FREERIDE FUN
Kona keeps upping the ante with its perennial freeride favorite, the Stinky, and this year’s version is the sweetest one yet. Designers added new swingarms to stiffen up the seven-inch rear shock (nice), but the big news is a brand-new rear brake system—dubbed D.O.P.E.—that allows the rear disc brake to operate independently of rear-suspension movement. It’s supposed to eliminate dreaded brake jack—engagement of the suspension when you hammer on the brakes. And it works. After several spins through Whistler Blackcomb’s rowdy Mountain Bike Park, we were downright dumbfounded by how much it smoothed out our riding. 41.5 lbs; konaworld.com
Bonus: The slack (66.5-degree) head angle, super-sticky Maxxis Minion tires, and buttery Marzocchi 888 RCV front fork shine on ass-behind-the-seat steeps.
Bummer: For the money, we’d prefer the new Avid Codes to Hayes HFX-9 HD brakes.