The RetroGrom’s Kona race bike - Christmas for someone?

2manyoranges

Old School Grand Master
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Right...I have just finished the COTIC for the RetroGrom and that means his old race bike has had a full work-through and is up for sale. Based around a 12 inch frame, 24 inch wheel non-disc Kona Hula hardtail, it was built with no expense and owes me a fortune, but on here for 325gbp postage.

The non-disc was deliberate, since the Avid 1.0 and XT V brakes are more than powerful enough for a small one and they keep the weight down.

It is slightly heavier now than in its sub-9kg race guise, but that’s because I have removed the very finniky titanium bottom bracket and put in a very reliable UN51, and a heavier pair of new flat pedals to replace the fragile titanium AEST pedals that were on it for him.

NO dents or cracks in the frame, which is in very good cosmetic condition. XT Shadow rear mech. 1x8 for simplicity for kids, but 34 bail-out gear. Narrow wide alloy front ring. Importantly: 150mm Thorn cranks which were very difficult to source; essential for small ones. RaceFace XC bars and Titec stem. Front Islabike hub and rim - very light - and Hope 135 Pro3 rear hub (BIG click) handbuilt by True Wheels. Both rims absolutely tight and true, with featherweight Kevlar Rocket Ron 24inch tyres F&R. Front Spinner forks - but these come with a full range of Judy springs Xsoft to Firm, which enables the fork to be tuned exactly to the weight of a smaller lighter rider. The forks are very supple and responsive when the right spring has been selected and installed. Changing springs takes two minutes. Top spec two finger Avid levers for small hands.

The price is well short of 50% of what the build cost, and it is way better than the nominally equivalent and much more expensive Isla Bike. Everything has been stripped, serviced and re-built with great care.

All components were selected individually - this is not a ‘bottom of the spares box special’. it is the opposite, everything was chosen for low weight, absolutely reliability and dependability, and easy & dependable operation.

This bike got retroGrom into hard charging singletrack and long distance off road - light, strong, and utterly rock-solid dependable. PM me or text on 0770 250 5256. See my feedback thread kindly set up by Regan_ev.
 

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Re:

Sooooo tempted to bin my caygil build and pop this in the shed instead, unfortunately I don't have the readies at the mo. Sounds like a great little bike.

GLWS
 
Re:

Just to show the care of the build...here’s the RetroGrom’s current stable...

The Kona - as above

The P7 peeping out with Hope ti BB, Thorn 155 cranks, Race SIDs 60-90 mm NOS; Hope 24 then 26 wheels, XT brakes, KCNC Scandium post etc

The Commencal Supreme 26 junior - 160mm fore and aft, FOX 36 on front; hope hubs spank and nukeP fore and aft; 203 and 180 hope stoppers; Magic Mary.

COTIC small 26 - latest build and used at the weekend in earnest for the first time - SID SLs 120 - XT etc - nice light build - bike seems to eat anything in its path
 

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Re:

Nice angle in photo taken by retroGrom
 

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Re:

Bump with info:

Note:

new prices of youth bikes of the same size:

Frog Mtb 62 590 gbp
Isla Beinn without suspension 439 gbp

Both a way lower spec than this bike, which has XT rear mech, race face bars, Hope rear hub on hand build wheel etc and is WAY lighter.
 
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