Kona koa What are they like?

[Harryburgundy]

Oooo...glad someone asked Bought one last night to be my little hack around the woods, without really knowing much about them. Maybe I paid too much but its still a cheap hack. Gonna change a few bits, but think it might be fun :?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=019

£120.. Bargain! Looks like another SS kona to add to your collection!

A collection of two, unlike some of the list of bikes owned I see here. :shock: Just wanted to have something to chuck about in the woods and try and develop some balance skills (its going to go pear-shaped my balance is sheet). Hope it isn't too small for me.

 

[Anthony]

Same frame as a Muni Mula plus nicer paint - £120 seems a pretty good bargain to me!

Though slightly more weight (.2 pounds). I agree with Anthony that it's a good price!

Here's an extract from the 97 Kona technical specifications booklet:

KULA & AA
Constructed of Easton Elite tubing. The tubing wall thickness is as follows: Top - 1.3/.9/1.3, Down - 2.2/1.0/1.5, Seat - 2.4/1.0/1.7 Cold forged, one piece aluminum dropout for high strength and excellent derailleur function. Made for 27.0mm seat post, 31.8mm front derailleur, 68mm bottom bracket, and 1-1/8" headset. Made with US tubing.3.4 lbs for an 18" frame.

MUNI-MULA & KOA
Constructed of custom butted 7005 aluminum tubing. Cold forged, one piece aluminum dropout for high strength and excellent derailleur response. Made for 27.0mm seat post, 31.8mm front derailleur, 68mm bottom bracket, & 1-1/8" headset. 3.9 lbs for an 18" frame.

 

[Harryburgundy]

Thanks Anthony, guess I'll just get on it and ride it and see how it feels..

 

[Kona Paul]

Same frame as a Muni Mula plus nicer paint - £120 seems a pretty good bargain to me!

Though slightly more weight (.2 pounds). I agree with Anthony that it's a good price!

Here's an extract from the 97 Kona technical specifications booklet:

KULA & AA
Constructed of Easton Elite tubing. The tubing wall thickness is as follows: Top - 1.3/.9/1.3, Down - 2.2/1.0/1.5, Seat - 2.4/1.0/1.7 Cold forged, one piece aluminum dropout for high strength and excellent derailleur function. Made for 27.0mm seat post, 31.8mm front derailleur, 68mm bottom bracket, and 1-1/8" headset. Made with US tubing.3.4 lbs for an 18" frame.

MUNI-MULA & KOA
Constructed of custom butted 7005 aluminum tubing. Cold forged, one piece aluminum dropout for high strength and excellent derailleur response. Made for 27.0mm seat post, 31.8mm front derailleur, 68mm bottom bracket, & 1-1/8" headset. 3.9 lbs for an 18" frame.

Forgive me, I made the error of looking in the 96 catalogue where there is a weight difference between the frames. Shall I post the pictures with the frame weights?

 

[Anthony]

Forgive me, I made the error of looking in the 96 catalogue where there is a weight difference between the frames. Shall I post the pictures with the frame weights?

The Koa and Muni Mula frames do seem to have been different in 96, but I was referring to the 97 frames as this one is. Funnily enough, the 97 brochure gives the frame weights as Kula and AA both 3.4 as above, but the Muni Mula and Koa are stated to both weigh 3.6 not 3.9. We're splitting hairs, but I personally suspect that the the 3.4 and 3.6 figures are unpainted weights and that the genuine weights are 3.7 for a Kula (as per contemporary tests) and 3.9 for the Koa and Muni Mula. The same brochure says a Kilauea weighs 3.9, but I know that the genuine weight is 4.3.

But whatever, a Koa is a nice-quality double-butted 7005 frame that's worthy of a place in anybody's collection, especially for a giveaway £120.

 

[Kona Paul]

Actually that makes sense if it's unpainted weights. Kona also always say that specs may vary once the bikes hit the shop floors, so that might also include weight. I guess it's not a massive difference unless it's for a weight weenie. I wonder why the weights are different for 96 and 97...are they not both 7005 double butted alloy?

 

[crankhead]

Bargain of the week / month, nice one! All you need - low maintenance etc (for oafs like myself). Notice ad says no pedals, are you going for spuds or V12's / 'traps?

Well played

 

[Anthony]

Actually that makes sense if it's unpainted weights. Kona also always say that specs may vary once the bikes hit the shop floors, so that might also include weight. I guess it's not a massive difference unless it's for a weight weenie. I wonder why the weights are different for 96 and 97...are they not both 7005 double butted alloy?

Well, I've never seen the full specs for the 96 bikes, but the booklet says '7005 butted aluminum' for the MM and '7005 aluminum' for the Koa. On the other hand, most of the 97 frames were basically the same as 96 and Bikepedia says the 96 Koa was db, so who knows, but it's difficult to see why Kona would invest in a db frame and not bother to mention it in the booklet.

I agree the weights aren't that important in themselves, but it's what they tell us about the quality of the ride that's of more interest. And I've heard that the 97 Muni Mula was a nice-riding frame, so I'd be willing to bet that the 97 Koa was also.

 

[Kona Paul]

I agree, I think they were both pretty nice alloy frames. My friend was just in Spain and rented an old Kona for a day. He had trouble remembering the name (he he, surprise?) but turns out with some prodding it was a Muni Mula. He said it was a really nice ride, very smooth, and climbed really well. Our other friend has a Koa in his bike shop's basement. Just found it a couple of weeks ago. Pretty sweet parts on it too. Somebody here wanted to buy the frame, but haven't heard back yet, so maybe I'll throw it up on the for sale thread and see what happens...

 

[Harryburgundy]

Bargain of the week / month, nice one! All you need - low maintenance etc (for oafs like myself). Notice ad says no pedals, are you going for spuds or V12's / 'traps?

Well played

Thanks fella, got these hanging about for the Koa

And a tweak to the rings/cranks, maybe some new brakes and that'll be it.