Kona Hot Serial Number List - update 30/10/24
- Thread starter al-onestare
- Start date
What a lovely 19" 1993. You can't go wrong with the fluted downtube and the colour is very nice, a rare choice in that light sea blue. So cool 
TET 1008 - 19" 1993 Light Metallic Blue - Triangle cut-out Dropout. Original Decals.
TET 1008 - 19" 1993 Light Metallic Blue - Triangle cut-out Dropout. Original Decals.
1998 Kona Hot
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and most agree that this bike is a rare beauty! This is a new years resolution that I’ve actually kept – to get this bike on the serial number register prior to listing it for sale.
The backstory for those interested is that I travelled to Seattle in 1998 to do a workshop and asked my buddy there to help me find a quality hardtail to take home with me to Adelaide, South Australia. He hooked me up his local bike shop near Kirkland where I saw my first Kona which was a brand new hottie and now 25 years later, I’ve decided that it’s time to share the love.
It turns out that my hottie was one the last batch of less than 100 US Enigma built Kona Hots and one of only a few known purple with Rasta yellow and green flame custom frames as displayed on the 1998 Kona catalogue (see image). The serial number under the bottom bracket is KH78006 (see image) so it wedges nicely between the two others already on the list. I measure it as an 18 inch frame (centre of the crank to the top of the seat tube) and approximately 22 inches of top tube length.
What’s not original:
Seatpost: Rock Shox suspension (all the rage prior to dualies and no idea where the original went!)
Saddle: Specialized Velo
Bars: Specialized low riser 2014 TG
Tyres: Rear – Kenda Nevegal 26x2.35, Front Specialized Enduro 26X2.20
What’s original: Everything else!
Frame: 1998 Enigma built Kona Hot – full Reynolds 853 steel
Forks: Yellow Marzocchi Atom Bomb Z2
Rims: 26” Black Sunrims
Cranks: Shimano Deore LX Crankset FC- M569
Shifters & Derailleurs: Shimano XTR Front & Rear
Brakes: Shimano XTR V-Brakes Front & Rear
Cassette: 8 speed 11-32
Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN52 (I think – likely original)
Headset: Original but swapped in store for increased length so don’t know brand.
Pedals: None (plastic pedals were on to hold it upright while taking photos)
I’d like to say that I only rode the bike to church on Sundays but the truth is that I rode it as hard as my skills allowed for the first 5 years until I moved on to a dual suspension with discs so it then became my casual ride thereafter. So what I need to share is that there’s plenty of paint off all over the purple parts of the frame and fortunately the occasional scratch or chip on the custom Rasta flames or painted Kona decals. Half of the bark scratched off was from stupid kids bikes on the same bike rack and had I even known at the time that I owned a member of the Kona royal family, I would have done things differently! The only decal to sustain considerable damage is the Reynolds 853 on the seat tube (see image). I’d like to imagine that a full respray of the purple frame sections and a light touch up to the rest would restore her former glory.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and most agree that this bike is a rare beauty! This is a new years resolution that I’ve actually kept – to get this bike on the serial number register prior to listing it for sale.
The backstory for those interested is that I travelled to Seattle in 1998 to do a workshop and asked my buddy there to help me find a quality hardtail to take home with me to Adelaide, South Australia. He hooked me up his local bike shop near Kirkland where I saw my first Kona which was a brand new hottie and now 25 years later, I’ve decided that it’s time to share the love.
It turns out that my hottie was one the last batch of less than 100 US Enigma built Kona Hots and one of only a few known purple with Rasta yellow and green flame custom frames as displayed on the 1998 Kona catalogue (see image). The serial number under the bottom bracket is KH78006 (see image) so it wedges nicely between the two others already on the list. I measure it as an 18 inch frame (centre of the crank to the top of the seat tube) and approximately 22 inches of top tube length.
What’s not original:
Seatpost: Rock Shox suspension (all the rage prior to dualies and no idea where the original went!)
Saddle: Specialized Velo
Bars: Specialized low riser 2014 TG
Tyres: Rear – Kenda Nevegal 26x2.35, Front Specialized Enduro 26X2.20
What’s original: Everything else!
Frame: 1998 Enigma built Kona Hot – full Reynolds 853 steel
Forks: Yellow Marzocchi Atom Bomb Z2
Rims: 26” Black Sunrims
Cranks: Shimano Deore LX Crankset FC- M569
Shifters & Derailleurs: Shimano XTR Front & Rear
Brakes: Shimano XTR V-Brakes Front & Rear
Cassette: 8 speed 11-32
Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN52 (I think – likely original)
Headset: Original but swapped in store for increased length so don’t know brand.
Pedals: None (plastic pedals were on to hold it upright while taking photos)
I’d like to say that I only rode the bike to church on Sundays but the truth is that I rode it as hard as my skills allowed for the first 5 years until I moved on to a dual suspension with discs so it then became my casual ride thereafter. So what I need to share is that there’s plenty of paint off all over the purple parts of the frame and fortunately the occasional scratch or chip on the custom Rasta flames or painted Kona decals. Half of the bark scratched off was from stupid kids bikes on the same bike rack and had I even known at the time that I owned a member of the Kona royal family, I would have done things differently! The only decal to sustain considerable damage is the Reynolds 853 on the seat tube (see image). I’d like to imagine that a full respray of the purple frame sections and a light touch up to the rest would restore her former glory.
Last edited by a moderator:
raidan73
Moderator
Archivist
Retrobike Rider
BoTM Triple Crown
BoTM Winner
Gold Trader
PoTM Winner
98+ BoTM Winner
Rocky Mountain Fan
Brodie Fan
- Feedback
- View
Thanks for sharing, but note that if it's going up for sale then please post in the for sale section, with an asking price. We don't do "message me with offers" here
I've now posted the 1998 Kona Hot 
on the For sale thread if you're interested. Thanks for the opportunity to list it on the register and I'll ask the new owner permission to update ownership if they are a member. happy new year to all.
on the For sale thread if you're interested. Thanks for the opportunity to list it on the register and I'll ask the new owner permission to update ownership if they are a member. happy new year to all.
I've now posted the 1998 Kona Hot
What a way to start 2024 with the 9th recorded 98 Enigma Hot, and even better, a sequential SN. We now have #5, 6 and 7.
KH78006 - 18" 1998 Purple with Green Flame, Enigma, w/o Chain Stay Bridge.
In my view, the frame should be left as is. It's got character and a whole back story to it, plus that paint scheme is iconic and nuts. No paint-match will do it justice. Good luck with the sale!
Also, a quick side note. I do not record any owner details for these lists apart from the Caldera one, and even then it's username only.
