Pipmeister
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Re: 1991 Kona Hei Hei
They were two separate companies.
Sandvik is a huge conglomerate and their titanium tubes division is just a tiny bit of it. They produced titanium for the Aerospace industry and the Military. I read somewhere that Kona were their next biggest customer after those two, although this seems unlikely. Perhaps Kona were the largest bike manufacturer to utilize Sandvik titanium - there are other bike manufactures that have use the same tubing.
Titanium Sport Technology seem to still be a going concern based in Washington.
There is rumour that the arguably more desirable but difficult to work 6.4 version of titanium tubing was at some point entirely commandeered by the Military from Sandvik. This may explain why Kona were only able to use it to build a few frames. It was used on the Seat and Chain Stays (four tubes) of the 1996 King Kahuna. We also think that there was one or more 1999 King Kahuna frames made using 6.4 for all eight tubes. Kona Team rider Dario Cioni rode one of these 1999 frames, which I came close to buying some year ago.
The Dropouts are made from 6.4 on the Kona Frames, and I think that the Score has a Bottom Bracket Shell made for 6.4 as well. I know that the Headtube on that frame is milled from a solid billet of Titanium, but I don't know if it is 6.4 or if this method was use on the Hei Hei and the King Kahuna.
Pip.
al-onestare":2p319pcz said:
They were two separate companies.
Sandvik is a huge conglomerate and their titanium tubes division is just a tiny bit of it. They produced titanium for the Aerospace industry and the Military. I read somewhere that Kona were their next biggest customer after those two, although this seems unlikely. Perhaps Kona were the largest bike manufacturer to utilize Sandvik titanium - there are other bike manufactures that have use the same tubing.
Titanium Sport Technology seem to still be a going concern based in Washington.
There is rumour that the arguably more desirable but difficult to work 6.4 version of titanium tubing was at some point entirely commandeered by the Military from Sandvik. This may explain why Kona were only able to use it to build a few frames. It was used on the Seat and Chain Stays (four tubes) of the 1996 King Kahuna. We also think that there was one or more 1999 King Kahuna frames made using 6.4 for all eight tubes. Kona Team rider Dario Cioni rode one of these 1999 frames, which I came close to buying some year ago.
The Dropouts are made from 6.4 on the Kona Frames, and I think that the Score has a Bottom Bracket Shell made for 6.4 as well. I know that the Headtube on that frame is milled from a solid billet of Titanium, but I don't know if it is 6.4 or if this method was use on the Hei Hei and the King Kahuna.
Pip.
