Kona size help

[guybe]

Hello, I liked the pedals on your red Cindercone, what are they called please and hope you dont mind me asking?

 

[Kona Paul]

Without a doubt! But Anthony should be able to tell us the exact size of both.

 

[Anthony]

The seller says he has measured from the center of the BB to the top of the seat tube so hopefully he's right when he says 17", From what i can make out the bike has the earlyer 90s decals so im thinking 1991 / 2 ?? i guess i really need the serial # Here is a pic of the bike for sale, what do you think , does it look 17" ??...........I would rearly like it because it goes exactly with my other Kona & i wanted a smaller frame one as well

This is the Kona i have at the moment, it is great to ride as long as im on the flat stuff, it feels a bit big for me if i start doing anything too exciting !! :shock: They would make a nice pair
Many thanks for all your replies & advice

I'm pretty sure the bike he has for sale is what they called a size 16 and your current one is at least a 19 but could be a 20, can't quite see from that angle. They're both 92 Cinder Cones, although his has the slightly later pattern of P2, still 92 though.

If you look on http://www.konaretro.com/articles/catal ... 2Page5.jpg this page has a size 16 Hahanna, a size 18 Fire Mountain and a size 19 Lava Dome

If they are a 16 and a 19, there is 1.25 inches difference in the length of the frame plus another 0.8 in the length of the stem, so you would find them quite different. It may be that a size 18 with a shorter stem might be perfect for you, but if you had both those bikes one thing you could try would be to swap the stems around - that might improve both bikes as far as you're concerned! A size 16 with the longer stem would be pretty much the same length as an 18 with a standard stem.

 

[Kona Paul]

But of course your positioning over the pedals changes significantly between a 16 and 19, and swapping stems will only compensate for TT length. But if it is 16 and not 18, you shouldn't feel cramped at 5'8".

I see I hit the 1 instead of 2 (as in 92). Sorry about that, still can't type.

I'll a couple of pics of my 18" 92 Explosif and maybe Anthony can compare. Unfortunately I only have pics right now from an angle, which probably doesn't help much.

 

[Jonnyboy]

I guess i could ask the guy how long the top tube is (center to center) to give a better idea for definite.
Its very hard to judge if it will be ok for me just from the picture, i really need to see it & have a ride but its too far from me

I will ask him for the top tube measurement & report back !!

Thanks for all the help with this

Oh, & the pedals are Crupi pro rounds (bmx pedals)

 

[Kona Paul]

If you get it and aren't happy, it should be no problem to sell it on here for what you paid. There's always a plus side to being on Retrobike

 

[Anthony]

But of course your positioning over the pedals changes significantly between a 16 and 19, and swapping stems will only compensate for TT length. But if it is 16 and not 18, you shouldn't feel cramped at 5'8"..

Well the size 16 did have a one degree steeper seat tube angle Paul, but that only makes a half inch of difference to the saddle position, which surely can easily be cancelled out by putting the saddle further back on the rails, to keep the same position over the pedals.

I'll a couple of pics of my 18" 92 Explosif and maybe Anthony can compare. Unfortunately I only have pics right now from an angle, which probably doesn't help much.

Can't really tell much from your pics I'm afraid, but I'd guess your bike has a 13cm head tube, whereas Jonnyboy's bike looks to have at least a 15cm (consistent with it being at least a size 19) and the bike for sale is pretty clearly 11cm, which means it's smaller than an 18.

The reason I'm fairly confident that the bike for sale is a 16 is that I've seen several bikes of that size for sale (often believed by the seller to be a 17), but I've never seen one smaller than that. Whereas Kona said their smallest size was a 16 and they didn't do a 17.

I agree that the size 16 might well be big enough for JB (especially with that longer stem!)

Just for comparison with the size 16, I'll show you a picture from 1993, the first year that Kona made a bike smaller than a size 16. i.e, it was when they introduced sizes 14 and 17 (but only in North America). I suspect this might be the earliest size 14 Kona shown anywhere on this site (catalogue scan courtesy of Mechagouki). Note the almost straihjt line of the top tube and seat stay and the top of the seat tube just below the height of the tyres (in the bike for sale it is c2" higher).

 

[stevemar]

i hope i dont confuse matters but i am 5-8 as well---my 93 is 16 ctr to top---13.5 ctr to ctr---standover is a like 27.75 / 28---i run a fairly short stem--bike fits like a glove tho i have had it awhile and am used to the size

 

[Kona Paul]

That's good enough for me. I'll measure up my HT today. I can always tell a 14 because they look like DJ bikes.

 

[Jonnyboy]

Ive had no reply from the seller about the top tube length,

This is my wife's stumpjumper, it is 16" center of the BB to top of seat tube & has a 21" top tube.
I'm guessing the kona for sale is roughly the same proportions as this, if so i think i'm going to look out for a cinder cone with a 18" frame, I'm thinking that would suit me better.

Obviously i want a retro one :mrgreen: .........What year cinder would people suggest ??

I have seen a nice one on ebay that i might be tempted with, the guy says its a 97.
Ive defnately got the bug for this

Thanks for all the replys, you guys defanataly know your stuff