Kona Hei Hei Trail alloy hits dirt with Charlotte Frost in New Zealand

If you’re in the market for a new aluminum trail bike with 27.5″ wheels, the Kona Hei Hei Trail teaser at Sea Otter may have caught your attention. Essentially an aluminum version of their excellent carbon bikes, the Hei Hei Trail and Hei Hei Trail DL are now in stock, and shipping world wide.

Like their carbon siblings, the aluminum versions offer 140mm suspension front and rear with Kona’s Fuse suspension system and a trunnion mounted rear shock. Built specifically for 27.5″ wheels and sold with 2.3″ tires, the geometry includes a 68° head tube angle, 75° seat tube angle, and 425mm chainstays. Reach is slightly shorter than their Process range.

In typical Kona style, they handed over the new bike to a local New Zealand ripper to capture a ride through incredible scenery around Queenstown, NZ. Charlotte Frost’s effortless style makes the Fernhill loop look even more incredible. We must go ride there now.

Hei Hei Trail DL – $3499

Also like the carbon versions, the Hei Hei Trail alloy will be sold in two versions – the slightly up-speced DL, and the standard Hei Hei Trail. For the DL you get upgraded to a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, RockShox Revelation fork and Reverb dropper, and SRAM Guide R four piston brakes for an extra $800.

• Frame Material: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
• Wheels: WTB STP i29 TCS 27.5”
• Suspension Platform: Fuse
• Front/Rear Suspension: 140mm/140mm
• Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe RL Solo Air Trunnion
• Fork: RockShox Revelation RC Solo Air 140mm
• Crankset: SRAM Descendant 6K
• Drivetrain: SRAM GX-Eagle 12spd
• Brakes: SRAM Guide R with 180mm front / 160 rear rotor
• Seat Post: RockShox Reverb w/Plunger Lever
• Cockpit: Kona 35mm Bar/ Kona XC/BC 35 Stem with Kona Lock-on Key Grip
• Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF TR DUAL 27.5×2.3
• Rear tire: Maxxis Tomahawk TR DUAL 27.5×2.3
• Saddle: WTB Volt Comp

Hei Hei Trail – $2699

The Trail version then makes use of a Shimano 1×10 wide range mixed drivetrain, a RockShox Recon fork, and Trans-X Dropper to get the price down to $2699.

• Frame Material: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
• Wheels: WTB ST i29 TCS 27.5”
• Suspension Platform: Fuse
• Front/Rear Suspension: 140mm/140mm
• Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe RL Solo Air Trunnion
• Fork: RockShox Recon Gold RL Solo Air 140mm
• Crankset: RaceFace Aeffect
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 10spd
• Brakes: Shimano Hydraulic with 180mm front / 160 rear rotor
• Seat Post: Trans-X Dropper Internal
• Cockpit: Kona 35mm Bar/ Kona XC/BC 35 Stem with Kona Lock-on Key Grip
• Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF TR DUAL 27.5×2.3
• Rear tire: Maxxis Tomahawk TR DUAL 27.5×2.3
• Saddle: WTB Volt Sport SE

Both bikes are available and shipping now, check out Konaworld.com for more info and detailed geometry info.