[Closed] Steel Kona's from the late-90s

I revamped my old similar era Hahanna (first bike I bought myself too!). I had no problems battering it around trail centres, local commute, whatever. My brother now uses it (and he's "bigger" than me). I loved that bike!

I've got one a few years older than that (95 ish I think, and the previous owner knew his bikes) still in regularish service - P2s on the front, sorted. V brakes are divine compared to cantis, though both are more than enough in the dry tbh.

Why not - If its not rusting or cracked go for it... I currently race a 96 Ti Kona hei hei - through choice, my favourite race bike of all time (and yes I have tried the current crop)and have been now for 3 or 4 years...

they'll last as long as theyre looked after...

I was on the motorway once and a rag and bone man truck went past with a Kona frame in it, . . i was tempted to follow, and if i'd have been alone I would have . . .

It cost less than a tennis raquet 🙂 Thanks

Oooh, get some pics up. I'm currently restoring a tiny 1998 Explosif - the longest (and probably the most cash) I've ever spent on a resto - 2 weeks in and it still only looks like this . . . (they've usually been built, test-ridden and sold on in that time 😉 )

[img] [/img]

It was a bit of a wreck - I won't hijack the thread with the boring details but anyone interested can read more [url= http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=208468 ]here[/url].

I have a '96 Cindercone.
Rode it pannier'd up for 8500km around Australia and NZ. Its currently semi built-up (needs wheel rebuilds) as a singlespeed.

Its a truly lovely bike that i don't think I'll ever part with.

BTW I think Joe Murray left Kona in the early nineties.
1993 was the start of Voodoo iirc.

I have a lovely 97 blue kona cindercone. It currently is a single speed but I am thinking of converting it back and putting gears back on. I remember it's excellent single track abilities which have not been matched by any bike since.

Joe Murray-era Konas

Not really - that's early to maybe mid (since they were basically unchanged) 90s Konas.

Here's my 95 Kilauea - Still going strong - it has hydraulics (C2s) on though (from '96 no less!). I quite happily ride it off road too.
[img] [/img]

Nice

Here it is

[img] [/img]

So this isn't a Joe Murray Kona? Oh well, it still rides nice. I think it's a '98. I plan to put High Rollers on it and SPDs but leave everything else the same.

If it's anything like mine you'll struggle to fit a decent sized tyre in the frame... 2.1 absolute max (and even then a narrow 2.1) on mine without rubbing.

I've got a 93 (I think) Cinder Cone. Used to be my commuter but I have to go a bit further now. Love it to pieces and can't see myself ever getting rid of it. It's currently fitted with a (LOCT) kiddie seat and gets some mild off road use still.

When I bought it (from ebay) about 8 years ago it was all original except for the saddle, and very low mileage. I've replaced a few bits, put some V brakes on when it got converted to child carrying duties as the cantis were awful, but I still have all the original parts (including tyres). One day I hope to return it to it's former glory, but for now it's doing a brilliant job.

Keep 'em coming, like it

Yep the tyre clearance is limited for sure

Heh@the Kona website:

"The Future Shock fork is introduced, a leading-link design by Joe Murray. In a very amicable agreement with Specialized, the name is changed to Z-Link. The fork is a total flop, is never safe to ride, and all stock is dumped into the Straight of San Juan de Fuca."

[url] http://www.konaworld.com/about.cfm [/url]

My 94 Cinder Cone has been in pieces since err 2005 when I got an Explosif.

I paid £350 for a set of Manitou Mach 5 elastomer forks which had about 1" of usable travel. - I presume you can't get elastomers etc any more?

Biggest upgrade was a set of XT v brakes in 97 which meant the thing finally stopped!

I should rebuild it with the original P2 fork etc but not enough time / inclination

Yep, [url= http://www.klassickona.com/oldgold/98bikes/98bikeinfo.html ]it's a '98[/url]. Nice find! 😛 - looks in great condition too.

[img] [/img]

I had a 91 Lava Dome in Purple with black P2 forks..

Was gutted when some scrote nicked it. 😈

Got a 91 Cindercone frame with all sorts of odd stuff on it. Lovely frame makes a great SS bike will keep going for years.

There was a big thread on old Konas a wee while back.

My 1990 Lava Dome is still going strong as a tourer and occasional drop bar rigid MTB. I find it to be excellent at both.

I think the bike it replaced, an On One Inbred (old design) actually had geometry explicitly based on this bike, albeit with a more reinforced frame and more tyre clearance.

No

That is lovely mama - though your projects always are!

