Hei Hei or King Kahuna? Who prefers what?

[Anthony]

I don't think the short seat tube extension is size-related, but I can't explain why the ti models were a more conventional shape, especially as the sloping top tube was Kona's trade mark. It's also a puzzle why the 93 and 94 brochures show the Hei Hei with a normal Kona shape, but the only photos I have from those years show a short extension, as per the 95 and 96 brochures. I have no photos prior to 93, so I don't know what shape the bikes actually were then, but the 91 and 92 brochures showed a Kona-style extension.

The bike in the 1990 catalogue is a puzzle. It appears on the Brodie page, but it has a Kona decal. The text is quite cagey, saying that Joe Murray designed it but also that Merlin 'invented' it, but not that they built it. But it looks uncannily similar to the bike in the 1989 Merlin brochure, even down to the rear XT U-brake (the other high-end 1990 Konas had moved on to cantis). If Joe Murray really did design that bike, why the U-brake and why the completely different Joe Murray design for 1991?

 

[dahl]

i really miss my Kona kingkahuna....

 

[DM]

Hei-Hei for me.

I prefer the simpler aesthetics of the round-tubed Hei-Hei.
I don't weigh too much, so the Hei-Hei has never been flexy or noodly for me.

And I also prefer the later "triple top tube" cable routing. It's too muddy around here for all that roadie-style "cables under the bottom bracket" nonsense wink.

A Hei-Hei with a rear disc tab would be lovely.
Maybe that goes against the "Retro" ethic...? But anyway...

 

[andrewl]

For me its the 97 KK or the 99 KK with the orange front and colour matched Z2 Superfly.

I like the earlier Hei Heis too but not any of the period forks they came with.

M950 XTR is much better too

 

[Geoff]

93 Hei Hei and 97 KK for me please, if anybody would care to donate...

I think the 93 HH is one of the finest look Konas ever, and the 97 KK is also very nice looking while being able to run a slightly beefier setup (Z1s etc).

Lets be honest though, I wouldn't exactly turn down any ti Kona...

 

[Kona Paul]

Lets be honest though, I wouldn't exactly turn down any ti Kona...

Ha ha, seems I haven't been able to either :?

 

[mrkawasaki]

Same difference

I couldn't make my mind up/didn't know the difference - so went down the middle on an HH KK...

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... ht=hei+hei

Still relatively unenlightened as to the differences...

Mr K

 

[Kona Paul]

It's a 96 KK. The only year with 6/4 stays. Very nice

The main difference is in the gusseting around the headtube and the shape of the tubing itself; i.e., bi-oval instead of round. If you examine the shape of the down tube, you'll know what I mean. The KK is therefore a little more stiff, or less flexy if you prefer. This gives it good acceleration and stability and makes it good for racing.

The onlyother difference is that KK's are more rare, and people who have them seem less willing to sell them.

Oh, and there's weight of course. Roughly 300 grams depending on size.

 

[Drapoon]

I love my 93' but Something about the 97' Decals I really like

Here's mine to throw into the pot...

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2232042/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2232043/

 

[Anthony]

I love my 93' but Something about the 97' Decals I really like
Here's mine to throw into the pot...
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2232042/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2232043/

That's interesting - the bike shown below is also a 93, but it has the short seat tube extension which yours doesn't (and it has the spiral in the right place too!)

But your bike doesn't look like the pre-93 geometry either, it's clearly 93-96 and it's clearly the genuine article. I can't understand why the two styles existed in parallel - presumably different builders, but why? Does your bike have a 56cm c-c top tube? (93 standard size 19 = 56, 94 = 57.5)