Self build using a 93 Kona Fire Mountain frame value

[StimpsonJC]

Hi,

I'm thinking of selling a self build I did in 2000 and would appreciate it if anyone had an idea of the value.

I took a 1993 Kona Fire Mountain frame (1 inch) and had it spayed to look like a 2000 Explosif.

I added:

A complete 27 speed XT groupset (bottom bracket, cranks, cables, sprockets... everything is XT)
A pair of Marzocchi Atom Bomb Z.2 forks
The wheels are made using red Mavic 517 rims, the XT M570, M571 hubs and XT rear sprocket)
An Ahead headset.
A Titec stem
Easton Monkey Lite CT2 bars
A pair of DMR V12 pedals
A Shimano carbon break booster.
And a club Roost G4 seat post.

The bike has been well used and the shows battle scars on the frame, forks and leavers. In addition some of the transfers have come away from transporting it around. It went to Morzine this summer

I've added some photos to give you a better idea. Personally, I'm thinking in the £300 area. Could i make more by selling the components?

Any advice would be fantastic.

Thanks.

 

[winjohn]

I just came across this month's old post because I was searching 93 Fire Mountains, having just bought one off eBay for around 20 quid...which may give you some idea of the worth of the FM frame (this was a complete bike with P2s.

I have some comments driven by my recent experience with a Kona "Kula", a repainted and rebadged bike that was clearly not what it purported to be. Fortunately it was so poorly painted and badged that it wasn't going to fool anyone and I only really bought it for the triple butted P2 forks which alone were worth the price being asked. https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/mystery-kona-id-can-any-experts-help-s-n-sf20211578.492619/

I am not sure I like the idea of trying to pass off a lower range bike as an Explosif, it is one thing to emulate the colour scheme but I draw the line at adding the decals. You may have no intention yourself of fooling a buyer into believing that it is an Explosif rather than a Fire Mountain with nice bits but what about the person who buys it from you...are they going to sell it on as an Explosif one day? Konas especially have very different quality frames at different price points, so this is particularly relevant with this brand. Interestingly, the 2000 Explosif was the first to have an aluminium frame, it is completely different to the Fire Mountain basic cromo frame and even the steel Explosifs had much higher spec steel like Reynolds 853 and top end Columbus and Tange.

The price of £300 as a complete bike would be about the price that an authentic Explosif would go for, I'd say £100 to £150 would be more realistic for this upgraded FM.

So my personal view would be that it would be better to part out this bike and you would probably get more money that way too. As for the frame I would say you should certainly debadge it and perhaps even rebadge as the Fire Mountain it is. That way anyone buying it knows exactly what they are getting.

I hope this does not come across as too negative or as a personal attack which it is certainly not meant to be. I have no problem with people doing whatever they like with their bikes, it's a free world and there is nothing wrong with a Fire Mountain as a fun solid mountain bike to ride and enjoy. I really like the fact you took it to Morzine!

I would be really interested in what you have decided to do with the bike in the end though.

Cheers and all the best.