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Double Vision – Kona’s carbon Hei Hei DL and Race DL get official

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The cat might already be out of the bag after their showing at Sea Otter, but that isn’t stopping Kona from officially introducing the new carbon Hei Heis with a clever video. Typically, double vision on a mountain bike would be a bad thing, but in this case it’s how Kona racer Spencer Paxson attacks completely different rides with the same frame. That’s of course due to the Hei Hei’s duality as both a 100mm travel XC race bike and as a 100/120mm travel trail slayer. With build kits uniquely suited to each task and a light weight carbon frame, the new carbon Hei Hei may leave you seeing double…

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Starting with the same 1800g carbon frame  with Boost spacing, Kona equips the FUSE suspension system with two different shocks even though they see the same 100mm of rear travel. Those shocks also correspond to the suspension fork with the DL seeing a complete set of Fox suspension while the Race DL goes with RockShox. The drivetrains are also a bit different with an XT 1×11 on the DL and a SRAM GX 1×11 on the Race DL. To complete the different specs, the DL is given a dropper post, wider bars, and bigger tires.

While the two bikes share the same frame, the geometry differs slightly due to the introduction of a longer travel fork for the DL. That means a 68º rather than 69º head tube angle, a slightly longer wheel base, and less BB drop on the DL. The result is two very different bikes for two different riders. Or the same rider on different days of the week as illustrated by Spencer Paxson above.

Here in the U.S. the DL is currently available, with the Race DL to follow the first week of August, though both models are currently available in Europe and the UK. Pricing for the Hei Hei DL is set at $4699.

Hei Hei Race DL

SPEC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Frame Material: Kona Race Light Carbon
  • Wheel Size: 29-inch
  • Wheels: WTB KOM i25 TCSs
  • Suspension Platform: Fuse Independent Suspension
  • Rear/Front Suspension: 100mm/100mm
  • Fork: RockShox Reba RL 100mm Tapered
  • Shock: RockShox Monarch RL
  • Crankset: RaceFace Æffect
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX 10-42t 11spd
  • Cockpit: Kona XC/BC 35 Riser bar and XC/Road 35 stem
  • Brakes: SRAM Guide RS
  • Tires: Maxxis M340 Maxxlite 29×2.0″
  • Saddle: WTB Volt Comp

Hei-Hei-Spec-bw

Hei Hei DL

SPEC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Frame Material: Kona Race Light Carbon
  • Wheel Size: 29-inch
  • Wheels: WTB KOM i29 TCS
  • KIS Platform: Fuse Independent Suspension
  • Rear/Front Suspension: 100mm/120mm
  • Fork:Fox 34 FLOAT Performance 120mm
  • Shock: Fox Float Performance
  • Crankset: RaceFace Æffect
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT 11-speed
  • Cockpit: Kona XC/BC 35 Riser bar and XC/Road 35 stem, ODI Ruffian MX grips
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Tires: Maxxis Ardent EXO TR 29×2.25″/IKON EXO TR 29×2.2″
  • Saddle: WTB Volt Comp

Hei-Hei-Race-Spec-bw

konaworld.com

 

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8 Comments
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Ste
Ste
7 years ago

Was the photographer afraid of the forest? Those shots are clearly studio work with the forest and shadow photoshopped in they don’t look natural at all.

Mike D
Mike D
7 years ago
Reply to  Ste

Yeah, it’s precise and clean, but so obviously shopped. it really does kind of punch you in the eyeballs a bit.

Birdman
Birdman
7 years ago

Is it true the rear can only fit maximum 2.2 tire? I remember reading that somewhere.

Mike D
Mike D
7 years ago
Reply to  Birdman

I’d be curious as to the answer here as well. I know XC stuff has traditionally been ‘narrow’, but one of the most brilliant XC tires I’ve ridden was the Maxxis Ikon in 2.35–and for those non-racers interested in this bike (I would guess the majority of customers for this brand/bike) are going to want that slightly better 2.35 clearance. Any Kona folks want to weigh in on this?

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
7 years ago

What does “Independent Suspension” even mean now?

Todd
Todd
7 years ago

Isn’t a longer fork supposed to slacken the head tube angle, not steepen it?

D-Rick
D-Rick
7 years ago

The geometry charts are positioned with the wrong model specs as far as I can tell.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

Isn’t this just another faux-bar bike?

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