Kona Dually

[aapjas]

Hi

I'm thinking of getting me the Kona King Supreme or the new Hei Hei Supreme

 

Any reviews?

People have them?

 

Help?

 

[martelpypie]

I have the Hei Hei supreme  - best bike I have ever had. I build it up to only 10.6kg. No bobbing up the hills and superfast

Only has 2.5" rear travel but that is enough for me and it never bottoms out as my shock is pumped correctly.

Bought frame through Chain Rxn cycles at R5000 cheaper than best price in SA

 

[GT oke]

I think that bike is quite supreme

[_BBi]

The new new issue of "What Mountain Bike", the Kona (cannot remember the mode) won against all the other +-R20K bikes. Will check for you tonight.

[_BBi]

It was a Kona Dawg (or was it a Kona Cat.....).

[singletrackmind]

Dont know how they go but that silver hei hei really looks good.

[martelpypie]

 

 

This is the 2007 model. Its less than 10kg when bought complete. Chain rxn cycles sells it for R27k

 

martelpypie2008-06-14 09:01:53

[djrob]

i have a kona stab if that helps

[martelpypie]

Kona Hei Hei Supreme Review: Kona Reigns Supreme

By Alex Cameron April 08
, 2007 - 23:03

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_05.jpg
Click to Enlarge.

What is a DH rider to do over the winter to stay in
shape? Hockey is great but nothing can substitute for just getting out
for a ride. Any pro will tell you that XC riding will improve your DH
results tremendously, building strength, endurance and bike skills. So,
this February, I escaped the cold Canadian winter and travelled to
Tucson, Arizona where I raced the Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. Stay
tuned for a full recap of that incredible event on asilvertouch.
Pending the full report, I wanted to showcase the amazing bike that I
rode at that 24 hour race courtesy of Kona - the 2007 Kona Hei Hei
Supreme.

UPDATE: For a full story of the Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, click here: Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo: asilvertouch Represents in Arizona. 

The Hei Hei Supreme is unlike any bike I've ever
ridden. It had to be torn from my hands at the end of the race. I can
hardly get on another cross-country bike now. I occasionally dream
about the bike at night. Lust is a terrible thing. I can't concentrate.

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_01.jpg
My Hei Hei Supreme shimmering in the desert. I wonder if I could ride it fast enough to start a fire?

Is it really a "Hei Hei" if it's a duallie and not titanium?

Old school Kona aficionados may balk at the idea of a
biked called a "Hei Hei" that is not a hardtail and not made from
titanium. For those that don't know, Kona made a ti hardtail called the
"Hei Hei" (meaning "Race" in Hawaiian) for many years. It has a devoted
following and was a beautiful bike. The religious Hei Hei worshippers
may feel that the gods will be angered by a non-ti, duallie edition of
the Hei Hei, but who are we to judge? Let the 2007 Hei Hei Supreme be
judged on its own merits.

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_03.jpg
A closer look at the magnificent frame and finish.

Performance of the Hei Hei Supreme

When I showed up at the race and first spotted the Hei
Hei Supreme that I would be riding, I stopped in my tracks. The bike
has a shining ball burnished finish and a spec that just screams of
high-performance. You know it's unreal before you even get on. And you
know it's light.

When I climbed aboard the Hei Hei Supreme, my
expectations were fulfilled - I could hardly believe how light it felt
underneath me. A few quick pedal strokes and I was at the top of a
small nearby hill. Elation started to set in. This bike was impossibly
light. Weighing in at about 20lbs and sporting full XTR, the Hei Hei
Supreme is bred for racing.

Overwhelmingly impressed at the nimble quickness of the
bike, my mind immediately turned to the question of whether the speedy
race rig would hold up in hairy situations and take a pounding under my
200lb body. It wasn't long into the race that I had a chance to
red-line the Hei Hei Supreme.

