Dating a Kona Hei Hei

[Kona Paul]

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...

My 92 Explosif has 1 1/8" headtube, and the original front mech, which was an M735. I tried sticking an 80 mm Fox RL on it and it slackened the head angle WAY too much. Would have been very sloppy steering. Stick a fork on (with wheels) and check out the head angle, seat angle and chainstay angle. If the chainstay is angled up (more than say 90 degrees) then it's probably too slack and a shorter fork should be used. Personally I think a V is fine for the rear brake, and you can always use a disc up front. That's the set-up I have on my King Kahuna and it functions really well. Plenty of stopping power. And Anthony is definetely right that it's still an off-road bike.

 

[jimijazz]

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.

Thanks for the heads up - I'll get him to send me some photos of work he's done already.

 

[DM]

No problem.

Ask to see some Ti stuff, not just alu or steel.
As your disc tab won't be hidden underneath any paint, you really want any additional welding to look the part in terms of uniform beading and no wobbling around where the welder reached for his cup of tea...

 

[andrewl]

But I suspect this is a 92 Hei Hei, as I've also seen a 93 Hei Hei with a short seat tube extension and the 93 spiral was bright green and purple. I know other 92 Konas had a K on the head tube, but I believe the 92 Hei Heis and Hots were the first bikes to have the spiral. Also the K on the seat tube looks 92ish to me.

If this is so, the geometry was designed for a 40-50 mm fork.

I don't understand the serial number format, so I can't tell anything from that I'm afraid.

I think you'll find its not as early as that, the give away is the bullet dropouts which appeared in mid/late 93 for MY94. MY94 was released around August 93 from the 93 mags.

Assuming the seat tube decals are original, they also date it as MY94 (or 95) which was the first year of the kona Thumb logo.

It's true to say that most 94-96 Hei Hei frames had shorter seat tube extensions but there are exceptions out there. the 94 catalogue bike for example has bullet drop outs and a normal Kona length extension.

Serial number E19xxx is more likely B19xxx with the B poorly stamped (or read) and the frame size 19 which it is from the the photos (head tube length etc etc). xxx is the frame number in either the production run or the size but I've comflicting information on that.

Down tube decal is close to a 97 Hei Hei one, but a little of the dark side and is also in the wrong spot too close to the head tube.

Anyway thats my $0.02 worth

 

[Anthony]

Yes, I was shading towards a non-standard 94 in my later effort, although I still have difficulty taking in this apparent fact that the same factory would build bikes of the same name for the same client to two different designs at the same time. Why? But then we also don't know why they went over to higher top tubes/shorter seat-tube extensions either.

What year would you say this bike was? Believed by owner to be 93 and everything correct for 93, but it has bullets and a high top tube.

 

[Anthony]

Down tube decal is close to a 97 Hei Hei one, but a little of the dark side and is also in the wrong spot too close to the head tube.

Clearly Jimijazz' bike was refurbished c1997 with then current decals, which ought to look like this.

Jimijazz, for a definitive ruling on date, I suggest you send your pics and serial number to [email protected] and ask him.

 

[jimijazz]

Hmm, the plot thickens...

Vernon hasn't got any pics of stuff he's done which is a shame, and I've found another avenue in the form of DeKerf! I emailed them yesterday and they would do a proper job - remove the V-Brake bosses, old cable stops and add zip tie clips. Only problem is, that it would cost about £200 more than going to Vernon and starts becoming a major purchase!

Obviously the quality will be up there with the best, but it raises the question, is it worth it? I don't want to throw money at the frame, trying to make it something it's not and I wonder whether it's just going to be more convenient to get a new ti hardtail (Cotic Soul?) and sell off the parts from this one? Arggghhhh decisions, decisions decisions...

 

[Anthony]

Sounds like a lot of expense just to improve the rear braking a bit! If you're not confident about VB, why don't you ask Paligap where they get warranty repairs done on ti Konas?

 

[jimijazz]

Sounds like a lot of expense just to improve the rear braking a bit! If you're not confident about VB, why don't you ask Paligap where they get warranty repairs done on ti Konas?

Not a bad idea that!

 

[DM]

Sounds like a lot of expense just to improve the rear braking a bit!

Sounds like a bargain to get Ti work done and a new brake mount added.
ESPECIALLY by DeKerf.

FYI, the bill for the short run of weld under the BB on mine was (IIRC) £120. For about a 12mm re-weld... No boss removal, disc tabs or anything.

Is it worth it? I'd say yes.
But the cheaper option would have been to buy Cass's frame last week:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32101&highlight=hei+hei

With disc mount added at the factory. Ti-Sports used to do this for customers for about $200USD if you mailed them the frame... but then stopped. Now it's not clear if they're still making bike frames at all.

why don't you ask Paligap where they get warranty repairs done on ti Konas?

Were Kona still making Ti frames when Paligap took over as the UK distributor?