Orange O Project, Kona & Hello

[ShiftySteve]

Hello. I just joined recently and thought i'd show you all where i am bike wise.
I've had the Orange O frame since about 90/91 ish. I believe it's one of the first ones made. I heard that a mountain bike factory had been set up in Yorkshire so my dad took me out and we had a look for it. Not as easy as it would be now before the internet made finding everything easy! We just asked if we could go in. They were dead nice and gave us a bit of a tour round and a load of stickers.
I was hooked and bought one straight away. Twenty years later and after several resprays i'm starting to do a proper rebuild. I just got the forks and stem from two very nice chaps off this website and managed to find the NOS Mavic headset from a bloke in Bradford.
I'm still undecided on colour. The original was the dull boring grey/silver. All opinions are welcome.

The kona is my new knockabout bike. I'm not sure of the year so advice on that is gratefully recieved. I just need to get rid of that god awful saddle!

Cheers. Steve

 

[GT-Steve]

Hi, and a belated welcome to the forum.

Loving the Alu 'O' - 'twas one of my original 'must-have's BITD, and I keep missing out on getting one, for one reason and another :roll: :cry:

Steve

 

[Neil G]

Welcome

Kona looks good, the Orange looks in great condition....looking forward to seeing that built up

 

[gump]

welcome!

Nice O story
I had one at similar time, had to wait for it as early one out.
I had the orange/white fade, and to me this is the best colour for an Orange of this vintage.

Enjoy the build!

 

[brocklanders023]

Lovely set of bikes there mate. You should check out boy'O'boy's bikes for some inspiration with your Orange. He loves an 'O'! I think his black one looks ace.

 

[NakedGav]

Welcome
I'm seriously jealous of your 'knockabout bike'
It's the same as my first proper mountain bike and I'm still waiting for one to come my way again.

 

[ShiftySteve]

Don't be too jealous NakedGav.
The paint is pretty bubbled and she needs lots of work. And as for that saddle......

 

[boy"O"boy]

Lovely set of bikes there mate. You should check out boy'O'boy's bikes for some inspiration with your Orange. He loves an 'O'! I think his black one looks ace.

Cheers bud!

Steve, glad you've decided to give the 'O' a proper rebuild.... sounds like a frame with a lot of history!
My 'stealth black' one is a 95% accurate replica of my 'O' I had BITD. (Pics in my gallery)
I'm riding it more than ever at the moment as it is my only 'geared' choice of bike..... and the fact that I just enjoy riding it!

I also have a very early 'O' (#20) that will up and running in a couple of weeks... coming to readers rides real soon!

boy"O"boy

 

[ShiftySteve]

Look forward to seeing that one.

By the way, I just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who makes us newbies feel properly welcome!

I thought I was alone in tinkering with old push irons. Little did I know!

 

[ShiftySteve]

NakedGav

Thought this might appeal to you....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KONA-LAVA-DOME-RA ... 2c54aeb73b

looks nice.