1995 kona sex too + girvin?

[Stipen2317]

Hi, I got this ride recently at a very reasonable price, I would greatly appreciate any additional info about it.

Most of the parts seems to be the same period but I'm not entirely sure if this was sold as a whole bike or was built. The frame decals seems to be the same age of the frame.

Here are the specs:
Kona sex too frame 1995?
Girvin 1 fork
Kooka cranks
Lx brake/shifter combo
Suntour xc cantis
Xt front and rear mech
Carbonfiber handle bar
Xt hub, mavic sup 117 cd, Michelin wild gripper-rear wheel
Machine tech hub, specialized rim wheelsmith spokes, Michelin wild gripper-front wheel

 

[lewisfoto]

I would agree that it look like a Sex Too with a nice collection of parts. With the original finish gone hard really to tell the year. Does the suspension still work?

 

[Stipen2317]

From what I see, it looks like it was a raw finish from the start or they did a good job stripping the paint. Then putting custom decals.

Is there a way to tell if the paint was stripped?

 

[Stipen2317]

The rear suspension still holds air.
It's a marzocchi a-25 right?
I have no idea how much pressure I should put. Is it the same with the headshok?

 

[lewisfoto]

The rear suspension still holds air.
It's a marzocchi a-25 right?
I have no idea how much pressure I should put. Is it the same with the headshok?

I am not the one to answer that all of my bikes are full rigid.

 

[drcarlos]

Re:

That would have been fitted with either RS Quadras/Mags (depending on level sex1/2) or Marzocchis (depends on year). The girvins would have been fitted as an after market fit. The are also elastomer sprung and from the pics it looks like these are shot. I think there is a spring conversion for them though and a bit of googling and looking on proflex forums might help on that.

Carl.

 

[Max Mudroom]

Could be a Sex One? Rear triangle looks a lot like the Sex1 I had back in '95-6, will have to see if I can dig out a photo sometime. Frame would have been painted the same colour as the stays, black with large gold Kona decal on the downtube and small model name on the top tube; definitely been stripped. Original forks on mine were Marzocchi. If memory serves, the rear triangle on mine was actually steel I think which might explain why the original owner didn't strip and polish the rear triangle as well.

 

[Stipen2317]

Based on the rear suspension on the 1995 catalogue, it's a sex too...
What I don't get is why it was (allegedly) stripped and parts replaced. The oem parts seemed to be very good.

I checked every nook and cranny, and I can't see any trace of the old paint.

According to mombat timeline, the parts (machine tech,girvin, m737)are about '95.

Are the twisted spokes a bit too much?

By the way, SN of the frame is H5a00505.

 

[Max Mudroom]

Based on the rear suspension on the 1995 catalogue, it's a sex too..

I checked every nook and cranny, and I can't see any trace of the old paint.

Yup agreed now I've had a proper look it is certainly a Sex Too and it looks like it would have been two-tone paint in that case with the front half gold. It was probably blasted professionally, hence no paint, perhaps they didn't like the colour. Who knows... I think this is a good example of what it would have looked like:
viewtopic.php?t=38948

 

[Stipen2317]

Max- thanks for the reference pic, the gold paint looks stunning.

I'm planning to get this ride ready most likely next spring, but I'm thinking twice about the girvins...if they look ok on a sex too.