need advice about buying bike )

[grishindmitry]

excuse me if not in the proper forum

I want to buy Kona Hei Hei titanium and found one seller
he sent me the pics of it
https://picasaweb.google.com/112390585728866662654/Kona?authkey=Gv1sRgCK_AvdPw74fwxQE
i consulted with my friend bike-master and we are confused whether it's wise to buy it. Most confusing are the fork scratches - but seller says there are no dents and no play.
Could you please help me with decision) what is the reasonable price for it?

 

[MCsanandreas]

that looks nice!(apart from the seat!)

just my size too,good job i would not be able to afford it.

cant really help with a price for you though,sorry.

 

[wadsy]

It's difficult to give a value without knowing the full spec and condition of the parts.

However, as a rough guide, I would suggest about £500 for the frame on it's own.

 

[grishindmitry]

thank you )

the specs i got from him
"""""""""
Its the stock 1998 model, very similar to the 1997.
full xtr 950
Bontrager Mustang Ceramc rims
bar Klein Stratum
""""""

do you think that such scuff on shock is safe for it? )

 

[Chute55uk]

The forks look like surface corrosion they are good quality and should ne fine the bike looks very good I don't know what its worth but I sold a trek 9.8 carbon with the same xtr for 400 gbp so yours maybe 700?

 

[Skinwhistle]

That looks like a nice bike. Yes the forks are scratched but hey! For the age it looks ok?? and remember there are some really good powder coaters out there if need be??? Take it for a test run if you can? Good luck with the project!

 

[retrojohm65]

my advice

I love Kona, but... and this is my opinion .. for Mountain bikes you would usually go for a smaller frame than for road use, so for me i would avoid these long seat post kona's, as although they are great looking they are very unstable on the road, tthe only time the bike almost got me killed was a kona hahanna, very unstable, if its for off road then ignore all this
my mate came off a brilliant Kona in the 90's probably the best styled bike i.ve ever have seen, he came off his too on a roundabout! he walked away without a scratch, but moved on to a single speed 700c bike

 

[grishindmitry]

thank you for the answers)
i plan to use it mostly for touring look on my www )

I'm negotiating for around 650pounds - thank you for the price tips,
I've thought also about how much components are worn out, my bike-master tells that rather much

 

[drcarlos]

I wouldn't worry too much about scratches on Z2's they all chip as scratch as the paint type is rather hard and not very forgiving. However the rest of the fork is great and really solid and parts can still be bought and they can be re-finished (take a look at the set on my Claud Butler in my sig for what you can do without stripping them). As for the rest of the frame I don't know Ti Konas very well so would go with the advice of others.

Carl.

 

[Anthony]

the specs i got from him
"""""""""
Its the stock 1998 model, very similar to the 1997.
full xtr 950
Bontrager Mustang Ceramc rims
bar Klein Stratum
""""""
do you think that such scuff on shock is safe for it? )

It's actually a 1997 Hei Hei size 17, normally suitable for height range 1.60-1.75, although that long Control Tech stem should make it fit somebody a bit taller (but won't do any favours to the steering). I don't understand the comments above. A Hei Hei is an excellent frame, built in the USA by a very good maker, and I would have thought it would make a brilliant bike for touring - fast and comfortable.

i plan to use it mostly for touring look on my www )
I'm negotiating for around 650pounds - thank you for the price tips,
I've thought also about how much components are worn out, my bike-master tells that rather much

That depends on what prices are like in Russia. I think it might make slightly more than £650 on UK eBay, but as you say it depends on the condition of the parts. It looks very well used, but you need to know whether the XTR parts are worn out or just scruffy before you can judge. Similarly the Z2 (which again is a 1997 one), I would say there is no structural issue as Z2s are very strong, but it does look a bit scruffy. It's quite a heavy fork anyway, so if you don't plan to use the bike for heavy duty mtb you might be better off with a lighter fork, or even a rigid Project 2.