1989 Kona Fire Mountain - keep it standard or modify?

[Splatter Paint]

A few weeks back I picked up a pretty original 1989 Fire Mountain on eBay. It has had minimal use, the original tyres whilst perished were unworn and the paint around the drop-outs was barely marked! Nothing mechanical was worn, but 20 years takes its toll and the spokes, brake pads, cables, chain and tyres needed replcement due corrosion - that's Portsmouth air for you!

I've given it some TLC, re-laced the wheels with DT Swiss stainless spokes and treated it a good clean and polish and it looks and rides a treat - but now what?

It came fitted as standard with 300LX kit and steel bars - that's pretty low-end stuff. I've got some nice similar vintage XT derailleurs and shifters and some KORE black alloy bars which will be lighter better, but I am I spoiling it by changing things?

Here's a link to the recent retro ride I took it on:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58123

PS before anybody passes comment, I that is a modern saddle, seatpost and pedals. The bar ends were 99p at Tesco!

 

[Anthony]

I think you're doing exactly the right things and it looks great. I guess amber-wall tyres would be the one thing I would substitute.

Incidentally, there's a lot of different views about the model years for early Konas, but that is the one that appeared in the 1990 catalogue, so most people would call it a 1990 FM. Even though it was probably made in 1989, maybe even first purchased in 1989. But that's the same as happens now when 2010 bikes will come on the market in September 2009. The first FM, which some people would call an 88, some an 89 (but which came out a year earlier anyway) was black, also with some spatter. Your spatter (and paint) was applied by the great Paul Brodie personally, with his own artistic hand, as he had a contract to finish (braze-ons etc) and paint all Konas up to 1990.

 

[dyna-ti]

Looks great as it is,but all start that way,i'd modify or upgrade to at least an lx groupo
though i'd like to see a sus fork,which can match the bike ok and make offroad a tad more comfortable

 

[Splatter Paint]

Hmm, the decals on the bike are different to those on the 1990 catalogue, the word KONA is not coloured white, but is transparent. Plus the rims are Araya RX-7 not the ones listed. It is apart from that, identical to my 1990 Fire Mountain and the catalogue. It is a UK bike though as it has a faded dealer sticker on the top-tube.

Who knows eh?

I'll put a better picture up, I struggled to get the file size down and then ruined it!

 

[Neil G]

I'd upgrade the parts myself with period XT

 

[DeletedUser006]

You cant beat the very early kona's, I use my 1990 Cindercone very regularly and is such strong reliable bike that handles like no other.

I built mine from scratch and have gone XT / XTR and must say it makes it so much lighter in weight and more positive on the controls.

I will keep my eye out for the progress,

Go the XT route you wont regret it

 

[silverclaws]

Bikes are personal transport, so my thinking is it being personal, I modify the bike to suit my taste. Go for it, go with what you feel would be the right way, what you want.

Although this complete retro ideal is good, one still has to be practical if the bike is to be used, and be a pleasure to use. Me, I will have a retro frame and forks, the transmission, what I was used to in the past, but any other bits, if I like them, and they are at the right price, I will have them on my bike. As it was my 15 yr old Saracen, my first one I had from new, it stayed essentially the same through the years, due to the XT, but saddles changed, and other bits, that is all part and parcel of keeping and running a bike.

 

[Anthony]

Hmm, the decals on the bike are different to those on the 1990 catalogue, the word KONA is not coloured white, but is transparent. Plus the rims are Araya RX-7 not the ones listed. It is apart from that, identical to my 1990 Fire Mountain and the catalogue. It is a UK bike though as it has a faded dealer sticker on the top-tube.

I think it's just that there were variations. For example, I've never seen a 1990 Explosif that looks like the catalogue picture, they all had black decals in the end, and there's lots of different styles of 1990 Lava Dome around. I don't think there was a model year between the '1988/89' and 1990 ones.

Who knows eh?

Maybe JP Saville? http://www.questadventure.co.uk/index.asp?pageID=48

 

[lewis1641]

my thoughts are to follow the classic car route. modify it with parts you want but keep the originals so you can always put it back to standard one day if you wish

 

[MikeD]

I wouldn't read too much into catalogue/product variations - final production bikes are rarely available when catalogue photos are taken, it's not at all unusual for graphics (and even components) to vary.