The Future Of Kona UK
Recently Kent Outdoors put live a press release announcing they are pulling out of the bike business, alongside more positive news for the rest of their portfolio of brands.
The UK team however will take its own path, keeping the Kona flame alive.
We feel it is critical that our UK retailers get the real news, as fast as we can type it, in the hope of a continued partnership moving forward.
The Headlines

1

Team Remain
Scott B and Ben H we are stoked to announce will remain onboard with Mount Green Cycles. No lay offs!

2

Warranty
Every bike purchased from Mount Green Cycles will have its 2 year legal minimum warranty covered by us directly.

3

Direct Supply
Overnight we are already working to secure key stock from the factories. Sutra, Rove AL700, even new Ouroboros.
Why Not Quit?
1
Not the end!
Kona has incredible heritage. We believe it will be quickly snapped up once the news goes public that it's on the market.
2
Boardroom decisions not market decisions.
The ownership group was specific in their wording that Kent Outdoors is getting out of bike. Not that Kona was failing.
Kona itself is fighting strong in a tough market.
3
Great bikes are still great bikes.
Does how a Sutra rides change because of this?
We have been making calls for the last 24 hours and are confident of a route to get MORE stock of this great product
4
Not in our nature.
Where others see disappointment. The UK market should see opportunity.
Late night calls with Scott B and Ben H, there was no concern, only fire in their talk to push forward and make sure UK retailers understood this is not the end. Just a new chapter.
Why still buy a Kona?
Warranty
We see this as priority number 1. Nobody would buy a bike without this.
Mount Green Cycles will stand the legal warranty for every bike purchased from us, with or without the backing of the factory.
We are working to partner with an external warranty supplier in addition to this very swiftly.
Price
The new 2024 pricing remains extremely strong. Hand crafted by Scott B and producing strong results in our first month with Kona.
There will be no UK fire sale!
We are working to re-stock key models such as Sutra and Rove AL700 from the factory.
History & Reputation
Nothing can stand in the way of this, boardroom decisions by an owner do not change the heritage and history and what draws people to our range.
Unique UK Position
We expect to be standing alone in this approach, Kona has a huge global following and we can anticipate demand from around the world.
The irony of an under stock problem.

1

All the best sellers are sold out in the UK. Rove AL700, Sutra, Process, Unit & more.

2

Slower sellers clogged up the $$$ and the space in global warehouses.

3

No new bikes could be bought by HQ.

4

Sales reduce without key bikes to sell.
We will break that cycle.
  • We have $$$ to invest in the new bikes.
  • The bikes are ready in the factories in most cases.
  • The UK is understocked, not overstocked for Kona.
  • Sufficient bikes already manufactured, including Ouroboros for minimum 2 seasons.
SHOWing Strength!
Perhaps we are fools, but perhaps not.
We will still be turning up to all the shows we committed to. Still paying our bills to support these events.
We look forward to meeting all the Kona loyalists at these events and sharing what we hope are even more positive updates by then.
Honestly Hopeful, Strangely Positive
To sign off, the entire purpose of putting this together is to show our partners the respect by telling them the truth as we know it today, and making our UK plans as they stand today very clear.
Whilst our relationship as Mount Green Cycles with you all is relatively new, your relationship with Kona, with Ben and especially with Scott B spans decades. With this should come an expectation of honesty and openness, but also hope!
Being very clear, if nobody takes up the mantle of Kona internationally, there will be no new bikes, this we have no power to effect.
However as a group of Kona fans, and a team thats ready for a fight, we are extremely positive that Kona will survive in some form, and we hope by taking these action in the UK market we can play a part in its survival.
Always nice to throw in a quote to these type of things:
In God's good time the New World with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old.
W. S. Churchill
So, if you didnt buy a Kona in years, go grab one! If you are writing an article on Kona, write about Kent leaving the bike world, not Kona being defeated.
Help us, spread a positive message about a UK island fighting on alone to try and keep this proud & historic brand going.
Thanks for your ongoing support in these interesting times.
There are alot of great people in the Kona team globally we would like to wish the best of luck to in whatever their future brings.
The Mount Green Cycles Team - Kona UK
Scott B, Ben H, Scott T & all the office crew.