Kona Titanium Serial Number List - update 07/02/25

[swannymere]

I'll have to take some pictures. I have a 1992 Hei Hei.

Can’t wait, what size?

 

[Classiker]

Now there's a question...



...which neatly links to this.

To quote Jake "...we're busy saving a bike company".

It's said with love of course as Kona have always been very supportive and reflective of their history, the culture they've helped create, and the fan-base they've built. But it's also said with fact. They've bought back a company that was on the verge of going out of business and so naturally all efforts are focused on getting Kona back in black, the Kona way.

I can't say too much at the moment but I'm in discussions with Kona on how we can share the work Pip started, including a wealth of information he collated that's not on this site, and widen the net of information, highlighting and show-casing their history, starting with the Kona custom programme. This would involve time and effort from both sides, so getting the scope right is important and this is a side-hustle competing with the usual day to day life. When there's more concrete information to share I'll post it here

My point is, they're already doing a lot for us and the community through the relationships they've built over the years. We might not see it directly, but it's there.

As if the small effort was a problem for such a large company.

As you know, I work in the German vintage car industry. Mercedes-Benz and others have invested heavily in their museums and history. This is what Kona should do, it's just your unique story that makes you special today. Only the history, the fans make the difference to a manufacturer like Amflow.

 

[BerthaPog]

As if the small effort was a problem for such a large company.

As you know, I work in the German vintage car industry. Mercedes-Benz and others have invested heavily in their museums and history. This is what Kona should do, it's just your unique story that makes you special today. Only the history, the fans make the difference to a manufacturer like Amflow.

Not sure where you get the idea that Kona is in anyway a company of comparable size to Daimler AG.

 

[Classiker]

I didn't say that Kona was anywhere near as big as Daimler/Mercedes Benz. The investment costs would also be significantly lower. Support a few museums, support a few retro events, give the fans a few of the old heroes to play with. Something along these lines has already happened in the UK with the Malvern Classics.

 

[BerthaPog]

I didn't say that Kona was anywhere near as big as Daimler/Mercedes Benz. The investment costs would also be significantly lower. Support a few museums, support a few retro events, give the fans a few of the old heroes to play with. Something along these lines has already happened in the UK with the Malvern Classics.

Understood, but probably a discussion for a seperate thread, rather than this one.

 

[al-onestare]

Yep, that's a separate conversation. Just to be clear, the analogy I've used is, Kona had flat-lined - it was dead (just look at the asset stripping, warehouse closures and lay-offs). Jake and Dan hit the AED multiple times and luckily got a faint pulse. Since then it's grown to a steady pulse, but remains on life support.

Visions of the company doing anything beyond getting the company back in black don't do credit to what's going on, and ignores the state of the industry as a whole.

 

[al-onestare]

Back on track, another beauty from Paddy, also on display at Bellingham HQ.

A stunning, highly original, pretty much stock, 1999 King Kahuna. It's only the 2nd one in that production cycle with an orange headtube so I'll stick my neck out and say that it might have been a race bike (it looks almost identical to the ones we've seen Ryder Hesjedal and Dario Cioni ride on), intended to be one, and / or demo/show bike. As we know, orange and gold Kona's have a history of seeing professional action.

In my size...I think I'd sneak out with this one as well

KK19044 - Orange painted Headtube, Orange Go Faster Decals. On display at Bellingham warehouse