KONA RACE LIGHT SCANDIUM 69

Known to have one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios for any alloy in the world, Scandium has been a hallmark in our bikes since we first introduced the material in 2000. Since that time, it’s found a home in light and quick 29-inch hardtails, savvy all-mountain rides and recreationally oriented, well-priced mountain bikes.

For 2015, our commitment to the material grows significantly, with new Kona Race Light Scandium 69 models showing up throughout our growing range of Road bikes, from the new Road endurance Esattos to the base model Zone, through to the Kahuna Deluxe, Kula and Cinder Cone.

Introduced to our line in 2012, Race Light Scandium 69 comes with yield strengths that are about 40 percent higher than previous Scandium alloys. The result is the strongest per-weight aluminum alloy ever made. Because of its fibrous or fine-grained structure, Race Light Scandium 69 alloy reveals a unique combination of corrosion resistance and excellent fatigue strength.

WHAT IS SCANDIUM?

Scandium is the eighth most abundant rare element on earth. A silvery white metal extracted from the earth’s crust, Scandium is a potent grain refiner that, when added to aluminum alloys, elevates the strength and durability of the material by 50 percent. It does this by “straightening” out the grains of the alloy, making the metal less susceptible to failure. It’s this strength and durability that makes Scandium alloys an attractive material when it comes to manufacturing bicycles. Strength is so much higher—Scandium alloy is twice as strong as 6061 or 7005 aluminum—that we’re able to use much less material to achieve riding characteristics similar to steel. With Scandium we’re able to shave weight from our aluminum frames by 10 to 15 percent.

COMPACT REAR TRIANGLE

Short chainstays and seatstays provide a perfect balance of stability and power transfer when out of the saddle and pedaling hard. Shorter seatstays also have less deflection during braking and accelerate faster than longer stays. A more compact rear triangle also helps the bike to negotiate tight-twisting sections of trail. The Honzo, Operator and Process 111 are good examples of 2015 bikes with incredibly compact rear triangles: quick, aggressive in corners, easy to maneuver and laterally stiff.

TAPERED HEADTUBE

Aside from improving the aesthetic, due to its cleaner lines and smooth transition between the fork crown and the headset cover, tapered headtubes also offer a more solid interface between forks with tapered steertubes and the bicycle frame itself, thanks to more weld contact area. More girth at the bottom of the headtube better distributes shock force, prolonging the bearing life of the headset itself, eliminates brake shudder, all while providing positive steering performance. 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.

INTEGRATED HEADSET

Integrated headsets are simple, light and effective headset systems whereby the bearing race cups are actually part of the headtube, be they machined away and left with the headtube, or glued in (carbon) or welded in with steel or alloy. Like an internal headset, an integrated headset also reduces stack height, so the height of the stem and bars are more adjustable, giving the rider the best fit possible. Providing effective, precise steering, you’ll find integrated headsets on our collection of Road Endurance and Race bikes like the Zones and Esattos.