[Closed] Kona 1988-1997 - WTF Happened Then?

ADH - did I take that photo of you in the quantocks... that pink bike in the background looks familiar 😉

I loved Konas... my first full suss (manomano) bit after 98 and then a couple of retro ones and a Stinky that was brilliant at chicksands. Ridden and abused by many, refused to die.

[url= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/505705239_f6f03de056_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/505705239_f6f03de056_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/505705239/ ]Kona Stinky - March 04 - May 05[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Not sure of the year...

[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3034896528_c385896f04_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3034896528_c385896f04_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/3034896528/ ]Kona Kilauea[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Probably shouldn't have sold it but...

[url= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/505704611_063bd34d80_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/505704611_063bd34d80_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/505704611/ ]Kona Caldera - May 03 - July 05[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Or that... 90% ace, 10% orrid forks.

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/505674378/ ]kona ManoMano June 00 - Sep 02[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
yellow pages mode* "That stem and bars..."

I do think the latest ones look great, but seem to have lost that special kona thing whatever it was.

For me, this has all the thing in the world. Looks fab 🙂

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As for the magic link - I've heard good things, but not ridden one.

that does look good but at first I thought you were taking the piss and had posted a Trek

The cliché that always gets trotted out about konas dated suspension design is just ridiculous. If it worked, why change it? and the people that come out with it are usually the same people that cream themselves over a single pivot from halifax that has seen way less innovation.

Comments about vfm are also wide of the mark since no one seems to sell konas at rrp (brand new stinky deluxes for around £1700 etc). The only problem kona has had in the last few years was some ropey graphics

I have a 1989 Explosif that everytime i ride it has people asking what it is and where can they buy one.

Buy a time machine boys, this ones the real deal.

Really ****n uncomfortable deal actually.

always loved the old Kona's, had a few of them and they all rode and looked the nuts! I agree with the guy who said they lost it with the big square fronted alloy frames, should've stuck with the great looking steel ones.....and as for that prototype thing? that has to be THE ugliest thing i've seen since susan boyle!

mazdarati- My father dumped my old Kona a few years ago after a long spell of idleness in the garage. (92 Fire Mountain).

🙁

Granted my '92 fire mountain is now some considerable distance from anything like original spec, (only the frame and the seatpost remain) but it's still ridden more than anything else I own, and it will be the very last bike I ever get rid of.

It's done *everything*, raced, toured, commuted, been dragged around riding endurance events ... it's been variously geared and suspended in it's life, but now, as a rigid, singlespeed it's the most fun it's ever been.

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(Most recently photographed about a week ago, and no, that's not my wall ...).

ADH - did I take that photo of you in the quantocks... that pink bike in the background looks familiar

Yes sir, you did indeed 🙂

And the one below IIRC.

I think the 2010 Kona buffer looks nice.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/buffer-uk-2010-mountain-bike-ec026235?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Yes, the Kona Buffer does look like a good deal, Kona seem to be making some ace bikes at the moment. Back to their old ways maybe?

Ohhhh yeah! that does look better!!

As for the magic link - I've heard good things, but not ridden one.

Well I have ridden one, quite a fair bit in my garden. And I only have good things to say 😉

What does the magic link actually do?

I'm just interested to know.

OCB, that looks like a brilliant bike.

[url= http://konabikeworld.com/08_tech_magic.htm ]Magic link explained[/url] I reckon it sounds rather good, would love to have a test ride.

Is the Magic Link any good? What does it feel like to ride?

What does the magic link actually do?

Well the link change the bike travel and geometry. Well pedalling uphill your weight goes (comes?) forward the travel shorten and the angle steepen. The going downhill your weight goes backward and the opposite occurs. Angles slacken and the travel increases.
As I said I have ridden one. It was last year model. Front end a bit to close and to steep for me (with the Fox 32). New models have fixed that, but you can get some "official bodge" from kona europe. But I kinda liked the rear suspension, "magic" bit is you can actually feel the bike going all racey when going up. Then when going down it feels quite bottom less. To be fair I'd love to try a 2011 one as I like slacker bike and this one was a bit disturbing. The transition along the "magic link stroke" is not perceivable there is no hard spot or clunky noise or anything. But you really have to set up the bike properly.
I hope this helps despite the horrible english

Thanks folks, it realy does sound like a good device.

Now all I need to do is have a go on one!