2011 Kona Supreme Operator 

For 2011 we went back to the downhill drawing board. We wanted to come up with a bike that was sleek and sexy, lighter and faster, plusher and easy to maintain. With a slacker 64-degree head tube angle, new 1.5-inch zero stack, tapered, internal head tube, mega-sized main pivots, and an axle that slides in from the drive side of the bike so you can adjust/tighten the main pivot, this bike is pure mint. Our top-drawer, World Cup ready 200mm travel DH race bike, stock with a Saint groupo, and Easton Havoc cockpit.

Since Kona first introduced the platform in 1996, we've been refining and honing the most functional, durable and performance-oriented dual suspension platforms ever invented. That's why you see versions of our 4-Bar linkage on everything from the Hei Hei XC Race bike to our DH Stab Supreme.

• 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, like in more complicated multi-pivot designs, 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, thus minimizing tolerance stacking. Ultimately, it equates a stiffer rear end, as well a significant decrease in bearing and bushing wear.
• Another benefit of our 4-Bar system is minimized side load on the rear shock. If you've got close pivot points and/or the shock positioned so that it is exposed to lateral forces, you've got side load on the shock. Side load causes resistance, which negatively impacts suspension performance. Side load also causes premature seal failures.
• With our 4-Bar system the rear shock is protected from side-to-side forces. As a result, we have a super low rate of shock problems, as well as a very responsive feel to the rear suspension.
• Tunability: 4-Bar allows for a rainbow of different suspension characteristics, after all, this is the suspension platform used for F1 racecars. For 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 Operators, an inherently linear coil shock can be set-up to be more progressive for big hits.
• Plush Factor: Void of gimmicks, with pivots, bearings and the shock itself well supported, Kona's Walking Beam 4-Bar Linkage System delivers that beautiful, super plush 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 smoothing the brake bumps at your local bike park, our 4-Bar suspension designs deliver bomber plushness, ride in, ride out.

For 2011 Trek has refined upon the past Session.

• Alpha Red Aluminum w/aluminum armor, ABP, Full Floater, alloy EVO Link, E2 tapered head tube, integrated fork stanchion bumpers, oversized pivot bearings, replaceable derailleur hanger, ISCG03 mounts, 203mm travel

•  Fox 40 Fit RC2 w/Ti coil spring (16/17.5" blue; 19" green), hi/lo speed compression, rebound, internal travel adjust, 1-1/8" steerer, 20mm thru axle, 203mm travel

• Fox DHX RC-4, custom "DH race tuned" w/externally adjustable velocity sensitive damping, bottom out force adjust and bottom out progressiveness, external rebound; 8.75x2.75" (S 400lb; M 450lb; L 500lb; XL 500lb spring)

•  Bontrager Big Earl Disc wheel system, 32 hole, 20mm front hub, 150x12mm rear hub

• Maxxis Minion DHF, 26x2.5"

• SRAM X.0, 9 speed

• MRP G2 SL

• SRAM X.0

• Shimano Saint, 38T

• SRAM PG-970 12-26, 9 speed

• Wellgo MG-1

• Bontrager Evoke 4, titanium rails

• Bontrager Rhythm Pro, 31.6mm, 5mm offset

• Bontrager Big Earl, 31.8mm, 25mm rise, 9 degree sweep

• Race Face Atlas direct connect

• Cane Creek Frustum SE Light Edition, E2

• Avid Elixir CR Carbon hydraulic disc brakes