1989 Kona Cinder cone build
#1
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
1989 Kona Cinder cone build
In July I bought a 1989 Cinder cone languishing on craigslist. My daughters had joined a mountain biking club, and I had no way to ride with them on trails. Since our closest ski resort is an hour away, i decided that a rigid mountain bike could probably tackle single track here, as well as double for cyclocross duty. For $80, I brought this home.
1989 Kona Cinder cone
Suntour XC Pro accushift thumb shifters. LEECHI brake levers.
Suntour Xcd cantilevers. Integrated cable stop and pulley on the stem.
Suntour xc crankset with Powerrings. No dust caps. Xcd 6000 front derailleur. Xcd 6000 pedals, rebuildable, rusty and scuffed. Not shown: Zerk it bottom bracket sleeve and grease fitting. Generic 3T spindle with a Sugino DS cup and a shimano adjustable cup and lock ring.
Tange MTB double-butted tubing, main triangle.
Suntour Xcd 6000 roller cam brake, grimy and rusty.
Suntour Xcd 6000 rear derailleur. Shimano LX hub and cassette.
1989 Kona Cinder cone
Suntour XC Pro accushift thumb shifters. LEECHI brake levers.
Suntour Xcd cantilevers. Integrated cable stop and pulley on the stem.
Suntour xc crankset with Powerrings. No dust caps. Xcd 6000 front derailleur. Xcd 6000 pedals, rebuildable, rusty and scuffed. Not shown: Zerk it bottom bracket sleeve and grease fitting. Generic 3T spindle with a Sugino DS cup and a shimano adjustable cup and lock ring.
Tange MTB double-butted tubing, main triangle.
Suntour Xcd 6000 roller cam brake, grimy and rusty.
Suntour Xcd 6000 rear derailleur. Shimano LX hub and cassette.
#2
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
Paint
The paint had seen better days. Cables had rubbed through paint on the headtube, and the bike had been handled roughly for a while (it is a mountain bike). The drive side chain stay was missing 40% of its paint from chain slap and chain suck.
Thread for details on clean up and paint freshening here.
Thread for details on clean up and paint freshening here.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2,701
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 650 Times
in
336 Posts
Nice. That is a sweet bike and you don't see that last gasp for roller cams very often.
Are the LeeChi brake levers nice-looking? I know they made some nicer products despite the budget reputation.
Are the LeeChi brake levers nice-looking? I know they made some nicer products despite the budget reputation.
#4
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
These don't seem to be the budget LeeChi levers folks complain about flexing while braking in MTB and BMX forums. They show wear on the ends of the levers where the black paint/anodizing has worn through, and rust on the clamp bolt, but nothing a little evaporust can't handle. I can post pics a little later. if you know something about them, I'd appreciate help IDing the model.
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
Posts: 167
Bikes: 1984 & 1990 Marinoni Specials - 1990 Bianchi Sika - 1993 Cannondale M800 - 1996 GT Zaskar - 1993 Kona Kilauea - 1987 Ritchey Ascent - 1996 Rocky Mountain Vertex - 2008 Kona Dogma - 1976 Schwinn Suburban - 1994 Kuwahara Makai
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
58 Posts
Very nice! A friend of mine owned the exact bike back in 89' and I've always liked the older Kona's (I've been riding a 2008 Dawgma for 11 years now and love it). I love the classic rigid Kona's like yours. I was fortunate enough to pull this 93' Kilauea out of a dumpster, I'm currently giving it a fanatical restoration including paint (above what I would normally do) as i have many unused lightweight (90s) parts which finally have a period correct home. I look forward to seeing your refurbish, I'll send a pick of mine complete if you're interested possibly next week, here is my dumpster find which did not include a seatpost or saddle (the ones in the picture are old units used to take it for a spin):
#6
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
@retrodude
Your frame and decals are in nicer shape than mine if you pulled this out of a dumpster. Thank goodness for the relentless pressure to upgrade, right?
This bike has seen some action/abuse (My opinion is that the mountain bike doesn't notice a difference between the two!). I linked to the thread with the detail on cleaning up the paint. Meguair's Ultimate compound is a miracle in a bottle (so is evaporust!). My paint restoration produced acceptable results for a rider. Unfortunately, the original paint was very thin and inconsistent compared to a powder coat or electrostatic paint job, and a show-quality restoration would likely involve a strip and respray. The paint had aged unevenly potentially due to how it had been stored so some touch up work is more noticeable. Thicker original paint would allow me to use two coats of primer to better hide the steel under the white paint, and still be able to wet sand the paint level with existing paint.
Edit: I noticed your Velocity stem! Nice! Did you keep it?
Your frame and decals are in nicer shape than mine if you pulled this out of a dumpster. Thank goodness for the relentless pressure to upgrade, right?