I thought it had been resprayed - awesome touch-up work (I just had mine sprayed!)

I think the bike it replaced, an On One Inbred (old design) actually had geometry explicitly based on this bike, albeit with a more reinforced frame and more tyre clearance.

No

S'funny I always wondered that about my '93 Kileaua.

Indys? on an explodif? I think you misspelled desecration as restoration.

[IMG] [/IMG]

97 Fire Mountain. Rigid and SS £50 got me the frame an orbit headset and some ahead fitting, disc compatible P2s... can't say fairer than that.
might get a rear disc tab welded on next year if it lasts another winter (which it will)...

Ok, a bit earlier but here's ([i]yet[/i] another picture of my) '92 Fire Mountain - in regular use as a SS back-country lanes bike. Owned from new, and rides better now than it ever did.

[img] [/img]

It's way past anything like even being close to original condition ...

Indys? on an explodif? I think you misspelled desecration as restoration.

I think you misspelled Explosif 😆 - read the link in my post above - the bike was desecrated long before it came into my hands.

Cheers adh! It's been a really enjoyable project so far 🙂

I can't spell projedt2, either.

😉 Yeh, it'll be P2s or Bombers when funds allow but for the time being I'm quite looking forward to being reacquainted with Indys for old times sake at least.

I have a 1998/9 (I think) cindercone in the depths of the shed that I've been meaning to get round to restoring for years, that and umpteen other " projects"

Still riding my 99 explosif. Just thrashed it on the commute home this evening. No qualms about taking it offroad still.
Got the original z2 atom bombs fork in a cupboard if anyone's interested for a restoration. Would need new seals and probably a respray but I think the stantions are in good nick.

Raced my '97 Explosif at FNSS last Friday, I think it's probably over 10 years since I last raced it!

Still riding this '95ish cinder cone for commuting:

[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4067/4575811433_2dd42669f0.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4067/4575811433_2dd42669f0.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartmarshall/4575811433/ ]Getting lost on the commute[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stuartmarshall/ ]Stuart Marshall[/url], on Flickr

Recently fitted a single pannier and the whole thing is flexing a scary amount 🙂 Hope it doesn't snap!

And regarding Chamonix I actually took this bike there in 1996 for a mtbing holiday! Seems bit a crazy now

Bigdawg pics please

I gave my 94 lava dome a fresh look for this year, had to drop the forks down to 80mm to keep it handling OK. Its great fun on single tracks.

[IMG] [/IMG]

I like the old ones with new bits on. No one ever kept their bike standard you were always after better kit much like today.
Ps its only old konas that look good (obviously you've got kleins etc)old specializeds just look fit for the tip.

[b]dvatcmark[/b]

Where did you get your adapter?

I've got a explosif I want to put disks on and ss.

What year and model cindercone I think had the speckled paint job. Would love to see a picture of one of them, my dream bike back int day.must have been around that era?

still ride my 1995/6 Joe Murray era Voodoo off orad regular
I trust it to carry the little one in her Wee Ride seat too, still the best hardtail Ive ever owned

I think the splatters were 88-90, you can always nip over to retrobike. They'll have loads of pics and will know erverrrrrrything about old Konas.

[img] [/img]

Here's an 89 to whet your appetite.

[b]Edit[/b] [url= http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=214665 ]There's one for sale here[/url]

Don't understand this 'light off-roading' !

It wouldn't cross my mind not to do something on my '95 Lava Dome that I would normally ride on a new hardtail !

EDIT To be fair I do ride like Pansy Potter most of the time anyway 8)

So this isn't a Joe Murray Kona? Oh well, it still rides nice. I think it's a '98. I plan to put High Rollers on it and SPDs but leave everything else the same.

They're quite tough frames, there's no need to baby it.

Splatter paint jobs were on the first Kona's. Everyone use to ask if I had spilt paint over my 89 Cindercone.

Kuco - Member
Splatter paint jobs were on the first Kona's.

Yep, the frames were welded in Taiwan and then sent to Paul Brodie for the braze-ons and the paint job. Only '88 and '89 frames had the Brodie paint and, in fact, if you compare an '88 Kona with a Brodie frame of the same age there are a lot of similarities, in spite of the "designed by Joe Murray" frame decal......
Dupont Imron too, which is why an '88 Kona Explosif can still look so good after 24 years,well, mine does anyway.
It still rides very well too, plus I never see anyone out around these parts on an older bike.

