Recent content by murphy79

It is a small stamp mark usually on the down tube and towards the head tube, which indicates that the tubing is made by Easton. It is a simplified version of their logo... In the Kona lineup of that time, the higher end alloy frames (Kula and AA) used Easton, so it is an easy way to tell...

Hi, the serial number says that it was made in early '96 so it is the '96 model year. I think I can see the Easton diamond mark in the 3rd picture which should make it either a Kula or an AA, they are basically the same frame. But the Kula's of that year tend to have a second cable stop on the...

We think the early one they made was a Hot in disguise, probably for a show. Maybe Altitude never got the memo that the production frames should be different until they had finished the first batch! Maybe the later batch with the different serial numbers also got the "correct" tubing? Putting...

I hadn't noticed it also says that the Hot's seat tube has the "external reinforcement" but in the "seat tube extension area", so maybe it didn't mean the bulge after all. I can't really find any evidence for it on my Hot frame though, so maybe Kona didn't really know what was going on either!

@TiHardtail has just posted the '97 technical information, that I had not seen before, which has just a small snippet about the Caldera. It is interesting to note that the seat tube is supposed to have "an external seat tube reinforcement", which I assume is the bulge at the bottom bracket. On...

Cool! Great to see another couple come to light. I was actually looking at your build thread the other day, and thinking about how many were made, and when. I'd agree this confirms that at least 200 were made, and I'd guess a few more than that. I thought it was interesting that, looking at...

That's nice and interesting. As you say, the Lana'i name did not appear until a few years later. It has '98 cable routing and decals, so I don't think it would have been made much before then. Would be interesting to see the serial number on it to confirm the year. The colour looks quite similar...

Kona was building the "US made custom " Hot in 853 as late as '98/99. And the Explosif (Taiwan) was also still steel until '99 (also 853 at that point) before going alloy the following year (actually returning to steel in '02).

Certainly a '96 in original paint in my opinion and, other than the tyres, original components too. Looks to be in really good condition. Kona's of that era quite often had colour variations, sometimes based on where they were sold. Maybe it was for the European market. Probably a bit less...

That's amazing, certainly looks as good a respray and repro decals as I have seen. When I finally get round to doing mine I'll be back here for the inspiration and information.

Nice to see another, looks bigger than 16" to me.

Nice bike, the short seat-tube extension and flatter top tube would suggest later than '93, and the decal style is '94 (if they re original), so it is probably a '94 bike. You could compare the serial number to the Kona Ti S/N list to get a better idea, and you can post in that thread to get it...

Sorry, yes it sold a while ago.

For Kona's of this era, if you have access to the frame, measure the seat tube, centre of BB to the top of the tube, that will give you the size as Kona measured it. Unfortunately that year's catalogue didn't have a geometry chart, it wouldn't be too different from the 2000 frames though. I...

Unfortunately not or, if it was, it has lost it's effect over the years.