This bike has seen some action/abuse (My opinion is that the mountain bike doesn't notice a difference between the two!). I linked to the thread with the detail on cleaning up the paint. Meguair's Ultimate compound is a miracle in a bottle (so is evaporust!). My paint restoration produced acceptable results for a rider. Unfortunately, the original paint was very thin and inconsistent compared to a powder coat or electrostatic paint job, and a show-quality restoration would likely involve a strip and respray. The paint had aged unevenly potentially due to how it had been stored so some touch up work is more noticeable. Thicker original paint would allow me to use two coats of primer to better hide the steel under the white paint, and still be able to wet sand the paint level with existing paint.
Edit: I noticed your Velocity stem! Nice! Did you keep it?
#7
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Nice find. I've had a hankering for a Kona after seeing a '90s Lava Dome Race Light earlier this year in metallic emerald green. Still kinda kicking myself for not making an offer. The pawn shop's starting price was over $300 and I figured my offer of $100 would go nowhere, so I decided to check back once a month until they dropped the price. But someone grabbed it before I did.
I'm not really into mountain biking or even single track, but a 25 lb rigid fork Kona would have been fun on our very tame local pea gravel roads and mowed grass/weed fields. I just kinda like Kona's design and cosmetic quirks that set them apart from most other MTBs of that era.
Bucket list stuff.
I'm not really into mountain biking or even single track, but a 25 lb rigid fork Kona would have been fun on our very tame local pea gravel roads and mowed grass/weed fields. I just kinda like Kona's design and cosmetic quirks that set them apart from most other MTBs of that era.
Bucket list stuff.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,472 Times
in
2,079 Posts
I like this bike. We don't have enough threads here for building up older MTBs. They are great bikes and the prices tend to be very reasonable. I hope this thread motives me to rebuild my 1992 Trek 950.
#9
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
Is it bad form to mention other forums?
Prices for NOS and good used Shimano ATB/MTB components aren't terrible, Suntour is another story. I'm noticing an upward creep in prices for vintage Rockhoppers in my area, maybe due to name recognition. I'll chalk it up to the gravel/adventure bike craze sweeping the nation. I'm caught in it too, after all. Why spend $1000+ for a carbon wunderbike when it shares much of the same geometry with the early rigid steel MTBs.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Champlin, MN
Posts: 207
Bikes: 1983 Cannondale ST500, 1987 Cannondale SM400 with SA 3 speed hub, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 1982 Schwinn Voyageur SP, 1992 Kona Explosif
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
I picked up this 91 Kona Explosif at the beginning of the summer. The bike is full Deore XT, but had a mismatched cheapo front wheel and the front derailleur cage was broken. I built new wheels on XT hubs, added a NOS XT front derailleur and replaced all the consumables. It's a great rider.
Likes For ncrnelson:
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
Posts: 167
Bikes: 1984 & 1990 Marinoni Specials - 1990 Bianchi Sika - 1993 Cannondale M800 - 1996 GT Zaskar - 1993 Kona Kilauea - 1987 Ritchey Ascent - 1996 Rocky Mountain Vertex - 2008 Kona Dogma - 1976 Schwinn Suburban - 1994 Kuwahara Makai
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
58 Posts
@retrodude
Your frame and decals are in nicer shape than mine if you pulled this out of a dumpster. Thank goodness for the relentless pressure to upgrade, right?
This bike has seen some action/abuse (My opinion is that the mountain bike doesn't notice a difference between the two!). I linked to the thread with the detail on cleaning up the paint. Meguair's Ultimate compound is a miracle in a bottle (so is evaporust!). My paint restoration produced acceptable results for a rider. Unfortunately, the original paint was very thin and inconsistent compared to a powder coat or electrostatic paint job, and a show-quality restoration would likely involve a strip and respray. The paint had aged unevenly potentially due to how it had been stored so some touch up work is more noticeable. Thicker original paint would allow me to use two coats of primer to better hide the steel under the white paint, and still be able to wet sand the paint level with existing paint.
Edit: I noticed your Velocity stem! Nice! Did you keep it?
Your frame and decals are in nicer shape than mine if you pulled this out of a dumpster. Thank goodness for the relentless pressure to upgrade, right?
This bike has seen some action/abuse (My opinion is that the mountain bike doesn't notice a difference between the two!). I linked to the thread with the detail on cleaning up the paint. Meguair's Ultimate compound is a miracle in a bottle (so is evaporust!). My paint restoration produced acceptable results for a rider. Unfortunately, the original paint was very thin and inconsistent compared to a powder coat or electrostatic paint job, and a show-quality restoration would likely involve a strip and respray. The paint had aged unevenly potentially due to how it had been stored so some touch up work is more noticeable. Thicker original paint would allow me to use two coats of primer to better hide the steel under the white paint, and still be able to wet sand the paint level with existing paint.
Edit: I noticed your Velocity stem! Nice! Did you keep it?
