The Kona Unity is a 29+ Mullet Cargo Mule with an Integrated Front Rack

What comes after Unit X? Unit Y, of course. Still, the new Kona Unity is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Leave it to Kona to dream up what might be one of the most exciting bike launches of the year, at least from our perspective! Kona describes it as the “ultimate utilitarian bike,” but also explains that it’s unfair to put it in a single box. The Unity is packed with so many interesting features that it can probably be whatever bike you want it to be. To us, this looks like a wild bikepacking rig with a lot of space and provisions for carrying just about any type of gear setup.

The Unity is built around a Chromoly steel frame and a matching rigid fork. It’s not suspension-corrected, and a suspension fork would interfere with the front rack and cable routing, so you’re stuck running the rigid fork. The stock build comes equipped with a 29 x 3.0″ tire up front and a 27.5 x 3.0″ in the back, which is what it was designed for. However, Kona says you can run a 29 x 2.5″ rear wheel/tire in the back if you’d like. Otherwise, Kona maintained standard frame specs like Boost hub spacing, a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, external cable routing, and internal dropper post routing.

Beyond that, things start to get interesting. The Unity features an oversized, purpose-built front triangle for extra capacity. It might very well be the largest main triangle we’ve seen on a production mountain bike, leaving room for huge frame bags or multiple cargo cages thanks to three sets of cage mounts.

Kona Utility Rack

Up front, Kona designed a custom rack that bolts directly to the Unity’s headtube. Kona claims this doesn’t influence bike handling and steering as much as a traditional fork-mounted rack or bag. The rack is rated for 13.2 pounds (6 kg) worth of storage between the platform and 12 threaded mounting points that can be used for bottle cages or anything that uses standard two-bolt spacing. In the photos further down, you can see it with a Wolf Tooth B-Rad base for a cage and mini pump. The options appear to be endless. The frame is also compatible with most aftermarket rear and front racks, thanks to dedicated rack mounts on the frame.

For additional cargo, the Unity has three-pack mounts on the fork legs and pairs on the top tube and downtube. In total, the frame has 20 eyelets. And according to Kona, the fork has another 11 and the rack has an additional 12 to allow you to get creative with lights, devices, and even bottle cages. The UDH sliding rear dropouts allow for chainstay length adjustments as well as the option to make it a singlespeed. Although the stock build doesn’t include a dropper post, the straight seat tube allows for relatively lon dropper posts: a max travel of 125mm on the small, 150mm on the medium, 175mm on the large, and 200mm on the extra-large.

A quick look at the geometry chart shows 440–456mm chainstays, a 65.8° head tube angle, and 70mm bottom bracket drop. Compared to the Kona Unit, it has a significantly longer front center, a massive wheelbase, a longer rear end, and slacker head tube angle. We’ll be sure to report back after some testing, but my guess is that the Unity will offer loads of traction and stability.

Kona Unity Geometry

How About Those Revelate Designs Bags?

We couldn’t help but notice some interesting bags from Revelate Designs on Kona’s test bikes and reached out to Revelate’s founder, Eric Parsons, to get the backstory. It turns out that the Kona Unity project lead was Nick Sande, who’s known Eric for over a decade from his previous job at Surly. Caleb Callaway at Revelate designed the print pattern for the frame bag and paired it with a sewn-on patch to match its woodsy aesthetic. Due to the capacious main triangle, they went with a single compartment with baffles to maximize its already ridiculous volume.

Eric used the front rack as an opportunity to explore some ideas for a front bag that he had brewing. Although it looks like a simple sideways roll, there are some unique tapers in the patterning to keep the opening a reasonable size, yet functional. Eric explained, “For the rack attachment we also laminated the hypalon reinforcement panels to the main body fabric which is not usually weldable. I’m excited to explore the form further once some time opens up this year.”

Kona Unity Build Kit

The stock Unity build kit is based around a Shimano 11-speed XT LinkGlide drivetrain, Tektro Gemini hydraulic brakes and big rotors, and fast-rolling/all-purpose WTB Ranger tires. It’s great to see DT Swiss 370 hubs, WTB KOM Tough rims, and proper gearing for loaded riding with a 28T chainring and 11-50T cassette. The price for the complete bike is $2,699 USD ($3,199 CAD / €2,699), and it’s available in one color option: “Gloss Future Dusk with Pale, Wisteria, Nectarine & Blackcurrant Decals.”

• Frame: Kona Chromoly Butted
• Fork: Kona Unity Fork, 110mm Spacing
• Crankset: RaceFace 11-Speed, 28T
• Derailleur: Shimano XT Linkglide 11-speed
• Shifter: Shimano XT Linkglide
• Cassette: Shimano XT Linkglide 11-50T
• Chain: KMC eGlide Turbo EPT 11-Speed
• Bottom Bracket: RaceFace 73mm
• Rims: WTB KOM Tough i40
• Spokes: Stainless 14g
• Front Hub: DT 370 110 x 15mm
• Rear Hub: DT 370 148 x 12mm, 36T Ratchet
• Front Tire: WTB Ranger TCS Tough 29 x 3.0″
• Rear Tire: WTB Ranger TCS Tough 27.5 x 3.0″
• Headset: TH ZST No.10
• Handlebar: Kona XC/BC Riser
• Stem: Kona XC/BC
• Grips: Kona Key Grips
• Saddle: WTB Volt
• Seatpost: Kona Thumb w/offset 31.6mm
• Seat Clamp: Kona Clamp
• Brake Levers: Tektro Gemini Hydraulic
• Brake Calipers: Tektro Gemini
• Rotors: Trektro TR 203mm
• Extras: Kona “Utility” Rack

That’s the Kona Unity folks! There’s quite a lot to unpack, but we’re eager to swing a leg over one and report back with our thoughts. What do you think? Let us know in the conversation below. For now, you can head over to KonaWorld.com or your local dealer for more information.

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