Kona have just released details of its first titanium 29er frame, the new Raijin.

At first glance it doesn’t much look like a Kona, but it does bear a whacky name so some things are still true to the brands heritage. Kona went to Lynskey to get the frame made, and while the one pictured is a prototype, the production version is set to be almost identical.

Raijin is the Japanese god of lightning and thunder and is built from 3/2.5 titanium tubes with a 69.5 degree head tube angle and 74 seat tube for the 18in frame – five sizes will be offered when the bike is hitting the shops in April this year.

Kona says the frame has been designed to “perfectly balance the need for both stiffness and compliancy in a trail bike”. It features details such as a BB30 bottom bracket, 44mm head tube, sliding dropouts with singlespeed and derailleur hangers both supplied. Weight is a claimed 1.8kg (4lbs).

No word on UK pricing yet but over in the States it will cost $1,899.

http://cog.konaworld.com/archives/9800?pid=1422