I can't wait to do a real ride with it (took it around the back lane last night to see if it even fits my 5'-8" frame, fits perfect! I'm used to stretched out MTBs)
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia
Posts: 167
Bikes: 1984 & 1990 Marinoni Specials - 1990 Bianchi Sika - 1993 Cannondale M800 - 1996 GT Zaskar - 1993 Kona Kilauea - 1987 Ritchey Ascent - 1996 Rocky Mountain Vertex - 2008 Kona Dogma - 1976 Schwinn Suburban - 1994 Kuwahara Makai
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
58 Posts
I picked up this 91 Kona Explosif at the beginning of the summer. The bike is full Deore XT, but had a mismatched cheapo front wheel and the front derailleur cage was broken. I built new wheels on XT hubs, added a NOS XT front derailleur and replaced all the consumables. It's a great rider.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 58
Bikes: '76 B-Stone Kabuki (SS) / '90 B-Stone MB-6 (1x5) / '94 B-Stone MB-6 (with bobike seat for the boy) / '96 Kona Hahanna / Salsa Journeyman (Claris 650b...for gravel or something...)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
12 Posts
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Champlin, MN
Posts: 207
Bikes: 1983 Cannondale ST500, 1987 Cannondale SM400 with SA 3 speed hub, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 1982 Schwinn Voyageur SP, 1992 Kona Explosif
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
I bought them for the same purpose as you and I'm satisfied.
#15
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
Selected components
Full spread! Handlebar, stem, and seatpost came with the bike. Seatpost is an origin 8 pro fit, and adequate.
Suntour X-Press Accushift shifters, to replace the thumb levers. Mechanisms cleaned and lubed.
Suntour XCD LTD levers, because the XCD 6000 levers aren't on EBay, and short pull moto-style levers are scarce new.
Suntour XCD 6000 front derailleur, cleaned and lubed.
Suntour Grease Guard BB. this requires a space to push the DS spindle right enough for chainring clearance.
Suntour WTB licensed grease guard bolts allow grease to be pumped into the bearings to force contaminated grease through the seals around the spindle.
Holes connect from the spindle central shaft to force grease through the bearings.
Suntour XCD triple crankset with Powerrings. Suntour PL-XD10, bearings refurbished and steel repainted.
Suntour XCD 6000 long cage derailleur, cleaned and lubed.
Suntour XCD power brake (roller cam), rollers lubed, and XCD cantilever
#16
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
Finally Complete!
After touching up the numerous scrapes and chips, sourcing appropriate components, and building a wheel from the old rim and NOS Suntour freehub (the rim gave me fits and might be toast), I present a surprisingly quick and capable Kona Cinder Cone!
The Kona Cinder Cone in its natural habitat. Frame serial number points to Fairly manufacture in 1989.
XCD 6000 drivetrain: XCD 6000 long cage rear derailleur; 13-28 cassette; XCD triple front derailleur; 175 crank arms and 48, 38*, 28* chainrings (*cycloid ovalized); KMC Z51rb chain.
DMR Deathgrip lock-on grips, Suntour X-press Accushift Plus 3x7 shifters. Friction front, indexed rear.
Suntour XCD cantilever brakes and carrier, original oversized straddle cable.
The venerable Kona Project 2 rigid fork.
Suntour XCD6000 power brake (roller cam). Suntour quick release binder bolt
Another view of the XCD 6000 roller cam power brakes and cam plate. XCD6000 pedal with generic cage and straps; chromed Suntour quick release binder bolt.
Ready to bomb some singletrack.
Many local trails feature prairie sections and flow trails.
The Kona Cinder Cone in its natural habitat. Frame serial number points to Fairly manufacture in 1989.
XCD 6000 drivetrain: XCD 6000 long cage rear derailleur; 13-28 cassette; XCD triple front derailleur; 175 crank arms and 48, 38*, 28* chainrings (*cycloid ovalized); KMC Z51rb chain.
DMR Deathgrip lock-on grips, Suntour X-press Accushift Plus 3x7 shifters. Friction front, indexed rear.
Suntour XCD cantilever brakes and carrier, original oversized straddle cable.
The venerable Kona Project 2 rigid fork.
Suntour XCD6000 power brake (roller cam). Suntour quick release binder bolt
Another view of the XCD 6000 roller cam power brakes and cam plate. XCD6000 pedal with generic cage and straps; chromed Suntour quick release binder bolt.
Ready to bomb some singletrack.
Many local trails feature prairie sections and flow trails.
Likes For Unca_Sam:
#17
The dropped
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
Most of the information on this bike comes from the United Kingdom and specifies Shimano components, however I wouldn't be surprised if the North American market received a different build (why else would I get a mostly complete XCD drivetrain and brakes on the bike?)
If anyone has information about the 1989 Kona Cinder Cone built for the North American, I'm interested in learning what you know!
If anyone has information about the 1989 Kona Cinder Cone built for the North American, I'm interested in learning what you know!