Kona Hei HeivsProcess 134

Kona’s Hei Hei and Process 134 both cater to riders who appreciate a capable, fun-loving bike, but they approach the trail from notably different perspectives. The Hei Hei G10, with 120mm of rear travel and a 130mm fork, has evolved significantly from its cross-country racing roots into what reviewers consistently describe as a light-duty trail bike. It's built for comfort and efficiency over long distances, offering a relaxed character that makes it a true all-rounder for a wider remit of trails, as QuarterHP noted. In contrast, the Process 134 G3, featuring 134mm of rear travel and a 140mm fork, leans much harder into aggressive trail riding, often feeling like a shorter-travel enduro machine. It's designed to instill confidence when things get rowdy, even if it sacrifices a touch of the Hei Hei's climbing sprightliness. The Hei Hei's design philosophy centers on maximizing rider enjoyment and minimizing fatigue on varied terrain, making it an excellent choice for bikepacking or long backcountry missions. Its carbon frame focuses on compliance and comfort, with a supportive suspension tune that manages small bumps well without excessive bob. Conversely, the Process 134 is a more robust beast, aiming for stability and outright descending capability on more demanding trails. Both models are rooted in Kona’s heritage of building no-nonsense bicycles, but the Hei Hei delivers its capability with a smoother, more refined touch, while the Process 134 provides a firmer, more direct feel underfoot.

The Hei Hei G10 serves up a notably relaxed and confidence-inspiring ride, making it a stellar all-rounder. Reviewers praise its supportive Swinger suspension system, which offers excellent small-bump compliance and traction, making technical climbs less of a struggle. NSMB noted the rear wheel "seldom losing traction and staying on the ground for pivotal manoeuvres" on tricky ascents. The 130mm RockShox Pike Ultimate fork is a standout, delivering impressive steering precision and plushness, which helps the front end stay composed even when things get squirrely. This bike encourages an active riding style, feeling lively and responsive, easily getting airborne thanks to its relatively short 435mm chainstays, as Blister observed. While the Hei Hei excels at feeling composed on moderate trails and flatter terrain, it does have a speed limit. When pushing hard through "higher speed technical terrain" or "blasting through a rock garden at 30 km/h," the bike can reach its upper capabilities, requiring a more calculated approach rather than brute force. Its overall ride quality, however, is praised for reducing rider fatigue, making it comfortable for "all-day riding" and extended backcountry trips. The Radavist's John Watson even found it "enhanced my physical abilities" and made him feel "never vanquished" after big days. The Process 134 G3, on the other hand, comes across as a burly, confident trail companion built for aggressive descents. Its linkage-driven single-pivot suspension, shared with Kona's longer-travel bikes, provides a firm, supportive ride that excels on flow trails and jumps. Blisterreview's tester found that after adding volume spacers and tuning the compression, the bike transformed into "a joy to ride on fast, flowing singletrack, and felt utterly wonderful to push and pump through berms and rollers." The slacker 65.5-degree head tube angle inspires significant confidence in challenging terrain, allowing the bike to "hold a line without being so stiff that it feels jarring," according to Blister. This bike simply handles more demanding terrain better than its travel numbers suggest, feeling robust and capable. However, the Process 134's firmness can be a double-edged sword. Pinkbike highlighted that the "suspension noticeably stiffens up under braking," a trait that demands adaptation and careful braking technique to maintain comfort and predictability on rough sections. On bumpy singletrack climbs, its less supple feel means it can be a challenge to keep the rear tire from breaking traction. While Pinkbike found the overall "firm ride feel" less comfortable on extremely rough, sustained descents compared to more supple 120mm bikes, it still delivers on its promise of a playful and capable ride for those who like to charge hard and leverage its stable platform.