Kona Kilauea - Year Not Known - Help For Newbie Please

[DeletedUser006]

Lovley bike as everyone agrees

I had a 94 Cindercone that I recently moved on to make space for another bike,

The brake levers and and canti's would be 1st on my list to remove, They look (from the pics) to be the 94 race light ones that I did not get on with, The levers have holes in the end (for deweys ?) and gave me sore hands on the outer edge of my fingers /knuckles and the cantis looked like Curves but werent (as they came out in 95) and didnt stop well.

You could fit some nice XC pro cantis and various levers or go the whole hog and fit some V's to enhace your braking expereince.

Enjoy your very nice bike

Cheers GM

 

[HarryCrumb]

Very nice I am jealous

I had the exact model back in '94, it replaced my GT Avalanche and lasted until I part ex'd it against my Amp B3 Doh.

Picture of my old Kilauea taken in sumer of '94

 

[armitage]

OMG,

Sorry to hijack, but theres a frame like this on the bay, but the sizing given by the seller is inconclusive for me, ur frame looks suitable for a 5ft 8 person, so is it a 16inch and could you give me some c-c and c-t measurements , would be much appreciated. Id also be intersted in buying urs if you like.
ta very much

 

[LyrradMoor]

EDITED TO GIVE PROPER MEASUREMENTS

OMG,

Sorry to hijack, but theres a frame like this on the bay, but the sizing given by the seller is inconclusive for me, ur frame looks suitable for a 5ft 8 person, so is it a 16inch and could you give me some c-c and c-t measurements , would be much appreciated. Id also be intersted in buying urs if you like.
ta very much

As the OP I can firmly say by bike is NOT for sale.

However I can tell you I'm 5ft 4 and don't know what size frame I have. But I think 16".

I've never done anything more than ride the thing.


Using this a centre to bottom



Measure from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. The bottom bracket is the hole in the bottom part of the frame that accepts the crank arms, which are the parts that accept your pedals. The seat tube is the part of the frame that the seatpost slides into.


Measurement is 16"


Also I measure top tube as 22" inches using http://konaretro.com/showarticle.php?pa ... s/&id=1994 kindly supplied by GRAVY MONSTER later on in this thread.

Perhaps someone can now tell me what sized frame I have.

 

[LyrradMoor]

Just a really quick thank you to all the extremely kind and positive feedback I've received on my bike.

Here's where I'm at at the moment. I would rather keep my bike as orginal as possible, so with that in mind I've booked it in for a service on Wednesday and will take it from there. The impression I get that the shop I've chosen seem to take the view that all brake pads are equal, but from memory I thought Kool Stop were better than most. I mention this as I believe that they may need replacing soon.

Truely sometimes ignorance is bliss. Whilst I really do appreciate all those personal opinions about brakes, cant rims etc I can honestly say that the level of riding I have previously participated in has never led me to think 'Oh boy if only'. Comfort is my only real gripe as I find the ride harsher now than I did 16 years ago

For that reason, I will most probably consider buying another bike (it seems on this forum 1 is just not enough) so if anyone has any suggestions or even a bike to sell please offer away.
I have a small frame Marin (from memory oversized aluminim with pink) in far far better condition but not the same price ranged bike. It was an ex's bike that really never got used. It sits in my sisters garage untouched for 10 years. Perhaps someone would like that as part ex on something.

 

[Agency_Scum]

" Comfort is my only real gripe as I find the ride harsher now than I did 16 years ago "

Before a new bike purchase, try raising your stem an inch and invest in a really comfy saddle ( linky ). The saddle won't go to waste if you get another bike as you can transfer it over.
Remember also that you've been away from mountainbikes for a while so the problem may be helped greatly by some stretching exercises and acclimatisation.

 

[armitage]

Thanks for the measurements, i would say if thats your normal saddle ride height and ur 5'4 then u have the smallest frame in the kona range at 14", so i reckon the one on the bay is a 16 inch, so worth a punt for me.
Thanks

 

[LyrradMoor]

Thanks for the measurements, i would say if thats your normal saddle ride height and ur 5'4 then u have the smallest frame in the kona range at 14", so i reckon the one on the bay is a 16 inch, so worth a punt for me.
Thanks

Just be a bit careful with your logic. Others here should be able to verify what size frame I have. If I'm riding around in a poorly sized frame for my height (I don't believe I am), then you could be too. The frame measurements are key here, not my height/saddle height

 

[LyrradMoor]

" Comfort is my only real gripe as I find the ride harsher now than I did 16 years ago "

Before a new bike purchase, try raising your stem an inch and invest in a really comfy saddle ( linky ). The saddle won't go to waste if you get another bike as you can transfer it over.
Remember also that you've been away from mountainbikes for a while so the problem may be helped greatly by some stretching exercises and acclimatisation.

I suffer with ankylosing spondylitis which can make me bed ridden some days (then nothing is suitable). However there are days when it is not so extreme, but the thought of the jarring just means I don't go. I'm fitter now than I have been for a long time as I manage the gym 2-3 times a week. However MTB is so much more enjoyable than treadmill etc, and my 8 year old son is showing a keen interest too. So I really want to sepnd more time on the bike.

Don't get me wrong, my bike as is will do, and as you say the saddle is an easy comfort upgrade.

Suspension on the other hand, for me the novice, would involve costs of equipment and someone to fit them etc. However I kinda feel that would give me much more comfort. I recently returned from a activity holiday where I went on a Giant MTB with suspension. Forget everything else, what stuck in my mind was the saddle comfort, and soft feel of suspension. It was nice for me. However I'm not really wanting to do that with my kilauea.

I am certainly going to take note of your advice though, by raising the stem and investing in a saddle first. Is that saddle the way to go, or was it just an example?

EDIT Is the Charge spoon in the same comfort league?

 

[armitage]

If I'm riding around in a poorly sized frame for my height (I don't believe I am), then you could be too. The frame measurements are key here, not my height/saddle height

Yes i know its fuzzy logic;but honestly!! ur riding that bike at wot i would call the perfect or near aesthetically perfect height for Konas.i bet you couldn't rise the saddle anymore than a inch without badly tittering vertically on your big toe if at all!! im gonna put my years of riding different frames and a luv of all sloping tubed bikes on the line and say if ur 5"4 its a 14"... no doubt!!...someone concur....anyone..........im waiting, ...don't all speak at once.!!!