Ti or aluminium (GT or Kona)

[Member 10502]

Am thinking about buying a new bike and would appreciate the help of you guys.

Am looking at a 1994 gt zaskar and a 1995 kona hei hei. What are your thoughts on these frames?

I Am wondering which is the tougher frame. I rode a zaskar a few years ago and it was a brilliant bike, felt very strong and rigid. i know ti has about twice the strenth that alu has but the zaskar is heavilly gussetted and the kona has quite dainty dropouts. ive not heard of either breaking though to be honest, both seem like great frames.

Any input appreciated

Chris

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re:

Those are two vastly different frames you've chosen there!

If money were no object, then I'd go for the Kona. But it all depends on what you're going to be building it with. A Hei Hei (in my eyes) should be built as a lightweight XC machine, whereas a Zaskar can be built pretty much any way you like.

The Hei Hei will be a much more compliant frame, as is the nature of titanium. The Zaskar is very rigid and responsive. Some may call it harsh, but I like it.

The Kona is undoubtedly a much rarer, much more sought after frame but on the other hand you could quite easily build up a lovely Zaskar for the price of the Hei Hei frame alone. My Zaskar (also a '94) is far from the best example on here, but it's a good indication of what you could build for the price of the Kona frame.. Weight is in the low 20s, so it's not far off what a Hei Hei would weigh with the same spec*

(*ps. ignore the pedals - they've since been replaced!)

 

[Member 10502]

Re:

Very nice So which would be the stronger frame? Does the strength of the ti tubes make up for the kona not having gussetts like the zaskar?

Chris

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re: Re:

Very nice So which would be the stronger frame? Does the strength of the ti tubes make up for the kona not having gussetts like the zaskar?

Chris

I don't know which one would be the stronger out of the two, but I know that I'd be more comfortable thrashing a Zaskar than I would thrashing a Hei Hei..

 

[Member 10502]

Re:

For which reason? Is it because the kona is more valuable or because you would have more trust that the gt could withstand the abuse?

Sorry bout all the questions

Chris

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re:

I'd trust the GT more, regardless of value. Hope that helps

 

[SEANSTEPHENS]

Re:

Hi chris, long time since weve seen you on here, i guess youve finally got tired of my old stumpy

Gt really outdid themselves when they made the Zaskar, and you feel like hans rey each time you ride one Im riding barneys old zaskar and his turquoise one used to belong to me. In all honesty though i doubt anything can replace it

Sean

 

[ChefKoch]

Difference between Titanium and Aluminum is generally, that the Ti-Frame would be softer (with or without gussets) but tougher. Aluminum makes a stiffer frame, especially the zaskar. Used / use a titanium (Litespeed) and an aluminium hardtail (Kona). Loved both, but the feeling of titanium is just great.

P.S. The Hei Hei Steve Peat used back in the 90s for downhill racing - so it should withstand some abuse then (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=258279).

 

[hamster]

This materials talk is not strictly correct. Aluminium has a finite fatigue life, and flexing causes cracking. To make an Alu frame last, it HAS to be stiff and overbuilt. With Ti you have more freedom. However, build it with thicker tubing and it will be stiff too - it's just not much point as Alu can do that for less. So Ti frames tend to be flexier as that is what can be done uniquely with the material.

The Zaskar was built as a bombproof and efficient frame for racing - Alu was a perfect material as it could be very stiff but still light. As a machine for an hour or two's blast I'd go for the Zaskar, for all day rides the Kona. The fact that there are so few cracked Zaskars is testament to the quality of its designers. But it will crack in the end, like any Alu frame, due to that finite fatigue life. It's the same reason that aircraft have finite lives.

 

[Koupe]

Basically, get both.