Kona Hei hei 29er

I have a 2008 Hei Hei 29er with the RP3 and the Reba. I swapped out the wheelset right away for a Mike Curiak-built set with Hope Pro II hubs and Bontrager Mustang rims. I also converted the Reba to 100mm. Otherwise the bike is stock. It is around 28 pounds with Eggbeater SL's and a cheap bottle cage.

I like the Hei Hei as a trail bike. It is very stable going up and down. It is built like a tank; I think I've plowed through every rock field from Portland, OR to Moab, UT and it doesn't seem any the worse for wear.

One problem; if I don't keep the chain lubed, I get some pretty bad chainsuck. Happened on the first ride and I notice it every time I forget to lube pre-ride. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.

I've not raced this bike, and I don't think I ever will. It is a bit heavy and it would cost a good bit of coin to make it light. However, it is a great all-day bike that performs better as the trail get rougher.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

Joe

My 2008 Hei Hei is 29 pounds. Built mine up from a frame I got on Ebay. Bike has a Reba on it and I agree it handles better at 100mm than 80mm. Bike is built well. The only thing I don't like is that the bike sits really high. I have a 19" model and I'm 5'10" so wondering if I may have one size too big. The height is a bit of trouble in really technical trails where I have to put my feet down alot. Not sure if all 29er full suspension bikes sit that high but I don't really care for that standover problem on the really technical trails. Its not a race bike by any means but sure is comfortable on the intermediate trails.

Neighbor just bought one (19") that weighs 28 to 29lbs with tubeless DT/Flow wheels and a X.9/XT build with Reba.

IMO 19" is too big for 5'10". My neighbor is 6'2".

thanks guys for the help. I'm looking for a frame that i can do both races and the four hour rides with my riding buddies. i have a c'dale 29er 2 which i love but, when you are rounding the three hour mark you really start to feel it. I demoed the hei hei and liked it a lot but I was hoping I would see some lighter weights for the complete builds.

I have an 09 19" 29lbs. I also bought just the frame( bikesdirect parts swap) With new wheelset, Racing Ralphs, and 1x9 convesion should get it in the 26 to 27 range. I also wanted FS for those long rides when on vacation.

i plan on doing a 1x9 setup with my bike now and with whatever new frame i get. i will get stan's rims for it so that will shed some weight. luckily for me even though i'm tall at 6' 2" but still not breaking the scale at 180 (plan to drop to around 170-175) so i can put some of the lighter components on whatever i get and save weight there as well.

do you guys have any pics of your setup?

Joe_Jitsu said:

I have a 2008 Hei Hei 29er with the RP3 and the Reba. I swapped out the wheelset right away for a Mike Curiak-built set with Hope Pro II hubs and Bontrager Mustang rims. I also converted the Reba to 100mm. Otherwise the bike is stock. It is around 28 pounds with Eggbeater SL's and a cheap bottle cage.

I like the Hei Hei as a trail bike. It is very stable going up and down. It is built like a tank; I think I've plowed through every rock field from Portland, OR to Moab, UT and it doesn't seem any the worse for wear.

One problem; if I don't keep the chain lubed, I get some pretty bad chainsuck. Happened on the first ride and I notice it every time I forget to lube pre-ride. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.

Joe

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Everything Joel said... Stock wheels are 100% crap... I replaced stockers with Stans Arch (Kona issued my shop a credit for the stock wheels) The stock chain and chainrings hate each other.... chain suck from middle to granny is chronic unless the chain is kept well lubed.. and then it is a very rare thing..I use squirt lube. I also converted the Reba to 100mm also and it's the way to go.

I love this bike, it is strong, fast and I love the riding position (steep seat tube) as it puts me over the pedals rather than behind them. I have race it once in a 24 hour race but I am a newbe and it worked out just fine. I sold my Kona Dawg Deluxe and replaved it with a Intense Tracer VP but I'll be rockin the Hei-Hei 29er for a good long time... it's that good of a bike IMO.

Tires were an issue.. took me a while to find a combo that worked for me. I am currently using a Nano Raptor 2.1 rear and Geax Sugauro 2.2 front and these roll fast and grip well here in SW Utah.

thanks for the input. keep sending more pics and info. whenever i am able to buy a new frame i am pretty sure i am going to go with the hei hei. i would be building it with most likely arches or 355's and i use a combo of ignitors and crossmarks. where i am this tire combo works perfectly and its nice because they both are fairly light.

imiller said:

thanks for the input. keep sending more pics and info. whenever i am able to buy a new frame i am pretty sure i am going to go with the hei hei. i would be building it with most likely arches or 355's and i use a combo of ignitors and crossmarks. where i am this tire combo works perfectly and its nice because they both are fairly light.

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I considered the 355 as well but the Arch is a bit more burly and I go 190# and hate truing wheels. I like the Ignightors but the didn't seem to like Stans wheels.... The Geax Suguaro was a ***** to get on the rim... broke a plastic tire lever and had to use steel. Good news is they seat right up with a hand pump. We had trouble even getting the Maxxis to seat with HV air.

STT GUY said:

We had trouble even getting the Maxxis to seat with HV air.

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That is not the experience I had. The Maxxis Crossmarks were new and I took them straight out of the packaging (folded) and soaped them up took out the valve core and popped the beads in, juiced in some caffe latex (first time using this), put the cores back in pumped them up to 40 psi, shook and spun. I don't have to add very much air before riding. Maybe I was just lucky

I have a 2008 Hei Hei in a small size (16"). It weighs 27.2 pounds with the following:

Stock 2008 Hei Hei
Swapped the crappy stock wheelset to Stans Arch/Hope wheelset
Replaced the stock stem and bars w/Ritchey 44-Axis stem and Easton Monkeylite carbon riser bar
Geax Saguaro 2.2 tires F/R

I love this bike. It gets raced in endurance events...and also serves as double duty as an all-around XC/AM type bike. It does it all pretty well.

Thx...Dog

Changes for this season: x9 triggers, low rise XC pro motos, 120mm pro moto stem, and a Hope Pro II rear hub.

^not if i let the dog eat them first. Lol

She can eat all the packaging she wants, just as long as she stays away from the goods! I dig the new cockpit, just gotta get that hub laced!