This has been my main bike since March 1993 and has been just about everywhere I've been. It's now on its third paint job and has only one fully original part remaining, the fork. It rides superbly and has a few years left in it yet. A bit sadly, it's currently dismantled awaiting yet another respray, and will be resurrected as a light singlespeed.
 |
1999 setup - sporting my beloved 2.2 Dart and a miserable Nitrox saddle |
 |
1994 setup |
The bike was originally bought to see me the four years through university, and ended up doing another four years after that before being 'semi-retired' by the arrival of the GT and the Lava Dome. Originally it was pretty much an out-and-out XC racing bike (except it didn't go racing often): a 150mm 0deg stem, flat narrow bars, big L-bends and a 425mm seatpost gave it a ridiculous riding position (see pic, taken in 1994).
It had a baptism of fire when I bought it. Two weeks after it left the shop I managed to crash it at nearly 40mph on the South Downs, putting a dirty great dent in the top tube. Another crash a couple of months later made the dent somewhat larger, and one insurance claim later it was kitted out with a new Max OR top tube and a shiny new paint job.
 |
On a drop-off |
 |
It flies |
It was a fade from metallic black at the front to metallic silver at the back, with smoke stripes over the silver section. It was a top quality spray done by Pete (or Phil?) Whilde (or Wilde?) in his workshop at Tarrant Gunville in Dorset. I wish he'd stayed in business, because the second respray (blue and purple as in main pics) was completely crap in comparison (and who the hell did those duff stickers?).
Over the years the setup has changed a little to accommodate my changing riding style and dodgy back, and most recently had a high stem, big wide bendy bars and no bar-ends. Kona handling is legendary - this frame is supremely versatile and seems to suit any style of setup I can throw at it. The size and geometry seems to be the best compromise for all-round riding I could possibly imagine.
Most recently it was in service as a singlespeed, with its old 987 cantis (which are still lovely, if a bit tired). But I needed to steal the wheels for the Lava Dome, so it seemed a good time to strip it for a respray..
 |
The most recent incarnation - as a singlespeed |
The respray will be metallic black, with matching forks and stem, and I'll get a modified set of replica decals made up from these. They'll be simple silver outlines on transparent background. Should look quite tasteful, with some red anodised rims, cable hangers and bolts.
Intended Setup
Frame: Kona Kilauea 20" (Tange Prestige tubing) - metallic black with silver outline decals and red anodised bolts
Fork: Kona Project 2 triple butted
Wheels: Mavic X517 red on XTR hubs
Tyres: Specialized Enduro Pro
Brakes: Suntour XC Pro
Brake levers: Suntour XC Pro
Chainset: Suntour XC Pro or Cook Bros Racing E Type with custom 34T ring
Cog: Chris King Kog 17T
Chain: SRAM PC69
Bottom bracket: Real Crank Case
Headset: Kona Control Center, red
Stem: Kona Velocity
Bar: Salsa Moto Ace
Seatpin: RooX S4
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite
Pedals: Some sort of SPDs
Scott (MrG), 13:09 10 Jul 2003
Afternoon Bez
Just read about the leg..v.sorry to hear.
Just tinkering with the Kilauea at the mo (It is getting singlespeeded up for a month before it gets its gears back for a week in the Dales). Am chasing a bit of advice - as I was taking the grips and levers off the bars, I started to think how much easier this would be with a front loading stem so that I could have two sets of bars all made up and ready for any future geared/one gear switches. Obviously finding a front loading quill stem is going to be one of those "rocking horse shit" things, so I thought about going down the route of getting a quill stem adaptor and then seeking out the a-head stem of my choice. My worry is that I don't know of anyone who has gone down this route, and I am just having a few doubts as to whether this is a good idea for proper mountainbiking, as opposed to towpath action.
Just thought I would see if you had any pearls of wisdom.
All the best
Scott
Stewart Pratt, 13:25 10 Jul 2003
Hi Scott, you'll be wanting a Profile Boa - got one myself :o)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/v2_product_detail.asp?ProdID=4000000912
Although the quill adapter should be fine as well.
dodgy hair, 20:45 05 Feb 2004
That is so cool
Rich, 18:35 23 Jun 2004
Hi Stewart,
I've got the same bike as you, a 1993 Kilauea. I agree totally it's a great bike. Light, agile, responsive.
I was wondering if you could help on 2 counts.
A. Do you know of a good resprayer in the South?
B. Could you please recommend a Quill adaptor for A-Head stems that will fit it? I've still got the original Project 2 fork (no suspension).
Your website's really swell by the way.
Thanks a million.
Rich.
