WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE KONA REMOTE X
Kona’s new Remote X eMTB aims to provide a tough machine that can attack a bike park or local DH lines, with no qualms about being under-biked. The simple linkage-driven single pivot suspension delivers 180mm travel to the rear end of this durable alloy frame, keeping small bumps in check and resisting harsh bottom outs. Here is Kona’s new Bosch-powered, Process-inspired, self-shuttling downhill charger.
DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS | The Kona Remote X features the capable Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 Motor, producing 120Nm torque and 750W peak power. The low-slung 800Wh integrated battery is removable and hot-swap capable for big burly days at the self shuttling shred zone, and the frame is capable of mounting Bosch’s Powermore 250Wh Range Extender to bump the gas tank to 1050Wh.
The Bosch Mini Remote and System Controller give the necessary controls with no thrills, with space for the Bosch Kiox 400c display screen if an upgrade is desired. Using the Bosch Flow app, riders can modify the parameters of the system to deliver the power characteristics desired.
FRAME AND FEATURES | The Kona Remote X frame is built with a full aluminum construction, and comes with a lifetime warranty to offer reassurance that it’s up to the task. The bike ships with an MX setup, but features a flip chip for the full 29” wagon wheel lovers out there.
The replaceable motor case cover drops lower than the chainring, and the downtube has a small rubber shuttle pad to keep the rough shuttling roads from scratching your new whip. Cable Routing has basic rubber grommets at entry and exit, which required some liquid silicone to get pressed in properly, especially after moving things around for maintenance or setup. The seat tube allows large droppers deep in its depths for that perfect adjustment to your size and fit.
SUSPENSION | The simple linkage-driven single pivot suspension design is reminiscent of their popular Kona Process lineup. The Remote frame is understroke-capable: fitting a 230×57.5 rear shock can shorten your travel to 159mm with a 29 wheel or 163mm with a 27.5”. Of course, if you do understroke the shock, then you should also put on a 170mm fork or air spring to balance things out.
From the box, they’ve decided to let Fox suspension control the Remote X, with a 180mm Fox 38 Performance Elite with Grip X2 Damper. Having the High and Low-Speed Compression as well as Rebound was a welcome sight to dial in the suspension just right. Out back, the Fox Float X Performance Elite provides a suitable accompaniment to the fork. It’s nice to be able to adjust compression on the fly depending on what terrain or trail you are riding.
GEOMETRY | The size large Kona Remote X delivers a confidently planted, gravity-oriented feel. A slack 63.1° head angle and lengthy 1285 mm wheelbase keep the bike composed and confidence-inspiring at speed, while the roomy 476 mm reach feels spot-on for a 6-foot rider, offering plenty of space to move without feeling stretched.
The relatively low 648 mm stack puts you in a more aggressive position that can leave the front end feeling a touch lower than some modern long-travel platforms. Consistent 442 mm chainstays across all sizes and a 11mm BB drop further enhance stability and cornering grip, giving the Remote X a settled, high-speed character that matches its 180 mm travel.
BUILD SPECS | Having a big-travel, burly frame means the components need to match. Utilizing a SRAM 70 / 90 drivetrain means durability from the Full-Mount derailleur, as well as smooth shifting while hammering heavy on the pedals. The MX wheels are WTB HTZ Trail i30 Rims mounted to sealed Formula Hubs. It would be nice to see some burlier rims mounted up, but these can always be upgraded.
Stopping power comes from the TRP EVO PRO brakes, with a 220mm front rotor and 203mm in the rear. These rotors are 2.3mm thick, and had no problem dealing with the heat and direct rock hits in the hot desert sun. Tires from Maxxis come mounted, with a 2.5” Assegai MaxxGrip DoubleDown in the front and a 2.4” DHR II MaxxTerra DoubleDown in the rear.
The finishing kit consists of a TransX Dropper +RAD with 200mm drop on size large, topped with a WTB Volt saddle. An alloy Kona cockpit rounds out the build, with a 38mm rise bar in size-specific widths (S 760mm / M 780mm / L-XL 800mm).
The size Large Kona Remote X tipped the scales at 58lbs (26.3kg) as tested.
THE DIRT
When this big-travel enduro eBike rolled through the door, it piqued my interest. It’s big, it’s burly, and it’s meant to smash through modern tech like The Terminator in Terminator 2. That’s a recipe for a good time, in my books.
At first glance, I noticed the component spec Kona decided to bling this thing out with. TRP EVO PRO brakes are a welcome sight: I’ve had TRP as standard on my DH bikes for as long as I can remember, and love seeing them get more love in the industry. The Fox 38 and Float X Performance Elite suspension has all of the adjustability needed to fine-tune the feel. The Eagle 90 derailleur is solid, and frame-mounted just in case a rock decides to cross the road. With the money put into the parts that matter, and some more affordable components used in less consequential areas, Kona has put together a rig worthy of some abuse.
