Kona Frame Help

[XR2]

A chap on my street has offered me a frame that belonged to his son, the frame has been stripped to bare metal but the chap says its a manomano. I have looked on the kona retro site and it looks right but how would I know what year the frame was?
The 97, 98 and 99 frames all look the same to my untrained eye, also does anyone know where I might get some replacement decals once ive identified it and had it resprayed in the correct colour.

Thanks - James

 

[Anthony]

If you post a pic here, we might be able to spot something. Also we could narrow it down with the serial number (under side of the bottom bracket shell)

 

[XR2]

Excellent, I havent picked it up yet but il get a picture up as soon as I do, do the serial numbers often have a date code then?

 

[Anthony]

Excellent, I havent picked it up yet but il get a picture up as soon as I do, do the serial numbers often have a date code then?

Yes, the serial number will lead us to what year the frame was built, so the model year is either that year or the year after. Then we'll see if we can work out from other evidence which of the two it is.

Gil_M on this site makes excellent reproduction decals, although first we'd have to find him photos of the originals to work from.