Dating a Kona Hei Hei

[Kona Paul]

Sorry to be argumentative, learned friends...

Dude, we were just giving it our best guess while we waited for you to arrive

Yup, what DM said. All we did was place it as pre 97 and mention the decals don't work as a reliable guide. The rest was up to you Anthony.

 

[DM]

Yeah, but...
[goes out on a limb...]

OK, I KNOW the Kona "catalogue" photos are famously un-reliable...

But this 1993 on Kona Retro is very different to Jimijazz's frame:

* Old style (Merlin?) dropouts;
* Long seat tube extension;
* Rear cable stop welded on the top tube;
* Brace on the seat stays for canti brakes.

http://www.konaretro.com/articles/catalogues/1993/4.jpg

And the 1992 looks the same- Though the photo isn't great:
http://www.konaretro.com/articles/catalogues/1992/92Page6.jpg

[confused...] :?

Ah - the joy of RetroNerd!

 

[jimijazz]

When did Kona switch to 1 1/8 steerer tube or have they always used them? I'd be surprised if it was a 92 because as I said, I got it in either 97 or 98 and it was mint - I mean it had hardly been used at all. It came with apparently the 1st front mech fitted to the frame as well which doesn't look like '92 XT, but I don't know much more than this. The only thing I want thoughts on really, is whether it's worth spending a wad of cash on getting disk mounts fitted and then new disks, wheels, etc...

 

[Anthony]

Blimey, '92 you reckon!! So do you think it'll be worth persevering with it and adding disk mounts to it or should I just retire it from off road duty and get a new bike? Obviously you guys are going to be slightly biased, but would it be too much effort to lavish on such an old bike?

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't use it with modern kit. I'd keep the Talas to 85mm if it was mine, but even though the geometry is well away from what it was designed for, it's not far off the way they design modern Kulas. If you really need a rear disc, I think you need either a bolt-on disc adapter or to get a ti specialist to weld it on. Vernon Barker Cycles claim a lot of ti expertise.

Really it's all a matter of how it suits you, but it's definitely an off-road bike!

 

[jimijazz]

Blimey, '92 you reckon!! So do you think it'll be worth persevering with it and adding disk mounts to it or should I just retire it from off road duty and get a new bike? Obviously you guys are going to be slightly biased, but would it be too much effort to lavish on such an old bike?

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't use it with modern kit. I'd keep the Talas to 85mm if it was mine, but even though the geometry is well away from what it was designed for, it's not far off the way they design modern Kulas. If you really need a rear disc, I think you need either a bolt-on disc adapter or to get a ti specialist to weld it on. Vernon Barker Cycles claim a lot of ti expertise.

Really it's all a matter of how it suits you, but it's definitely an off-road bike!

Yeah, I've been in contact with Vernon - I'm going to send the bike off next week actually! I was just curious as to how old the thing was!
With regards to the forks, for riding up hill the 85 setting is required, but heading down, the slacker angles of the 120 setting makes it lots of fun!

 

[South Bound]

Yeah, just go with a front disk. It is what I am going to do one day to the Explosif in my gallery, leave the Vs at the back and fit a new wheel - sorted!

 

[jimijazz]

Oh, 1 thing that may or may not be significant (what with the possibility of changed decals), is that it has a Kona Custom decal on the non drive side chain stay. Does this mean anything or should I just shut up now?

 

[Anthony]

When did Kona switch to 1 1/8 steerer tube or have they always used them? I'd be surprised if it was a 92 because as I said, I got it in either 97 or 98 and it was mint - I mean it had hardly been used at all. It came with apparently the 1st front mech fitted to the frame as well which doesn't look like '92 XT, but I don't know much more than this. The only thing I want thoughts on really, is whether it's worth spending a wad of cash on getting disk mounts fitted and then new disks, wheels, etc...

We had another thread recently on seat tube extensions, and although it seems bizarre that they would use two designs simultaneously, it does seem possible that some Hei Heis within 93-96 did have the standard shape - as yours does. And the head tube spiral is a 94 one, and I now see that the seat tube decal is a 94 as well, apologies for that, so I suppose it's possible that the bike could be a 94. See photo below of a 94 frame with standard 94 decals, as well as very similar dropouts.

If you think the front mech might be a guide, what is the M number? (on the inside of the derailleur plate, under the mud)

 

[jimijazz]

scratch that about the front mech - FD-M738 indicating 1998. I guess that was a new one when I bought it

 

[DM]

Re. Getting a disc mount added:

I don't mean to slag off VB cycles on a public forum.
DISCLAIMER: The following info might be inaccurate... BUT:

A few years ago, somebody on a different forum posted pictures of a rear disc tab that was added to their Ti frame. They claimed it had been done for a previous owner by VB Cycles.

It was not pretty. To be honest, the weld bead looked blobby and wobbly and it really spoiled the frame, as the rest of the factory welds were total precision - Like the Konas are known for.

It's entirely possible that VB Cycles did NOT do the work on the guy's frame.

So if you're happy with the examples that you've seen of their Ti work, I say go ahead: It's not "retro", but I'd still love a disc tab on my Hei Hei.