14"Kona Hot

There's something a bit odd there.

It does look like a 1994 size 14 Hot, and most of it is indeed in very good condition. However in contrast, the P2 fork has no decals which seems odd considering the 'almost stock, hardly ever used' story. But in fact, the fork is a 39cm a-c from an earlier year, which doesn't match the frame. That explains why the bottom bracket drop is so great. It must make it into a very snappy-handling bike.

There's something else that's odd about the P2s, I can't see a rack eye. That and the colour makes me suspect that they are a pair of the fabled 1993 titanium P2s. That would figure, considering the Hot was a rich person's toy. It is also consistent with the lack of decals, as decals fall off titanium quite a lot.

Titanium P2s are quite sought after, but unfortunately this particular pair has a very short steerer and could only be used with a bigger frame if a steerer extension was fitted.

So the pricing looks like a case of two wrongs make a right. On basis of what the seller knows about the bike, his pricing is way too high. If the fork is a titanium P2 though, it's worth almost as much as the rest of the bike, so maybe the price isn't so far over the top after all.
 
I love the fact that he saw through somebody's attempt to lowball him:

"I am interested in this bike, however, I can get a new one for $475 at a local bike shop (new, but year-end close out). Any deal you can make me?"

:lol:
 
l've been staring at this and thinking the same thing about wether or not they are ti p2's the only thing that suggests they may not be is the cable rub at the top of the fork just below the headtube, but it could just be a dirty mark or it could be paint thats rubbed through. Either way had it been a larger size l'd certainly have taken the gamble.
 
I would say they're definitely standard steel forks.

The photo of the headtube area seems to show cable rub on the fork crown.
No sign of the welded seam around the bottom of the fork leg, where the machined Ti dropout plugs in.
Standard-looking pressed-steel brake bosses, instead of the machined, cylindrical bosses shown below:

kona_project_two_ti_006.jpg


It's a lovely little bike, though. I'd say the price reflects the rarity of a good condition Hot in that small size.
 
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