 |
Kona Lava Dome |
 |
The Lava Dome at SITS 2002 |
This thing's been through about four completely different builds in the past few years, starting off as a rigid singlespeed, then acquiring a rear mech and cassette, then getting a front derailleur as well, then getting suspension forks, before finally losing all of those and returning to what seems to be its natural guise of a rigid singlespeed.
It's a great bike - looks and rides like Kona of course, but thankfully more utilitarian than posh. It wears mudguards and downhill tyres without shame, and when the chainstay cracked, I was happy to get a £12 weld done on it rather than send it away for an expensive bit of filleting.
The geometry's pretty much perfect for what it does - just long enough to be singlespeedable but still not a total handful on technical stuff - and the frame has enough clearance for big tyres too, which is a bonus. The Tioga DHs work perfectly for a rigid bike: the big volume and stiff (by XC standards) casings mean I can run very low pressures with neither pinch punctures nor the horrible bouncing and steering problems that more flexible tyres suffer from.
Current Setup
Frame: 1996 Kona Lava Dome 20"
Fork: Kona Project Two
Wheels: Mavic F519 on Shimano Deore
Tyres: Tioga DH
Brakes: Shimano Deore
Brake levers: Avid SD7
Cranks: Shimano Deore
Chainring: Blackspire DS/DH
Sprocket: Shimano DX
Chain: SRAM PC59
Tensioner: Surly Singleator with 9sp jockey wheel
Bottom bracket: Shimano UN53
Headset: FSA Orbit XLII
Stem: Syncros Cattlehead
Bar: Orange Supercross 2
Seatpin: Roox S4
Saddle: Flite Trans Am
Pedals: DMR V12
mudpup, 09:57 03 Jul 2003
what a lovely bike - i had the green version. it was like a family pet until i had to sell it although luckily my mates gf bought it and i still see it.
james s, 03:05 16 May 2005
I love my lava dome - it's the same year as yours! I've only just got round to thinking about adding front suspension - any advice on some budget forks?
Tony R, 00:17 28 May 2005
I have a 20" 95 Cindercone which I think shares the same frame as the Lavadome. It has allways been a good ride and has gone from a very long and low rigid XC bike to a great trail bike. A couple of years a go I had the old girl facelifted. Crud & Disc mounts and guides added and all the old mounts removed. Currently I'm running a recon 80mm Judy race which look good with the BRG respray.