SETUP | As someone who grew up in the Mid-School BMX era, I’m used to bikes that feel like they were filled with concrete. Even still, throwing the Remote X on my vertical rack required a forklift certification, with its 58 lbs weight notable to carry. Getting it onto my shakedown track, I had some issues getting the dropper and dropper lever setup dialled in. Adjusting the lever position to be reachable with my thumb required fully smashing it to the end of its adjustment, and it was still a full inch off of where I would normally put it. The lever placement would be great for huge sends and tricks, but not the up and down nature of fast-paced undulating terrain.
Also, moving the dropper up and down to get it just right for this overly tattered taint was a feat in its own. The cable got stuck on the rubber cable guides, the tight bend into the seatpost made for some trouble. It’s not great for bike shop test rides with many setup switcheroos, but was manageable by dumping silicone spray everywhere.
2.5 Rainiers later, I managed to get the bike fully set up and adjusted to my picky settings. Now, it was time to rip a real-life mountain.
CLIMBING | Riding the Kona Remote X straight up a tech trail was impressive, with a planted nature, even when something insanely steep came up. The front end stayed down without too much manhandling, and it was more than capable of tracking its way to the top. Once I was able to open Kona’s big-hitting eBike up on a steep fire road, the geometry and CX motor shone. The fit and body position had my body ready for the long haul, getting up some lengthy climbs to access epic descents.
The Bosch system proved to be suitably efficient to support big days in the saddle. Having the PowerMore compatibility, and especially the hot-swappable battery, means you could climb the Remote X all day long. I was able to get four solid laps of the local downhill trails in for filming and photos, with some battery life to spare. Once the trail turned up too much, walk mode was very welcome as I huffed this monster uphill like a pack-a-day smoker.
DESCENDING | Pointing the Kona Remote X gravity eMTB down is where the fun really started. The lower stack height didn’t quite support some of the steep descending skids as well as I would have liked, though. In a few situations I found myself in, it felt like I was going to buy myself a new set of front teeth, but overall it helped with front-end traction around loose rocky corners. I felt evenly planted between the tires as I trudged full speed at sharp, unforgiving rocks. These very rocks claimed 2 rear tires for me during this review with the stock spec. I probably should have thrown in some cushcore, but thought that 38 psi would do the trick.
The drops were fully cushioned, and I only felt a few bottom outs before I ramped up the compression a few clicks. My sag rings tickled the end – just how I like it – but crucially the use of this travel didn’t present any harshness. The geometry felt nimble around loose corners and in heavy steep tech, with the geometry giving a solid balance between the wheels. The Remote X hugged the ground on fast G-outs and through braking bumps, letting you charge through the chunk.
Getting the Remote X airborne, I felt the full weight of the bike, and was a little skittish bringing it back in from getting sideways. After some awkward, crooked landers, and terrified takeoffs, I was glad not to slap the ground into a pile of easy pickings for the desert folk. On lesser technical jumps, the Remote X offered a stable and confident platform, but it’s a lot of bike to muscle around on jumps that require more rider input.
FINISH AND VALUE | The paint and colorway on the Remote X offered a nice high-end finish. It sustained a few paint chips here and there from the inevitable rocks rolling down our steep dusty desert terrain, but nothing that wouldn’t ruin any other finish.
It was impressive just how quietly the Kona Remote X was on the trails. While the chainstay guard looks like it could be a bit more pronounced, it kept things quiet. Things were nice and silent while rolling through deep sharp rocks overall.
With the linkage-driven single-pivot design, things felt sturdy and supportive. With an overall solid construction on the frame, it felt confident sending it into heavy terrain.
COMPONENT REPORT
TRP EVO PRO Brakes – I was excited to see a familiar powerful brake that was not just your standard SRAM Maven spec. The TRP brakes kept me controlled up until the last second before hitting the berms and steeps.
Fox 38 GripX2 Damper – It was a welcome sight seeing the adjustability offered with this fork out front. I enjoyed tinkering with the compression and rebound settings, dialling in exactly what I needed to keep this big travel rig under control.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Kona’s new Remote X is a heavy-hitting contender in the gravity-focused e-bike world. This shred machine delivers a solid price-to-performance ratio for riders that want something they can trust to have their back down some steep inclines and through heavy landings. 
Pricing:
- REMOTE 160 – $6,999 CAD / €6,999 / $6,499USD
- REMOTE X – $6,999 CAD / €7,499 / $6,899 USD
Website: Konaworld.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Spending days doing art-inspired rock work in the remote high desert terrain is where Josh feels most at home. Originally from the beer and cheese capital of the world, Josh and his wife moved to the Oregon mountains to raise three kids and start a small hobby farm. With a heavy BMX background and parents who owned and operated a bike shop since he was six, he’s ridden through plenty of industry highs and lows. Josh’s riding style is gravity-focused, but he never turns down a challenging tech climb or an all-day adventure burner. This Hamm’s-fueled music junkie also enjoys long walks on the beach and his favorite color is camo.
Rank: Saddle Fluffer
Size: 5’12” (6ft is for digging graves) / 182cm | 190lbs / 86kg
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