MEATengines

(Almost) New Year, New Unit (’23)

Hidden in the ‘Bikepacking’ section of the KonaWorld website, the Unit remains one of my favourite platforms to nerd out over. A quality steel frame & fork with sliding dropouts and geometry that’s a -2° angleset away from delicious all for a reasonable price. 

I’ve owned a few editions of Kona’s long-serving single-speed and the model shares a special place in my heart along with the bike whose name is also its war cry – HONZO (st). I’ve previously written about cloud-drawing my dream min-maxed Unit build and last year I embarked on a, planned, MEATengines tradition with New Year, New Unit. Inspired at least in part by that sweet PINK, AKA Dusty Rose, paint job. 

I'm not clear on what colour of frameset only, or framesets only, the Unit is coming in for '23. But, my preference for pink aside, I don't think there's a bad option in the bunch.
I’m not clear on what colour of frameset only, or framesets only, the Unit is coming in for ’23. But, my preference for pink aside, I don’t think there’s a bad option in the bunch.

As with last year’s builds, whether a rider is planning to single-speed or multi-speed their rig there’s a strong, strong, argument that the Unit-X is the much better buy for a complete rig. Shimano brakes, Shimano cranks, and a 12spd Deore shifter, derailleur, and cassette for an extra $400. 

Just add a Problem Solvers Zinger in Micro Spline and a chain and you’re looking at about a 10-minute conversion between single-speed and multi-speed thanks to the external routing. The Zinger comes with an 18t and 20t cog but Problem Solvers also sells a 21t and 22t for those looking for lower gearing. The stock Unit is still rolling a 32x18t drivetrain so most folks using them for technical trail riding are in for a larger cog and maybe a smaller ring as well. 

I’d also be into bigger and better rotors, a Wolf Tooth or Works angleset, and a much meaner front tire before I ever hit the trail but I still think there’s a strong value argument for such a unique minimal-maintenance mountain bicycle. 

I still maintain that a 2013 is the best looking Unit frame - I just wish the forks were painted to match, as they are now, instead of being black.
I still maintain that a 2013 is the best looking Unit frame – I just wish the forks were painted to match, as they are now, instead of being black.
Kona could bring back this finish forever and just change the decal colours from year to year and I think that'd be sweet. Some folks did complain about corrosion under the clear, but I like some patina.
Kona could bring back this finish forever and just change the decal colours from year to year and I think that’d be sweet. Some folks did complain about corrosion under the clear, but I like some patina.

The major shortcoming of both stock Unit models remains the same, as does most of the spec., for 2023. That is, of course, the now, industry-standard i30 rims. I don’t get it. Not only will the stock 2.6″ tires present much nicer on an i35 rim that would open up the Unit owner to proper plus-sized tire options. Folks buying a Unit to do a monster cross or ATB build are going to prefer narrower rims anyway so i30 is a perfect example of a middle ground that doesn’t suit anyone. 

WTB makes their 29’er ST rim in an i35 so this should just be a box tick that doesn’t affect the price of the bikes. 

I've pressed in a pile of Wolf Tooth GeoShift and Works Components Anglesets at this point. High quality, can't go wrong, products in both cases. This is a must for my Unit build.
I’ve pressed in a pile of Wolf Tooth GeoShift and Works Components Anglesets at this point. High quality, can’t go wrong, products in both cases. This is a must for my Unit build.

My standard preamble about complete rigs aside, I still think the $800 (in Canuck Bucks!) frame and fork combination is an excellent starting point for a custom build. Aeffect R cranks. A good budget dropper post or, better yet, whichever lightly used 170mm post I can track down for cheap as many riders chase dropper travel over 200mm. That -2° angleset I can’t shut up about, and some Magura MT-5 brakes. 

So really, not much has changed in the last couple of years in terms of how I’d build it. That’s probably a great thing? 

What’s the min-max winner for a rear hub these days? If you can get over the brand name, the Spank Hex Drive is a potential winner, HG for me, please. There’s always the quick engaging, USA Made, Industry Nine 1/1 as well. Combine that with a matching front hub, or really whatever front hub hits your budget – it’s just an aluminum tube with two bearings as my friend Craig says – and some i35 or i40 rims. 

Quick engaging, solidly built, and available in a wide range of colours (though silver best disguises the 'Spank' branding). Their Hex J-Type hub is a worthy min-max rear hub contender available with every freehub option - including my HG preference.
Quick engaging, solidly built, and available in a wide range of colours (though silver best disguises the ‘Spank’ branding). Their Hex J-Type hub is a worthy min-max rear hub contender available with every freehub option – including my HG preference.

I’d prefer an i40ish rim for the front. It’s perfect for a 2.8″ or 3″ tire and most of the aggressive 2.6″ rubber I’ve mounted on one hasn’t ended up too square. On my own rig, I could happily run an i35 rim in the rear since I stick around a 29×2.6″ tire but again, I’d have no issue running a matching i40. 

That said, if your Unit is screaming for some i35 We Are One rims, a 2.8″ or 3″ front tire looks fine on those as well. You certainly wouldn’t be the first Unit owner with fantastic-plastic rims that cost more than your frameset. 

Properly aggressive Plus tires are getting hard to find at the moment. It’s going to be a few months before we see if WTB is still making 2.8″ Vigilante rubber, and I still wish Trek had killed the XR Plus rubber instead of the SE casing options. That said, you can still easily find a 3″ DHR2 or DHF or the Surly Dirt Wizard. Run one of those for the front tire with whichever higher-volume 2.6″ tire you prefer for the rear and you’re ready to roll. 

Is the Surly Dirt Wizard destined to be the last readily available, any-trail aggressive, 29+ tire option? What are the chances they'll make a slower-rebound, softer rubber option? (Apparently zero). Fingers crossed that WTB gets some inventory in their High Grip Vigilante.
Is the Surly Dirt Wizard destined to be the last readily available, any-trail aggressive, 29+ tire option? What are the chances they’ll make a slower-rebound, softer rubber option? (Apparently zero). Fingers crossed that WTB gets some inventory in their High Grip Vigilante.

It’s not clear what colour(s) Kona is selling for the Unit frame-only this year. That same ‘Dragon Fly’ blue as last year? Matte Bloodstone? Metallic Grey? The sweet, sweet Dusty Rose? They’re all, differently, sweet choices to me that would look great with anodized-purple accents but if anyone knows for certain, drop me a message and I’ll update. 

If you’re running any years’ Unit as a one-speed please feel encouraged to fire me a few photos for About A Single-Speed. I’d love to continue it for 2023. 

Cheers!