Kona Caldera 1997

[al-onestare]

Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes

Right then. Time for some more pictures of the unicorn. I've tried to compare it with the Kilauea since it's the same frame size. My Explosif is 19" so I don't think it'd be fair to use that. Big apologies from the outset that this is not a technical comparison by any means. I don't have the inclination to be that detailed plus I don't own the necessary equipment to do that: calipers, scales, etc. However I think I've managed to uncover a few things, as well as raise a few more questions!

Covering weight first off and remembering I don't have scales, I have to say it's a really close run thing. If you had a gun to my head, I'd say the Caldera is ever so slightly lighter and my guess is because the stays are much more slim. But really, there's very little in it. To me that answers one thing: the tube-set is decent! Remember the Kilauea is Columbus Cyber so a really nice tub-set. We still don't really know what the Caldera is but it's definitely not your standard gauge double butted chromoly otherwise it'd be notably heavier. That's my logic anyway

I measured up both frames as best I could. Baring in mind production differences and all the other obvious factors that result in variances, the Caldera has a longer wheel-base, by about 15mm. However the rear triangle is shorter by 10mm meaning, the top and bottom tubes are slightly longer. The head-tube is fractionally longer as well. This should mean that it'll be proper rapid on climbs. I'll also need to pay attention to the cock-pit set-up so it's not too far away. I should be fine as the stem isn't as long as the whopping Tahoma Somme it came with. The final clear visible difference is the BB shell: it's thinner than the Kilauea.

I'd welcome any observations from you as well, can you spot any other differences?

The drop-outs are an obvious difference. I'm a big fan of the slotted variety introduced in this range. But these are dainty and as Kona describe here, pretty neat (this was from the latest exchange I've had with them):

Those Mountain Goat dropouts were a slick solution for frame building. You’d need 2-3 sets of dropouts to cover a size range of frames but with those you could pivot the plugs till they were right and then cover the whole range of sizes.

Our 96 vintage dropouts were stamped but the next year the new ones were investment cast and had bigger fixtures to fit the bigger and stiffer seat and chainstays we liked to use. The only run of custom bikes that got those dropouts was the very last one we did in 99. After that it was Ti only for customs.

Check out the angles of the stays to the slots and compare both. With the pivot plugs, this is why they were able to make the rear triangle shorter. Question - which bike in 99 got these? The Hot?

You would have noticed that I've stripped both frames right back. I was ready to start building Caldera up but was thwarted from the outset by the forks which need a crown brace. Bit odd I thought as they are Judy's and I usually expect that from Pace steerers but hey, a brace is on it's way so I'll give that a go when it arrives. It did mean I got the T-Cut out and polished away, taking great care, more than usual because of what Kona also revealed. Remember how I was a bit confused whether the frame has been clear-coated? And that isn't generally possible on powder coated frames? (Remember this was the first and only powder coated Kona frame - to save on costs).

They Ti bikes used dry release decals that were a huge pain to apply. They had no clear coat applied after. The idea was with a scotch brite pad and some new decals you could make your bike brand new. The custom Caldera had the powdercoat and then a vinyl adhesive decal on top with no clear with the same intent; you could freshen the bike up with wash and new decals.

So spotters badges to Pip and the gang: you were right Can you imagine doing this though, back in the day? Removing decals has proved a sore point for me so even though these aren't perfect on the down-tube there's no way I'm removing them!

I'll take some pictures of the frame in it's glossy glory. The depth of colour has improved considerably.

There are a few more nuggets to reveal but I'll hold onto those for now since this is a fairly chunky update. As ever, thanks for your support and feedback. Your input is really helping this story come alive and sheds more light on a really interesting time in the industry.

 

[magas]

Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes

great frames and great compairison - well done

 

[Pipmeister]

Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes

I measured up both frames as best I could. Baring in mind production differences and all the other obvious factors that result in variances, the Caldera has a longer wheel-base, by about 15mm. However the rear triangle is shorter by 10mm meaning, the top and bottom tubes are slightly longer. The head-tube is fractionally longer as well. This should mean that it'll be proper rapid on climbs.

