Kona Caldera 1997
- Thread starter al-onestare
- Start date
Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes
Righto. Here we go, the "pre-work as she is" pictures. (That's not my ride height or set-up, it's just a mock up).
She's near spec with the core stuff still there. Shifters, rear mech (Sachs Quartz), crank-set (why?!?), bars and tyres are all after-market.
She's been ridden but not hard. There are very few chips and scrapes. There are rubs but nothing you wouldn't expect from a 18 year old bike.
Apologies for the quality of the pic's - standard phone shots - the dark autumn days aren't helping either. As with all my projects she'll be taken apart. Decisions on the build are pretty much made but getting the best condition parts will be 'fun'. She'll be a rider - no question about that.
20" - perfect size.
Two words I always wanted to see 'Kona custom'. I never thought I'd see, let alone own the third word of Caldera.
Another decal I always wanted. I should have just bought one from Gil
baaaaaa
baaaaaa
Check out those welds. On inspection they are generally neat, but the neatest, but neat. The are tiny though; much smaller than the welds on the Explosif and Kilauea.
Speaking on tiny - the stays - the slimmest I've seen on a '97 Kona. They make the Kilauea's look lardy and the Explosif's a bit porky. Proper dainty and they give the illusion that the rest of the frame is slim.
Again, apologies. The camera doesn't quite pick out the number but hopefully you can see the CA96 stamp.
Perhaps a clue as to where it was sold or at least serviced.
Onto some interesting patina bits and pieces.
These aren't rust worms as far as I can tell. It's an odd paint finish and in an odd place too.
Decal damage is be expected really but that's not the interesting bit, it's the cracking. I've not seen this before, even on the roughest frames. They either flake or peel, but never crack.
There could be all sorts of reasons for this. But I wonder if it's because of the finish.
Because - and here's the first fact kindly provided by Kona - the Caldera was the only model they ever powder-coated. The colour is brilliant. It's a very deep, dark blue but with a aquamarine metallic tint. It's a richer, more luscious blue than the Kilauea.
I've been comparing this with MDS' and unless my eyes are playing tricks, the colour and finish look different. And we know the SN is different. I have a theory forming in my mind but more on that later
Hope you enjoy it. I've found myself staring at it, stroking the tubes (looking for dents ok - there are none!)...I can't wait to get her sorted and out on the trails.
Righto. Here we go, the "pre-work as she is" pictures. (That's not my ride height or set-up, it's just a mock up).
She's near spec with the core stuff still there. Shifters, rear mech (Sachs Quartz), crank-set (why?!?), bars and tyres are all after-market.
She's been ridden but not hard. There are very few chips and scrapes. There are rubs but nothing you wouldn't expect from a 18 year old bike.
Apologies for the quality of the pic's - standard phone shots - the dark autumn days aren't helping either. As with all my projects she'll be taken apart. Decisions on the build are pretty much made but getting the best condition parts will be 'fun'. She'll be a rider - no question about that.
20" - perfect size.
Two words I always wanted to see 'Kona custom'. I never thought I'd see, let alone own the third word of Caldera.
Another decal I always wanted. I should have just bought one from Gil
baaaaaa
baaaaaa
Check out those welds. On inspection they are generally neat, but the neatest, but neat. The are tiny though; much smaller than the welds on the Explosif and Kilauea.
Speaking on tiny - the stays - the slimmest I've seen on a '97 Kona. They make the Kilauea's look lardy and the Explosif's a bit porky. Proper dainty and they give the illusion that the rest of the frame is slim.
Again, apologies. The camera doesn't quite pick out the number but hopefully you can see the CA96 stamp.
Perhaps a clue as to where it was sold or at least serviced.
Onto some interesting patina bits and pieces.
These aren't rust worms as far as I can tell. It's an odd paint finish and in an odd place too.
Decal damage is be expected really but that's not the interesting bit, it's the cracking. I've not seen this before, even on the roughest frames. They either flake or peel, but never crack.
There could be all sorts of reasons for this. But I wonder if it's because of the finish.
Because - and here's the first fact kindly provided by Kona - the Caldera was the only model they ever powder-coated. The colour is brilliant. It's a very deep, dark blue but with a aquamarine metallic tint. It's a richer, more luscious blue than the Kilauea.
I've been comparing this with MDS' and unless my eyes are playing tricks, the colour and finish look different. And we know the SN is different. I have a theory forming in my mind but more on that later
Hope you enjoy it. I've found myself staring at it, stroking the tubes (looking for dents ok - there are none!)...I can't wait to get her sorted and out on the trails.
Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes
You can and that will be revealed in due course. Let's just say the planets aligned
konaben82":3adqulh5 said:
You can and that will be revealed in due course. Let's just say the planets aligned
Pipmeister
Senior Retro Guru
- Feedback
- View
Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes
Well I think that you already know how pleased I am for you to finally own the elusive 1997 Caldera, so enough said on that......
