Kona Ku Serial Number List - update 04/11/24

[Pipmeister]

I bought the frame from one of the welders from Altitude. He and others saved a few from the forklift when they crushed the frames post contract. I got it painted and bought a component package that summer from a local shop. Stand by for the serial, I’ll get a pic.

Thank you for this information, which I'm sure will make some people shudder .

Well your frame does indeed have the 1995 Cable Stop arrangement and Serial Number format, but that news of crushing frames post contract is astonishing.

There are a couple of respected members on this site who have tried to contact Jeff Lindsey, formly of Altitude Cycle Technologies, with a view to establishing what happened with regards to the contract with Kona. There are well documented production issues surrounding the Kona Hot made at Altitude, but this news of the Kona KU is a new one on us.

Anyway, thank you again - you have a lovely bike there, which I would say is an 18". I will add it to the Serial Number list later today.

Pip

 

[al-onestare]

I bought the frame from one of the welders from Altitude. He and others saved a few from the forklift when they crushed the frames post contract. I got it painted and bought a component package that summer from a local shop. Stand by for the serial, I’ll get a pic.

Thank you for this tremendously useful insight.

On the one hand it's shocking. A bike builder trashing perfectly good frames (let's be honest, they were bar the odd few early ones) seems insane.

But on the other it's understandable and was probably necessary for contractual reasons; they were made for Kona and Kona no longer wanted them. I'm pretty sure it would have been written into the contract that Altitude couldn't use, rebadge and sell them directly or to others.

The fact you scored one is super-cool, not least because it helps us begin to draw a thin line to when production ended. Of course that's hard since these are the other frames were likely stored in the workshop until such time they were sold/needed.

 

[CarlosKenneth]

Thank you for this tremendously useful insight.

On the one hand it's shocking. A bike builder trashing perfectly good frames (let's be honest, they were bar the odd few early ones) seems insane.

But on the other it's understandable and was probably necessary for contractual reasons; they were made for Kona and Kona no longer wanted them. I'm pretty sure it would have been written into the contract that Altitude couldn't use, rebadge and sell them directly or to others.

The fact you scored one is super-cool, not least because it helps us begin to draw a thin line to when production ended. Of course that's hard since these are the other frames were likely stored in the workshop until such time they were sold/needed.

I’ll always remember him describing driving over them with a forklift before recycling the aluminum. It does seem more nefarious now in retrospect but I was young and didn’t think twice about how it made its way from the factory. It’s the ultimate survivor now as it’s been in storage most of its life. I’m glad I found people that are passionate about the bikes.

 

[Pipmeister]

Thank you for this tremendously useful insight.

On the one hand it's shocking. A bike builder trashing perfectly good frames (let's be honest, they were bar the odd few early ones) seems insane.

But on the other it's understandable and was probably necessary for contractual reasons; they were made for Kona and Kona no longer wanted them. I'm pretty sure it would have been written into the contract that Altitude couldn't use, rebadge and sell them directly or to others.

The fact you scored one is super-cool, not least because it helps us begin to draw a thin line to when production ended. Of course that's hard since these are the other frames were likely stored in the workshop until such time they were sold/needed.

I've often said that frames painted in a particular Catalogue livery, but with a previous year's Cable Stop arrangement has been due to them being "left over" unsold and stored in a raw state until required - particularly if the frame was an "Outsize". With that in mind regarding the KU, a good example is the bike below, which has 1995 Cable Routing (like CarlosKenneth's 1995) but is wearing full on 1997 Livery.

KU401 (unconfirmed possibly KU101) 20” 1995 cable routing, 1997 decals – Burgundy c/w mainly Blue, but one Yellow decal:



This frame clearly escaped the Forklift treatment!

We never did receive a picture confirming the Serial Number of this frame, but I'm now leaning towards the number KU401 as being correct, rather than my assumption of KU101. I was trying to make it fit the sequence - a frame in the 400's for the 1995 production would surly be far too many, but as CarlosKenneth's is in the 200's, perhaps KU401 is correct.

With regards to the "odd few early ones" with productions issues at Altitude, I think these were restricted to the Hot, rather than the KU - Alignment of the frames using the (new at the time) Reynolds 853 tubing, where Cold Setting is apparently almost impossible; this may have resulted in the 725 Rear Triangle via Reynold's recommendation. Then there are the early design Dropouts snapping on the Hot that resulted in the Investment Cast Socket design. As you say Alasdair, there were very few - only two with the older style Dropouts are documented on the Hot Serial Number List.

Pip

 

[Pipmeister]

Rightyho, a rare occurrence indeed of updating the Ku Serial Number List .

This time it's a 1998 Enigma frame built from Columbus Altec2 Megatube 7005, which brings the total listed to three. It also supports my view that Enigma produced 50 frames for the 1998 season.

These are in addition to the 100 Ku frames that Enigma built from Easton Elite Program Taperwall 7005 for the 1997 season.

Pip

 

[Pipmeister]

Crikey - it doesn't get much funkier than this. A 1997 Enigma built frame with a paint-job in Purple with Yellow Polkadots .

I have added the Serial Number and description to the List. Meanwhile, the owner may be comfortable with showing their bike and Serial Number on here, but as with the Titanium Serial Number List, and the Hot List, I don't feel it's my place to display them on here without their permission - especially when I am still attempting to obtain the complete Serial Number. I don't do Social Media at all, and some of the frames that feature on the Kona Custom Program Lists come from members who forward the detail from Social Media onto me.

I understand that the owner of this remarkable frame with its' radical paint job has been shown a link to this site, so they may yet pop some pictures on here - either that, or the person who brought this to my attention may just add the pictures regardless..... particularly after they have read this!

Pip.

 

[mk one]

Sounds interesting, hopefully get to see some pictures of it, a take on this beauty maybe!?

 

[Pipmeister]

Yes we have that Purple with Yellow Flames that you have posted on the Serial Number List:

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.

When our North American Continent members are awake again, they may post something on here. Meanwhile Mark, check out your Conversations.

Pip.

 

[al-onestare]

Sounds interesting, hopefully get to see some pictures of it, a take on this beauty maybe!?

View attachment 593066

I won't ever tire of seeing this frame. A stunner and no mistake.

 

[Pipmeister]

With regards to my post yesterday, the Polkadot KU frame can be seen in another thread:

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/unusual-kona-models-or-colours.424956/page-8
There is also a screen shot that the buyer added to the Facebook post summarising the conversation with Kona at the time, and the discussion on the Polkadots and colours.

Pip.