Stewart Pratt, 23:32 23 Jun 2004
A: ooh, there are several I think - off the top of my head there's Vaz in London, Roberts probably do resprays, and, hmm, do Condor do them? Failing that there's Bob Jackson, Dave Yates and plenty others. Raoul Morley (Ferrous Engineering) can knock up some tasty stuff too - check out Andy's Ferrous on www.shitshifter.com
B: Any old adapter will do; if you're looking for a source, SJS Cycles in Somerset will almost certainly have one (www.sjscycles.com)
Cheers
Rich, 11:59 24 Jun 2004
Hi Stewart
Thanks a ton for the timely advice!! I'll go and check 'em out.
R.
rich, 08:57 10 Jan 2005
Hi,
I've got a similar era K. with a 1 inch steerer. Can it be changed to a 1 1/8 just by replacing the head set (as I want to finally fit suspension!)
Nice to see there's still another one out there.
cheers
RIch
sid, 15:10 13 Jan 2005
Hey Stewart,
Thanks for the great website!
I just came to own a kilauea recently as part of my preparation to do some touring in the future. It's great to come across fellow kilauea owners on the web. I have a question, it's kinda odd, but here it is: would you recommend a kilauea set up for touring, for long (eg. asia - europe) distance riding? Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks!
shelly culp, 16:51 10 Feb 2005
you are stupid dude and so you need to get a life
Stewart Pratt, 16:56 10 Feb 2005
Rich, no, you'd need to have the head tube cut off and replaced. Which would be somewhat expensive ;o)
Sid, never tried it myself, but I don't see why not. I guess the only concern would be the light weight of the frame if you're heavily loaded on rough terrain, but it ought to be fine I would think.
shelly, do you know what? You're absolutely right. Thanks.
KK, 21:40 21 Feb 2005
Awesome site. I have a '94 Kilauea which I've owned since new. I've converted it to a singlespeed, but I'm now going to get it re-painted to bring it back to it's original glory. Anyway, I was wondering where I could find the original decal artwork when I happened upon your retrokona.com site. My prayers have been answered! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
BTW, I don't see a chain tensioner on your singlespeed set up...do you have an eccentric hub or bb? Or were you lucky enough to get a taut chain with your 34:17 setup?
Cheers!
Claes, 01:03 24 Apr 2005
Cool page you've got here! I need some help on determining the year of my "new" Kilauea. The previous owner said it is probably a -96 but I think that in 95 and 97 it also came with a white paint option (it's white as you might have guessed).
Uploded a picture:
http://img221.echo.cx/img221/7334/konakilauea196jo.jpg
Will be fitted with riserbar and spd:s as soon as it arrives (and suspension fork but that I save for later).
Cheers,
Claes
Stewart Pratt, 11:09 24 Apr 2005
Yeah, that's a 1995 one for sure.
Pål Unanue-Zahl, 22:52 26 Apr 2005
Nice page! The Kilauea bike is becomin a legend by itself. Read this for a teary-choky story about a Kona reunited with its owner: http://www.singletrackworld.com/article.php?sid=1497
Now, I want to repaint my Kona. It is a 1994 silver grey model and I want to remove some dots of rust, prime it and repaint it in the original colour. But what to do with the stickers / decals? I have tried to mail with Kona, they only referred me to the current novely wtickers but I want the original KONA and KILAUEA decals. Preferably the Tange Prestige and MOUNTAIN SHOCK decals and front KONA decals also... Where can I get them? Money is not an issue...
Pål Unanue-Zahl, 22:54 26 Apr 2005
Jesus. I can't believe I didn't see that decal link.
Stewart Pratt, 23:02 26 Apr 2005
Ah yes, you'll be wanting this link:
http://www.konaretro.com/showarticle.php?path=articles/decals/&id=1994
Pål Unanue-Zahl, 23:24 26 Apr 2005
I saw the decal link some 2,3 seconds after pressing "submit. :)
I love my Kilauea, do you have any recommendations for a new headset? The bike store had only a Kris King headset to fit it... Expensive, but hey, I like Kris.
What is the headstem dimension?
Stewart Pratt, 23:28 26 Apr 2005
If it's threaded, well, you've got to hunt down an Impact really ;o)
If it's threadless, the FSA Orbit XL II is my favourite.
Headstem dimension? Not sure what you mean...
Pål Unanue-Zahl, 23:31 26 Apr 2005
Uuuhh, when it comes to headsets I draw a blank. The headset has always been kind of magic to me. What do you mean by threaded? The guy at the bike store asked if the headstem was one inch or something else.
