Here’s one for all the mountain bike journos; Kona have released details of their ’03 singlespeed full-suspension bike, the A. Having previously launched a bike with the longest name in the world (the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a), their new niche-of-niches full bouncer has been bestowed with the shortest name in the world; the ‘A’.

Taking their pseudo four-bar as a starting point, they’ve reconfigured the design with a main pivot around the bottom bracket shell to keep chain length constant. Rear travel is a cross-country–worthy 3.5 inches provided by a Fox Vanilla RL shock, matched by a Marzocchi MX Comp fork up front. The frame’s built from 7005 aluminium, there are Avid brakes and a Race Face Prodigy chainset with Rockguard. Gearing follows current singlespeed 2:1 gospel, with a 34/17 combo. Price is to be announced.

Availability of the special edition A is limited, but we don’t expect people camping out in tents to secure one. Kona wouldn’t comment on a whether they are planning to introduce a 29” version with onepointfive headset. Who was it that said “the only true singlespeed is a BMX”?