Kona Kilauea - Year Not Known - Help For Newbie Please

[DeletedUser006]

Your Kilauea is a size 16" for sure, they didn't make a 14" in Kilauea flavour http://konaretro.com/showarticle.php?pa ... s/&id=1994

The 94 can be measured from centre of BB to top of seatube (above Q/R)

 

[LyrradMoor]

Your Kilauea is a size 16" for sure, they didn't make a 14" in Kilauea flavour http://konaretro.com/showarticle.php?pa ... s/&id=1994

The 94 can be measured from centre of BB to top of seatube (above Q/R)

Thanks for that. Your link has shown me how to PROPERLY measure the top tube, and I can now confirm that my bike is indeed a 16" as you stated. I've updated my original INCORRECT posting stating 20.5 inches for top tube.


I think the guy has similarly incorrectly measured the top tube in the ebay listing here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/kona-kilauea-fram ... keparts_SR

I reckon the above must be the 18 inch frame.

 

[armitage]

yeah thats right!! :cry: but i've never ridden anything size 18"or maybe i should be on a 16". Oh... the humiliation.
Many moons ago i had a yellow splatter Kona lava Dome which i believed to be a 14" and never got used to the cramped positioning and duly sold it on to a girl who i thought was around 5ft 6. many years after she still had it, so im thinking i could never ride summat that small.
It does say in kona catalogues sizes are subject to change without notification tho. :roll:

 

[armitage]

Hey,
i know its a bit cheeky, but if ur in London could u let me straddle the bike. U could hold my car keys!!!

 

[Agency_Scum]

The Charge Spoon is an excellent choice. I have one.

 

[LyrradMoor]

Hey,
i know its a bit cheeky, but if ur in London could u let me straddle the bike. U could hold my car keys!!!

Of course you can. Best you pm me. It's booked in for service from Monday to Wednesday though and I'm away next weekend.

It was my idea to take it along on Monday and let them have quick once over on it prior to the service on Wednesday. It just suited me to leave it there. I could change that if it suits.

 

[Anthony]

Your bike is a size 16 and the frame on eBay is a size 18. Size 16 is intended for height range 5-0 to 5-6, so that is fine for you. Armitage may be interested to know that size 18 is for 5-6 to 6-0.

I don't think a change of saddle will help very much with your back problem. If you keep the Kilauea, a good suspension seatpost would make much more of a difference.

Other things that would help:
1. a suspension fork - even though that doesn't act primarily on your back, it would help it
2. with suspension, you could also substantially increase the height of the bars (even fit risers), which would provide a much more comfortable posture
3. fatter tyres - more air means more comfort

If you go for a modern bike, you will need a full-suspension one - a modern hard tail would actually be worse for your back, being made of harsh aluminium, in contrast to the sophisticated heat-treated steel tubeset of the Kilauea which has far more natural compliance.

Much respect to you for your determination to overcome your problem. If exercise is good for it, then finding a way to keep up your cycling would be very well worthwhile.

 

[LyrradMoor]

I don't think a change of saddle will help very much with your back problem. If you keep the Kilauea, a good suspension seatpost would make much more of a difference.

That's something I would be happy to try on my Kilauea.

EDIT (The search button is a great thing )

Anthony you posted this http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... +seat+post on 18th Dec 2009.

It depends what model it is. I have a 27.2 in my 97 Kilauea, because that's what fits, but I have a 97 Lava Dome and a 27.2 is too tight in that. They just vary , I have 27.2 in a 98 Explosif and a 94 Kilauea, but a 95 Kilauea and a 96 Explosif won't take a 27.2.

Am I safe to assume that 27.2 will be good for my 94 Kilauea

 

[Anthony]

No I'm not sure that would be safe to assume. I also have a 95 Kilauea that surely has the same seat tube as the 94 Kilauea, and yet the 95 doesn't want the 27.2 but the 94 likes it. I think a 27.0 will be ok for any of these frames, but in cases where the man with the reamer had to do a fraction more reaming, maybe a 27.2 becomes feasible (and therefore better).

The post that's in there now is a 27.0 and I suggest you go by that - if it is very loose (e.g., falls down the tube under gravity) or has to be super-clamped to hold it, then probably a 27.2 would fit. If the 27.0 feels not too bad, likely a 27.2 would be too tight. Or you could ask the LBS to try a 27.2 on it when they do the service, just to see.

A suspension seatpost is definitely standard advice for back sufferers, but I should declare an interest here - if you were to put that O-Beam on eBay I would be a bidder!

 

[LyrradMoor]

No I'm not sure that would be safe to assume. I also have a 95 Kilauea that surely has the same seat tube as the 94 Kilauea, and yet the 95 doesn't want the 27.2 but the 94 likes it. I think a 27.0 will be ok for any of these frames, but in cases where the man with the reamer had to do a fraction more reaming, maybe a 27.2 becomes feasible (and therefore better).

The post that's in there now is a 27.0 and I suggest you go by that - if it is very loose (e.g., falls down the tube under gravity) or has to be super-clamped to hold it, then probably a 27.2 would fit. If the 27.0 feels not too bad, likely a 27.2 would be too tight. Or you could ask the LBS to try a 27.2 on it when they do the service, just to see.

A suspension seatpost is definitely standard advice for back sufferers, but I should declare an interest here - if you were to put that O-Beam on eBay I would be a bidder!

Got you. I'm looking at Thudbuster which is expensive to say the least, and heavy. However it does seem to get excellent reviews. I will verify all at my LBS. These seem to go for £70 on ebay or £140 new :shock:

I will not be selling O-Beam. My intention would be to keep the bike parts enabling me to return it to original spec as and when I chose. I've PM you though