Kona Stab 97 (I think)

[oneeyedjoe]

Hi, I found this site after googling my old bike.
Back in the day i bought my (almost) dream bike and it cost me the earth.
A kona stab with Hanebrink Bat Fastards up front. (28mm Axle!!!) . Hope big uns, Hydros and Mavic d521 rims. World force bars, vario dh stem. Shimano XT mech/shifter. L&M Downhill cranks with a totally old skool 48t ring haha, I'm faster than every one now er on the road. shimano xt bb, crappy chain device from roox, crappy tensioner from mrp.

I had sheer joy on this bike but unfortunately the forks were utter garbage. I only bought them because I was dumb and let the guy in the shop talk me into it as boxxers were outta stock. I'm sure they'd still be on it if I'd gotten them. Still got some judy sl's working fine. The forks exploded 3 times in the first year and I aint no peaty. Anyway after blowing them up again when i was skint i left the bike in my mums garage. I became obsessed with mitsubishi evos later so my bike budget vanished.
For some reason i got back biking and bought some forks, well this is heaven i cant believe i stopped riding for so long. been doing ten foot drop offs on my old stab and it takes it like a trooper.

I am gonna have to get santa cruz v10 before i hit morzine though, I couldnt keep up with the locals in 99 so I dont think it'd be fair to take the kona lol.

 

[EarlofBarnet]

I love this year of Stab, the paint scheme is brilliant. Glad you riding it like it deserves!

 

[oneeyedjoe]

The guys who havent ridden an old wrecker like this really should have a go. It comes in at 40lbs and drops like a bomb haha. I love hittin stuff my mates all do on their eight inchers. It can be scary though!

 

[Dr.Robotnik]

I've got Hanebrinks and they have a 25mm axle. Didn't know they were called Bat fastards. Don't suppose you have any spares do you or even a manual as I need a new dummy rod in mine?

I've been going out on my M1 lately and it's fun to hear people say

"wow it's cool that the old rigs can still cut it"

Mine drops like a punctured zeppelin and I am bottoming out the travel because I've grown a bit, but it's awesome.

What's the travel on this bad body?

 

[oneeyedjoe]

Haha mint pal. Yeah my hanebrinks were adjustable from 6 to 8 inches and have a hub that they came with sporting a 28mm axle! sadly they blew the damper seals on a what felt like a weekly basis for the whole time i used them.
Shocking really, considering that I paid a grand for them. sent them back 3 times in 12 months. the whole lot is still here in good nick. just the damper is bust as is the spring silencer. the top out bumpers split and the leg threaded on the damper side where the axle clamp fits.
I never used the hub either. I'm in manchester so pm me if u want some bits ill try get a pic of what i got in my mums garage.

Edit: I got the full service manual somewhere too, although its only a photocopy I think it has a proper schematic too. Was ten years ago when I last read it though lol.

 

[kaiser]

Nice bike and nice story too

 

[Dr.Robotnik]

Yeah my hanebrinks were adjustable from 6 to 8 inches and have a hub that they came with sporting a 28mm axle!

I'm in manchester so pm me if u want some bits ill try get a pic of what i got in my mums garage.

In this thread below and the picture I posted my Sunn with the Hanebrinks, are they the same as yours?

I think mine said they could go between 6 and 8 inches, but I haven't seen the manual since the 90's. I'll send you a pm though as I definitely need some spares, because the dummy rod is snapped and the damper adjuster broke. If you even find the manual that'd be great.

I am 99.999% sure they only came with a 25mm axle, not 28mm. I am going to check when I get home because you've confused me

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... c&start=30

 

[oldschool]

that be a 98 mate i wish to god i never got rid of mine

 

[oneeyedjoe]

Here are a few snaps from my rubbish phone.
I'm sure they are 98 batfastards 6-8" travel, 28mm axle but i havent measured it. I will now though sad as I am.

I have the spring side working internals, however a new spring silencer is needed. I would suggest turning down a nylon bar as its a really simple shape. The stock part shattered twice. HDPE.
I didnt have access to a lathe so made one from carbon fibre at work and filed it round. Its assembled and works but aint a flush fit. The forks would benefit from the extra rigidity gained from a proper one.
The damper side is worse for wear in that the seals went and the push rod fell out! (8-O)
There also is damage to one of the stancions axle clamp thread.(jumps thread when tightening) it is fixed on at the mo using loctite because it came loose all the time.

The crowns and uppers and top caps as well as steerer are pretty good condition though the sliders have been scratched.

hub and axle

I never actually used the hub.