ID for Titanium Kona

[bikenoob]

Hi,

I was offered to buy this titanium kona but I can't tell which model year it is. The owner says it's a 2001 frame but I guess the frame must be from 97.

Frame number is B16184, round tubes, no gussets.

I found a topic on this forum l and it seems that from 98 onwards the B of the serial number becomes KH for the Hei Hei and KK for the King Kahuna.

Any Idea on how much it's worth?
All XTR + 80 mm. Manitou fork.

Thanks

 

[bikenoob]

Kona Pictures

this is the bike.

 

[sunchaser]

Can't tell by the decals as I don't think their original. Might be '95 looking at the seat tube (non extending) I think kona only made the Hei Hei like that in '95 & possibly '96.

Might be wrong though... I useually am :roll:

Nice bike either way

 

[kase1983]

1996?

 

[Geoff]

Cable routing says 94, 95 or 96 to me.

Is the decal on the seat tube original? Cos that looks like 94.

 

[bikenoob]

Is it possible to tell when the frame was made by looking at the serial number?

Any idea on the value of the bike, I don't want to be ripped off...

 

[Anthony]

I think the frame could be any of 94, 95 or 96 and the important thing is that it doesn't make much difference which it is - either to its value or from the point of view of its design, as they are all just about the same.

The only downside as far as value is concerned is the non-standard decals, but then you could easily replace them with US-valid ones. I don't know what their significance is - other than the obvious fact that titanio is Spanish for titanium and they look quite professional, so it makes me wonder whether these might conceivably be the original decals that were used somewhere in South America - perhaps a market in which the local meaning of Hei Hei might not help sales?

We're not supposed to give valuations here, but as this is a wider-relevance thread I hope I might be forgiven for saying that no Hei Hei in good condition sells for less than £500 (frame-only)

I think TST (who made the Hei Heis under contract) used slightly different serial numbers, but if that one is anything like standard Kona numbers it could be that B16 means 'factory = B1, meaning TST' and 'year of manufacture = 6, meaning 1996'. If so, that would make it a 96 bike, as it can't be a 97 because of the cable routing and the short seat tube extension. But I'm not sure about that.

 

[Geoff]

I don't think those decals will be original versions Anthony, the extra 'Kona' on the top tube and the random 'K' on the headtube remind me of generic Kona decals of the type that appear on ebay sometimes, although the Titanio bit obviously is a bit unusual. But if it was a 96 at the latest, the style doesn't fit anyway.

Edit: One last thing. If the rear cable stop is original, I'd say it's another pointer to being a 96 model. Those K-Nine versions weren't on the 95 models.

 

[bikenoob]

the only thing that worries me now it the fact that , according to the owner, the fork has 80 mm of travel. I can't really tell which Manitou it is.

The 96 model run a Judy with 63 mm. of travel ( I guess)
The 97 model run a marzocchi Z1 ( travel?)

Do you thing the geometry of the bike is affected by a 80 mm. fork?

 

[andrewl]

From the frame number all you can tell is that its a Hei Hei in size 16 frame 184 (B16184 = Hei Hei, 16" frame size, number 184).

The cable routing and shorter seat tube extension says 94 - 96. (Despite the length of the seat tube extension in the 94 catalogue I've not found any photos of one with this length).

The red Kona decals aren't original and the V brake cable guide was available as a part to convert older frames for Vs so aren't useful to date the frame.

The decal on the seat tube it the only thing remotely original looking and points to a 94 frame as this is exactly the same as the one shown in the 94 Catalogue. The same decal is used on the 95 except was close to the BB on the Hei Hei (other frames Kula, Ku, Explosif etc had it in the higher position), and the Kona thumb was in the upper position (on Hei Hei).

Frame number 184 could be consistent with an earlier frame than later too, although I have no idea how popular 16" frames were

Anyway, 94 or 95 seems about right to me.