Long time Kona rider and Ambassador Matt Harris has built a few dream builds over the years, each one topping the previous one on the dreamy scale. His latest build, a brand new Process 153 CR DL is really something to write home about. "It has a similar flavour build to my last Process 134 CR DL but with some nice wee new details. The G3 is a touch longer where I had felt I wanted it, and at the same time lower with more insertion depth. These small refinements have the first couple rides feeling like a real treat. It has the playfulness of my last bike but with a bit more travel in the tank. It already feels right at home. I can’t wait to see the places we go."
Matt opted for the slightly cheaper non-Transmission GX AXS build and proceeded to move all those parts to a Kona Honzo ESD frame he had, now left with a blank Process 153 canvas, he started a to build his work of art. Like all of Matt's previous builds he started with a Shimano drivetrain, for this bike only XTR would do... Up front, 165mm XTR cranks and out back a 10-51 cassette and XTR derailleur mounted to one beautifully CNC'd UDH from North Shore Billet.
Another view of that NSB hanger and some serious bling in the form of some midnight Chris King hubs.
The King hubs are laced to We Are One Convergence rims and shod with Continental Kryptotal F DH casing tyres and local Sqaumish valves from Garage 31.
For suspension Matt has stuck with Italian brand EXT and opted for the Storia V4 Coil.
And it's more EXT up front with a custom tuned 160mm travel ERA V2.1 fork. Alba, the Canadian distributor for EXT is in Squamish which makes getting that custom setup dialled in that much easier.
Matt's well broken in Chromag Trailmaster saddle sits atop a OneUpComponents 240mm V3 dropper post. The Process' deep seat post insertion finally allows Matt to run a 240mm post on his size large frame, giving him an extra 50mm of seat clearance.
But thats not all, Matt has also spec'd an Aenomaly Switch Grade seat clamp that allows three saddle positions, this can be adjusted on the fly by simply reaching under the front of the saddle and lifting the lever and saddle (kind of like OG droppers).
There's more Itlaian artistry in the shape of a set of super light yet insanely powerful Formula Cura brakes mated to 200mm rotors front and rear.
The cockpit is anchored in place more midnight Chris King goodness. The stem is from OneUp Components and is 42m length, it houses an EDC tool.
There's more OneUp goodness in the cockpit, a sweet Formula compatible lever and OneUp's new large diameter lock on grips. all that is mounted to OneUp's 35mm rise carbon handlebar.
Being a Kiwi-expat the Squamish local runs his brakes moto, but thanks to Kona's internal Y connecter Matt's rear brake line runs internally and pops out of the opposite side of the frame for tidy cable routing.
And the final spec choice is a matching pair of silver OneUp Components alloy flat pedals.
Before Matt even started the build he purchased a full tailored RideWrap frame protection kit to keep the frame like new, not wanting to take chances screwing up the install, he opted to use local company rideera.ca.
And he added some personal touches, with an ode to Begbie the trail dog on the top tube, kind of like my co-pilot and a gentle reminder to be in the moment. Begbie was immortalized in our Gruff Beer collab in 2023 and 2022.
