Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The Kona Ouroboros is back for 2026, and Kona just released new build kits and colors for both the Ouroboros CR and CR/DL. Find photos, component highlights, and the latest pricing details here…
Launched two years ago, the Kona Ouroboros is a suspension-corrected gravel bike with a snappy ride quality and loads of bikepacking potential. Neil tested the Ouroboros that year and had a lot of positive things to say, plus the Bikepacking Collective voted it into a top spot in our 2024 Bikepacking Gear of the Year Awards in the Collective Choice category.
The Ouroboros was originally available only with a carbon frame and three builds to choose from, but last year they added a more budget-friendly alloy option. For 2026, the carbon Ouroboros lineup is being reduced to just two builds: the Ouroboros CR and Ouroboros CR/DL. Both frames feature the same frame and geometry as the Ouroboros Supreme that Neil tested. Carryover specs include 29 x 2.1″ tire clearance out back and 50mm up front, non-boost 142/100 x 12mm axle spacing, a press fit 86.5mm bottom bracket, and loads of mounts (except for rear rack and downtube bosses).
2026 Kona Ouroboros CR/DL
The Ouroboros CR/DL prioritizes a lightweight, high-performance build kit. It’s centered around the new 13-speed SRAM Rival XPLR AXS drivetrain and the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR 40mm fork. It comes specced with a size-specific Ritchey Venturemax Comp handlebar, Rockshox Reverb AXS dropper post (100mm or 125mm), WTB KOM Team i27 TCS CVX rims, and WTB Resolute TCS Light 700 x 50mm tires.
The Ouroboros CR/DL’s colorway is called “Gloss Concrete with Honeycomb Decals,” and it shares all the specs of the original Ouroboros. Since both carbon Ouroboros builds are specced with suspension forks, it looks like Kona won’t be offering a carbon option with a rigid fork, like they did last year.
The 2026 Ouroboros CR/DL costs $4,999. Find more details at KonaWorld.com.
2026 Kona Ouroboros CR
The Ouroboros CR is the more affordable of the two builds. It features a Fox AX32 40mm fork, Shimano GRX drivetrain with a Shimano Deore 10-51T 12-speed cassette, and Shimano GRX hydraulic brakes. There are a few size-specific components, including the Kona Gravel Dropbar (440mm to 520mm wide), a 50mm or 60mm stem, size-specific crank lengths, and all sizes come with a 125mm travel TranzX dropper post.
The 2026 Ouroboros CR rolls on WTB KOM Team i27 rims, Formula hubs, and WTB Resolute TCS Light 700 x 50mm tires. The paint job is called “Matte Carbon with Gloss Orchid Fade Decals,” and it costs $3,799 USD. Take a closer look at KonaWorld.com.
For more on the new Ouroboros builds, Kona put together a blog post with some additional details. Find that here.
Further Reading
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