Mid 90s MTB hack req'd. Kona and Pace gear from fleabay?
Discussion
Another PHer has inspired me to make my imminent commuter bike/hack purchase an early/mid 90s Kona. It only needs to be cheap and tidy and I think I can do that bit with no worries. But I fancy some retro MTB bling so was looking at s/h Pace Suspension forks.
Does anyone have any? Can parts (new elastomers or service kits) still be sourced for them? Theyre not cheap for what they are, even now. So I dont want to buy a useless part. Would some old Rock Shox be a better bet?
Any tips appreciated.
Reardy Mister said:
The main problem Im having is knowing what size and length steerer tube I need. 1/18th is it? How long is the steerer on the Kona frames? 190mm should cover it shouldnt it?
Mid 90s was the changing period from threaded to ahead steerers, but most higher end Konas had ahead.
WRT Pace elastomers, not a problem getting them.
head over to retrobike but be prepapred to wince at the prices.
problem is, a lot of mtbers from the early to mid 90s get misty eyed about an early steel cinder cone but also have some disposable cash so are happy to buy one for summer trails, commuting etc hence bidding wars commence as original bikes and parts are few and far between. i have known things like 300LX shifters go for well over £50 when new SLX or Deore stuff is not much more. i would be concious of metal fatigue too to be honest and when stuff like pipedream and on-one do good steel frames with geometry to match modern trails at reasonable prices, there is no point buying an old kona unless you are getting it at a good price. all the parts are still availble though so even buying a frame with a 1" headset like the early clockworks isnt a problem.
there are cases of resprayed frames claiming to be something they are not, i have heard of entry level konas being badged as kilaueas etc so be wary. i think the retrobike forum are very good at spotting fakes and things so get on board there.
i wouldnt use fleabay personally, too many morons just bidding for the fun of it and all those sniper last-minute bid things just piss me off too much... hunt the free-ads and things, quite often stuff like "gents mountain bike" can turn out to be an early GT or a Saracen.
be careful with forks, i had a cinder cone with P2s on it, swopped them for a pair or rockshox indy xcs and ruined the handling.... i thought the konas commonly had marzocchi xc?? something or others? the gold ones with the drilled out stanchions.... they looked scary! i would go for the shortest travel rebas you can find personally, on-one had loads going cheap a week or so back.
problem is, a lot of mtbers from the early to mid 90s get misty eyed about an early steel cinder cone but also have some disposable cash so are happy to buy one for summer trails, commuting etc hence bidding wars commence as original bikes and parts are few and far between. i have known things like 300LX shifters go for well over £50 when new SLX or Deore stuff is not much more. i would be concious of metal fatigue too to be honest and when stuff like pipedream and on-one do good steel frames with geometry to match modern trails at reasonable prices, there is no point buying an old kona unless you are getting it at a good price. all the parts are still availble though so even buying a frame with a 1" headset like the early clockworks isnt a problem.
there are cases of resprayed frames claiming to be something they are not, i have heard of entry level konas being badged as kilaueas etc so be wary. i think the retrobike forum are very good at spotting fakes and things so get on board there.
i wouldnt use fleabay personally, too many morons just bidding for the fun of it and all those sniper last-minute bid things just piss me off too much... hunt the free-ads and things, quite often stuff like "gents mountain bike" can turn out to be an early GT or a Saracen.
be careful with forks, i had a cinder cone with P2s on it, swopped them for a pair or rockshox indy xcs and ruined the handling.... i thought the konas commonly had marzocchi xc?? something or others? the gold ones with the drilled out stanchions.... they looked scary! i would go for the shortest travel rebas you can find personally, on-one had loads going cheap a week or so back.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 20th January 10:33
ratbane said:
You're gonna hate me for this, but take a look at retrobike.co.uk
Will it hurt me like radbmx.co.uk did? You could have just sold me one of yours y'know Good info, thanks pablo.
ETA: But then this would go very nicely with my 2012 Supersix.
Edited by Reardy Mister on Friday 20th January 10:47
Badly listed Kona on Ebay here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170765115168?ssPageName=...
Looks a bit tatty and collection only, but might be worth a punt.
Looks a bit tatty and collection only, but might be worth a punt.
CoolC said:
Badly listed Kona on Ebay here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170765115168?ssPageName=...
Looks a bit tatty and collection only, but might be worth a punt.
Yeah spotted that one. The lack of detail worried me that it would be very tatty. Currently watching similar bike for not much more, will wait and see how that goes.Looks a bit tatty and collection only, but might be worth a punt.
ETA: looks to have XT or Suntour thumbies!
EATA: Erm...stuck a bid in to guage interest on this and I was the only bidder. I now own it.
Edited by Reardy Mister on Friday 20th January 11:56
Edited by Reardy Mister on Friday 20th January 12:05
ratbane said:
If you are going mid 90s kona, then Marzhocchi was the fork of choice. Z2 Bams (80mm travel) suit the geometry perfectly. The oil bath zocchis are an easy fork to service too, and are uncredibly plush. Steerer length will be dependant on the frame size you buy, but in relation to most, Konas have a short steerer tube anyway.
So....dont suppose you have any of said forks spare then?ratbane said:
Reardy Mister said:
So....dont suppose you have any of said forks spare then?
Not at the moment. Sold a lovely pair of '98 Z2 BAMs recently. £80 they went for. A couple of P2s (actually 3) lying around, but no good for you.I'd really like a set of these:
Edited by Reardy Mister on Friday 20th January 13:45
A suggestion.
Like this?
Scab finished by simonholehan, on Flickr
My old commuter bike. Sold last year, miss it. Ok It had modern parts, but in spirit its very much a Classic Kona in all but year of manufacture. Great Geometry, great ride. They have really nice Ritchey branded cowled dropouts and skinny stays for a really nice ride. V-brake only, no disc mount, just as per the older frames.
Anyway my point is - you can get one, they have some brand new at CRC - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.a... I'm sorely tempted myself!
Very, very nice frame.
And - Glow in the Dark decals!
Like this?
Scab finished by simonholehan, on Flickr
My old commuter bike. Sold last year, miss it. Ok It had modern parts, but in spirit its very much a Classic Kona in all but year of manufacture. Great Geometry, great ride. They have really nice Ritchey branded cowled dropouts and skinny stays for a really nice ride. V-brake only, no disc mount, just as per the older frames.
Anyway my point is - you can get one, they have some brand new at CRC - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.a... I'm sorely tempted myself!
Very, very nice frame.
And - Glow in the Dark decals!
Picked it up today.
The rear cassette is shagged and the chain skips over it. The bottom bracket is fooked. Sounds like a strangled cat when you pedal. Apart from that, its actually tight as a drum and rides just like I remember them. The temptation now is to go and spend another 150-200 quid on parts for it (Velocity stem, lighter bar and wheels etc). But by then I'll be up to ~350 quid. For that, I could have had the mint but s/h 2012 Cannondale SL4 that went the other day for £330.
What to do what to do....
The rear cassette is shagged and the chain skips over it. The bottom bracket is fooked. Sounds like a strangled cat when you pedal. Apart from that, its actually tight as a drum and rides just like I remember them. The temptation now is to go and spend another 150-200 quid on parts for it (Velocity stem, lighter bar and wheels etc). But by then I'll be up to ~350 quid. For that, I could have had the mint but s/h 2012 Cannondale SL4 that went the other day for £330.
What to do what to do....
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff