2026 Kona

Hei Hei CR

Excellent descending capability for an XC bike

Smooth, well-controlled suspension that resists hard bottoming

Room for two water bottles inside front triangle (size small frame)

Nine water bottle and accessory mount bosses

Attainable price tag ($6299)

Mechanical SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission drivetrain impressive so far

Trail-oriented tire and wheel spec is bombproof

Heavy at 30.4 pounds

Slow-rolling Maxxis Dissector tires feel vague as front tire on hard surfaces

Seat tube mount doesn't fit full-size water bottle

No internal frame storage

No cable port for shock remote lockout

Stock saddle (WTB Volt) disliked by most test riders

Climbing performance falls short in full-on race situations

Playful and capable descending prowess

Lively and responsive ride with easy pop

Stiff chassis with excellent directional responsiveness

Plush suspension with good small bump compliance

Solid spec with top-end suspension, reliable hubs, mechanical transmission

Lots of bottle bosses and mounting options

Comfortable seated climbing position on technical singletrack

Pronounced pedal bob with shock open on smooth climbs

Seat tube angle feels slack on steep sustained climbs

Creak from forward shock mount bolt (sample size too small to confirm)

Low routing on non-drive side bulges out (though no contact)

Saddle-to-bar drop too aggressive for some (solved with riser bar)

Upper limit on high-speed technical terrain

Half a pound heavier than XC racers