Suggestions on making my kona lighter
- Thread starter orangerider1970
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Genuinely make a very noticeable difference, if you're not using them alreadyIt's a size 18 frame by the way.
I'm not clear why you're asking about weight. It doesn't look as though you built it for light weight, so if it does indeed weigh c12kg (=26.5lbs) that seems quite reasonable. You could lose a bit with lighter cranks, depending on what kind of aggro you need your cranks to withstand. You could fit light tyres, but maybe you'd find you needed more grip. If you have a 521 rim at the back and a 517 at the front, then again I'm not clear whether you're aiming for burly or light, but if you want a narrow rim and a wider one, I think most people would have the wider one at the front.
I think as long as you fit decent quality parts that suit the kind of riding you do, then it'll be a good bike for you. No need to worry about the weight, that's just a consequence.
I'm not clear why you're asking about weight. It doesn't look as though you built it for light weight, so if it does indeed weigh c12kg (=26.5lbs) that seems quite reasonable. You could lose a bit with lighter cranks, depending on what kind of aggro you need your cranks to withstand. You could fit light tyres, but maybe you'd find you needed more grip. If you have a 521 rim at the back and a 517 at the front, then again I'm not clear whether you're aiming for burly or light, but if you want a narrow rim and a wider one, I think most people would have the wider one at the front.
I think as long as you fit decent quality parts that suit the kind of riding you do, then it'll be a good bike for you. No need to worry about the weight, that's just a consequence.
Main area's to loose weight and noticeably are the rotational parts, the things that you have to drive or have to be driven.. you can easily loose half a pound just on inner tubes, and rim tape.. 
Other areas I would suggest are .... Seatpost , bottom braket,bars,stem,brakes,pedals,cranks,inner tubes, tyres, grips,wheel skewers.. cassette..
You could loose some off the cable's too.. non stress loading bolts replace with ally, stressed ones Ti. non essential loading nylon.. replace any washers with nylon or thinner ones..
But bear in mind the lighter you go , the more fragile the components become, especially if there not quality ones..
and the lighter better quality components will cost lots..
Weigh is not everything, and sometimes the lighter the bike, it tends to skip and bounce all over, and not track right,
Rotational weight first.
Static weight second..
Other areas I would suggest are .... Seatpost , bottom braket,bars,stem,brakes,pedals,cranks,inner tubes, tyres, grips,wheel skewers.. cassette..
You could loose some off the cable's too.. non stress loading bolts replace with ally, stressed ones Ti. non essential loading nylon.. replace any washers with nylon or thinner ones..
But bear in mind the lighter you go , the more fragile the components become, especially if there not quality ones..
and the lighter better quality components will cost lots.. Weigh is not everything, and sometimes the lighter the bike, it tends to skip and bounce all over, and not track right,
Rotational weight first.
Static weight second..
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For me there is such a mix and match of parts on there and I really have no idea what sort of riding you are trying to do.
But I see little point in pimping out a Lava Dome frame that much since it is pretty much bottom of the range.
Buy a higher specification frame and, by the looks of it, you really want one with disc tabs..
Sort out what you want first, then try and build it with slight saving in all places.
But I see little point in pimping out a Lava Dome frame that much since it is pretty much bottom of the range.
Buy a higher specification frame and, by the looks of it, you really want one with disc tabs..
Sort out what you want first, then try and build it with slight saving in all places.
orangerider1970
Dirt Disciple
Thanks guys,
great comments!
Heres my life story (joke), I got the Lava Dome as my first bike and it seriously got me into riding, my dad had a humuhumunukunukuapua so that was possibly the reason behind me getting one.
It only cost me £25 for the complete bike so I was dead chuffed! since then I have had the orange patriot, but didn't like the bounce and I have an Identiti Dr.Jekyll in pink which is definitely PIMPED!
I wanted to get the LavaDome nice to ride as it had a real mess of bits on it I.e. DMR wingbars hussefelt cranks etc.
I have never wanted to sell it as it cost me so little and because i'm sentimentally attached to it.
