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Interbike 2009 – Kona Mountain Bikes, 29ers and Dirt Jumpers

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INTERBIKE 2009 – Kona updated several of their models and introduced a few new ones to round out their huge portfolio of bikes.  The big news was/is the Cadabra and Abra Cadabra with their 2nd generation Magic Link suspension, and we have a whole post dedicated to those bikes with a video run down from their suspension engineer.

This post covers their new Hei Hei 2-9 (as in 29er, above), the Hei Hei 100 XC racer, the Cowan DJ bike and the new Lisa hardtail and 120 full suspension bikes for the ladies.

The Hei Hei 2-9 brings a lightweight, race-ready Scandium frame to the 29er wheels for a big, fast bike with smart frame features and components to ensure an efficient ride.

Hit ‘more’ for specs, photos and more on all these bikes…


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The Hei Hei 2-9 has a tapered headtube and 15mm front thru-axle to keep steering tight.

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A Scandium frame and magnesium rockers keep it light and provide a lot of upgrade potential for those looking to shed a couple of pounds.  Off the lot, it’s spec’d with Shimano SLX cranks and brakes/levers and XT shifters and derailleurs.  Suspension is handled by Fox Float RP23 w/ Boost Valve in the rear and a Fox 32 F29 100-RL TA in the front.  An Easton wheelset with Kenda Small Block 8 tires (2.1) and Kona cockpit with WTB saddle round out the spec.

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For the 26″ wheel crowd, the fresh new Hei Hei 100 bumps its travel up to 100mm front and rear and is intended as an all-around cross country race bike.

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The “rainbow” of sizes includes 16″, 17″, 18″, 19″, 20″ and 22″ frame options.  If you can’t find one to fit, you might have a career in the circus.

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The brushed Scandium frame is sweet looking.

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The 26″ model doesn’t get the tapered headtube, and it uses a RockShox Recon SL Solo 100mm fork.  Rear shock is a Fox Float RP2.

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A hexagonal downtube helps stiffen the bottom bracket area.

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The Kona Lisa 120 is a long-travel XC bike designed specifically for women.  Whereas the Minxy (black bike in background) is a true women’s freeride mountain bike, the Lisa 120 is intended to be a more XC-oriented offering with 120mm of travel to soak up anything that comes along the trail.

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The frame is Race Light butted Scandium with Magnesium rockers, and it’s spec’d with a Fox Float RP2 and RockShox Recon SL Solo 120mm fork.  The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano Deore, HG and SLX with a predominately Kona-branded cockpit and WTB Speed She Sport SE saddle.  The Lisa 120 rolls on Mavic Crossride wheels with Kenda Komodo Kevlar 2.1 tires.

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For the girls that are just getting into it, the new Lisa HT (hard tail) uses the same frame as the Lisa Deluxe, but comes with purse-friendly but trail-worth spec: RockShox Dart 2 100mm fork, FSA cranks, Shimano Acera/Deore drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes Formula (front)/Shimano (rear) hubs with Alex rims and a Velo saddle.

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The Kona Cowan Dirt Jump bike is sweet.  Just look at it…sweeeeet.

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At $1,199, it’s not the most expensive DJ/Slopestyle bike from Kona, but it’s arguably the best looking and the best spec’d for straight up dirt jumping.

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Hydroformed downtube allows room for the 80mm Marzocchi Dirt Jumper 1 fork to compress fully and provides a larger weld area to stiffen the head tube.

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20mm thru-axle keeps steering nice and tight.

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The Cowan comes with FSA Moto FR cranks in 165mm length for the 12″ frame and 170mm for the 14″ and 15″ frame sizes.

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Replaceable rear dropouts have a handy little dial to adjust chainstay length and straighten up the rear wheel.

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That’s a Yaban Mack Offset Link BMX chain.

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…and just a sneak peek at the graphic treatment on the forthcoming Lacondeguy Inc steel dirt jump frame.  We’re on the queue to get one in for review as soon as they’re released!

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