I will suggest that the decal material on your Caldera is similar to that used on the Titanium frames. On a Titanium frame, the decals are not the same as Water Transfers used on wet paint and then often finished with clear lacquer. Does the Caldera have the decals stuck on top of the Powder Coating with no clear lacquer?
The picture below of a Decal my 1998 Hei Hei shows what looks to me like the same sort of “Cracking”.
Pip.
Well I think that you already know how pleased I am for you to finally own the elusive 1997 Caldera, so enough said on that......
al-onestare":2apl04fm said:
Decal damage is be expected really but that's not the interesting bit, it's the cracking. I've not seen this before, even on the roughest frames. They either flake or peel, but never crack.
There could be all sorts of reasons for this. But I wonder if it's because of the finish.
Because - and here's the first fact kindly provided by Kona - the Caldera was the only model they ever power-coated. The colour is brilliant. It's a very deep, dark blue but with a aquamarine metallic tint. It's a richer, more luscious blue than the Kilauea.
I will suggest that the decal material on your Caldera is similar to that used on the Titanium frames. On a Titanium frame, the decals are not the same as Water Transfers used on wet paint and then often finished with clear lacquer. Does the Caldera have the decals stuck on top of the Powder Coating with no clear lacquer?
The picture below of a Decal my 1998 Hei Hei shows what looks to me like the same sort of “Cracking”.
Pip.
Pipmeister
Senior Retro Guru
- Feedback
- View
Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes
Al,
With reference to my post yesterday; below your picture is a better example of what I was talking about - this time from my 1997 King Kahuna.
In your pictures, the one on your Headtube seems to have a bit of thickness to it. Would you say that the Caldera's decals are similar to the K.K.s?
Pip.
Al,
With reference to my post yesterday; below your picture is a better example of what I was talking about - this time from my 1997 King Kahuna.
In your pictures, the one on your Headtube seems to have a bit of thickness to it. Would you say that the Caldera's decals are similar to the K.K.s?
al-onestare":1qfpobgf said:
Decal damage is be expected really but that's not the interesting bit, it's the cracking. I've not seen this before, even on the roughest frames. They either flake or peel, but never crack.
Pip.
Re: Kona Caldera 1997 - unicorn scenes
Yes, I think you and others are right, it's U.V but thankfully it's not impacted the colouring which is consistently luscious throughout. It'll look really ace when it's had a clean and t-cut.
Pip, please do share some of your other observations here. For example, Pip's pointed out the obvious, the colour and finish differences are marked (mrdryskull's top, mine bottom):
Also notice a minor detail difference with the heat / fume escape hole in the stay join (apologies if there's a technical name for that part).
I'll dash a bit back and forward in the conversation I've had with Kona so far on this model. Since we're looking at differences, my theory is that mine is from a US batch and mds' from the Canadian batch. Both were made at different times (obvious) and both were painted at different times, and maybe, just speculating, different places or painters. I'm going to run that past Kona and see what they say. The difference between July 96 and September 96 (mds', mine) could be it: July is pretty early for a forthcoming production year run so perhaps his is an early test run / pre-production. This theory comes from feedback they provided - this came off the back of discussing what the tube-set could be (more on that later):
...which led onto...
...and to me asking why, they said...
So, first off, there might a red one out there :shock: Second, those distinct batches, in 50, one set for Canada, one for the US, to my logic at least means there was opportunity to a) perhaps ask for a different finish (at a cost) or b) each batch have a different colour / finish - for whatever, as yet unknown reason.
As ever, any additional thoughts, theories and insight is welcomed!
Yes, I think you and others are right, it's U.V but thankfully it's not impacted the colouring which is consistently luscious throughout. It'll look really ace when it's had a clean and t-cut.
Pip, please do share some of your other observations here. For example, Pip's pointed out the obvious, the colour and finish differences are marked (mrdryskull's top, mine bottom):
Also notice a minor detail difference with the heat / fume escape hole in the stay join (apologies if there's a technical name for that part).
I'll dash a bit back and forward in the conversation I've had with Kona so far on this model. Since we're looking at differences, my theory is that mine is from a US batch and mds' from the Canadian batch. Both were made at different times (obvious) and both were painted at different times, and maybe, just speculating, different places or painters. I'm going to run that past Kona and see what they say. The difference between July 96 and September 96 (mds', mine) could be it: July is pretty early for a forthcoming production year run so perhaps his is an early test run / pre-production. This theory comes from feedback they provided - this came off the back of discussing what the tube-set could be (more on that later):
...which led onto...
...and to me asking why, they said...
So, first off, there might a red one out there :shock: Second, those distinct batches, in 50, one set for Canada, one for the US, to my logic at least means there was opportunity to a) perhaps ask for a different finish (at a cost) or b) each batch have a different colour / finish - for whatever, as yet unknown reason.
As ever, any additional thoughts, theories and insight is welcomed!
