1991 Kona Fire Mountain

[Bearvalley90]

The year is 1991, and I wanted the zolotone Marin Palisades so badly, and my brother @ClassicDodo lusted after a Kona Fire Mountain. We ended up getting respectively a 1992 Marin Muirwoods and a 1992 Kona Fire Mountain, but we both still looked back on the bikes that we wanted in our youth. Fast forward 34 years, and I found an absolute beauty of a fire mountain locally for a bargain price to complement the 1991 Marin Palisades I already acquired. It needs a bit of work here and there, but it’s a keeper and I love it already. Most importantly, it’s here for my brother to use for a nostalgic ride with me next to him on my beloved Marin.

 

[Bearvalley90]

The bad bits: both wheels need new spokes; I have already had the rear done. The chain and cassette were very very oily with many years of hardened grime. The headset oddly had a warped crown race, so that was toasted. The front mech had some deep rust which was beyond the capability of autosol, and the rear mech swings more than Austin Powers. The handlebars; sweet Jesus they were cut to 470mm and had a bad gouge from a metal burr on the stem.

The good bits: literally everything else bar the above!

 

[Tsundere]

Nice!

 

[Bearvalley90]

Original maximum/reaction tyres and Avocet saddle. I will never ever part with these.

 

[Bearvalley90]

Intact rear brake guide!

 

[Bearvalley90]

Bits sorted so far: rear wheel re-spoked, replacement 400lx front mech sourced from a box in my garage. Alloy kona bars liberated from a later model Lava Dome. Replacement Tange headset also found in my garage…..

 

[Bearvalley90]

Original chainstay protector still on and new hg40 like for like chain

 

[Bearvalley90]

replacement foam ritchey grips are here (also courtesy of my garage…), and awaiting an HG90 cassette from a postman. Lots of fettling to do and shifters to rebuild, but she will be a beauty, and may make an appearance at Malverns Classic next year

 

[HuskyDinoBomber]

Like where it’s headed, doing the same as you with a 91 Cinder Cone. Love the old Konas!

 

[Bearvalley90]

Like where it’s headed, doing the same as you with a 91 Cinder Cone. Love the old Konas!

Nice! Yeah they are lovely, my brother has 2 fantastic Explosif’s