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

[al-onestare]

As mentioned by @al-onestare here is my '96 Ku, although it is blue lightning rather than flames! I am almost certain that it is the original paint from the factory. Where there is a bit of damage to the paint there is no sign of any other colours below, and the decals are an exact match with other '96 frames I have compared it to. It is really cool paint, at the head tube it is almost like a boling, grey cloud, and the lightning bolts somehow manage to go both under and over the decals! Unfortunately, the paint is not in the best condition over the rest of the frame, with a few bad touch ups, but there is no way that it is going. It also appears to be crack free (for now, scared to attempt to put a headset in!). S/N is K09606008 which hopefully comes through in the picture, and it is an 18" frame.

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What a frame, what a colour scheme. It's no Klein but it must have been an influence. I've never seen any Kona of this era with a paint-job like this, a true one-off (for now at least). Wise to keep it as a wall-hanger, like you I fear it'd start shaking if you approached it with a bottom bracket or headset

K09606008 18" 1996 cable routing, 199 decals - Black/blue/purple with white lightening - welded '96 June number 8, (@murphy79 )

 

[mk one]

Yep, very Klein-esque

 

[magas]

wow, love 96 Kona's and then this colour scheme; so cool

what was possible - colour scheme wise - in 96 ? do they show you samples of paints and you choose, does anyone have ever seen a chart or samples ?

 

[al-onestare]

wow, love 96 Kona's and then this colour scheme; so cool

what was possible - colour scheme wise - in 96 ? do they show you samples of paints and you choose, does anyone have ever seen a chart or samples ?

Great question and one I've pondered for some time. I guess it was different dealer to dealer. All I've consistently heard third and forth hand is folks were told "you can have whatever you want"

What I've found interesting is that the Ku's seem to have a more varied, unique paint schemes that any other custom model. In the last few years we've seen polka dots, jungle-esque and now this lightening designs. We rarely see that sort of creativity on Hot's.

Were aluminium riders more wacky that steel? Time to get the drawing board out!

 

[murphy79]

Maybe it was the fatter tubes giving a larger canvas to go wild on!

Having said that I have a picture of an old Teesdale Hot with an apparently original paint scheme that was just plain weird. I'll try an root it out and post it on the Hot thread, not sure there is a S/N for it though.

 

[al-onestare]

Maybe it was the fatter tubes giving a larger canvas to go wild on!

Having said that I have a picture of an old Teesdale Hot with an apparently original paint scheme that was just plain weird. I'll try an root it out and post it on the Hot thread, not sure there is a S/N for it though.

That's a very logical point

 

[al-onestare]

Cross posting alert.

I'm toying with the idea of producing a weekly IG post of new editions to the list, should there be any in that given week. The post would contain a picture (not the SN) with a brief summary of what it is, calling out any oddities, differences or historical points of note.

The purpose of this approach is to increase awareness of these incredible bikes, and widen the net to capture new stories and knowledge, and broaden and strengthen our network of investigators.

Retrobike (and the offline spreadsheet) would remain the primary port of call for the lists.

What do you think? Your feedback is welcome.