Kona Cinder Cone W.I.P - SLX Chainset has arrived!

max丨mo

Here is some recent pics of my Kona, I've had it 2 years and it's served me very well. The hubs are shot so I have ordered a new pair of wheels which should be winging their way to me as we speak. Will get some before and after pics up for your perusal!

Currently, I use this bike to commute to work every day, and stick the highrollers on at the weekend.


Old pic in the garden, note the slightly worn rear tyre!

New High Rollers! Under 550g each and only £30 a pair, loving these tyres.

New Seat Clamp, nice quality. Thanks for selling me this if you're looking!

A couple of shots of the wheels and cassette that are soon to be replaced.





Here's the spec, upgrades are highlighted in red.

Frame - Kona Cinder Cone '07
Forks - Marzocchi MZ Race
Brakes - Avid Juicy 5
Wheels - Mavic Crossride '09
Tyres - Maxxis Highroller 2.1" folding / Schwalbe Marathon 1.75"
F+R Mechs - Shimano XT
Shifters - Shimano SLX
Chainset - FSA Alpha Powerdrive
Saddle - Charge Spoon
Pedals - DMR V8s in Oxblood Red
Grips - Spank Spank Tugg Job
Headset - Cane Creek Aheadset
Chain - SRAM PC971
Cassette - SRAM PG970
Bars/Stem/Post - Stock Kona stuff
Seat Clamp - Salsa Flipoff


Just been upgrading parts as they wear out/fail, plans are to sort a new chainset and chain next, but the forks are also in desperate need of a replacement. What do you guys think? Will weigh it and update my results soon, but I think it stands at around 29lbs. Stock weight was more like 31lbs.

max丨mo

Wheels arrived superquick from Merlin, and the new cassette.

Have weighed my old wheels, and these, and have saved 160g on the front and 310g on the rear!

They spin extremely smooth, can't wait to try em out, look pretty good too.

Have installed the cassette and rotors, changed the front for a 185mm.

Some pics of the final results coming soon.

ilovedirt

Nice build. I'm running those high rollers too, really fast rolling, light and grippy, love them.

Paul 8v

Nice 8)

max丨mo

Wheels built up.



Some more shots...







Totally transformed the look of the bike I reckon, and knocked off a good chunk of weight. Have degreased the drivetrain and indexed the gears, now to go out and test the shifting and see how the new brake rotors are!

What do you think?

The Big Cheese

Good upgrades - looking really ace. I think they are brilliant wheels for the money.. fantastic looking too IMHO....

ilovedirt

Those wheels look great, they really look 3x the price.

bwfc4eva868

I think that looks absolutely stunning mate gorgeous colour. I miss my old Kona

Anonymous

i bloody well love the colour on that.

max丨mo

Got some goodies in the post.
New bars, stem and grips. Got some replacement bolts on the way for my lever clamps, no room for rusty bolts in my new cockpit

Even with the extra weight of the grips (which are massive, but feel nice and grippy) I've saved a small amount of weight, 128g. But it does feel lighter up front.

A trio of bargains, £25 bars, £12 stem, £8 grips all new
My mate Harry reckons they're mint.

The stuff





Weights







Old Kona Bars - 374g
New Easton EA70 Monkeybars - 274g







Old Kona Stem - 204g
New Carbon Cycles 60mm Stem - 115g







Old Spank Grips - 106g
New Superstar Grips - 167g

Final pics





Just need Chainset (SLX?), Forks (2nd hand Rebas?) and Seatpost. Then I'm done. I hope...

max丨mo

Here's the updated spec, upgrades are highlighted in red.

Frame - Kona Cinder Cone '07
Forks - Marzocchi MZ Race
Brakes - Avid Juicy 5
Wheels - Mavic Crossride '09
Tyres - Maxxis Highroller 2.1" folding / Schwalbe Marathon 1.75"
F+R Mechs - Shimano XT
Shifters - Shimano SLX
Chainset - FSA Alpha Powerdrive
Saddle - Charge Spoon
Pedals - DMR V8s in Oxblood Red
Grips - Superstar
Headset - Cane Creek Aheadset
Chain - SRAM PC971
Cassette - SRAM PG970
Bars - Easton Monkeybars EA70 '10
Stem - Carbon Cycles 60mm Alu
Seat Clamp - Salsa Flipoff

MountainMonster

Very nice build man! Lovely colour combos.

coomber

Had the same until a month ago, just swapped bits onto a saracen zen frame.

The marzocchi forks are ok, if not the stiffest. Rebas would be great upgrade.

Levi_501

Nice bike 8)

ilovedirt

some nice upgrades there, nice bike

bwfc4eva868

Lovely looking bike. I miss my Old Kona

Clark3y

Nice, some choice upgrades there, and Kona frames always look good.

jakeeeeeee

i ordered a pair of crossrides of merlin (2010 model) and i got the 2011 ones !
but i'm not complaining :roll: btw love the bike. heres an slx chainset dirt cheap
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shim ... aid:287671

Dorset_Bins

Nice.
Kind of kicking myself having sold my Caldera frame, now I've seen this!
By the way, where did you find a pair of folding High Rollers for £30?

max丨mo

Think it was CRC, sorry about the late reply!

Nowadays you can get a pair of Nobby Nic 2.25s from On one for £30! Even better!

max丨mo

In the post:-
Exotic Alu rigid forks (will knock 1.4Kg, or 3lbs off the front end!)
FSA Alu Seatpost (saves 100g)
Hope Spacers, in red
Hope Head doctor, in red
XTR Gear cable outers and Jagwire inners

Coming soon:-
Either SLX or Deore chainset, with HT2 BB.
Best price I have found including shipping is £49 Deore or £98 SLX.

Will post pics when installed

coomber

Will be some impressive weight savings on that. I dont want to sound negative though, but that frame will be weighty for road use if trying to get real lightweight, and conversely harsh as fully rigid off road I would guess?

max丨mo

Yeah you're right, the plan is to hopefully get the full-susser I've been planning for in the next few months for off-road use.

For now though, I'll be using the Kona for my 70 miles a week commute on road, and I can always swap the tyres and forks for off-road use until then.

Ultimately, I would love to have a stable of three bikes, and actually get a nice and light road bike for commuting, but it's a long way off with my small budget.

If the full-susser falls through, I'll go back to plan A and try and pick up a set of Rebas for the Kona.

I'm wanting to try out a Giant Trance and Cannondale Rize 140 soon, really liking the Canyon Nerve but I don't think I could get one on my works Cyclescheme.

max丨mo

New chainset has arrived today, have decided against the rigid fork route for now, and am after a used set of Rebas next.

Feels incredibly light and looks very nice in the flesh.

Also picked up Hope spacers, Head doctor in red, and have ordered a Cane Creek 110 Headset in red, which looks awesome.

Few pics:-

hoathy

Nice machine, you're right about the forks though. Reba's would be an excellent choice or Recon golds if you're budget won't stretch. And if you're loaded a pair of Fox F100s!