1991 Kona Fire Mountain

[Bearvalley90]

Minor tinkering on a long Friday work lunch. HG90 cassette here and installed; unfortunately missing its red sticker but that makes no difference to me. And it looks smashing on the restored exage hub with its shiny new like for like qr

 

[Bearvalley90]

Replacement rear mech on. I know it’s way better than this bike would ever have had, but I did it for two very good reasons:
1. Deore DX is the coolest looking mtb groupset ever.
2. School bikeshed rules; upgrading your rear mech enhanced the cool factor of your bike by 1000%

 

[baron von greenback]

I Agree with them 2 derailieur statements also this is the frame and seat combo i want my mate had one and it was cool in the day it seemed to have massive sloping top bar very nice will be following mate

 

[JohnAcrossPond]

I will forever be messed up about the blue color because the only 1991 Kona Fire Mountain I ever saw was yellow, not blue. It was back when I was going to the University of Massachusetts, I had one of three 1992 green Fire Mountain bikes on campus (and oddly all three independently ended up using Scott AT-4 handlebars). The 1992 had the black plastic thumb shifters rather than the rapidfire shifters, but it also had the horseshoe brake booster and the printing on the saddle was in yellow.
I test rode 3 bikes in the parking lot of the LBS and said I liked the Kona but wanted the rapidfire shifter for the rear and shop said "we can do that", so I had the 1991 rapidfire shifter for the rear but a thumb shifter for the front. Still got the bike, same shifter configuration. I like the friction shift for the front mech because you can fine tune it for whatever gear of the rear cassette you're using.

 

[Bearvalley90]

I will forever be messed up about the blue color because the only 1991 Kona Fire Mountain I ever saw was yellow, not blue. It was back when I was going to the University of Massachusetts, I had one of three 1992 green Fire Mountain bikes on campus (and oddly all three independently ended up using Scott AT-4 handlebars). The 1992 had the black plastic thumb shifters rather than the rapidfire shifters, but it also had the horseshoe brake booster and the printing on the saddle was in yellow.
I test rode 3 bikes in the parking lot of the LBS and said I liked the Kona but wanted the rapidfire shifter for the rear and shop said "we can do that", so I had the 1991 rapidfire shifter for the rear but a thumb shifter for the front. Still got the bike, same shifter configuration. I like the friction shift for the front mech because you can fine tune it for whatever gear of the rear cassette you're using.

Yeah I love the 1992; my brother had that exact one. I had a soft spot for the 200gs thumbies, but as this one has the original rapidfire that still (remarkably) work I will stick with them. Lovely old bikes the early Kona’s.

 

[JohnAcrossPond]

I did run into a recent surprise. My wife wanted the 26x1.75 street tires I had on my Kona so I took the 26 x2.2 Bontrager Jones ACX tires from her (14") Trek and wanted to put them on my Kona. The front fit fine and is a fair approximation of the original Reaction tire for the front. However, in the back the 2.2 tires will not fit (surprise), not even close. The 2.2 width will rub on the frame, so I refit the old Maximum to the rear. We went for a ride and I was surprised at how little difference I felt there was between the street tires and the Max/Bontragers. I could definitely hear the "whirr" of the knobby tires on pavement though.

 

[pedestrian]

1. Deore DX is the coolest looking mtb groupset ever.

Amen, brother!
Do you wax your chains? That cassette is so shiny it would be a shame if it got oil on it.

 

[JCS]

Lovely looking bike.
I agree with your rear derailleur choice. DX looks great - even more so with it being a short rear mech. The height of cool in the school bike shed competition!

 

[Bearvalley90]

Amen, brother!
Do you wax your chains? That cassette is so shiny it would be a shame if it got oil on it.

I never have, but I find the Peaty’s lube to be good as it doesn’t get too gunged up. My wife’s uncle always waxes his and they look great.

 

[Bearvalley90]

Lovely looking bike.
I agree with your rear derailleur choice. DX looks great - even more so with it being a short rear mech. The height of cool in the school bike shed competition!

Cheers! Bikeshed rules always win out for the rear mech