Kona CinderCone and Hahanna

[Lostcause]

Hi everyone, I’ve not been on here for a long time and I’ve rekindled my fondness for old bikes after having spare time forced on me.
I’ve been tinkering with my old bike fleet and watching YouTube. It seems lots of people enjoy welding brackets onto old Konas to improve them. It seemed like a perfect project for me as I have some boxes of bits and can weld so I’ve been looking for a project bike to work on.
I’ve collected a Kona Cinder cone and I can’t do it. I can’t grind bits off it and weld bits on, it’s too good.
The chap I bought it from has owned it since new, he can’t remember the year but suspects it was around 1992 ish… I’d like to find out as it’s a bit of a time machine. He says it has never had any new parts fitted, I was warned to change the inner tubes as even these are the originals…they even maintain pressure!! He barely used it as he recalls the next years model had the forks on he wanted so he bought one of those which his daughter still uses to this day. Nice to be that well healed lol
I’m going to clean it and give it a service and well, I’m not sure but it’ll be nice learning about it. Can anyone shed any light on it?

 

[raidan73]

That be a 97

 

[Lostcause]

Thanks for that, he was a little out on the year but he was struggling to remember. What gave it away? I’m ignorant on these Konas but I do like them.

 

[raidan73]

That's the standard livery for a 97. It does look pretty much original. The tyres aren't catalogue spec and the fork is different, though that may have been changed from the get go

 

[FluffyChicken]

Yeah, not quite stock and and odd fork change.

Shifter would be GripShift, these have been changed for so RF+ probably preference at he time.

Forks have been switched out, oddly, for some older generation Quadra21's
The elastomer seems to be shot so would need dome new ones or a better fork.

Tyres of course, so no doubt inner tubes too, think the tyre are quite a bit newer? (anyone)
Edit, I think about 99-05, could be bough later of course.
They're a mud tyre so consider getting something more general purpose to use.

97Page20 | Kona Catalogue 1997 | Retrobike

But doesn't really alter it . Lovely bike to keep as is, just a few working tweaks.

 

[mk one]

I’ve been tinkering with my old bike fleet and watching YouTube. It seems lots of people enjoy welding brackets onto old Konas to improve them.

Curious as to what brackets do lots of people weld on to old Kona's and how is it meant to improve them? any links?

 

[Lhatch4]

Curious as to what brackets do lots of people weld on to old Kona's and how is it meant to improve them? any links?

My guess would be disc brake tabs.

 

[Lostcause]

Thanks for the catalogue link, awesome that you guys have saved all that reference stuff.

Well it’s had a bit of a clean and threw some rc36’s on to see how it looks. Stem is temporary but I think it looks ok.
It’s in good condition apart from some minor surface corrosion spots here and there and the odd chip. I’m tempted to get a dremmel and some blue touch up paint to stop it getting worse.
The rear dropouts on these look great with the little Kona stamping. I’m warming to this thing.

My guess would be disc brake tabs.

You’re guess was spot on. Viewer warning, may contain scenes of a disturbing nature to some.

 

[mk one]

My guess would be disc brake tabs.

ah, yeah, i was thinking about reinforcement and braces etc, that makes sense now

 

[Lhatch4]

I love that tire set.