My '95 Cinder Cone in touring mode

[img][url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3054/5865757887_1411b2cc00.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3054/5865757887_1411b2cc00.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/46946877@N06/5865757887/ ]046[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/46946877@N06/ ]simonmcc88[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Interesting stuff about the paint. At the time I think I thought that Brodie were the Canadian handmade versions of Konas. I didn't know about the paint.
I had the first year Cinder Cone (from Two Wheels Good in leeds), then Explosifs for the next 4 years (because I worked for a bike shop that sold Konas). A friend has still got the last one I had, which was the very last of the non-suspension corrected frames.

I had a couple of bikes in-between, but they were always absolutely awful compared to the Konas.

Lovely bikes, although I still prefer the hardtails I had afterwards (Bontrager and Independent Fabrication).

Here's my early 90's (1992) Cinder Cone in city guise on a recent trip to the Olympic park....

[img] [/img]

might get a rear disc tab welded on next year if it lasts another winter (which it will)...

I've got a explosif I want to put disks on and ss.

I thought about all this long and hard and decided it killed the character of the bike as a whole. Ended up getting a skinny Duster frame which feels very similar in terms of geometry, was pretty cheap and already has disk gubbins on it. If you like your old Kona, it's well worth trying one, haven't ridden my full suss yet this year.

I decided against putting disc tabs on this a few years ago when it was repaired/modified after the chainstay snapped. I wanted to keep it cheap and a bit sh1t so I could justify replacing it "properly" when it breaks again... which it has stubbornly refused to do... must try harder 😈 [img] [/img]

I gave my Cindercone away about 12 years ago, whish I hadn't. I never did like the rear U-brake.

Kuco - Member
I gave my Cindercone away about 12 years ago, whish I hadn't. I never did like the rear U-brake.

No, I was never very keen on the U brake either, I've had Magura Racelines on my '88 Explosif for a few years now. Short of fitting disc brakes (and I wasn't going to start doing that to the poor old thing), I reckon that it's the way to go.[img] [/img]

I thought about all this long and hard and decided it killed the character of the bike as a whole

Hardly. Mine's had discs on for 16 years...

Not steel, but from the late 90's (99 i think) still goin' strong but a bit of a trigger's brush if i'm honest, still love it though. 🙂

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5057/5417039010_1daeeefbe4.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5057/5417039010_1daeeefbe4.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/59140623@N02/5417039010/ ]IMAG0485[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/59140623@N02/ ]smoggy3[/url], on Flickr

Again, highly unlikely I'd muster the time to actually do this but were I to SS the 94 Cindercone, what / where's the best place to start?

I'll defo need a new 1" threaded headset and the V brake cables were zipp tied to the frame due to lack of cable bosses. - Worth considering additional bosses, especially if I had new fixie drop outs fitted?

Hola..

'93 Fire mountain here. P2's and canti brakes. Climbs like a rocket, even with me powering it. Perfect backup bike and fun in its own right. Also dead unfashionable which makes it even cooler.

heres a 90s kona......... or is it??
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

i am luuuurvin the graphics!

http://www.konaworld.com/bikes.cfm

m1kea[b], I have V-brakes on my '93 Cindercone. You don't need new braze ons, what I did was to reuse the existing seat post cable guide. You remove the bolt, turn the guide so that the bolt hole is in line with the top tube. then replace the bolt with a barrel adjuster from an old rear mech. then run the cable thought the barrel adjuster.

kimbers has just found my next bike!

Hardly. Mine's had discs on for 16 years...

Only my opinion, bearing in mind I felt a bit dirty putting a V on the back to be honest, but I wanted to stop at roughly the same time I pulled the lever.

m1kea[b], I have V-brakes on my '93 Cindercone. You don't need new braze ons, what I did was to reuse the existing seat post cable guide. You remove the bolt, turn the guide so that the bolt hole is in line with the top tube. then replace the bolt with a barrel adjuster from an old rear mech. then run the cable thought the barrel adjuster.

Very neat solution. I used some stick on hose guides and zip tied the cable into them, running a full length outer.

I had this from about 92/93 I think:

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3012/3034896528_c385896f04.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3012/3034896528_c385896f04.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/3034896528/ ]Kona Kilauea[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Rear V needed a top tube clamp for a cable stop. Also had this, not sure if it was late 90s or a bit later but wish I'd never sold it.

[url= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/210/505704611_063bd34d80.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm1.staticflickr.com/210/505704611_063bd34d80.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/505704611/ ]Kona Caldera - May 03 - July 05[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

That white Kilauea will be 1995, if that's the original paint job.

Tange Prestige Concept tubes? I've got one just like it.

They've not really evolved much have they?! From the early 2010sies, this bike could also have qualified for the 'what are you riding most' thread. [img] [/img]2010 Kona Blink.

