Bensherman
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I say go for it Jon, what red? Phone box red or Ferrari red?
Kona titanium Hei Hei
- Thread starter rojo
- Start date
wadsy":4yhdlmp9 said:It's not '97 imo as the '97 had down-tube routed rear mech cable. '98 as Antony says- the decals look right as well.
We've had this discussion many many times before but cable routing alone will not define a Hei Hei or King Kuhuna as a 97 frame as there are many examples of larger sized 1997 frames (19 and 20) which have all the cabling on the top tube.
The best way to tell the difference between a 97 and 98 is from the serial numbers as the prefixes are different between the two years.
Do you know for a fact that the change in serial number format precisely coincided with the 98 model year Andrew? My impression is that Titanium Sports introduced many changes piecemeal, without particular regard to model year. e.g., the 96 Hei Heis that have the 97 shape. I have seen one or two Hei Heis with B serials and 98 decals, so I've always assumed that the serial number change was introduced mid-season during 98.andrewl":1wbcv3je said:
Anthony":3ilv46es said:
I had an email conversation many many years ago with Kona tech and my Kona dealer also had some information relating to the serial number change so for the best part I think the serial number on these frames is the most reliable way to determine one from the later frames (even though they are identical in all respects).
As a side note its also interesting watching these Hei Heis change hands over the years (following the serial number). I don't know the serial number on this frame (yet) but I know of at least two 1997 20" frames which started off with their original blue decals (in bad condition), which have had them removed and reproductions of both 1997 in Yellow and 1998 added and removed over the years as they changed hands.
If it happens that this serial number matches up with one I have recorded then I think I can safely say its a 97 based on the old photos. If not, well its at least consistent with them to lean toward 1997.
Further off topic, I have also seen a few original Asian built MY97 Konas and at least one MY97 Hot with all the cables on the top tube so there is some variation about just to keep life interesting
looking forward to this build as with all Ti Konas. can i throw in my tuppence for the '97/98 argument? my '97 has down tube rear mech routing and had a conversation with pipmeister a few weeks ago and his '97 has top tube routing for both mechs so i think ths definitely supports the case for them changing mid season
i never know when you are joking jon but seriously, dont paint it!
if you are serious and you absolutely have to paint it, just put some detail on it.
really dont like to tell people what to do but if you paint it i guarantee it will look worse rather than better.
as well as weight and strength, titanuim is great for bikes as it doesnt corrode so you dont NEED to paint it. If you scratch it you can scotchbrite it out. if you scratch paint it isnt so easy to deal with.
just my thoughts dude
if you are serious and you absolutely have to paint it, just put some detail on it.
really dont like to tell people what to do but if you paint it i guarantee it will look worse rather than better.
as well as weight and strength, titanuim is great for bikes as it doesnt corrode so you dont NEED to paint it. If you scratch it you can scotchbrite it out. if you scratch paint it isnt so easy to deal with.
just my thoughts dude
