Hi FOlks

I simply love the look of these Kona frames, they are cheap and have great feel. I just wanted to make a more useable and modern take on an old classic, something a bit different.

Titanium bolts and washers supplied by Ewen Cameron of www.gravti.co.uk.

Project support from "The Godfather" Scotty B.

Thanks to you all for making the finished bike so impressive!

Frame: 1994 Kona Cindercone. White powdercoat. "Scottish" theme decals supplied by Gil_m. Frame modifications: rear disc mount, frame bracing and hydraulic hose mounts all expertly braised by Charlie Ralph. Fork: 80mm Manitou Drake

Headset: FSA Pig (I think)
Stem: 80mm Exotic
Handlebar: Exotic XC riser
Grips: Clarks
Barends: n/a

Brakes: Formula Hydraulic Disc, 160mm rear and 180mm front. All brake mountings bolts Titanium from www.gravti.co.uk
Brake Pads: Formula ORO
Brake Cables: n/a
Cantilever cable hangers: n/a
Brake Levers: Formula hydraulic

Shifters: 2009 Shimano SLX
Front Derailleur: 1994 Shimano STX
Rear Derailleur: 2009 Shimano Deore XT 9 speed
Derailleur Cables: shimano
Cassette: Shimano 9 speed
Chain: Shimano HG
Cranks: Temporary Shimano
Crank Bolts: n/a
Chainrings: n/a
Chainring bolts: Titanium from www.gravti.co.uk
Bottom Bracket: Shimano square taper
Pedals: Shimano XT SPD

Hub Skewers: Mavic
Rims: Mavic Cross Ride Disc with Titanium disc bolts from www.gravti.co.uk
Hubs: Mavic Cross Ride
Nipples: n/a
Spokes: n/a
Tyres: Panaracer cinder 2.1 rear and Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 front
Tubes: Michelin

Saddle: SDG I beam
Seatpost: 27.? SDG I beam 350mm
Seatpost Binder: Kona

Weight:??

Looks great, going to do similar thing with on of my M2's for commuting on......good work

Honestly I really like it. But... for aesthetics why dont you take the v mounts off the frame and put blanking bolts on? Just looks a lot neater I think.

Nice, very nice

Like to see an older frame brought well up to date ! Any chance of some pics of the rear brake mount please. Be interesting to see how it looks.

PS: Kona frames look spot on in white IMO

Thanks for the feedback.

The rear brake mounts: I was in a quandry about this too. The framebuilder that did the disc mount for me gave me the option to take them off completely. It was al or nothing to me. I wanted to have no evidence of them existing. That, he advised would have potentially compromised the strength and longevity of that part of the frame so I decided to leave it.

Will get a chance to take some more pics today.

Cheers

Dave

I'd certainly wind out the mounts and put in blanking bolts, it will look much neater. It's good not to grind them off totally, if you decide to sell the frame in future it would potentially reduce your target audience.

I think it's a nice build, but I'm not sold on the saddle and it will ride a lot better if you can upgrade to lighter wheels in the future. The latter I know because I also have a pair and think they are bloody heavy wheels.

Oh, excuse my ignorance, you can strip the bosses back with out grinding/cutting them off?

Does the cylinder that the bolt goes into come off? That would certainly
make it look much neater without compromising the integrity of the frame.

The wheels are indeed heavy, it will certainly be the fist upgrade. The forks and frame are very light for what they are and it its a heavy overall bike, as you say its the wheels that let it down.

And the saddle, its a love it or hate it thing but I am in the love it camp! Its really quirky, I wasnt even sure if I would like it but now I see it I think I have made the right choice.

As promised, more detailed pics of the frame mods for disc brakes.

Cheers

Dave

Yeah you can unscrew them, then put a pair of these in instead. Looks really neat and as Nick says, can always go back to rim brakes by puttin ghtem back on at a later date.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=6233

Love it . . . . I'd have had the mounts ground off (and probably regretted it later)

Weather is driving me nuts!

I want to bond with it on the first ride but its been snowing and raining for about 2 weeks now!

Plus there is the issue of getting it dirty............

Get it dirty the once and you'll be fine. I lost the coating on one of my stickers after my first ride on my reconditioned Kona, it helped me be a little less precious. I did however keep the crank and brakes polished!

Nick, thank for the comments!

Just looked at your Lava Dome link, that was the insperation for the white colour on my build. Stunning bike, lovely job!

beautiful mate, i love the old frames brought up to date, i am lucky in the fact that my knowledge of mtb (or lack thereof) means i just go by the way things look, dont know enough to be a purist, but i know i like the look of this bike a lot! well done a brilliant build imo

Where did you get your frame bolts (bottle cage mounts, pannier mounts etc.) looking at swapping mine overwhen I get my frame PC's and am wondering if they are all the same m5 thread as the bottle mount?

Hi Terry

Yeah they are all 5mm same as the bottle cage.

I got the blue anno from Chain Reaction Cycles if I recall.

Cheers

Dave