Makena
Origin
Kona is a Vancouver/Bellingham-founded brand launched in 1988 that built its reputation on progressive, trail-ready mountain bikes rather than mass-market department-store machines. The Makena is Kona's entry into the 20-inch kids' MTB slot, named in Kona's tradition of Hawaiian place-names, and it applies the same design logic the company uses on its adult hardtails: a proper butted aluminum frame, real geometry tuned to the rider's proportions, and brand-name drivetrain and brake components instead of the anonymous parts that plague cheap kids' bikes. It has been a fixture of Kona's youth line-up for over a decade, sitting between the Makena's smaller balance/16-inch siblings and the 24-inch Shred/Honzo kids' models as the classic 'first real mountain bike' step.
Specifications
- Frame
- Kona 6061 butted aluminum, low-standover kids' MTB geometry
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 1x7 speed: Shimano Revo grip shifter, Shimano Tourney rear derailleur, Shimano 14-34t 7-spd freewheel
- Brakes
- Tektro V-brakes with Tektro Junior short-reach levers for small hands
- Wheels
- 20-inch, double-wall alloy rims (2021-current); single-wall on some earlier years
The verdict
- Real geometry and quality Shimano/Tektro components that put kids in a proper riding position and actually hold up off-road
- Very low standover plus kid-scaled grip shifter and short-reach levers make it confidence-inspiring for first-timers
- Plus 2.6" tires (on recent builds) give grippy, forgiving traction on dirt and gravel without needing suspension
- Heavy relative to the child - around 25 lb is roughly half the body weight of a small rider, so steep climbs are a struggle
- No quick-release front wheel and no rear rack mounts limit portability and utility
- Matte finish scratches easily; some builds' suspension fork adds weight for little real benefit at kid speeds
Generations
Suspension era (2015-2016)
- Short-travel suspension fork, narrower tires, heavier front end.
Rigid narrow-tire era (2018-2019)
- Suspension dropped for a lighter rigid fork; still on standard 2.0" tires.
Rigid plus-tire era (2021-current)
- Fat plus tires replace suspension for comfort/traction; double-wall rims, Samox 28t crank.
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Makena (2015-2016) | Makena (2018-2019) | CurrentMakena (2021-current) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2016 | 2018 | 2021 |
| Drivetrain | 1x7 Shimano Tourney | 1x7 Shimano Tourney, ProWheel 32t crank | 1x7 Shimano Tourney, Samox 28t crank |
| Brakes | Tektro V-brake | Tektro V-brake | Tektro V-brake, Junior levers |
| MSRP | — | — | €450 |
| Purpose | Value | Value | Balanced |
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