Kona Ku Serial Number List - update 01/11/24

[breezy]

Re:

Very informative post! I have a Kona Ku I have been trying to figure out the model year. Its a dark red color with serial number KU401, it has a Handbuilt in usa decal on lower seat tube (thumbs up decal) as well as easton Program elite sticker on upper seat tube. Kona custom and Ku decal on top tube. A friend of mine bought it new (I was with him when he ordered it!) and I traded him for it around '99 I think.. I have bought/sold several bikes over the last 20 years but this one has stayed with me, it was my XC race frame for a short time until disc brakes convinced me to upgrade

I am in the process of turning this into my commute bike so upgrading a few parts and was looking for pics of other Ku's for inspiration and I found this post! I remember the bike shop owner told us Yeti built these frames for Kona.. He must have been mistaken.

Cheers

 

[Pipmeister]

Re:

Hello and welcome the site. Thank you for a very interesting first post.

Without seeing a picture, the serial number format would suggest that your frame is a 1995 or 1996 Ku. The 401 number has surprised me however with such a high number. The quickest way to determine; a 1995 will have just one Rear Brake Cable Stop on the Top Tube at the front, and would require a Dog Collar at the rear. A 1996 will have two Cable Stops (front and rear) for the Rear Brake Cable on the Top Tube.

There are differences with the font Decals as well. The Top Tube “KU” and the Headtube “KONA” will be a square style font on a 1995, while a 1996 will have the “Jungle” style.

It would be very much appreciate if you could add some pictures. If you are having trouble uploading, try reducing the file size, or add a link to an on-line Picture Host. Alternatively, you could send me a private message on here, and I will give you my e-mail address. You could then send me some pictures, and I can add them to this thread.

Pip.

 

[breezy]

Re: Kona Ku

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79VSE ... sp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79VSE ... sp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79VSE ... sp=sharing

Not sure if those links will work in this forum. This frame requires dog collar but font seems more "jungle" themed than block style as it has jungle foliage in the decal. Double checked serial number and it is correct, KU401. 1995 or 1996 seems about the right time frame when it was purchased.

 

[al-onestare]

Re: 1998 Kona Ku

Very nice! A late 96 I guess since it's sporting original - as then new - 97 decals although it's got the blue/grey and yellow colours rather than just one type. It'd be an absolute beast on the trails...20" by the looks of it.

 

[Pipmeister]

Re:

Well Blimey! This is what we love about this site in general, and Kona in particular – you never know what will turn up next!

Your frame has 1995 Cable Stops, and a 1995/6 serial format, but is painted in 1997 Livery. The colour looks similar to the 1997 Kula.

That aside, we have seen a few other anomalies recently in the Kona Custom range, particularly with the Hot frames.

It would appear that some of the mid to late 90s Custom Frames were occasionally for some reason held back at the warehouse, and then offered to customers at a later date. We know for example of a 1997 Ku being offered as a Warranty replacement for a completely different model.

Anyway, perhaps you could give us some more information as you know the original owner.

Pip

 

[Pipmeister]

Kona Ku Serial Number List:

1995: Easton Elite Program Taperwall 7005.
According to a Kona Timeline, the 1995 Ku was built at Altitude Cycle Technologies, which opened its doors in April 1994.
Serial Number Format: KU###.

1996/97: Easton Elite Program Taperwall 7005.
During 1996, Altitude built the 1996 Ku, and most of those with 1997 livery – i.e. frames that were sold with the 1996 Cable Stop arrangement, but had 1997 Decals.
Serial Number Format: Early KU####, Later K096MM###.

1997: Easton Elite Program Taperwall 7005.
Enigma took on the Kona contract from Dec 1996; initially to build 100 Kus (and 100 Hots). Their frames are the true 1997 Ku – i.e. frames that were sold with the 1997 Cable Stop arrangement and had 1997 Decals.
Serial Number Format: KU97MM###.

1998: Columbus Altec2 Megatube 7005.
Enigma also built the Columbus tubing 1998 Ku, which seem to be in addition to the quoted initial quantity of 100 frames.
Serial Number Format: KK8M###.

