First Ride Review: Kona Hei Hei CR/DL | For XC And More

The 2020 Kona Hei Hei has undergone another step-change, continuing its metamorphosis from XC race machine to something much more trail-capable, with a significantly remodelled frame design, geometry updates and upgrades to the componentry.

Not too long ago, had you turned up at the start line of an XC race with a bike sporting 120mm travel and a dropper post you’d have been laughed at, or at the very least told to get to the back. I’m glad to say things have changed. Thanks to accelerating advances in technology and bike design, riding an XC bike is no longer a choice between all out speed and technical capability. With one of the new crop of trail capable XC bikes you can enjoy both, and more to the point, you need both because race courses and event routes are evolving to include obstacles and terrain which would have been unheard of a few years ago.

The new 2020 Kona Hei Hei is the latest XC bike to jump on the bandwagon, and is targeted specifically at the XC/trail market. The previously race-proven Hei Hei has been redesigned and updated to improve its capability on more technical terrain, with updated geometry, 120mm travel both front and rear, and some other features which combine to attract the typical trail rider. If you believe the soon to be released promo video, it even offers the potential for gnarly freeriders to ride with XC race whippets without falling out.

Despite Kona’s reputation for bikes at the rowdier, fun end of the spectrum, the XC focused Hei Hei has been something of an ever-present in the range. It’s been through quite an evolution since it first appeared in 1991. It spent its first decade as a titanium 26in hardtail, switching to a scandium full-suspension bike in 2007 after a break of a few years, to a 29er in 2009, a carbon version in 2013, to what was the latest model in 2016. And so, to the 2020 model we have here.

The Bike

The Hei Hei CR/DL on test here, retails at £5,249 and sits at the top of the Hei Hei range, with an impressive spec list, sporting a Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate shock, Pike Ultimate Forks and a SRAM Eagle XX1 drivetrain. For those who are more disposed to Fox suspension the CR model has bounce provided a Fox Float DPS Evol Performance rear shock and 34 Float Stepcast Performance forks. The aluminium Hei Hei completes the range, with updated geometry, but keeps the suspension design and travel specs from the 2019 model.

The geometry has been completely revamped, and it will be no surprise to discover that it’s now longer and slacker, by around 20mm and half a degree respectively, with the stack reduced by between 5 and 10mm depending on the size, with a shorter stem to compensate for the increase in reach. Other notable aspects are the steep 75 degree seat tube angle, and shortish 430mm chainstays which are both steeper and shorter than similar bikes in this category.

The full carbon frame features a remodelled front triangle. The large profile head tube junction and straight top tube remain much the same, with the seat-tube and down-tubes departing from the previous traditional looking profile to encompass significant bends, giving more room inside the front triangle and behind.

Most significantly the shock has been moved from a vertical position to horizontal, attaching to the underside of the top tube via a very neat carbon fibre swing link which partially protects the piston. Thanks to the extra room, two bottles can now be accommodated in the front triangle, which is a major benefit for anyone embarking on longer rides with no resupply stops.

Out back the rear triangle consists of a single piece carbon monocoque, and the chainstays have been beefed up to keep handling tight and predictable and power transmission at an optimum. The cable routing is almost entirely internal with one particular tidy feature being the way the cable retention clips keeps the cables away from the frame to prevent any rubbing.

The new Hei Hei again uses the single pivot Fuse suspension platform, where the seatstays are thinned vertically compared to their lateral profile, providing a small amount of flex, effectively acting as a leaf spring as the suspension goes through its travel. It features 120mm of travel both front and rear, and the new Rockshox Super Deluxe shock is set up to be regressive in the first third of the travel to provide small bump compliance which then switches to a big-hit absorbing progressive profile for the rest of the travel.

As well as an open and closed switch, the shock also features a 3-position slow speed compression adjuster, enabling on the trail adjustment of 15% above or below the base middle compression setting. Up front the Pike Ultimate forks provide more of a trail-bike experience than usual XC specs, hinting further that this bike is targeted at a wider audience than the racing clique.

