Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Road & Gravel
      • Mountain Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 29er Bike Review

    Teeing Off at Interbike 2008 Outdoor Demo Day One

    4
    By Jason Mitchell on September 22, 2008 Mountain Biking, New Gear

    Bootleg Canyon is the site of the best part of Interbike… the Outdoor Demo. Today was the first day of the two-day event where nearly every major mountain and road bike manufacturer brings all their new 2009 products for real-world flogging in the rocky and unforgiving Nevada desert.

    Miles of trails wind through Bootleg Canyon with plenty of options for DH, freeride and epic trail rides. It’s not quite buffed-out Utah singletrack, but it will definitely do in a pinch. Day one has come and gone and between Kendall and myself, we’ve got a quick take on 9 new bikes coming your way in the next few days.  Here’s a quick take on some of the sweetest trail bikes on the market for 2009 (well, some are on the market now). More detailed reviews to follow… stay tuned.

    2009 Niner RIP 9

    Niner did a great job of keeping this bike a secret. Utilizing the best innovations from the new WFO 9, the 2009 Niner RIP 9 is the real deal. Everything but the seat tube is changed and all for the better. I flogged the 2008 RIP 9 all summer long and absolutely loved it, but a quick ride on the 2009 version and I’m in love.

    Read my full 2009 Niner RIP 9 review >>

    2009 Niner RIP 9 29er

    2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9

    Not to be outdone in the 29-er world, Kona is coming on strong with their own big wheeler. This bike was one of the most surprising bikes of the day… very impressive!

    Read my full 2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 29er review >>

    2009 Kona Hei Hei 2-9 29er

    2009 Rocky Mountain Altitude 90 RSL

    A full-carbon beauty of a trailbike from Rocky Mountain, this bike changes the game in both suspension and geometry design. Definitely one of the most buzzworthy bikes of the test, but does it live up to the hype?

    Read my Rocky Mountain Altitude 90 RSL review >>

    2009 Rocky Mountain Altitude

    2009 Pivot Mach 5

    I’ve spent the better part of the past year trying to get saddle time on the Pivot Mach 5 trailbike. After an hour in the saddle, It was worth the wait–this bike is a thing of beauty!

    2009 Pivot Mach 5

    2009 Ibis Mojo

    This is one of the most sought-after trailbikes on the market and rightly-so. With nearly 1000 Ibis Mojo frames on backorder, the wait-time is long, but it will definitely be worth standing in line for.

    2009 Ibis Mojo

    My partner-in-crime, Kendall Card also rode… more pics coming soon!

    • Pivot Mach 429
    • Intense Spyder 29
    • Turner Sultan
    • Kona CoilAir

    At least 4 more bikes to ride tomorrow. Gotta love the Outdoor Demo!

    ibis interbike kona niner bikes pivot rocky mountain bikes
    Jason Mitchell
    • Website
    • X (Twitter)
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn

    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. With extreme attention to detail, he has been a technical product manager for top 10 web properties, eCommerce businesses and SaaS companies for 20+ years. The combination of outdoor experience and technical savvy gives him a unique perspective that is channeled into every gear review. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground. He rigorously tests every product and usually uses them beyond their intended purpose -- just for the sake of testing. (Note: Jason receives sample products in exchange for authentic reviews. He is not paid, nor influenced to share anything other than his honest opinions.)

    You Might Also Like

    Drift ARC Mountain Bike Shoes Review

    July 31, 2026

    Limited-edition Camelbak Tour de France Collection Bottles

    July 20, 2026

    2027 Canyon Lux Trail: You Down(country)?

    July 14, 2026

    4 Comments

    1. Robb Sutton (MTB by 198) on September 23, 2008 7:38 pm

      Looks like you are getting in some great rides. The 429 out of Pivot’s booth would be another great stop, and of course…the new Sultan from Turner.

      I have really enjoyed using the Mojo as a test mule on my site for the Talas, Push Industries and others. It doesn’t flex as much as I thought it would and using a 10mm rear bolt on axle does help with overall stiffness.

      Reply
    2. Jason Mitchell on September 24, 2008 9:24 am

      Day two brought more fun bikes:

      Salsa Big Mama
      Ellsworth Moment
      Ellsworth Epiphany
      Ventana El Terremoto 6.0
      Norco Six One
      Ventana El Capitan
      Ventana El Ciclon

      Second post and pics coming soon!

      Reply
    3. dan on June 11, 2009 9:54 am

      Hey fellows , i have an Ibis sl and am loving it but am currently in a delema. I want an Ellsworth Moment. Please will some one clear the air for me. Do I sell the Ibis or hang on to it, wich bike is best. I have a Truth and a Makulu (Morewood) but love my trail riding HELP !!!!

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on June 11, 2009 10:07 am

        The Ellsworth Moment is a sweet rig, but the Ibis will ride circles around it for all-day epic riding. I really liked the original Moment, but the re-design for 2009 slackened out the angles a bit much for my tastes. I felt like the front end was wandering all over the place.

        What type of riding are you planning to use the Moment for?

        Reply
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You Might Like

    2027 Canyon Lux Trail: You Down(country)?

    July 14, 2026
    8.8

    Tifosi Moab XC Sunglasses Review

    June 5, 2026
    9.0

    Küat Piston Ion Hitch Rack Review

    April 8, 2026
    9.4

    Ari Explorer Peak Comp e-Fat Bike Review

    March 9, 2026

    ALLIED FITZ — A Truly Lightweight, Streamlined Trail Bike

    February 4, 2026

    First Look: Ari Explorer Peak Comp

    December 18, 2025
    9.4

    Lezyne Mega Drive 2400+ Bike Light Review

    December 8, 2025
    8.8

    Review: Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB 4-Finger Gloves

    November 13, 2025
    9.5

    Velocio UltraPack Pants Review

    November 7, 2025
    9.2

    Arc’teryx Norvan Jacket Review – 2025 Update

    October 30, 2025
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Review: The Lace-up GIRO Stylus XC Shoe
    • Xero Mesa Summit Running Shoes Review
    • The North Face Summit Series Verto FA Boots Review
    • Pinarello Launches All-new 2027 X-Series Endurance Lineup
    • Mammut Aenergy Trail Vest 12 Review
    • La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Review – Italian Comfort
    • HOKA Infini Hike TC Sandals Review
    • Suunto Spark Open-ear Sport Earbuds Review
    • Review: COROS PACE 4 is a Lightweight Training Powerhouse
    • Review: Mammut Aenergy Trail All Mountain Trail Running Shoes
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth outdoor gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to use and review outdoor gear.

    Throughout the site and on reviews, we provide affiliate links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers so we can get a small commission on purchases.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2026 | All rights reserved | Privacy Policy

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.