Kona frame help for a newbie!

[tag33]

Hi guys, Just stumbled across this site whilst getting back into biking this year after a break and deciding to rebuild a classic Kula up to relive old memories!

Caught the bug (again!) after getting a 2008 scandium framed Kula which reminded me of my old 'stiff, positive, direct feeling but capable of anything' old easton alu framed Pahoehoe i had back in the late 90s (could never afford the Kula which i drooled over in the magazines!)

I was hoping to find an Easton Alu Kula frame on eBay around 96-98ish and restore/respray although haven't stumbled across any suitable yet but after reading some threads realise that there were several other models around that era with possibly the same/similar frame such as the KU/AA/HOT/Pahoehoe?!

Would someone be kind enough to put me right as to which Kona models shared the same frames from this era?

 

[mousemat]

Kona alu frame hierarchy 96 - 98 is as follows:

1996:
Ku - Easton Elite alu, hand made in the USA
Kula - Easton Elite alu
AA - Easton Elite alu
Muni Mula - 7005 alu
Koa - 7005 alu

1997:
Ku - Easton Elite alu, hand made in the USA
Kula - Easton Elite alu
AA - Easton Elite alu
Muni Mula - 7005 alu
Koa - 7005 alu

1998:
Ku - Easton Elite alu, hand made in the USA
Kula - Easton Elite alu
Pahoehoe - Easton Elite alu
Muni Mula - 7005 alu

The Hot you mentioned was steel, Reynolds 853 during this period and handmade in the USA as part of the Kona Custom range that included the Ku. In a shameless plug I have a 1997 Ku for sale if you are looking, size is 19".

 

[lumos2000]

didnet one of the more recent explosifs use the same tubing? not sure of the year

 

[sylus]

this chap is selling something close

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=157095

 

[tag33]

Nice one mousemat, just the info i was looking for.
The Ku's a little big for me, looking around 17" or 18" max, but cheers anyway.

didnet one of the more recent explosifs use the same tubing? not sure of the year

Yes it appears the 2000 model was made out of Easton Scandium! Always thought they have always been steel.
http://www.klassickona.com/oldgold/2k/2k_xch_exp.htm

 

[mamadirt]

Yes, 2000 and 2001 Explosifs were scandium. Winstanleys Bikes had a 20" ex-display and a 16" 2001 NOS frame in stock recently which I ordered but it had taken a hit in storage which had bent the rear mech hanger. As they couldn't offer a replacement hanger nor a reduction in price I cancelled the order :cry: - don't know what happened to it but it disappeared off the site.

 

[Anthony]

The scandium Explosifs weren't really very good designs, owing to Kona apparently being unsure of the merits of the material and consequently over-building them so that they were the same weight as the contemporary Easton Ultralite 7005 Kula, even though scandium is stronger than 7005. The later scandium Kulas are much better designs, lighter (as they should be) and the same geometry as the scandium Explosifs.