My unicorn - 1994 Kona Hei Hei - FULL SPEC/FINISHED PICS ON PAGE 8 & 9 - BOTY 2021, BOTM April 2021 & 2nd MucOff Show & Shine Malverns Classic 2021

44Racing

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So unlike my completed GT RTS-2 and Pace RC200 F3 that I recently posted build threads of on here my 1994 17" Kona Hei Hei build has only recently been sourced/started.

Like my Pace I saw an OEM Kona Hei Hei back in 1994, I just loved the look of how it was just an absolute out and out race bike and from that moment it joined my dream bike list. The Hei Hei I saw was 94 Kona Hei Hei short seat tube OEM spec with the RockShox Mag 21 fork option and randomly I haven't seen one since until I sourced mine.

Initially I was sourcing parts to build a 16" Aqua 1994 GT Zaskar that was one of my bikes that I never got around to owning and then the Hei Hei became available so I moved the Zaskar on

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So back in the day I dreamt of having a full on boutique part Hei Hei running loads of top spec parts including Mag 21 SLTi's, Ringle and a Disk Drive Pro, however unlike the Pace this build was completely unobtainable to me at the time and even back in the day this was a rare bike/frame...so roll on 26 years and I've now sourced my "unicorn" frame.

With this build I planned to go period correct, however I wanted to go a little different from normal higher end retro builds steering away from the usual 3DV, turquoise, blue, red, etc anodised parts builds and I have chosen to build it with mainly NOS/VGC black parts.

The frame was pretty much spotless when it arrived and looked even better after a thorough clean...

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As I had been sourcing parts for my Zaskar I already had a bit of a head start by a year or 2 for this build...

First off I sourced some 94 RockShox Mag 21SLTi's. When these arrived from the USA they were in pretty good shape, however they weren't perfect, they had faded, they had oxidation marks and were seeping oil from the seals that was playing havoc with my OCD, so as a result of this I liaised with Wadsy on here who after a few messages agreed to fully service and restore the lowers of my forks. I originally wanted to add a long travel kit to these, but when Wadsy took them apart he found that they already had the LT kit fitted that was a bonus. After a few months Wadsy had worked his magic and the forks were ready to reassemble...

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The next item sourced, that I wasn't really expecting to source was a low mileage great condition Tioga Disk Drive Pro built on a Mavic M231 SUP CD hard anodised grey rim and a Shimano XTR M900 hub. I sourced this from Germany...

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Build updates to follow...
 
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Re: My unicorn bike/spec from when I was 15 - 1994 Kona Hei Hei

Nailed it! Glad to have had some chatter and progress pics throughout the course of this amazing build mate.

Love the M21SLTi restoration and especially that TDD Pro photo on the bench with backlighting. It’s now up on @tiogadisk :cool:

Epic is an oft overused term but this is truly an epic project and superbly detailed. Congratulations!
 
Re: My unicorn bike/spec from when I was 15 - 1994 Kona Hei Hei

regan_ev":11dpj8rg said:
Nailed it! Glad to have had some chatter and progress pics throughout the course of this amazing build mate.

Love the M21SLTi restoration and especially that TDD Pro photo on the bench with backlighting. It’s now up on @tiogadisk :cool:

Epic is an oft overused term but this is truly an epic project and superbly detailed. Congratulations!

Thank you for all of you’re assistance and advice mate, it’s really appreciated :D

Hopefully the end build will be as I envisaged.
 
Re: My unicorn bike/spec from when I was 15 - 1994 Kona Hei Hei

44Racing":3kzmamh0 said:
The frame was pretty much spotless when it arrived and looked even better after a thorough clean...
Hello there, I think that your frame may not currently be on the Kona Titanium Frame Serial Number List. Would you be willing to allow me to add it?

Please scroll down to Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:27 am:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=396211&start=80

For a confirmed entry, perhaps you you send me a picture of the Serial Number.

Pip
 
Re: My unicorn bike/spec from when I was 15 - 1994 Kona Hei Hei

pipmeister":1p9y3x6i said:
44Racing":1p9y3x6i said:
The frame was pretty much spotless when it arrived and looked even better after a thorough clean...
Hello there, I think that your frame may not currently be on the Kona Titanium Frame Serial Number List. Would you be willing to allow me to add it?

Please scroll down to Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:27 am:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=396211&start=80

For a confirmed entry, perhaps you you send me a picture of the Serial Number.

Pip

Will do Pip.

Just researching my frames life and owners. Have traced all of it’s owners for the last 20 years. Will be in contact soon.
 
Re:

More parts sourced...

A few XTR M900 parts including front mech, rear mech, levers/shifters and cassette

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After almost getting had over with a fake NOS black Ringle Slamma Jamma headset, I thought I would stick with what I knew and set out to source a black no logo Chris King headset...after 2 years of hunting I eventually found one in the USA where the seller thought he just had a "factory second" Chris King that they "must have forgotten to put the logo's on". I informed the seller otherwise, but still got a really good deal on the no logo CK.

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Re: My unicorn bike/spec from when I was 15 - 1994 Kona Hei Hei

ectoplasmosis":2bb010bd said:
Stunning frame, can’t wait to see it built!

Thank you.

Pretty much most of the parts are sourced, so it shouldn’t be too long before I’m on the home stretch with this build.
 
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