(08/12/09 update) WIP Kona Kikapu 2005

The Big Cheese

Fancied a Kona for a while, then this one came up. Some of you may remember it.. it was MacAndCheese's old frame. I am going to keep this build on the cheap, but without performance compromise.

I have totally stripped this frame down to the bones today and scrubbed, degreased, greased, polished, re-assembled.. etc etc. The full service. It's in great condition. Just some chainstay scratches and a tiny amount of negligible cable rub. It came with some RaceFace Evolve XC low-risers, Deore front mech, Hope headset and Kona seatpost. It's all nice and shiny now.

Have fitted new seatclamp / new bolt for the 'Dog Collar'/ new bottle cage bolts.

And lashings of Autoglym It's come up really nice, I did throw the frame in the bath though... with some muc-off, when the missus was out....

Build plan is:
Deore rear mech and shifters
Deore crankset
Wellgo V8 copies
Deore hubs on Mavic 317 rims from Merlin (slightly heavy but reliable_
Tora Race or Recon Race (whatever is cheapest when it comes to buying them)
Avid Juicy 3's or Shimano Deore disks

Will be built up over the next few months as and when funds permit, will probably be around the 30lb mark. It's going to be an everyday bike, just for general duties when I don't want to take the marin or Sanction out. But I still want it to be fun to ride, it's quite compact and chuckable, but not too small (seeing it's only a 16" - more nearer a 17")

Here's what I have so far:

supersonic

Nice duvet!

The Big Cheese

supersonic wrote:

Nice duvet!

It's in the spare room - not mine your honour

supersonic

Nice frames those. I call them the 'bootashit' though!

The Big Cheese

supersonic wrote:

Nice frames those. I call them the 'bootashit' though!

Ha ha - meh? What's that mean?

supersonic

Kick a poo - boot a sh*it, volley a tu*rd... ;-)

The Big Cheese

The penny has dropped - I am with you now!!

Now starts the frustrating part - not being able to buy anything for quite some time and staring at a frame!

I think this will equal and exceed Da Mighty Chicken's build

The good thing is that all of the parts I am putting on it are cheap. May even go second hand if the price is right and condition is good!!

MacAndCheese

I completely missed this thread earlier in the week, You've done a really nice job cleaning it up! I have to admit it wasn't as spotless when I sold it :oops: I think it will definitly forfil your needs as an everyday machine

The Big Cheese

lol.......

I have bought some bits for it (quite cheaply)

Raceface evolve XC seatpost

Raceface ride stem

Marzocchi MX 22 forks (won budget fork of the year on here)

FSA Moto XC chainset

The rest will have to wait until after xmas

But I am getting:

M475 shimano hubs on Mavic XM117 rims

Sram X5 rear mech and shifters

Juicy 3 brakes

I estimate that including the frame/headset etc off you. This build will come in at about £450. I think to buy an equivalent of this build today you would be looking at £1k.......

Yes Mac, I think it's gonna be great as an everyday bike, will get more pics up when the forks and all the other stuff is fitted

jadamson

wow how much did you buy the frame/headset etc off mac for? if you dont mind me asking...

thats going to be a sweet build! especially for £450! im very jelous

The Big Cheese

A gentleman never tells

Its the fact that I am a canny shopper and I am buying low price components without compromise in performance

I have always spent too much money on the 'best' parts. I want to prove to myself that I can do this on a sensible budget, and that it will be great to ride.

Paul 8v

Looking forward to seeing what this is like, my mate has just got a kikapu and we're planning on tarting it up, it's a bit lardy at the moment :-)

The Big Cheese

Paul 8v wrote:

Looking forward to seeing what this is like, my mate has just got a kikapu and we're planning on tarting it up, it's a bit lardy at the moment :-)

I am 'hoping' to get this build at around the 27-30lb mark - however, that's heavy for what is essentially a short travel XC machine, as sad as it is, the lower you go down the 'component' tree, the weight penalty rises. I am quite a 'heavy' rider, but Ill get back to you when it's finished,

Andy

Needs more carbon!

stevet1992

Very nice 8)

I cant help but break into a certain Tenacious D song when i see it though

The Big Cheese

stevet1992 wrote:

Very nice 8)

I cant help but break into a certain Tenacious D song when i see it though

Lol, me too.....

Some new X7 shifters on their way now:

So now need:

rear mech
wheels/tyres
cassette/chain
Brakes
saddle and pedals

still a way lef to to go

kopite1979

I like it! damn good clean frame

The Big Cheese

kopite1979 wrote:

I like it! damn good clean frame

Thanks, she is coming along nicely, she wont cost as much as the brakes on one of my bikes lol, but I am having fun getting cheap bits and bobs for her, It's gonna be a nice little ride I think

Bought tonight:

Wellgo V8 copies (Silver)
2m of Fibrax gear outer
Some Kona Jackshit grips (period correct and I like 'em)

The build is all very piecemeal at the moment, the biggest thing left to get is the brakes (Juicy 3's)

BlackSpur

Seen this offer BC?
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-disc-brakes/avid-disc-brakes/avid-juicy-3-disc-brake-sale.html

The Big Cheese

Will look into that... good find!!!

PenguinWithHair

Very nice

PenguinWithHair

By the way, fairly minor comment but my v12 copies arrived today for my kikapu and I can vouch for the colour in white, looks very nice. Saying that I have a thing for white at the moment.

The Big Cheese

PenguinWithHair wrote:

By the way, fairly minor comment but my v12 copies arrived today for my kikapu and I can vouch for the colour in white, looks very nice. Saying that I have a thing for white at the moment.

i went for the V8 copies in silver, to match the frame and also they don't get scratched and lose all the paint after a couple of rides....... DMR/Wellgo V8s and V12s are notorious for fragile paint on the pedals..... I personally love the reflectors on them too

PenguinWithHair

The Big Cheese wrote:

they don't get scratched and lose all the paint after a couple of rides...

Custom fade, adds personality.

PenguinWithHair

The Big Cheese wrote:

I personally love the reflectors on them too

Do you wear skinny fit 'girlfriend' jeans? :? haha

Anonymous

Nice build buddy,
shame about the xbox so last yr.
Ps3 is way ahead lol 8)

Paul 8v

PenguinWithHair wrote:

The Big Cheese wrote:

I personally love the reflectors on them too

Do you wear skinny fit 'girlfriend' jeans? :? haha

Reflectors are evil, and so are skinny fit jeans, they just look so wrong. Who would want to look like a bird? Apart from people who really want to look like a bird of course and that's a whole different kettle of fish...

PenguinWithHair

I take back my question about the skinny jeans by the way, I just saw your Marin build. That is mental. And your gt too, man... Very nice.

The Big Cheese

Silver is where it's at.... Reflectors were taken straight off, hate the things, make a half decent set of predals look shite.....

Forks, chainset and saddle should be here this week, so I can start getting the build started, shall get some pics up when above stuff is fitted.

Wheels and brakes shall be bought next year, cash is running low for bike parts

The Big Cheese

Righto, so a few more bits turned up today:

Forks: Marzocchi MX LO
Chainset: FSA Moto XC MegaExo

Gonna fit them on later and get some pics up.

Now, all that's left to get (still a way to go) is:

Wheels/tyres/tubes
Brakes
Rear mech
cassette/chain

This will be the last run of goodies for a while, managed to get more than I thought with funds that were available, I've gone for budget but reliable kit, I want this rig to be pretty bombproof for general XC duties. However, I fear it's going to be on the heavy side (~28-30lb) as a result

Paul 8v

Not such a bad thing, just means when you get on the Marin it'll feel even lighter