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_06small.jpg
Click to Enlarge. Source: KonaWorld.com

In the first part of the race course, I rode a blazing
fast fire road for about 5 miles, including a series of seven short but
steep rolling hills called the "Seven Bitches". Downhill in these
sections, I just let go of the brakes and rode like I was on a DH bike.
However, I quickly learned that the road wasn't as smooth as expected.
Drainage ditches, water ruts and floating airs were all encountered,
and at top speed. Somewhat unintentionally, I pounded the Hei Hei
Supreme into these ditches and ruts and took her airborne several
times. The bike performed like a charm. Nothing broken, no wheels
knocked out of true, and plenty of control. My initial lust for the
bike converted to love in those moments.

Kona Hei Hei Supreme Essential Specs

 

Frame	Four-bar Scandium Butted Frameset
Rear Shock	Fox Float RP23
Rear travel	2.5"
Fork	RockShox SID World Cup 80mm
Headset	FSA ORBIT DL
Cranks	Shimano XTR
Bottom bracket	Shimano XTR
Chainrings	44/32/22
Chain	Shimano CN-HG93
Freewheel	Shimano XTR (11-32t, 9speed)
Derailleurs	Shimano XTR front and rear
Shifters	Shimano XTR
Handlebar	Easton EC70 OS Carbon
Stem	Easton EA70 OS
Grips	Kona RACE LIGHT
Brakes & Levers	Shimano XTR V-Brake
Hubs	Shimano XTR front and rear
Rims & Spokes	Shimano XTR
Tires	Maxxis CrossMark Exception 2.1 Kevlar
Saddle	Selle Italia SLR KIT CARBONIO
Seatpost	Easton EC70 Carbon
Color	Ball Burnished

 

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_07.jpg
Source: KonaWorld.com

After the initial hammering, I had several laps of the
15 mile course and hours of solitude in the desert to fully evaluate
the Hei Hei Supreme. Although the course was not technical (and would
admittedly have been better ridden on a hardtail), the bike floated
like the wind over the desert, steered with precision and sucked up the
bumps nicely. Pedalling was steady, smooth and virtually effortless. I
dream about riding the Hei Hei over that course even to this day! The
only thing I would have changed on the bike (and in fact did change
after a couple of laps) was the seat. It was a little too hard for my
tender behind!

Discs vs. V-brakes?

The Hei Hei Supreme is shipped with Shimano XTR
v-brakes. For some, this might be a little peculiar. How can a
top-of-the-line race bike came stock with v-brakes? Should it have
discs?

On the issue of whether the Hei Hei Supreme should have
discs, I won't purport to open up the whole disc vs. v-brake debate for
resolution, but let me say the following.... I have been a downhiller
and freerider for seven years. I never thought I would ride a bike with
v-brakes ever again, until I rode this one. As alluded to above, I
railed the Hei Hei Supreme as fast (or faster) than I would have ridden
a DH bike through the downhill sections of the race course. Open fire
roads, fast twisty sections, dips and airs, gullies and ditches were
slammed into. 

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_04.jpg
Rear suspension is a solid, proven performer.

It is telling to me of the performance of the XTR
v-brakes that I didn't even pause to think for a second that I was
riding v-brakes. I couldn't believe it. The brakes worked exceptionally
well, much to my surprise. To the extent that they contributed to the
(rolling) weight reduction of the bike, I enjoyed every gram of it on
the flats and uphills where I could fly, barely feeling like I had a
bike under me.

Obviously if your riding conditions involve a lot of
long downhill sections, v-brakes might not be for you. However, if
you're buying the Hei Hei Supreme for downhilling, then you need to
change a few screws in your head, in addition to the v-brakes! With
more time on the bike, I would love to be able to comment on this
further because I was very surprised at how the brakes performed.

http://www.asilvertouch.com/images/features/143/kona_hei_hei_02.jpg
Bred to ride fast, really fast.

Conclusions

There is no question that the Hei Hei Supreme is bred
for one purpose and one purpose only - fast riding. It is at the top of
its class in that department. The following MSRP prices reflect the
top-of-the-line performance of the bike and its components: MSRP USA
$5999, Canada $6999, Europe ?5555. This bike clearly isn't for
everyone. However, if you want one of the best XC race bikes on the
planet then do yourself a favour and take this one for a spin. The Kona
Hei Hei Supreme reigns supreme.