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So,
I've got a 2006 Kona Unit singlespeed bike that, along the years has been a decent enough ride but, as you all know, you sometimes get the desire for something else...
I've fairly recently bought a 29er XC frame and swapped parts onto it, leaving me with various 26" parts to make use of. I'm fairly confident that if I continue riding 26" bikes I'm not going to die (because of that, at least) and am not too bothered about having the most recent must-have wheel size.
Anyhow, I see that I can get a 26" Lynskey Ridgeline singlespeed for 'reasonable' money (720 GBP to me as I'm outside the UK) and I'm kind of interested in that.
So, here's where I need help. I'm not wholly convinced yet that the Lynskey will be much better than the Kona (aesthetically yes, the Kona is a sort of turd brown colour and has a daft and annoying way of attaching the rear brake cable which has to be supplemented by cable ties - something which annoys me more than it should). So I'm a bit stuck...
As I see it I've got some options:
1) Ride the Kona as it is, there's nothing really wrong with it
2) Spend a fraction of the cost of the Lynskey frame on tarting up the Kona - decent bars, stem and seatpost instead of manky ones (although it has already inherited some half decent parts from other builds - Chris King Headset, Hope Hoops front wheel, hope seatpost clamp)
3)Buy the Lynskey. I'm not too concerned that it's only for 26" wheels - I reckon that the sliding dropouts (max. 44cm chainstays) would easily fit a 650b wheelset if the industry-desired total demise of 26" parts ever happens. Although, I am concerned about the 44mm headtube - aside from Nukeproof and Hope, options seem pretty thin on the ground as headsets go and, as it's a 'standard' which seems to me is now out of favour, that might be a mistake
4) For the price of he Lynskey frame, get something totally different - I could get a Ritchey 29er frame, simple forks (or rigid) and a wheelset. But, one steel singlespeed for another? - I'm not sure. Plus, part of the exercise is to use up spare parts I've got around, not buy virtually a whole bike
5) Seek the advice of Singletrackworld on any of the above or other options - My only real criteria are that it must have proper sliding dropouts (where the disc brake mount slides too), be in stock somewhere and be available to ship to Hungary...
I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks...
I had a Kinesis Decade Virsa until a few months back. It was ran as a singlespeed, alfine and finally a 1x 10. Brilliant bike and still available in the UK. Not sure if it would be suitable for you, but may be worth looking at. Cheap too.
I've actually got a Kinesis Decade Virsa! I'm running it geared and want to keep it that way. I totally agree though, brilliant bike. Buying another one might not satisfy the 'must have something new' desire, though. And, I don't like the horizontal dropouts (I'll admit this is a bit of an obsession I can't really justify).
Paint the Kona. Painting your bike really makes it feel new again. Does for me anyways. Then get some nicer bits for it.
But yeah, you could get a really nice new frame for way under that money and still have a decent amount for shiny stuff.
Ah, in that case sod it. Buy the Lynskey 😀
You obviously have good taste.
Those kona unit frames are nice when they use nice steel, which I believe the brown one does..
You may find a new frame does not fit you in terms of geometry etc..
Ride the kona and enjoy, and save up for the next big upgrade ( FS 26 frames are super cheap and available if you want to move to geared) or a holiday..
You're right about the steel. Dedacciai SAT 14.5 tubing. Supposedly a little thin and fragile, but I weigh 65kg and don't ride aggressively or anywhere too challenging, so for me it will last forever. I've had nigh on a decade of that brown colour, though... (This isn't mine, but you get the idea)
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Sure, I could go for a respray, and while I'm at it get some better-designed brake cable braze-ons, perhaps have the rear brake bosses removed, but these days the price is getting towards new frame territory (not the Lynskey cost, granted, but not cheap either).
I had all that work to my own Kona Unit a few years ago. I think I paid £130 including the paint, and also including a repair plate to the corroded downtube.
Mine started off grey (True Temper tubeset. Very thin) but I had it painted brown. I like brown.
Surely worth keeping.
Have a look in your local yellow pages.
I got a random paint shop to sandblast and respray a frame at £50 for frame and forks
Godd job aswell..
I came across the Lynskey on the CRC website the other night. I was curious enough to look for a review or two online, and I turned up enough to put me off the idea.
Oh and I have had quite a few ti and steel frames, and a kona made out of good steel should feel as good as anything.