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The new frame and suspension setup is complemented with an impressive list of componentry. WTB i27 rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs provide a light, durable and fast rolling wheelset, with SRAM G2 RSC brakes to slow them down. The drivetrain consists of a mix of SRAM Eagle XX1/X0 components with a Carbon Descendent Crankset, and the cockpit maintains the high standards with Race Face Next Carbon 760mm bars and a Race Face Turbine 60mm stem.  

A small point on the weight. As is common these days, Kona don’t publish the weight in their specs, so I’ve measured it at 10.6kg (23.4lbs) which is very respectable. This comes with a large caveat however as I don’t possess a fancy digital hanging scale, and the one at ST Towers has been unavailable due to the lockdown. So until I can get my hands on something more accurate, you’ll have to trust my digital bathroom scales. (They always overestimate my body weight, so it’s probably lighter!)

The Ride

At an averagely proportioned 175cm tall I’m almost always on the dividing line between medium and large sizes of various bikes, and as in this case I usually opt for the larger size. The first thing to note about this bike is that large really does mean large. Even with the reduced stack the cockpit is high requiring a fully slammed stem, and the 175mm Reverb dropper needed to be dropped almost all the way into the seat tube.

The geometry specs don’t come with recommended height ranges (maybe they should), but I was definitely pushing the boundaries and in hindsight a medium might have been the better choice. That being said, with a reach of 465mm, it’s in line with other bikes I normally ride so getting the size right requires some thought. As always, if you’re considering a purchase, a test ride is strongly advised.

As a result of the high stack, the position on the 2020 Kona Hei Hei is definitely more trail than XC race bike. This is a good thing in my opinion, helping comfort on longer endurance rides and boosting confidence on steeper terrain. I was intending to test this out properly on some longer rides, but unfortunately the small matter of a global pandemic and resultant lockdown got in the way. I doubt a 100km test ride could be classed as either essential or wise in the current environment, especially in my current less than race-fitness shape.

I did however get to ‘test’ the Hei Hei at a local XC race just before we were put under house arrest, and the way things are going perhaps the last race of this year. The less said about this the better though given I dropped out after a lap and a half.  The infamous mud of Hit The North (the sadistic brainchild of Jason Miles of this parish) was more than a match for the Eagle drive train and Maxxis Rekon tyres. This is no reflection on the Kona Hei Hei I might add, as anyone who’s ridden this race after months of rain will tell you, it breaks bikes and riders alike with little respect for reputation, price tags or technology.

Even with lockdown imposed controls and abortive race attempts, I managed to do enough riding around Calderdale to come to some solid conclusions. The first is that the Kona Hei Hei climbs like few others. The light weight, planted front wheel due to the steep seat angle, and pedalling efficiency of the Fuse suspension propel you up the hill as well as any XC bike I’ve ridden. On steep and technical climbs it’s especially impressive, with both front and back wheels clinging to the trail.

The second is that on flat or false flat terrain where pedalling is required, the Kona Hei Hei is lightning quick. It soaks up trail buzz and small to medium bumps as if it’s floating, whilst staying planted in order keep the power down – a result of that regressive first third of travel and the anti-squat features which keep pedal bob in check. If that’s not enough, the low speed compression adjuster on the shock can easily be switched on the fly to firm things up or provide more activity as the terrain dictates, and if you really need a stiffer platform then the lockout switch can be deployed although this is only necessary on forest roads or other flat and solid terrain.

On descents the trail bike characteristics of the Kona Hei Hei are much in evidence. I didn’t quite get the opportunity to test this on properly technical terrain but on the Calderdale usual suspects it copes as well as many short travel trail bikes I’ve ridden. It’s extremely easy to throw around due to the low weight, and this is required as it doesn’t have the trail battering ram advantages of heavier bikes. This could be potentially rectified with some higher volume tyres, at least at the front, as the 2.25 Rekons are one of the few elements of this bike which adhere to XC orthodoxy.

