Kona Supreme Operator 26" Downhill Frame - RS Kage R - Silver

Kona 7005 Aluminum
Kona 7005 Aluminum is used extensively throughout our fleet of mountain, asphalt and road bicycles. A tough, durable, affordable, light alloy, Kona 7005 delivers fantastic, reliable performance that lasts for thousands of rides. It is, by far, the ultimate aluminum tubing on the market today. Much of our 7005 tubing is butted and/or formed, meaning the tubing's wall thickness can be increased or decreased, as well as shaped, allowing us to fine-tune a particular frame's ride characteristics depending on its intended application.

Hydroformed Tubing
Hydroforming is a tube-shaping technology that uses high-pressure liquid to form the shape of a tube and align its grain structure. Quite simply, the technology delivers a sound structure and ride performance like no other tubing in the world. The process results in a seamless, continuous, aligned piece of metal-right down to the fiber structure itself.

Hydroformed tubing is especially advantageous at weld points where tubes can be flared to increase weld areas, adding strength without adding weight in the form of extra gussets. The result is a strong, flawless frame with great lateral stability, durability and responsiveness. Not to mention, it looks real sharp too.

Internal Headset
By having the headset bearing located inside the headtube (called zero stack), rather than the top and bottom, we are able to achieve a number of advantages when it comes to front-end stiffness, durability and overall riding performance. The major benefit of an internal headset is the extra layer of protection it provides the bearings against the elements. Additionally, the bearings are commonly available angular contact bearings, which are easily and inexpensively replaced. An internal headset also reduces stack height, so the height of the stem and bars are more adjustable, giving the rider the best fit possible.

Tapered Headtube
For 2012, you'll find a large majority of Kona bicycles featuring zero stack, tapered headtubes. From cyclocross to cross-country, 29ers right through to longer-travel dual-suspension models, like our Entourage and Operator, a tapered headtube provides more support at the intersection of the toptube and downtube, greatly improving stability and overall performance.

The design also offers a more solid interface between forks with tapered steertubes and the bicycle frame itself. More girth at the bottom of the headtube better distributes shock force, prolonging the bearing life of the headset itself. The inherent strength of its triangular design also means a stronger steering position and improved balance, giving the rider more control in rough terrain. A zero stack, tapered headtube also puts strength where the load is going-into the lower headset cup-maximizing bearing durability where it's needed.

Kona Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage
Since Kona first introduced the Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage platform in 1996, we've been refining and honing the most functional, durable and performance-oriented dual-suspension platform ever invented. Not only is it the preferred suspension system for F1 race cars, you'll also find versions of Kona's Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage on everything from the Hei Hei XC race bike, to our Supreme Operator DH race bike, and on one of the best-performing, entry-level dual-suspension bikes ever made, the Tanuki.

• Function and Durability: Anytime you have a pivot in anything, there is side-to-side movement, or tolerance. It's what allows the pivot to move freely. When you have pivots that are close together, the side-to-side movement in those pivots becomes amplified, what's called tolerance stacking. Kona's 4-Bar system keeps pivots as far away from each other as possible, minimizing the negative effects of tolerance stacking. Ultimately, it equates to a stiffer rear end, as well as a significant decrease in bearing and bushing wear.
• Pure Shock Movement: Another benefit of our 4-Bar system is minimized side load on the rear shock. If you have close pivot points and/or the shock positioned so that it is exposed to lateral forces, you have side load on the shock. Side load causes resistance, which can negatively impact suspension performance.
• Shock Longevity: With our 4-Bar system the rear shock is protected from side-to-side forces. Side load is one of the main causes of premature seal failures. As a result, we have a very low rate of shock problems, as well as an exceptionally responsive feel to the rear suspension.
• Incredible Tune-ability: By using 4-Bar, our designers are able to incorporate a huge range of suspension characteristics into our dual-suspension mountain bikes. Simply by changing the shock's positioning and configuration, we're able to make either an efficient climber or a wicked descender. For example, on our XC bikes, we can take an inherently progressive air shock and make the suspension more linear, allowing the rider to benefit from all of the bike's travel. For downhill bikes, like our Operator and Entourage, an inherently linear coil shock can be set up to be more progressive for big hits. When it comes to range of application, 4-Bar is the ultimate rear suspension platform.
• Plush Factor: With pivots, bearings and the shock itself well supported and protected from linear side load, Kona's Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage system delivers that extraordinarily plush, smooth feel we all crave as mountain bikers. Whether it's taking the edge of a technical XC race course, the burl out of a backcountry all-day epic, or leveling out the brake bumps at your local bike park, Kona's Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage delivers that sweet feel. Ride in, ride out.