Is this barn find a Kona?

[Dancjwood]

I found this bike in a barn (there's straw as proof).

Is it a Kona? I think it is and the serial number looks right but i'm trying to work out which one it is.

I'm leaning towards a 1991 or a 1992 however someone may be able to decipher the frame number; the only label is one from the recycle bike shop.

The frame number is F9080524 with a large 1H ... 5 (the ... is obscured by the cable guide).

It's a kind of black metallic with bronze glitter which has been touched up with plain black in places.

The Spec is:
Forks - unknown, could they be earlier curved project 2's?
Velocity stem
Unknown handlebar
Shimano XT shifters
Suntour Multi mount brake levers
ADI grips
Tektro front brake
Unknown rear brake, could be suntour
Kalloy Aluminium seatpost
XT front derailleur
Xt rear derailleur
Suntour XC Pro Crankset with Shimano rings
Tioga Avenger CR headset
Unknown Cassette
Suntour XC Pro front hub with stainless spokes to a Ukai UMT17 rim
Huret rear hub with plain spokes to dutch rim
Unknown tyres

 

[Thias]

That rear brake is a Shimano. STX or something like that. Do those two arms even match?
For teh frame, I would suggest its not a kona, they had straight forks, iirc. The cantihanger on the rear is rather unusual. But those two -uhm- weldon-screwholders on the seatstays right underneath that cantihanger - they make me think its no high grade frame.
The most valuable part on that bike is the 7speed thumbies, imho.

 

[Dancjwood]

Re:

I think it might be, this is a picture of the rear of a Kona Explosif from the 1992 catalogue, it has the same rack mounts and cable hanger, it's the right colour as well.

The 88/89 fire mountain had curved forks but I dont think that's what this is. They're probably replacement forks but the whole bike could just be a mish mash of parts.

 

[Thias]

Hm. Looks as if you might be right.

 

[Spanky22b]

The frame does look a lot like an early kona,probably a 1991 going by the forward facing bosses for the seatclamp. 1990 ones had the same but had a welded noodle for the rear brake cable and by 92 they got rid of the bosses and used a seatclamp.

 

[legrandefromage]

Very similar to my old Explosif, same drop outs, same cable routing and so on. Bottom of seat tube is usually a good indication.

 

[legrandefromage]

Heres a similar sized kona

 

[Ghosty]

Rear brake looks like LX M560 to me.

Frame could well be a Kona, it has a lot of the right telltales for '91/2 - but if it is then I might be inclined to say the fork isn't a P2.

 

[Retro Spud]

Re:

My 1990 Cindercone has the same UMT rims as pictured above.
As for the frame I'll let other more able members to comment on that

 

[pete_mcc]

Re:

Key thing is the decal on the seattube - it's one from 'Recycle' bikes, a superb shop down Penge way that specialised in secondhand kit where they would often build up bikes from frames upwards and so a mish-mash of parts would be the norm.

The shop was owned by a guy called Vince Cundle who was also the UK importer for De Kerf, Chuck, Black Spire and countless other cool things.

I bought and sold countless bikes through them, I still have my Fat Chance Ti that I from them back in the mid nineties.