Kona King Kikiapu 1997 18"

[al-onestare]

Now, ignore the wheels for a moment:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kona-King-Kik ... SS:GB:3160

If this is dent free, then you could have a very tidy bike with a bit of simple TLC. It's still got the most of it's kit (XT, XTR, Bombers, etc) this was the top of the range Kona full suss machine back in 97. If it was bigger I'd be all over this.

 

[Gruff]

Thats my size, must resist.

Interesting that the seat clamp is around the seatpost :roll:

 

[coomber]

Why are all 1997 konas 18". Seems so disproportionate to numbers sold, I know its obviously the most common size but you hardly ever see any 20".

 

[al-onestare]

Yep, 20"s are rare but then, so are Large or XL Kleins or any brand in a larger size. Seems like the kids were just a bit smaller back in the day.

 

[Anthony]

It's only just down the coast, but I can never really see the attraction in these bikes. It always seems like they put marketing in front of engineering. You take a frame that's only so-so in the first place, owing to using the blind-alley URT system, and then you fit a Z1 rather than the Z2 that it was designed for. After all, a Z1 cost more than a Z2, right? And it had more travel, which must be good right? And it was 30mm longer than a Z2, which must improve the handling, right? Err well, no, wrong actually. A U'Hu would be a much better bike, but even so without actually being good. By 1999, they had woken up to the fact that their top xc fs bike should have a four-link rear and an 80mm fork, which was a huge improvement, but then nobody wants a bike that isn't retro, do they?

Still you could buy it to strip it down for the clapped-out 17-years-old XTR parts and scrap the bits that nobody wants, such as the frame. Or you could just not bother. I expect somebody will though.

 

[coomber]

Good year for decals though Anthony

 

[al-onestare]

Say what you think Anthony don't hold back

It's only just down the coast...I expect somebody will though.

You perhaps?

Joking aside - the Manomano / U'l set design rocks for the reasons you outline (bar the fact you've got to keep an eye our for cracks on the small joins). Not that I'm baised of anything :mrgreen:

Good year for decals though Anthony

Best year for Kona's full stop. Can. Of. Worms. Opened.

 

[al-onestare]

And it's gone!

 

[al-onestare]

To be replaced with this one that was on before Christmas:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kona-mountain ... SS:GB:3160

Ambitious to say the least.