1999 Kona Haole

[highlandsflyer]

At least you don't have to overthink the approach; in regards to the paint at least. I bought a, (what I thought was), tatty Attitude with the intention of refinishing it, and hummed and hawed so much I sold it on rather than 'ruin' its originality.

 

[ChromeChainstay]

strip repaint?

 

[al-onestare]

Congrats on getting this. It's all about the frame, a really special tubeset that Kona only used here and on the custom Ku in it's last iteration. Those big tubes should make it a really pleasant ride. Pip raved about his Ku and how good it was off-road, so I have no doubt this should be ace on road.

Personally I'd leave the paint as it or maybe just carefully touch it up if you can find a decent match.

 

[jimo746]

It's all about the frame, a really special tubeset that Kona only used here and on the custom Ku in it's last iteration.

That's fortunate,as the frame set may be about the only thing that's truly salvageable.
As it stands at the moment the paint is not in a condition that I'd want to spend the funds to do a build on it with catalogue/period correct parts, and until I've ridden it for a while I won't know if I feel like splashing out on a respray & decals for it either.
If it had been in reasonable & original condition when I bought it I'd probably have left it alone, but I knew it'd been changed around when I bought it so.... Short term I think I'll probably build it back up with what parts I can re-use and what I have in my spares box, no doubt there'll be a few bits & pieces I need to buy for it anyway, it won't be original, or pretty, but it'll be functional & rideable at least.

 

[jimo746]

I've finally got the bike stripped down to the bare frame now, it took a week of penetrating oil and a 2ft breaker bar to free off the bottom bracket cups! Fortunately aside from the cosmetic damage to the frame & fork there doesn't appear to be any other damage.
The rear wheel bearings felt very rough, on inspection they are sealed bearings , and whilst removing the freehub I noticed the retaining clip for the pawls was broken. After looking around online I don't think it's worth trying to get new bearings and retaining clip and then trying to replace them myself on what is a fairly worn wheel anyway, so I'll look for some suitable (read cheap) wheels locally.
Whilst removing the trashed saddle I also noticed that the seatpost has a nice crack in it near the top, I might have a spare 27.0 post somewhere though.
Brakes cleaned up ok, with some new pads they'll be getting re-used.
The front & rear derailleurs also cleaned up ok and are working, although the rear mech is pretty scraped up, and the front mech is quite rusty still, I may use different mechs tbh.
The XT dual control levers need more WD-40 treatment to free off the mechanisms though. I doubt I'll re-use them anyway as they're for V-brakes and unlikely to work nicely with the road calipers.

So after all that, I think I'm left with the frame/fork, headset, brake calipers, handlebar.... That's about all I'll realistically re-use! Stem is ok but too long, and I'll sell the dual-control levers on if I can get them working properly.
Kind of wishing I'd never placed the bid on this bike now, I'd rather have paid double to get one in far better condition...

Ah well, this was never going to be a catalogue spec re-build, and , well, it still isn't! . It's looking like later this year my job will be moving from 30 miles away to only 3 miles away, so this Haole might be a good flat-bar commuter bike.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Sold?