I don't know why I'm surprised, but the shorter Stays and longer Top Tube is a surprise to me.

Have you measured the length of both Kilauea and Caldera Chain Stays from centre of the Bottom Bracket to the centre of the Dropouts? Without searching further (which you know I will!) the catalogue quotes 16.75" Chain Stay length across all sizes of the Hardtail range.

I can recall reading a very detailed explanation from Anthony regarding the advantages and disadvantages of short Stays and Longer Top Tube while still retaining the same Wheelbase length. Crikey it will take some finding now, but leave it with me.

Those Stays on the Caldera certainly do look far more slender than the Kilauea's. It will be interesting to hear your views on the difference between the two.

Pip.

 

[konaman1]

Re:

Amazing thread, particularly interesting to me now
Just spent an enjoyable hour with a mug of tea reading it all the way through. Great read and kudos to the RB Kona team for the research and detective work.

 

[al-onestare]

Re: Re:

Amazing thread, particularly interesting to me now
Just spent an enjoyable hour with a mug of tea reading it all the way through. Great read and kudos to the RB Kona team for the research and detective work.

Congratulations on an amazing purchase. Each are unique (so far) including your soon to be new steed.

 

[boxxer]

Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes

Possible later Caldera S/N 1960 4180??

Could the 960 prefix relate to the Caldera....

 

[al-onestare]

Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes

Possible later Caldera S/N 1960 4180??

Could the 960 prefix relate to the Caldera....

Sorry, you've lost me here. What do you mean?

 

[boxxer]

Re:

I got offered a Caldera but the paint job is much later, the serial number is 960 4180, it's not the same as the custom frame, different drop outs, cable routing is different

I was wondering if the 960 prefix was the Caldera model identifier....

 

[al-onestare]

Re: Re:

I got offered a Caldera but the paint job is much later, the serial number is 960 4180, it's not the same as the custom frame, different drop outs, cable routing is different

I was wondering if the 960 prefix was the Caldera model identifier....

Ok I see. As per the info here, the 97 was the only custom year so with different drop-outs, routing and colour, I suspect it's not a 97 model. That said, a picture tells a thousand words.

 

[al-onestare]

Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes

I hope to make some build progress this weekend. I've got a bit of an issue with the steerer on the Judy's so it's off to the LBS for some advice.

In the meantime, here's a little nugget from Kona that might be of interest to anyone fortunate enough to have a Hot from around this time. I think it was Canuck and a few others who mentioned that Hot's were infamous for snapping. Well, here's the view from top:

The 853 Hots weren’t breaking at the stays. That was the older Teesdale bikes. A lot of the 853 bikes died when the riders spun the bar in a crash and the frame flexed into the Bomber forks The damper adjustment knobs were just in the righ spot to put a notch in the down tube; usually in one of its thinnest sections.

What's very clear is that during this era, the whole industry was changing and at a pace probably not seen since the very early days from repack to global introduction so the mid 80's let's say. We've talked about the troubles Altitude hit. Originally we'd maybe made some assumptions that it was due to the build quality or some production issues. We've not really been able to find any hard evidence of this other than the fact that the Caldera's, as an example, have all varied in some way. Although personally speaking, I think that's due to the 'custom' nature.

What's more tangible and real was the shift from hard-tails and single-track riding, to a full-on extreme riding experience. The introduction of effective full suspension cannot be underestimated. I'm not claiming to be any expert in this area and I was just a teenager when this was happening. These are just observations based on the evidence collected.

Kona have alluded to this all along. Here's their probable final comment regarding that:

I suspect the frame shop went of business for the same reason we stopped making Hots not that they were doing a bad job but people just stopped buying custom bikes. The hard core riders were discovering stunts and hucks and light weight XC frames were not the right bike. When we started handing out the Stinky frames in late 97 for test the guys who got them suddenly cleaning stuff that was un-rideable and their buddies were knocking down the doors to get these new rides.

We could have a whole other thread on what came first, the chicken or the egg aka riders asking for heavy duty extreme machines or manufacturers constantly looking for new ways to make money. The fact is, the industry changed forever around this time and if you wanted to survive, you had to adapt or carve out a niche.