile, while the Honzo plods along like a determined tractor.
I personally prefer a solid bit of traction from my mountain bike. Speed is for my TT bike. My mountain bike needs to hold the terrain while I throw it about.
Brakes
Stopping power comes courtesy of Shimano MT410 hydraulic disc brakes. They’re reliable and consistent. They lack the sheer bite of more premium options like the SRAM G2 R brakes on some competitors. If you’re barreling downhill and need to scrub speed in a hurry, you’ll wish for a bit more power.
Frame
A bit of a black mark against the Big Honzo. The weight. The Big Honzo isn’t light. Those hefty tires and the robust frame construction add up, making it feel a bit sluggish on long climbs compared to the svelter Specialized Fuse.
The Verdict
The Kona Big Honzo 2022 is not perfect. It’s not the fastest, nor does it have the flashiest components. But perfection is boring, isn’t it? What this bike offers is character—an unpredictable, occasionally brutal character that will make you laugh, swear, and occasionally cry.
If you’re looking for a mountain bike that’s as wild and stubborn as you are, the Big Honzo might just be your soulmate. Just know that while it will conquer the harshest terrain with ease, it will demand a lot from you in return.
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