1998: Hodaka built at least three 1998 Ku - in a similar situation to the Hodaka built Hot frames. Tubing unknown, but likely to be Columbus Altec2 Megatube 7005.
Quote from Dan Capek at Kona Tech, “There were very few Columbus ones made; they were a sponsor for our team at that point and they’d send us various tube sets to try for our production and custom models.
Quantities ranged from 2 to 20 for a run. Also they were shared out among various builders like Altitude and Enigma and even our Taiwan factories so we could get feedback from a variety of sources on the tubes.”
Serial Number Format: H9A00###.


If it is of interest?..... I could add my documented list of other Kus that I have on file, for which I have no serial number. Then there is also my documented list from the “Hall of Shame” where "Fake" Ku frames have been concocted!

Confirmation of a genuine Ku is the lack of the small Chain Stay Bridge Tube, which is a feature of all 1995 – 1998 frames, excluding the few built by Hodaka.



• Chapeau! Velo formerly LDP: KU015 16” 1995 cable routing, 1995 decals - Lilac (formerly Blue).
• Sandor via F.B: KU055 18” 1995 cable routing, 1995 decals - Metallic Green / Yellow Front & Stays
• Alasdair via Dylan: KU178 19” 1995 cable routing, 1995 decals – Yellow.
• CarlosKenneth: KU206 18” 1995 cable routing, no decals – Egg Shell Blue, Powder Coated from new direct from Altitude.
• Breezy: KU401 (unconfirmed possibly KU101) 20” 1995 cable routing, 1997 decals – Burgundy c/w mainly Blue, but one Yellow decal.
• Monsieur Paul: KU0121 19” 1996 cable routing, 1996 decals – “Team Orange”.
• e-Bay Community 28-05-2012: KU0153 18” 1996 cable routing, 1996 decals - Champagne.
• Formerly mine, jez-4-bikes-max: KU0160 18” 1996 cable routing, 1996 decals - Burgundy.
• Magas’s Mate: KU0186 18” 1996 cable routing, 1996 decals - Stars ‘n’ Bars.
• Magas: K09606012 18” 1996 cable routing, 1996 decals - Stars ‘n’ Bars – welded ‘96 June number 12.
• Ernie: K09606058 18” 1996 cable routing, 1996 decals - Stars ‘n’ Bars – welded ‘96 June number 58. Original purchased date: 27/02/98
• Bikerguync: K09606046 19” 1996 cable routing, w/o original Kona Font decals - Flat Black – welded ‘96 June number 46.
• Bobby Wong: K09606051 18” 1996 cable routing, 1997 Decals - Black – welded ‘96 June number 51
• Charlie Best (B!ke at Petersborough Community Cycling Hub, Ontario) via Sándor - K09606064 - 19” 1996 cable routing, 1997 decals - Matt Purple with Matt Yellow Flames - welded ‘96 June number 64
• Dylan: K09606065 18” 1996 cable routing, 1997 decals - Burgundy with Yellow Flames – welded ‘96 June number 65.
• rosk0pp e-Bay: K09606075 18” 1997 cable routing (pair of single Top Tube Front Mech and Rear Brake Stops), 1997 decals - Matt Purple with Matt Yellow Flames – welded ‘96 June number 75. Seller claimed K09696975.
• Customstandards: K09606107 18” 1996 cable routing, 1997 decals - Black – welded ’96 June number 107.
• Markwashington, Ductape: KU9702049 19” 1997 cable routing, 1997 decals - bright Orange – welded ‘97 February number 49.
• Craigslist USA: KU97020## 16” 1997 cable routing, 1996 HOT decals - Stars ‘n’ Bars – welded ‘97 February number ##.
• Alasdair via Social Media: KU9702051 16” 1997 cable routing, 1997 decals - Chartreuse - welded '97 February number 51. Original purchased date: 18/02/98.
• Ryan Norgart: KU9702052 19” 1997 cable routing, 1997 decals – Purple with Yellow Polkadots – welded ‘97 February number 52.
• Peter John Furzer: KU9702085 17”, 1997 cable routing, 1997 decals - Happy Go Luck Green (1997 Kapu) - welded '97 February number 85.
• Craigslist via H1v9a8c8: KU9702089 20” 1997 cable routing, no decals – Paint stripped; was Esse Blue (1998 Manomano) with 1998 decals – welded ’97 February number 89.
• 3DV_MTB (Joe): KK88031 18” 1998 Eggshell Blue sparkle – welded ‘98 August number 31.
• Craigslist via Mortonm: KK88036 18” -1998 Black with Blue Flame c/w Red surround – Welded ’98 August number 36.
• Mine: KK88044 18” 1998 Banana Yellow – welded ‘98 August number 44.
• Alasdair via Social Media: H9A00496 18” 1998 Mustard Yellow – Hodaka, 1999, Control Code A, October, 0496. Warranty replacement.
• Lynn_T: H9A00505 16” 1998 Mustard Yellow - Hodaka, 1999, Control Code A, October, 0505.
• Alasdair via Kona Guy: H9A00527 17” 1998 Eggshell Blue sparkle – Hodaka, 1999, Control Code A, October, 0527.

