Kona Questions, sizing, differences in era (up to 97), clearances etc.

[Tommy27]

First of all if this has been covered time and time again, just put the links to the right threads or I can even delete this.

The reason I'm posting this up is I'm seriously thinking of hunting down an Explosif or possibly Kilauea. My gateway back into Retro Mountain Bikes has been a '89 Fisher Procaliber (possibly not a Procaliber for reasons that I'll go over in a separate thread for it). However the Fisher needs a respray and has slightly unusually standards (1 1/4 headset, non threaded bb, 26.8 seat posts. I've been looking for something that can handle off road touring as well as handle the South downs. Kona's seem to have kept braze ons on high end frames for a lot longer than many manufacturers did? I want something that handles as well or better than the Fisher, while having the same utility abilities. And Kona's seem to come up quite in the for Sale thread, though in various condition.

I guess the first question, given the sloping top tube, is sizing. The Fisher is an 18", with a 55cm/ 21.65 top tube, 130mm long stem. I have short legs and arms and a long torso. Should I be looking for 18" still or go down/ up? I wouldn't mind have something of a modernish position, i.e longish top tube, shortish stem.

In terms of Clearances, the Fisher is pretty good in terms of being able to fit 2.25 easily, with the original Araya rims and could probably get away with even wider on the Mavic 217 rims on it now.

Given the above are there any tips around the eras, i.e. would p2's for later era be 1 1/8th, I want to stay rigid on this. Would clearances get slimmer or wider the nearer to mid 90s? Did the pre suspension corrected frames handle better? I'd probably be looking for something 92 to 96 and not no later than 97.

 

[bikeworkshop]

How tall you are?

If you ride an 18 Gary Fisher, an 18 kona Would probably suit.
Konas were long and low at this point, good for short legs long body. I dont think GFs of the time were more than a few mm different in toptube though for the same stated frame size.

An 18 kona 95 should fit well 5'8-5'9, and fine an inch either side.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Explosifs basically got better and better with canti bosses until 2004, when things started to go funny.
Check out mine here -

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/kona-explosif-2003-out-and-about.476500/

 

[Tommy27]

I'm 5'8, with 28" inseam, but my torso is very big compared to my limbs. The Fisher top tube slopes, but nowhere near like what Brodie/ Murray had helped Kona implement.

 

[bikeworkshop]

18 would be fine
You could probably use a 17 if you wanted more post exposure and a lower front end, I imagine it's 5mm shorter in toptube which you could lose on the saddle rails.

But a shorter frame would feel twitchier, especially if you've got a long body,
so for offroad touring use the 18 would feel more stable loaded, and therefore a more relaxed ride.

 

[Tommy27]

I intend to run a slightly shorter stem than would of originally been run, so 18 should be good as you've said. Think 19 would be too much though.

I'm guessing as they got nearer to the 90s they got even longer and lower? Did the the clearances get wider or slimmer?

 

[FluffyChicken]

I intend to run a slightly shorter stem than would of originally been run, so 18 should be good as you've said. Think 19 would be too much though.

I'm guessing as they got nearer to the 90s they got even longer and lower? Did the the clearances get wider or slimmer?

The frames stayed the same from 93 onwards, they just increased fork length and shortened the stems.

Size chart are in the catalogues, look at the 98 one or search the forum.
2.25" (schwalbe nobbilies) should fit in most frames, it's close and 2?2" give better clearance.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/kona-boffins-frame-geometry-and-recommended-size.176365/

Honestly as they increment 1" in seatube length, and half inch in virtual top tube, it is down to preference rand if you want the extra headtube height between some sizes.
Buy, ride, don't like, switch frame out for another size. There are oodles of Kona's to go through.

Grab a 97 Explosif, they ride nicely .
All Kona's in this era have stupid under BB rear mechs, which is even stupider on the 97 Explosif with it Max OR downtube.

 

[Tommy27]

Thanks @FluffyChicken that was a really thread to read.

What do you mean about under bb rear mech, the cable routing?

 

[winjohn]

Just a word of warning re sizes, for much of the 90s I don't think 17 inch frames were available on many models.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Just a word of warning re sizes, for much of the 90s I don't think 17 inch frames were available on many models.

In US they had them early iirc, UK came around 95 or maybe a bit earlier. It's either mentioned on the thread link to or another one I probably forgot to drop a link to.


@Tommy27 Kona routed the cable down the downtube and under the bottom bracket, a traditional route. Not generally a problem. But on the MaxOR frames and certainly on the 1997 version it has to rub against the frame down tube because of the design of it.
Just a bit silly and not actually a problem in reality.

Other bikes to look at are Rocky Mountain, the Blizzard, Hammer, Equipe do a good job here.