I had a 91 Cinder Cone and a 93 Lave Dome but always wanted an Explosif
So this year I built my dream Explosif

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/6888240674_0fee9faed3.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/6888240674_0fee9faed3.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/6888240674/ ]IMG_3493[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr

Through a combination of good luck and trading this owes me about £500 but it's dripping with retro bling. The Middleburn cranks, saddle and post are all new but otherwise it's all mid 90s stuff I would have upgraded to
Magura HS33s
Royce Ti BB
XTR headset
Mavic 618 ceramic rims on Goldtec hubs
NOS Tioga Psychos
8sp XT including cassette
Sachs gripshifts
Immaculate Kona Race Light bars
Ringle H2O bottle cage
Salsa Skewers
X Lite crank bolts
Paint and frame mods (cable guides for Maguras, stem cable hanger removed) all by Argos Cycles
Transfers by Gil at The Cycle Shed to my own spec.
Paint, transfers and mods cost just under £300!

It rides like a dream, light (24lb) flickabe, fast and direct.
I'm absolutely chuffed to bits with it. 🙂

There's more detail pics in the Flickr set....

Oh, it's got a plain silver post on it now though. That black one is a Syncros but it looked all wrong! 🙂

as does that brown saddle, get shut of it!

[url= http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=208468 ]Back from the dead[/url] . . . and doing very nicely 😛

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Loads more pics of the full resto [url= http://mama-dirt.pinkbike.com/album/1998-Kona-Explosif-restoration/ ]here.[/url]

The Cindercone was the only Kona I ever owned and always wanted one of the last steel ones they made before they went to alloy. IMO they were never the same after that. And I also lusted for a Kilauea in Columbus steel.

Bought the Hahanna frame off eBay for about £20 on a whim. A few shrewd buys off the classifieds and eBay left me with this.

[img] [/img]

It's taken a few rides but now I'm starting to understand what all the fuss is about. I may now do a pimpy restoration project...

as does that brown saddle, get shut of it!

Everybody tries to tell me something about my bike is wrong, like they are the Retro Police. I've been told the seat it wrong several times, that I should have used 5 bolt cranks (I had some 5 bolt Middleburns and sold them. I have a good reason for that choice) that it should have XTR mechs, that the Maguras are wrong... etc etc
But I like it just as it is and I'm very pleased with it and it'd stopping as it is. I built the bike I wanted, basically, and I make no apologies for that. 🙂
In that pic the black post really isn't right though. It looks a LOT better with a silver one.

I like it just as it is and I'm very pleased with it and it's stopping as it is. I built the bike I wanted, basically, and I make no apologies for that.

[img] [/img]

I think your bike looks alright but will admit a silver seatpost would look better.

My 1997 Hahanna has been on commuting duty since 2006, with the occasional tyre swap for some offroading. Just fitted new chainset & front mech so very tempted to fit the knobblies again. Rims are pretty tired and braking is awful in the wet/mud but I still love it.

Kuco is this what you meant? Had this Kilauea for about 4 years now but wanted one back in '97. Used for commuting duties (goes like a rocket) and off road duties with a Z1 bomber. Everyone should have a retro kona, they are just so much fun. Due for a refurb soon.

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7759115712_f601cafe6b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7759115712_f601cafe6b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/49925017@N07/7759115712/ ]2012-08-10 17.40.54[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/49925017@N07/ ]Ian Dyson[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6101/6350190822_85f2b8e363.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6101/6350190822_85f2b8e363.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/49925017@N07/6350190822/ ]Picture 106[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/49925017@N07/ ]Ian Dyson[/url], on Flickr

Any ideas on 'winterising' a 20 year old Cinder Cone? I think it'd be wrong not riding it in the mud 😉
Not too often mind as i remember how crap v brakes are in the mud 😆

nice bikes everyone 😀
i always wanted a classic kona steel/ti bike,but never could afford one (although i nearly got a 1991/2 lava dome).
i think i bought my charge duster,partly because it was like an old kona steel frame 🙂

1997 Cindercone. I built it as a commuter for wor lass. Long gone though

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3288/3143561428_71866dc0ba_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3288/3143561428_71866dc0ba_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/66452821@N00/3143561428/ ]DSCF6649[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/66452821@N00/ ]ritcheyp20[/url], on Flickr

That Explosif I posted in "Bike Shed retro" a little while back is probably going to be up for sale soon. Bloke has ordered a Spesh 29er on the bike to work scheme.
Any one who may be interested can mail me.