Pip

Please send me a Private Message if you would like to add a serial number to this list, or discuss the year currently documented for a frame.

 

[magas]

Re: 1998 Kona Ku

great work - thanks

 

[Pipmeister]

Re:

I have updated the list again after Brian outed an Enigma built 1997 Ku on Craigslist.

Sadly, it is a rather sorry example.... despite the seller's enthusiasm :roll: .

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=402206

Pip.

 

[Pipmeister]

Re:

Thanks to Brian discovering this latest Enigma built Ku, we now have a serial number approaching the 100 frames that were produced by Enigma for the 1997 season.

Quote from Jeff B, “I know Enigma Design and Manufacturing built 100 Reynolds 853 HOT's and 100 KU's for Kona in 1997 including the bikes painted by Tony @ Velographics for the 1997 Interbike trade show.”
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32150&start=10

Sadly Jeff B doesn’t mention the 1998 Ku, and how many frames were produced by Enigma for that season. I assume that it must be 50, merely going by my 1998 being serial number 44. Something that hadn’t occurred to me however was a similar situation to the very last of the Hot frames that were produced.........


I have been pondering whether to include a 1998 Ku frame that was recently discovered by Alasdair. Apparently it was a warranty replacement, but it has a Hodaka Serial Number and was built in October 1999.

I initially assumed that it was a fake, as it has a reinforced flared Headtube and a Chain Stay Bridge, which no Ku has. We cannot ignore the fact however that there are some Hodaka built 1998 Hot frames out there. These Hodaka frames also differ from the Enigma built 1998 Hot frames in the same manner as this Ku differs from the Enigma built 1998 Ku frames – i.e. they all have a Chain Stay Bridge, and were built after the 1998 season had been and gone.

Sadly we don’t know what tubing this Hodaka built 1998 Ku is constructed from, as the Tubing Decal is missing. I maintain that it is the type of tubing used and any particular enhancement of that tubing, along with its Cable Stop arrangement that determines the year of any Kona frame.

I have tried to compare photographs of this Hodaka Ku with the tubing on my own 1998 Enigma Ku, to see if they are the same, but it is not really a very exact comparison.

The Dropouts are correct for a 1998 Ku, and it can’t be a resprayed 1998 Kula as these were built at the Fairly Works factory. It can’t be a 1999 Kula or any Pahoehoe as the Dropouts are different. The paint and Decals on this frame certainly look like the real deal to me.

Anyway, I own a 1998 Sparkle Red Hot, and Canuck owns a 1998 Metallic Green Hot, and both of these are Hodaka frames. I also have two more Hodaka built Hot frames on file, and all of these are regarded as genuine. I think therefore that it is only correct that we include this Hodaka Built 1998 Ku on the list.

1998 Ku H9A00496_2 by Philip Mock, on Flickr

Pip

 

[al-onestare]

She's a beauty and warrants inclusion for sure.