After only a month of somewhat restricted riding it’s difficult to offer any real opinions on durability. Apart from the Reverb dropper post that is, which is already exhibiting a disappointing and distracting amount of sag. Given the almost immediate failure of the Eagle drive train in thick claggy mud I wonder whether it would get through a standard UK winter. And it probably goes without saying that the Rekon tyres are not well suited to all-round UK conditions.

Overall

After this short and somewhat disrupted introduction to the new Kona Hei Hei, it’s difficult to find many faults or find reasons to disagree with the marketing. It’s very much an XC bike which intrudes into the trail category whilst staying true to its roots and primary purpose, which is to provide the means to ride fast over all terrain. If you’re in the market for either a new race bike, or just looking for a mile-muncher without compromising downhill fun, the new Kona Hei Hei should probably be on your radar. In short, further, faster, gnarlier*.

*Not right now though.

Kona Hei Hei CR/DL Specification

• Frame // Kona Race Light Carbon 120mm Travel
• Fork // Rockshox Pike Ultimate DebonAir 120mm
• Shock // Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate
• Hubs // DT Swiss 370, 110x15mm Front & 148x12mm Rear
• Rims // WTB KOM Light i27 TCS
• Tyres // Maxxis Rekon EXO TR 3C 29×2.25”
• Chainset // SRAM Descendant DUB Carbon, 34t X-Sync Eagle chainring
• B/B // SRAM Dub PF92
• Rear Mech // SRAM XX1 Eagle
• Shifters // SRAM X0 Eagle
• Cassette // SRAM XX1 Eagle 10-50t 12spd
• Brakes // SRAM G2 RSC, SRAM centreline rotors 180mm front/160mm rear
• Stem // Raceface Turbine R35 60mm
• Bars // RaceFace Next 35 760mm
• Grips // Kona Key Grip
• Seatpost // Rockshox Reverb 175mm
• Saddle // WTB SL8 Pro
• Size Tested // Large
• Sizes available // Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
• Price: £5249

Hei Hei CR

• Frame // Kona Race Light Carbon 120mm Travel
• Fork // Fox 34 Flaot SC Performance 120mm
• Shock // Fox Float DPS Evol Performance
• Hubs // DT Swiss 370, 110x15mm Front & 148x12mm Rear
• Rims // WTB KOM Light i27 TCS
• Tyres // Maxxis Rekon EXO TR 3C 29×2.25”
• Chainset // SRAM Descendant 6K DUB, 34t X-Sync Eagle chainring
• B/B // SRAM Dub PF92
• Rear Mech // SRAM GX Eagle
• Shifters // SRAM GX Eagle
• Cassette // SRAM GX Eagle 10-50t 12spd
• Brakes // SRAM Guide R, SRAM centreline rotors 180mm front/160mm rear
• Stem // Kona XC/BC 35 60mm
• Bars // Kona XC/BC 35 760mm
• Grips // Kona Key Grip
• Seatpost // Fox Transfer w/1x 175mm
• Saddle // WTB SL8
• Sizes available // Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
• Price: £3799

Hei Hei

• Frame // Kona Race Light 6061 Aluminium 100mm Travel
• Fork // RockShox Revelation RC Debonair 120mm
• Shock // RockShox Monarch RL Solo Air
• Hubs // Shimano centrelock, 110x15mm Front & 148x12mm Rear
• Rims // WTB ST i27 TCS
• Tyres // Maxxis Rekon EXO TR 3C 29×2.25”
• Chainset // SRAM NX Eagle, 34t X-Sync Eagle chainring
• B/B // SRAM Dub PF92
• Rear Mech // SRAM GX Eagle
• Shifters // SRAM SX Eagle
• Cassette // SRAM NX Eagle 10-50t 12spd
• Brakes // Shimano MT401
• Stem // Kona XC/BC 35 60mm
• Bars // Kona XC/BC 35 760mm
• Grips // Kona Key Grip
• Seatpost // TransX Dropper
• Saddle // WTB Volt Sport
• Sizes available // Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
• Price: £2399

Review Info