The Specialized Chisel, on smooth climbs. Its firm RX-tuned rear end and 110 mm of travel put more of your pedal input into forward motion, and multiple reviewers (The Radavist, Nminus1bikes) noted they rarely engaged the lockout even on fire roads because the suspension is so supportive out of the box.

The Kona Hei Hei climbs differently. The linkage-driven single pivot is more active — it bobs a bit more on smooth terrain but holds traction exceptionally well on technical, rooty, rocky ascents. Kona gives you a two-position lockout for the smooth stuff. Different tools for different climbs.

The Kona Hei Hei, clearly. It has 10 mm more rear travel (120 vs 110), a 1° slacker head angle (66° vs 67°), and a 17 mm longer wheelbase at size M — all three move it toward stability at speed. Reviewers describe it as "composed while blasting through rough sections" and "more capable than previous experiences on bikes with this much travel" (NSMB).

The Chisel descends better than a traditional XC bike thanks to its "mezzo geometry," and the EVO's 130 mm Fox 34 adds real confidence up front. But reviewers (Nminus1bikes, The Radavist) are consistent: at genuine speed on chunky terrain, the 110 mm rear end runs out of travel before the Kona does.

Frame material and range strategy. The Hei Hei is carbon only — Kona sells one complete carbon build, the CR G10, at $6,299, and an alloy G10 at $3,999 with a big step down in suspension. The Chisel is alloy only — no carbon version exists; the carbon equivalent in Specialized's lineup is the Epic Evo, which starts around $4,500.

So the comparison isn't apples-to-apples on price, and it's not supposed to be. These are the two bikes a lot of riders cross-shop despite the gap because they land in roughly the same travel and intent zone. The Chisel proves alloy can still compete; the Hei Hei proves carbon is still where the premium suspension lives.

Both top builds run mechanical SRAM, which is unusual and welcome in 2025. The Hei Hei CR G10 ships with the new SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission — the cable-actuated T-Type system that slots below AXS Transmission. Reviewers (NSMB, Blister) note it shifts crisper than AXS under load and costs less to replace.

The Chisel Comp EVO runs older SRAM GX Eagle mechanical (12-speed, non-T-Type). Still reliable, still widely serviceable, but not the new T-Type standard. Both avoid batteries, both are easy to live with. The Kona has the newer groupset; the Chisel has the tried-and-true one.

Hei Hei: 61 mm official clearance (roughly 2.4 inch). Ships with Maxxis Dissector 29x2.4WT front and rear — a burly trail-leaning choice.

Chisel Comp EVO: 59.7 mm official clearance (~2.35 inch). Ships with a Specialized Purgatory T9 front / Ground Control T7 rear combo on the EVO — meatier than the standard Chisel Comp's Fast Trak / Ground Control. Lower builds ship with faster-rolling, thinner-casing XC tires.

Neither is limited by clearance in practice; both are sized for the trail tires they come with.

Close, but honest about the gap. Reviewers (Nminus1bikes, Bicycling, MBR) describe the Chisel as a "convincing facsimile" of the carbon Epic 8 / Epic Evo — the Smartweld frame uses a single-piece seat tube and bottom bracket assembly that mimics the carbon frame's stiffness. The claimed frame weight is around 2.72 kg bare, roughly 500–750 g heavier than the carbon equivalent.

You give up some small-bump plushness and a couple hundred grams. You save $1,000+. For most riders short of elite racing, that's a fair trade.

Both are legitimately good, with slightly different bents. The Kona Hei Hei has nine water bottle bosses in the front triangle (praised universally in reviews) and a compliant suspension that Bikepacking.com specifically called out as reducing fatigue on multi-day rides.

The Chisel has a standard threaded bottom bracket, external headset routing, and a generous front triangle — all bikepacking-friendly. It's lighter per dollar but the firmer suspension is less forgiving on long loaded days. If you're doing dirt touring where comfort matters more than pace, the Hei Hei wins. If you're doing shorter overnights on faster terrain, the Chisel is fine.

Both frames carry a lifetime frame warranty to the original owner against manufacturing defects. Specialized has a long-established crash-replacement program (typically 30–50% off a new frame). Kona has historically offered crash replacement too, and with the founders' recent reacquisition of the brand, reviewers have noted a renewed emphasis on shop relationships and service support.