As for the lightening!
I was trying to get it lighter as it was weighing in at around 12kg (without lights mudgaurds) and I just wanted some opinions on what I could do with it.
Basically I just want a fairly strong XC bike thats light weight (i'm not aiming for 15pounds), nice looking and fundamentally something that encourages my riding.
I was hoping to get XTR crank set and I do have an XTR front brake on the way, as well as pro 2's on rim brake rims.
Rigid forks would definitely be an option!!! maybe carbon?
When I first got the bike it had the P2s on it and I wasn't uncomfortable on it!
Thanks y'all!
great comments!
Heres my life story (joke), I got the Lava Dome as my first bike and it seriously got me into riding, my dad had a humuhumunukunukuapua so that was possibly the reason behind me getting one.
It only cost me £25 for the complete bike so I was dead chuffed! since then I have had the orange patriot, but didn't like the bounce and I have an Identiti Dr.Jekyll in pink which is definitely PIMPED!
I wanted to get the LavaDome nice to ride as it had a real mess of bits on it I.e. DMR wingbars hussefelt cranks etc.
I have never wanted to sell it as it cost me so little and because i'm sentimentally attached to it.
As for the lightening!
I was trying to get it lighter as it was weighing in at around 12kg (without lights mudgaurds) and I just wanted some opinions on what I could do with it.
Basically I just want a fairly strong XC bike thats light weight (i'm not aiming for 15pounds), nice looking and fundamentally something that encourages my riding.
I was hoping to get XTR crank set and I do have an XTR front brake on the way, as well as pro 2's on rim brake rims.
Rigid forks would definitely be an option!!! maybe carbon?
When I first got the bike it had the P2s on it and I wasn't uncomfortable on it!
Thanks y'all!
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Forget the carbon rigid, too much for the style of frame. Just get some P2's again you can get them with disc tabs now.
Forget the XTR chainset unless it's the older one, SLX would probably be fine and are ~100g heavier. Wile that is 1/4lb the price difference is considerable, especially given the price and type of frame.
Of course if money is no object forget about XTR and get the new SRAM double one XXXXXXXX whatever it's called, it's almost certainly lighter.
SLX is far lighter than your HONE iirc. (though check first)
Forget the XTR chainset unless it's the older one, SLX would probably be fine and are ~100g heavier. Wile that is 1/4lb the price difference is considerable, especially given the price and type of frame.
Of course if money is no object forget about XTR and get the new SRAM double one XXXXXXXX whatever it's called, it's almost certainly lighter.
SLX is far lighter than your HONE iirc. (though check first
)
Rather than going lighter as a rule why not try to go period and lighter? Will do the bike justice and you'll still be able to reduce the weight. Selling the reba's and hones should get you enough for nice period wheels/forks and a smattering of XTR 950.
Bike Hoarder
Orange 🍊 Fan
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Just have a poo before you go riding, instant lightness! :shock:
orangerider1970
Dirt Disciple
Yes thats true!
I did have the old wheels lying around but as I was using rim brakes, whenever I went around a corner the wheels would flex into the brakes and rub on them, I was a bit unnerved. since then I have wanted a solid bike.
E.g. I have a friend with a lightspeed Ti with Pro 2 hubs, XTR cranks X.0 drivetrain etc and its still really light, but fundamentally for him its still strong.
That was the kind of thing I was going for.
I know That light isn't always strong, and strong isn't always light but I want to hit the happy medium.
Thanks
I did have the old wheels lying around but as I was using rim brakes, whenever I went around a corner the wheels would flex into the brakes and rub on them, I was a bit unnerved. since then I have wanted a solid bike.
E.g. I have a friend with a lightspeed Ti with Pro 2 hubs, XTR cranks X.0 drivetrain etc and its still really light, but fundamentally for him its still strong.
That was the kind of thing I was going for.
I know That light isn't always strong, and strong isn't always light but I want to hit the happy medium.
Thanks
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What with the really long outer casing for the rear mech?
