Replace the Forks ? Keep it genuine?

[elPedro666]

I like the colour too, but once it's resprayed it's not original anyway so do what you like, make it individual, it's not like the forum's short of Konas!

My only beef is with non-period decals, just seems wrong to me.


That said there's absolutely no way I'd consider that frame in need of a respray, not from that pic anyway!

 

[gerryattrick]

Even a cheap powder-coat and new decals will cost a minimum of £70. If it's a keeper only you can decide if it's worth it, if it's to sell it's unlikely to add £70 to the selling price.

 

[saulus]

I like it. Keep the colour! My personal taste isn't offended and if it rolled past me I would want to see it up closer.

Can't see much from here but it doesn't exactly look like it's been mauled. Keep your cash in your pocket. Keep it as is and slap some heli tape on it. Keep or sell its no grief to you either way and it looks original.. You can guess which way I voted.

 

[Explosif Phil]

The photo was from about 4 years ago. I only posted it to show the colour, now it has large patches of paint missing and a million stone chips. I think there is as much paint missing as is left on the frame.

Thanks again for all your thoughts. Begining to come around to the idea of Powder coating the frame blue and forks and stem silver and have exact copies of the original decals.

 

[Plus one]

Blue/gold ??

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

 

[Explosif Phil]

Made a choice.

Thank you for all your comments. After thinking about it I have decided to customise as I would have done when the bike was new. So a new colour, powdercoated with lots of new/old parts and original decals reproduced to a different colour scheme courtesy of Gil M. For anyone that is interested in this retro build, I will post some updates/pics as soon as the frame arrives. I'm aiming to be taking out it for a ride within a couple of weeks.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Definitely need plenty of photo's...

...and a good build on a new colour with sympathetic component choices gets my vote every time; as in the Gulf Kona, which everyone professed to love at the time

 

[Explosif Phil]

After a forum poll and lack of spare cash I decided to stick with the Project 2's instead of suspension forks. My build has come to a hault while I find another powder coaters for my frame. Having read lots of posts on here I am now looking to possibly selling the fork and stem to pay for a cheap pair of refurbed Marz Z2 Bombers I have found which having read the opinions on here seems to be a good choice of fork for my 95 KONA Explosif.

What I would like to know is...
1. Are these forks heavy, will they ruin the ride?
2. What dimensions apart from 1/118th do I need to check this Z2 fork are . It is listed as , 1 1/8 steerer, 185mm long, 430mm, will these fit?
3. I don't ride like a nutter but I do need to soften some of the hard bumps/hits through my shoulder (crash injury last year) using P2's. Will Z2's do the job or should I buy a modern bike with forks to get the best benefit and not ruin the geometry/handling I have with my current retro ride and use it for a commuter?


Thanks in advance

 

[elPedro666]

Short travel forks should be okay on a '95, 2-3" say. Consider taking 10-20mm off the stem length at the same time to keep the handling balance - pretty sure that's all Kona did from '95 to quite recently!

 

[highlandsflyer]

You are adding around a kilo in weight, but you only really notice it when you lift the bike.

Those Z2s are great forks, and you say they have been refurbished already.

Hopefully the springs are suited to your weight already.

You need to make sure the steerer is long enough of course, but apart from that they are the right diameter, and the travel is fine for the frame.

If your shoulder needs protecting, consider adopting a more upright stance.

Short riser stem and riser bars should see to that.