Kona Kilauea - Year Not Known - Help For Newbie Please

[LyrradMoor]

Hi

This is my first post. So gentle please.

I've got a Kilauea that I've owned from new. The only thing I have ever changed on the bike is the tyres and handlebar grips. I don't know the year of the bike, but it does have Bike of the Year 1993 sticker on it and it's silver/grey.


I've really never used the bike to it's full potential, and I guess at 46, I'm most probably never going to now.


My intention was to modernise the bike, but my guess is I'll be hung drawn and quatered here for even mentioning that.

That said, this forum is infectious. I now seem to have the need to get this bike looking more cared for.

The areas I would like help on are as follows:

1. My back wheel is slightly off skew.

2. I would like to know if there is a way of reparing the original saddle that has worn at the narrow front part.

3. I have accushift plus gear shifters. Is there something better for me to replace these with, or should I leave as is?

Paintwork is not bad at all, but the transfers are damaged/scuffed. I am based in East London and am not able to spend the time needed to do any work on this bike myself. Can anyone suggest a place that I can go to that will help me with any work that will be needed.

I can supply pictures if that helps.



Thanks in advance.



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[mousemat]

Welcome! Definitely get some pictures up! Based on the colour it sounds like a 1994.

 

[LyrradMoor]

Okay

I'm too lazy sometimes for my own good. I hope this helps others to help me.

 

[mousemat]

Yep, that's a 1994! Very nice and very original. Keep the Suntour XC Pro shifters, they are great thumbies! Tidy it up and use it!

 

[Chris99]

Hi
Definately 1994. Similar to how this started out http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=113664

Except mine had Marzucchi forks and the headset had the 2 nut arrangment rather than the allen screw you have.
I went down the modernising route. Replacing parts as they wore out. But I have now also got another Kileaua which will stay retro.
Have fun!

 

[Anthony]

My intention was to modernise the bike, but my guess is I'll be hung drawn and quatered here for even mentioning that.

Not at all, it would certainly benefit from V-brakes and if you fancy suspension, a 1998 or so Marzocchi Z2 would suit it down to the ground

The areas I would like help on are as follows:

1. My back wheel is slightly off skew.

More than likely that would be easily sorted by correcting the spoke tensions. You could do it yourself with a spoke key, but I'm sure your LBS would welcome some easy work.

2. I would like to know if there is a way of reparing the original saddle that has worn at the narrow front part.

It would be a shame to lose that. It looks as though a bit of glue would help, but it depends how much of a perfectionist you are - some of my saddles are worse than that!

3. I have accushift plus gear shifters. Is there something better for me to replace these with, or should I leave as is?

They're Suntour XC Pro and some would say 'no, there is nothing better'. You could fit Shimano and sell the Suntour (maybe £20?), but if they work is it really necessary?

Paintwork is not bad at all, but the transfers are damaged/scuffed. I am based in East London and am not able to spend the time needed to do any work on this bike myself. Can anyone suggest a place that I can go to that will help me with any work that will be needed.

I wouldn't touch the frame. The transfers look ok from here, and the only thing is I would get some Kurust from Halfords and paint it on anywhere where there's surface rust from chips etc. It's a fit and forget - it'll stabilise the rust and you won't need to worry about it thereafter.

It's a high-quality frame, well worthy of keeping the bike and using it, either as it is or modernised.

 

[Agency_Scum]

Bloody hell mate, you got a Kona masterpiece! My own ( easy to ignore ) advice would be...

Ditch the bar ends; saves weight, improves looks.

Very very KEEP the gearshifters...best ever made.

Keep the brakes; they look like Curve cantis from here which I always found quite beautiful and plenty stoppy.

Bring your cleaned bike ( they HATE working on dirty ones ) to your local bike shop mechanic along with a packet of choccy Hobnobs and ask them to slap on a new pair of rims on the wheels ( silver Mavic 317s would do it lovely ).

Get it dirty.

 

[suburbanreuben]

Ooh! I had one just like that, but bigger, for over ten years. It went everywhere and did everything! A mate persuaded me to sell it to him. Possibly my biggest regret in life! :cry:

 

[Andy R]

Hi

I've got a Kilauea that I've owned from new.
I've really never used the bike to it's full potential, and I guess at 46, I'm most probably never going to now.

Why not ?

A nice bike - I'd echo everything that's been said above. New rims, tyres and brake pads and then take it out and razz it around some nice singletrack

Perfect

 

[ajm]

Nice understated but quality bike... personal preference maybe, but I'd keep the bar ends; IMO they provide a real improvement in leverage and control especially when climbing, and a welcome alternative hand position when slogging along the road. Much more than offsets the (probably negligible) weight gain.