It's been quiet on the build front mainly because I ran out of room in my old flat. Luckily I moved earlier this year into a house with a garage and now things are calming down on that front, it means I have space to play with. Also, I've been having fun riding my stable because that's what they were built for!
To recap, I'm obsessive about the 97 range to the fact I have the 97 catalogue on my bedside table so when I don't fancy reading whatever book I have on, I can give it a quick flick through and drool (!) over the wish list (see here viewtopic.php?f=3&t=298615 and here viewtopic.php?f=43&t=239743).
Ever since I got the Explosif I've been curious to see and feel the difference with the Kilauea. Both similar but with notable differences frame wise. From what I can tell from the threads here, the Explosif is more rigid where-as the Kilauea is slightly more giving. I'd like to put that to the test hence...
...this. Since the chances of getting a Special Edition 97 Kilauea are as likely as me getting a 97 Kapu, I've been rooting around for the,standard version. A few have come up this year in the 19" size but in my opinion were over-priced. I actually owned an 18" one a few years ago as a doner bike for my Manomano. That frame is now with a certain Kona hoarder in Denmark
I happened to stumble on this one on the US ebay site and after checking the seller would ship to the UK, put a max bid in of $150. It went for $139, about £87 :mrgreen: Of course shipping is a killer but we've worked it out and from next Friday it'll be heading east to these shores.
So what did I get? Here's the side shot from the ebay ad:
She's straight and dent free from what I can tell so fingers crossed that's the case. She's a 20" sporting the TB P2's she came with - a rarity (with that length of steerer) since many folk upgraded to suspension. She does have some patina on the chain stay but nothing that can't be treated. She definitely won't be getting a respray.
So what about the build? I prefer catalogue or of the era spec because the kit works and I'm used to it. M739 XT is the way with the usual Flite and Chris King headset business. Wheel's are where I'm umming and ahhing so suggestions would be useful. I'd like Mavic 220/221's on XT.
I'm really looking forward to this hence the early place-holder. There are a few 97 Kilauea's on here and they look ace; any feedback from the Kona heads is always appreciated! In the meantime, here's the catalogue shot minus my drool
To recap, I'm obsessive about the 97 range to the fact I have the 97 catalogue on my bedside table so when I don't fancy reading whatever book I have on, I can give it a quick flick through and drool (!) over the wish list (see here viewtopic.php?f=3&t=298615 and here viewtopic.php?f=43&t=239743).
Ever since I got the Explosif I've been curious to see and feel the difference with the Kilauea. Both similar but with notable differences frame wise. From what I can tell from the threads here, the Explosif is more rigid where-as the Kilauea is slightly more giving. I'd like to put that to the test hence...
...this. Since the chances of getting a Special Edition 97 Kilauea are as likely as me getting a 97 Kapu, I've been rooting around for the,standard version. A few have come up this year in the 19" size but in my opinion were over-priced. I actually owned an 18" one a few years ago as a doner bike for my Manomano. That frame is now with a certain Kona hoarder in Denmark
I happened to stumble on this one on the US ebay site and after checking the seller would ship to the UK, put a max bid in of $150. It went for $139, about £87 :mrgreen: Of course shipping is a killer but we've worked it out and from next Friday it'll be heading east to these shores.So what did I get? Here's the side shot from the ebay ad:
She's straight and dent free from what I can tell so fingers crossed that's the case. She's a 20" sporting the TB P2's she came with - a rarity (with that length of steerer) since many folk upgraded to suspension. She does have some patina on the chain stay but nothing that can't be treated. She definitely won't be getting a respray.
So what about the build? I prefer catalogue or of the era spec because the kit works and I'm used to it. M739 XT is the way with the usual Flite and Chris King headset business. Wheel's are where I'm umming and ahhing so suggestions would be useful. I'd like Mavic 220/221's on XT.
I'm really looking forward to this hence the early place-holder. There are a few 97 Kilauea's on here and they look ace; any feedback from the Kona heads is always appreciated! In the meantime, here's the catalogue shot minus my drool
