Kona

El Kahuna 2023

Discontinued✎Lightweight · Cross-CountryLegacy · 0.1/10iFreshness 0.1/10
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.

Modest-assist hardtail for gentle trails and everyday spins

Motor

Shimano STEPS E6100 · 60Nm · 500W↗

Battery

Shimano STEPS 504Wh

Travel F/R

100mm / —

Wheels

29F / 29R✎

Frame

Aluminium✎

Weight

—✎

Price

$2,299✎

View the Kona El Kahuna on Kona’s site

Kona El Kahuna 2023

The El Kahuna was Kona's do-it-all electric hardtail, taking the simplicity of the long-running Kahuna and adding a Shimano STEPS E6100 motor with a 504Wh battery. With a 100mm Suntour XCR34 Air fork, 29in wheels and WTB Trail Boss 2.25in tyres, it was pitched as a hardtail equally happy on local singletrack or a grocery run.The geometry reads conservative and upright by modern standards: a 69-degree head angle, 74-degree seat angle and a tall 619 to 633mm stack. Reach grows from 404mm on the S to 484mm on the XL, and the 465mm chainstays stay constant across all four sizes, giving a stable, comfortable all-rounder feel.The build is value-led: a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, Shimano MT410 two-piston brakes with a 180mm front rotor, and Kona's own finishing kit. At a 2023 RRP of around 2,299 USD it sat at the affordable end of the e-hardtail market.The 2023 model has since been superseded, so this exact year is mainly found as remaining stock or on the used market. No verified UK GBP price was found, as Kona does not ship directly to the UK.

EMTB Forums verdict

The El Kahuna was Kona's do-it-all electric hardtail, taking the simplicity of the long-running Kahuna and adding a Shimano STEPS E6100 motor with a 504Wh battery. With a 100mm Suntour XCR34 Air fork, 29in wheels and WTB Trail Boss 2.25in tyres, it was pitched as a hardtail equally happy on local singletrack or a grocery run.

The geometry reads conservative and upright by modern standards: a 69-degree head angle, 74-degree seat angle and a tall 619 to 633mm stack. Reach grows from 404mm on the S to 484mm on the XL, and the 465mm chainstays stay constant across all four sizes, giving a stable, comfortable all-rounder feel.

The build is value-led: a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, Shimano MT410 two-piston brakes with a 180mm front rotor, and Kona's own finishing kit. At a 2023 RRP of around 2,299 USD it sat at the affordable end of the e-hardtail market.

The 2023 model has since been superseded, so this exact year is mainly found as remaining stock or on the used market. No verified UK GBP price was found, as Kona does not ship directly to the UK.

Geometry read

What the numbers mean on the trail

Computed from this bike's geometry, spec and build kit — reach, wheelbase, chainstay, head and seat angles, travel, motor, weight and the fork/tyre/brake spec — and worked out per size, because a fixed chainstay can make an S and an XL feel very different.

Size

Descending

Steeper 69° and shorter travel — happiest descending smooth, flowy trail rather than properly rough or steep terrain.

Playfulness

A fair bit of pop, but happiest on flowing trail rather than trials moves.

Size balance

Rear-long with a planted front in L (FC:RC 1.55) — easy to weight the front and quick to turn, though it can feel light at the back at real speed.

Technical climbing

Climbs well — a 74° seat keeps the front planted. 500W of peak power and 60Nm of torque.

Best suited toAll-round trail riding across mixed terrain.

No single standout trait — a balanced, versatile bike.

Watch out forNot built for serious descending — happier on flow than in the rough and steep.

Fine at trail pace; it'll feel out of its depth on properly rough, steep tracks.

How it stacks up vs other Lightweight · Cross-Country bikes (from 70 bikes in the database)

Battery504 Wh54 Wh above average

Motor torque60 Nmabout average torque

Computed from geometry + spec, not a paid review. Scores are guidance, not gospel.

Paste into any thread to embed this live, interactive panel.

Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike

	S	M	L	XL
Reach	404 mm	428 mm	453 mm	484 mm
Stack	619 mm	623 mm	628 mm	633 mm
Seattube	370 mm	420 mm	470 mm	530 mm
Chainstay	465 mm	465 mm	465 mm	465 mm
Headtube Angle	69°	69°	69°	69°
Seattube Angle (eff)	74°	74°	74°	74°
Wheelbase	1134 mm	1160 mm	1187 mm	1220 mm
Headtube	110 mm	115 mm	120 mm	125 mm
BB Height	315 mm	315 mm	315 mm	315 mm
Standover	738 mm	742 mm	747 mm	766 mm
Front Centre	669 mm*	695 mm*	722 mm*	755 mm*
FC:RC	1.44	1.49	1.55	1.62

Trims · 1

	Base $2,299
Motor	Shimano STEPS E6100 · 60 Nm
Battery	Shimano STEPS 504Wh · 504 Wh
Travel F/R	100/? mm
Frame	Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
Fork	Suntour XCR34 Air 100mm Tapered 110 Spacing
Headset	FSA No.57BP
Stem	Kona XC
Handlebar	Kona XC/BC Riser
Grips	Kona Key Grip
Saddle	WTB Volt
Seatpost	Kona Thumb w/Offset 31.6mm
Brakes	Shimano MT410 (calipers), Shimano MT401 levers
Rear derailleur	Shimano Deore
Crank	FSA E-Bike, 36t
Shifters	Shimano Deore
Cassette	Shimano Deore 11-46t 10spd
Chain	Shimano HG54
Drivetrain	Shimano Deore; FSA E-Bike, 36t; Shimano Deore; Shimano Deore 11-46t 10spd; Shimano HG54
Wheels	WTB ST i27 TCS 2.0
Tyres	Front: WTB Trail Boss 29x2.25", Rear: WTB Trail Boss 29x2.25"
Price	$2,299

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