Thank you all so much! I'm happy you're all as excited about this bike as I am!
Absolutely fantastic, and even better confirmed original owner and history. It doesn't get much better than this.
That serial number places it at February 1995 so smack at the time for pre production 95/96 bikes, just as the back story confirms. Whilst it's not the fabled titanium version, it's still a lovely, unique example in fantastic condition. You did get ti P2s though!!
As you say and we can see, the stars and bars livery, fully painted (not the lesser A'ha decal version) is a thing of beauty.
Really looking forward to seeing it built up
I'm glad you commented
@al-onestare! Thank you so much for confirming the age of the frame! I'm glad to have contributed an early cruiser frame to the serial number list.
I've admired your attention to detail for a long time. Your bike builds and love for 1997 Konas is unrivaled, and I think maybe I might try to be that person for 1995 Konas. I think I've settled on that being my favorite year for Kona, right smack dab in the middle of my favorite livery years. Now that I have 4 Konas from 1995, I think I see a pattern starting...
Please don't fiddle with the original decals!
I have hardly touched them, only enough to clean the dust off the surface. I would never remove or replace the original decals, but I want to do something to keep them from peeling more. I can tell there is dust underneath the small part that has peeled up, so if I stick it back down, it won't adhere properly, and the dust will be visible. One of the top tube decals is also ever so slightly peeling up. Just spit balling here, but I was thinking about using very tiny lint free cleaning swabs with 99% isopropyl to clean the underside of the peeling decal, then a similar application of clear liquid vinyl adhesive, before sticking and holding with low tack masking tape while the adhesive cures. Please tell me if this is a bad idea.
There are also a few paint chips, and some previous touch ups, which I'll eventually document. The shop my friend Dirk owns, where this was stored for the last few years, is next door to a premier frame painter/builder
TW Carbon. I plan on taking the frame there to see about matching the paint for touch up, and to get the pearl white match perfected for my Kilauea.
Is that massive box between the rear rack and seatpost in the first pic a battery? Must have weighed a tonne... Any idea if it was used much like that?
Looking forward to seeing a more, dare I say, tasteful, outcome...
That is the battery! It's actually clipped into the supports of the rack quite nicely. I'll share more photos later, before I sell the SRAM electric kit. It is all so heavy, and I am a bit perturbed that this bike, of all bikes, was fitted with this kit. I mean, I get it, it was just a cool cruiser to show off what was back then a cool new piece of SRAM tech I'm sure John had a hand in producing. I'm not sure if it was showcased at Interbike for Kona in 1995/96, or if it was showcased at Interbike for SRAM much later. I don't think it was ridden much at all in it's life, both before that was done to it, and while it was an e-bike.
The rear being spread is killing me a little, since it was done haphazardly, and the paint is worst by the dropouts. I was thinking about doing that on my Humu anyway, to gain nicer rear hub options. I was also thinking about taking this Custom Cruiser to a frame builder friend of mine, to at least make sure the frame is not twisted, maybe make the drop outs parallel.
Bottom line is I'm not rushing this build, this is all rumination, and I will sit on it for weeks if not months before I take it anywhere or do anything to it. That's how I usually roll, I like to have a built bike in my mind's eye before I turn a single bolt. While I'm pondering, please share your ideas or thoughts so far! Got a cool part that would be perfect? Lemme know. Think I'm going to ruin this unicorn, and I shouldn't touch a thing? Let's hear it!
