Kona Hei Hei Supreme (2014)
Full carbon racer from Kona
Pros
- Tried and tested suspension design
- Top shelf components
Cons
- KMC chain?
Review
The Hei Hei Supreme represents the top XC race bike from Kona. Although in many ways very new, it still uses Kona's Beamer suspension linkage which first appeared in the mid 90's. The company has had a long time to perfect this system into what you see today, and ironically, in this world of constantly changing designs, remains a positive feature in Kona's range of mountain bikes. They certainly stuck with it!
The Supreme uses a full carbon frame which is beautifully designed, with internally routed cables making for a clean crisp look. The Hei Hei is a very light bike but is designed around an almost "trail" like cockpit with a tallish front end, and is perfect for building speed fast and holding it with outstanding levels of control. The only danger of an extremely light frame is introducing flex when the going gets rough or when you push the bike to its limit. I would recommend test riding before committing if you like hitting trails to a bike's limit.
Components are mostly from the top shelf, although in my experience with other top end bikes, putting a KMC chain on an otherwise great Shimano drivetrain can lead to big problems. If you get gear jumping issues swap the chain for a HG-95 and potentially all your problems will be solved!
The Hei Hei is definitely worth a look and a ride. It is potentially a very good XC and trail bike that picks up and holds speed well and just looks fantastic. See your local store for a test ride.
The Kona Hei Hei Supreme is one dialed-in, full tilt XC racebike. This advanced machine features a lightweight carbon frame and tuned Fox Float suspension for amazing handling over rough terrain. Shimano XT components make up the drivetrain, and parts from KMC, RaceFace, WTB, and Maxxis add performance where it's needed. A Stan's tubeless wheelset completes the picture on this high-performance race weapon.
Matt UD Carbon/Orange/White/Black | |