1998 Kona King Kikapu

[Buzzsaw]

I recently got hold of a 1998 Kona King Kikapu frame which I kind of fancied from the past and intrigued by Kona’s take of the unified rear triangle type suspension that was bit of the rage among some manufacturers for a period. Unfortunately I think this model suffered from cracking chainstays and this particular frame might not be immune from that ailment with faint signs of a hairline crack plus suffering from a bunch of scratches, flaking paint and a very stuck bottom bracket. I’m going to build it up with left over bits from various past builds including the front end will be a pair of early Marzocchi Mr T’s minus the top crown. It’ll be my Christmas period holiday project build to keep me occupied and see how it rides once its complete.

 

[Buzzsaw]

Progress so far - managed to remove the stuck bb using a new bottom bracket tool with a extra long handle for leverage plus it has a bolt that screws onto the bb spindle making it more secure and it did the trick although the non drive side plastic cup disintegrated when I tried to pull it off.

The head tube had a dent on the top edge so wasn’t totally round but managed to insert the headset cups in ok. Mr T forks went on ok with minus the top crown assembly so running like a beefier version of Bomber Z1’s with the 20mm hub setup. Front and rear brakes and levers are Avid V brakes added by brake braces. Bars and stem are Club Roost brand.

Drivetrain will be the Sugino Mighty 900 cranks, front derailleur is a 90’s Sachs triple cage, rear derailleur might be a toss up between a Shimano XTR m952 one or might try out a Sachs Centera composite plastic type one with that’s been lying about in the parts bin for donkeys years. Bought it new when they first came out in the late 90s but never really used it.

Rear wheel is an Italian Gipiemme rim on a Deore hub and front will need to built up with a 90’s Campagnolo mtb rim but first need to get hold of an old sizing front 20mm hub first. It’s going to be a very orange bike

 

[Retro_Shox]

I’m 99% sure this was my old frame, I sold it on eBay a few months ago to someone in Germany from Memory?

 

[Buzzsaw]

I actually got the frame from someone in UK on EBay. It might have passed hands as I suspect the seller realised the frame had a few issues and moved it on. It’s rideable but I suspect the rear seat stays might give up the ghost eventually as there’s signs of hairline cracks near the pivot bolts. A common fault with this model.

 

[sam_white]

Looks great and those forks really suit it.

 

[Buzzsaw]

Looks great and those forks really suit it.

I had these forks in the shed for ages. Someone was selling them on the local gumtree site for hardly anything so I thought ya can’t resist a bargain! I had bought another near mint pair for my early Kona Stab (one with the flame paint job) build from a seller in Germany and that was five times the price. Kinda knew it was just suited to the orange 98 Kona King Kikapu.

 

[Lostcause]

That's a beauty and those forks are stunning. Surely the cracks are repairable? I had an old alloy specialized sirrus chain stay welded up 4 years ago and its still in daily use with no problems. Fingers crossed for you

 

[eshew]

Nice bike! I had a 96 sex one, same frame design, loved it. It did eventually crack at the seat stay/swing arm bolt. Very small but it was the sign I needed to retire it. Still have an old bolt/bushing set kicking around. Upgraded it multiple times, great ride.

Great choice in the fork, mine ended up with a 100mm travel Z3 QR20, meh damper but a solid chasis.

 

[Buzzsaw]

That's a beauty and those forks are stunning. Surely the cracks are repairable? I had an old alloy specialized sirrus chain stay welded up 4 years ago and its still in daily use with no problems. Fingers crossed for you

Currently there’s only the early faint signs of a hairline crack on one side. Repairing it will cost more than what the frame’s worth so I’m going finish the build and ride it very lightly!

I’ve been trying to track down an old standard 20mm front hub and trying to get hold of a second hand Mavic 517 rim to build a front wheel. Luckily I remembered I had a Sun Ringle Rhyno lite one hiding in the shed. It was like $35 new from Chain Reaction over ten years ago when they sold decent stuff at great prices. RIP CRC.

I ended up with a Novatec hub although not period - so out of touch with all the new Boost standard stuff and this and that. Just going use rim braking with the Avid Vs and the final parts are the pedals which will be the Shimano PD m545 one’s that goes with my old school Shimano SPD shoes which I still use to this day and I’ve had them since 1998!

 

[Lacuna]

Not particularly helpful to you now but 20mm hubs are the same as they have always been. Boost spacing only affects 15mm hubs, widening them from 100mm to 110mm. 20mm hubs have always been 110mm wide