Re: Kona Kilauea 1997 - experiment time
Where to start.
You know that feeling when you pick up a package and you can hear something rattling around in it? That bit where your heart sinks and you think, oh bollocks. Then anger at how idiotic people can be.
Ridiculously sized box, surely there'll be plenty of packing material.
I mean, it's not like it's travelling over an ocean or anything. It'll be treated carefully right? Couriers and airports and handlers, they all pay careful attention to the goods.
Wrapped in f
ucking newspaper, with two empty cardboard boxes, one set of small inflated plastic wrapping and two broken bits of polystyrene. What went through the sellers mind when he put this together? (Answer: nothing).
The stem, forks and seatpost were wrapped in newspaper and chucked in the bottom, frame on top. By this point I was in meltdown but also resigned that it'll be f
ucked. Well at least I haven't lost too much money. Let's at least take a look and see if anything is salvageable.
Let's give it a quick, light clean, check for dents, cracks and anything that looks bent.
Ok, this is where I really take issue. Clearly listed with "...no dents". Well, that's a dent. The good news is it's really small, it's just noticeable because of the paint loss. It looks like the classic bar swing. It's also old so it's clearly not been an issue and let's just say this frame has been used. I'm a massive stickler for dent free frames so this will irk me. The fact that the story does get better from here on after a low point like this, means I've sort of got over of it. I can ignore it. Odd how things like that happen.
So I've checked with a magnifying class for cracks on all the welds and headtube, paying particular attention to the seat tube. Why's that you ask?
If anyone want's a boomerang hit me up with a PM :facepalm: (To be fair I had a feeling it was f
ucked when I looked at the listing picture). Thank goodness the dog collar and top of the seat tube are circular and haven't been overtightened.
We're not out of the woods. Let's check for the serial number cause I'd like to know which batch this was made.
Errrr...
If anyone had a Kilauea stolen in the Lakeville, MA area then let me know
I'm pleased to report that everything else is straight and narrow and dent free. We've got some epic patina to sort out on the chainstay but nothing some krust, touch up paint and protection won't sort out.
I need to check the Explosif but I don't recall it has stays like this. They are quite cool, slim and ovalised as normal from the seat tube, then more circular but then they get quite portly before they become slimmer again towards the drop outs (which I love and the Explosif has).
The chainstay indicates it's been well used but what's good is the rest of the paint is in decent nick, the decals are all present and correct as the lacquer has stayed intact. Even with a quick clean (as it was proper dusty) the wonderful "plum" blue came up a treat; it has a lovely tiny metallic sparkle.
The P2's are TB although the serial number for that is different to what I've seen before - it has the magic "TB" stamped, that's all I care about! The stem is perfect.
So what's next? Strip down the Kula, sell off what I don't need. Over the next month or so get the CK headset, find a Flite and a new BB. For now, I'm just taking her in and amazed that she's in one piece.