Its about time I shared my build with you, I built this bike in September last year and I've put 3400 km on it since, it's already been on holiday with me to Spain and the rest of the riding has been in the north west England and north Wales.
Specs – 1997 kona Hahanna frame modified by extending the dropouts to allow for 700c wheels with 50mm tyres, through axle and flat mounts brake caliper and a stiffening tube under the caliper. The cable mounts have all been removed and the rear brake runs through the down tube. The rear has also been stretched to 142mm and I also had to chop out the top bracing bar and move it up for more clearance. The welding was a mix of Tig on the dropouts and Tig brasing on the tubes.
Components are a mix of Ali express carbon bars forks and the 700c wheels. And second hand sram riva axs brakes shifters and MTB sram gpx BB and axs derailleur. Axs xplr 50mm dropper and I have also been running some 27.5 DT swiss MTB wheel with 2.2 xc tyres all winter for the muddy riding we do in the UK.
I built it for the fun of the build and I was fully expecting the geometry to be compromised by the conversation but I have been massively surprised by how good it is to ride and how capable. I've had the chance to ride some of my friends very nice new gravel bikes and none of them have made me want to buy a new frame.
I'm now busy planning another Kona build that's much more bike packing friendly as I designed this one to be as light and agile as possible which isn't really the best for bike packing!
As a final note I forgot to mention that my first MTB was the same year and colour Kona Hahanna back in 97, it wasn't the reason I built this bike it was just a happy accident (Facebook marketplace £25 frame impulse purchase)
by johnonabike
8 Comments
what a beautiful Kona you got there, and I mean the bike. I like the mods you did, if I had the means and knowledge, would do it to all my frames. What a wonderful bike, congrats.
What an absolute beauty. Also, my back hurts just by looking at it.
Sweet. I have a Kona frame I’d love to do something like this too but all the welding is too much. What other Kona frame do you have for your next build?
A triumph very good work nice part list too
What a gorgeous bike, and thank you for sharing all the photos of it out and about. A bike like that deserves to be ridden, and it looks like you’re doing that. Congrats!
Doesn’t it hurt your back being so hunched over?
Dope bike. Question: are you allergic to taking driveside pics?
Great looking bike! Which fork did you use there?