Stewart Pratt, 23:36 26 Apr 2005
Ah. If you're using the original forks it will be threaded - the top race of the headset screws onto the fork, and the stem has a quill with an expanding wedge.
With the more modern threadless system, the fork steerer tube is longer and the stem clamps around it.
The Kilauea used a 1 1/8" steerer - this is the diameter of the fork steerer. It gets a little confusing because the stem to fit it has a 1" quill, but will probably be labelled as a 1 1/8" stem - in any case it's the most common size on mountain bikes from about 1991/2 onwards. Best ask for a stem for a 1 1/8" steerer and you will be ok :o)
Pål Unanue-Zahl, 23:47 26 Apr 2005
Sooo.... This then? http://www.chrisking.com/headsets/hds_gnut.html
Stewart Pratt, 23:51 26 Apr 2005
Yeah, I guess that would work. Though for the price of a King headset you could probably near enough get hold of some threadless P2s, a new stem and FSA headset anyway, and do away with the threaded type. Threadless is much better.
Pål Unanue-Zahl, 00:29 27 Apr 2005
Well, I don't really see the advantage fore with a threadless. I'd like to kee p the Kilauea as close to the original as possible. Although that goal is shot as I got Shimano XT V-brakes installed.
Allie B, 16:35 12 May 2005
Claes, nice '95 Kilauea, pretty much mint condition with all the original kit. I've a '95 as well which I bought back in '96. Changed bits on its as they've fallen off etc. Use it for commuting to work (hence the mudguards) and riding round the Purbecks.
Rides like a dream and have struggled to find a bike I like the feel of as much... Thinking of getting an '05 Explosif frame and building it up as a replacement.
Here's a photo of it on the way back from work. Have an awesome 12 mile offroad (well, beach promenade then offroad commute)
http://alliesphotos.fotodock.co.uk/p14202169.html
Claes, 01:35 21 May 2005
Yeah, it's a sweet ride. Much nicer than my old Scott comp racing (which wasn't bad!).
Kinda pity to replace some of the original bit since they were near mint condition but eg. straight bars just doesn't do it for me.
It's now fitted with riser bars and big flat WHITE pedals. A true beauty (just the groovy mudguards that are missing :P).
Alan, 12:58 15 Jun 2005
Wow, small world! I ride mine in the Purbecks too, Allie.
I have a '96 Kilauea, originally white, then electric blue, now dark matt blue and about to get powdercoated in black. Pace RC36 forks, Bontrager stem (80mm 15 degree rise) Easton Carbon Riser bars, Time Atac Alium pedals, XT V Brakes, XT everything else, Mavic 517CD rims (black)..... and a siezed seatpost.
Bike is currently in pieces pending some fairly medieval work to remove the seatpost. Once this is removed I'm sending it off to Orange to get the powdercoat done. For decals I'm just going to make up a stencil of the current Kona "k" (Bedrock font)and spray this on the headtube in a gloss lacquer over the matt powdercoat. Will fit an Easton carbon seatpost to complete the stealth look. Going to have to fit a new chainset too, as the current one is past its best.
In the meantime I've just ordered a Prophet 3000SL from Dave at Ride Cycleworks. Once the Kona is back together I think I'll keep it for commuting to work and winter rides on Canford Heath, where the sand eats bikes.
I'll post a pic once the bike is reassembled.
cisko, 15:35 21 Jun 2005
I have 94 kilauea with a project two fork since july 94 and I just love the bike, last weekend I race a 24 hours competition, despite my arms were completly smashed after the race I cant wait for the next year event. Kilauea forever!!
Steve, 04:50 17 Jul 2005
Hello from Canada. I found this site searching for retro decals for a Kona I don`t even have. Crazy isn`t it but I`m madly in search of a 19" Kilauea or Explosif frame, preferably the Columbus tubing model. Does anyone posting here have any links to a frame that might be up for sale? Please let me know if you do. Thanks.
Allie B, 16:57 18 Jul 2005
Hey Alan, another fellow purbeckor!! As you say the sand eats the bikes here, have just spent Saturday on the Purbecks for a 50 mile loop and then Sunday messing about at Canford Heath. Would be interested in hearing how the respray goes as my steed needs a bit of attention. btw, what bike shop do recommend in the area? Will have to meet up and swap Kilauea stories. Laters
Drew, 01:20 06 Aug 2005
It's nice to see so many early Kona lovers. Steve, You're not alone. I own a 92 Hahanna but I'm not searching for decals for it, I'd prefer a set for a 92 Fire Mountain as I once had. I am also searching for an early kona, good luck from Calgary!
Stewart, Nice work on the Kilauea! Way to keep her going and I appreciate your retro site.