So i nearly gave up on the whole retro thing for a while….

[haggis]

Then i was in need of a cheap commuter. So a '95 DBR Vertex TR came my way followed by a '91 Kona Lava Dome and next thing i know I've got all manners of bits and frames arriving at my door! Damn you Retrobike! You don't let go easily do you?!?!

Im sure you've heard this story before. I had the Kona Lava Dome and the brakes weren't up to much so i wanted new brakes. New brakes called for new levers. Hello NOS LX cants and 7 speed XT STi. So i thought what the hell i might as well get a new rear mech on it and i really like Deore DX stuff so……

Now Im looking at the frame and thinking that I've spent a wee bit of cash on this now (new cassette and seat post were bought when i first got the bike) and that maybe this stuff might be better on a better quality frame and then a Kilauea comes up on eBay for £50. Its not that far away from me. I could pick it up on my way back from Glentress one day. I've convinced myself that its a good buy. Frame bought. Job done. Eventually picked it up from the guy a few weeks later and it was in need of a respray but i knew that anyway.

So i started collecting a few more bits that i needed and collating them with the parts i already had and then i'm off to get it powder coated. I really couldn't be happier with how it turned out and i love the colour. I went for the '96 decals because i prefer them over the '93. I know the purple grips look stupid but theres a good reason behind them being on there and they're only temporary. So without any more waffling…..

Frame: 19" 1993 Kona Kilauea

Fork: Project 2 TB

Headset: LX
Stem: Velocity
Handlebar: Bontrager Race Titanium
Grips: Crazy purple ones
Barends: Titec

Brakes: LX
Brake Pads: LX
Brake Cables: Shimano
Cantilever cable hangers: Shimano
Brake Levers: XT

Shifters: XT
Front Derailleur: DX
Rear Derailleur: DX
Derailleur Cables: Shimano
Cassette: XT
Chain: ?
Cranks: DX
Crank Bolts: ?
Chainrings: DX
Chainring bolts: DX
Bottom Bracket: UN55
Pedals: Varies

Hub Skewers: XT
Rims: Mavic Energy M7CD
Hubs: DX
Nipples: ?
Spokes: ?
Tyres: Schwalbe Black Jacks
Tubes: ?

Saddle: Turbo Matic
Seatpost: Roox
Seatpost Binder: Kona

 

[haggis]

Out for a wee shakedown ride today and everything is running well and then back home for a good clean. Only gripe is theres not a lot of clearance for the rear tyre with the 2.0 Black Jack in there but i've got a 1.8 enroute so that should sort out this issue.

 

[singletrackmac]

Nice looking ride! Though that seat post hight is sure up there ;-).

How does that P2 fork ride? I am looking at getting one for a build and that is the only 1" steer mtb fork I can find.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get out of the gutter and onto the mountain top.

1988 Bridgestone MB1 / 1989 Rockhopper Comp / 1991 Trek 970 Singletrack /
1993 Brave Ti Racer / Proflex 555 / Proflex 856 / 1999 Trek 6000 /
2004 Gary Fisher Cake

 

[haggis]

Cheers bud i am really happy with it. As for the P2 its a superb fork. I cant say i've spent much time riding any other rigid forks as its always Konas i've had that but i'm sure you wont be dissappointed.

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Yes, familiar story to most on here, but looks good.

MacRetro trip to GT a week on Sunday if you want to show it off.

 

[haggis]

Thanks very much. Would love to make the GT meet but i'm working.

 

[bren]

Re:

Yeah, like that.

 

[Ollie]

Looks great .

 

[haggis]

Cheers lads. Great got the 1.8 tyre on the rear now for a bit more clearance. Heading down the lakes in a few weeks time so i think this will be coming with me.