Kona hardtail hierarchy.

[bordercollie1]

Sorry if this is stating the obvious but the Kilauea was not part of the original Kona Range, it was only introduced in '93 - the year Kona went lightweight.

From memory it was the first aluminium Kona in '94 and first with a suspension fork.

 

[ratbane]

Sorry if this is stating the obvious but the Kilauea was not part of the original Kona Range, it was only introduced in '93 - the year Kona went lightweight.

From memory it was the first aluminium Kona in '94 and first with a suspension fork.

There was never an aluminium Kila. Anthony will correct, but they were all either Columbus, or Reynolds 631?

 

[Anthony]

Sorry if this is stating the obvious but the Kilauea was not part of the original Kona Range, it was only introduced in '93 - the year Kona went lightweight.
From memory it was the first aluminium Kona in '94 and first with a suspension fork.

I guess you meant to say that the Kula was the first aluminium Kona in 1994, along with the AA. The 1994 range was the first year to have suspension-adjusted geometry, but the 1993 range had Quadra and Z-Link suspension forks as an option.

The Kilauea first came out in 1992, but that was atypical in having a generic 4130 frame similar to the Cinder Cone. The 1993-95 Kilaueas were made of Tange Prestige Concept, the tubeset used for the Explosif from 1990-92. In 1996 and 97 they were made of Columbus Cyber Nivacrom and in 1998 they used Reynolds 631. There were a few later issues of Kilauea-branded frames, but I believe they were all made of generic 4130 and were similar to the Calderas of 1998 and 99. So the heat-treated Kilaueas were the ones from 1993 to 1998.

Taking 1997 as an example, an Explosif frame sold for £499, a Kilauea for £399 and a Cinder Cone for £225. Current eBay values in average condition might be £125, £100 and £75 respectively. Although a 1995 Columbus Max Explosif bike just sold for £183 last night, valuing the frame around zero, so you never can tell.

 

[DM]

Don't forget the best steel Kona ever:
The Humu-Humublahblah.....

And its limited edition lead-pipe counterpart, the curvy 97 A'ha.

If it came to me keeping just one, it'd be a tough choice between one of those two or the Hei Hei

 

[Agency_Scum]

I'm starting to feel it's not just the Konas that are lovely but Kona owners too....in a sort of " great company but don't ever let them near matches or guns
" kinda way.

So far I've everything ready except frame and fork for a great build...

M950 hubs ( I'll build them on silver 317s- my fav rims )

M737 drivetrain with TA chainrings and DX thumbies

M950 V brakes

Hopefully I'll find a minging Kilauea frame so I can get it powder-coated and Old Skool stickered; preferably with a colour-matched P2.

 

[Konaglider]

Yes Konas are lovely, although I must admit to not currently having a steel frame. So I too am on the look out for a nice 18" frame.

Incidently I have a Koa presently, which is one of the nicest frames (not the coolest or most revered of Konas) I've ever ridden.

 

[Anthony]

Yes Konas are lovely, although I must admit to not currently having a steel frame. So I too am on the look out for a nice 18" frame.

You won't find anything much nicer than this one from the look of it (I have no connection with the seller)
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68565

[too small for Agency-Scum, so I hope I'll be excused for hijacking his thread]

 

[Konaglider]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on that buddy.Would be the last frame I'd buy for a long time. Said that before though :roll:

 

[Agency_Scum]

Anthony,
hijack away mate, all old Konas are lovely to look at.

 

[Kentphil]

I ride a Aluminium Giant TCR 03 road bike and Steel Cindercone '98. Although my Giant feels stiffer and faster my Kona seems to "feel" nicer to ride. Difficult to put into words; perhaps its something to do with the way steel stores the engergy and realeases it again (so i've read).

Don't know what you guys think but the difference is difficult to put into words! I know there're very different bikes but I love the ride of my steel Kona.