Mountain Biking - Where to get mtb specs?

Does anyone know where I can get specs on bikes/frames from a few years ago?

I am trying to find a good used steel frame/bike from the mid to late 90's that is front suspension compatible. You know, another project. I search all the normal classifieds and auction sites but often I come across a potential prospect where not enough info is provided (or known) about the bike.

Case in point. What appears to be a nice late 90's Kona Hot. I don't know if a Kona Hot is steel or alum. and it is my experience that many frames are now being made in alum. but a few years ago they were steel.

I guess I could post a question to the forums every time but I figure we may have better things to do than help me play.

Suggestions and comments are welcome and will be appreciated.

Blake

Go to www.konaworld.com, and send them an e-mail directly. If anyone has that information, I would guess they do!

L8R

Does anyone know where I can get specs on bikes/frames from a few years ago?

I am trying to find a good used steel frame/bike from the mid to late 90's that is front suspension compatible. You know, another project. I search all the normal classifieds and auction sites but often I come across a potential prospect where not enough info is provided (or known) about the bike.

Case in point. What appears to be a nice late 90's Kona Hot. I don't know if a Kona Hot is steel or alum. and it is my experience that many frames are now being made in alum. but a few years ago they were steel.

I guess I could post a question to the forums every time but I figure we may have better things to do than help me play.

Suggestions and comments are welcome and will be appreciated.

Blake

Hi! I am also looking for info about Kona Hot!
I just put in a downpayment on a used frame from -99.
http://www.trumpetare.se/kona01.jpg
I can´t seem to find out where they were made, US or Taiwan? If they were made in the US, where and by who?

They were however all made out of steel tubing, no cheep substitute here ;) and was produced until -99! I think Kona also tried to quit the Explosif model then. But they brought it back in 2001 or 2002 and tried to make the Explosif model in Alu/Scandium. This material got a bad rep for braking and the customers wanted their classic Explosif back. So in -03 they switched and are now made out of True Temper! Not nearly as nice as the Hot/853 model, but it can still hold its ground as a do-everything MTB. The Hot model was the fancier team-version on the same theme.

I think however that no one was made to take anything longer than 80mm. You could use 100mm on the later 80mm models(Reynolds 853 tubes)but, frankly I don´t see the point. If money is an object and you want a do-it-all-XC-racer, a Kona Hot is, in my view, your best pick. That´s why I am getting one, while they are still around!

Here are some links where you will find old catalogs, determin what year it was made and from there determin what fork will fit:
http://www.kona.dk/
http://www.konaretro.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.konaworld.com
http://www.mtb-news.de/fotos/showgallery.php?si=kona+hot

http://kona.dk/bikeindex.php?bikeId=296

It is a 1998, not a 99, was built in the USA, and is a steel frame.

That's a beautiful ride.

I posted this last year (03) and found a really nice Trek 930 a couple of months later. I gave up on trying to find a good Fisher or Kona. I haven't been disappointed. The Trek probably isn't as nice a frame as the Kona but it is suprisingly light (lighter than I expected) and takes quite a bit of abuse. I rebuilt and/or upgraded everything, added a new set of wheels and have been very pleased.

http://kona.dk/bikeindex.php?bikeId=296

It is a 1998, not a 99, was built in the USA, and is a steel frame.

Sorry Danka! Both you, me and the seller have been taken for a ride by the tasty paintjob!
After going through the links I posted above I have come to the conclusion that it is a custom painted Explosif made in either -98 or -99!!!
See, no Kona Hot was ever made with braseons for rear racks!

The frame, I was told, was brought to Sweden by the Dutch national team as a spare for the World Champ. in -99. It was then sold to a sports shop in Åre who used it to ride around town and then sold it to the current owner.

It would be interesting though to find out who made the paintjob. Was it Kona´s Custom Shop(now deceased?) or a local firm in the Netherlands?
I will of course bring this up with the current owner. ;)