Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Frame similar to Kona Blast/Fire Mountain/Cinder Cone, but with track dropouts?

I am (somewhat desperately) looking for a frame with a geometry similar to the Kona 26" hardtail frames, such as the Blast or Cinder Cone, but with track dropouts.

Something that won't break the bank :(


The Surly 1x1 seems similar, but not quite there, I think.


I am thankful and appreciative for any suggestion.

Surly is close but steeper HT. That HTA will slacken if you run big sproing up front tho.

TT lengths are pretty close. Rest of the stuff is hurting my head cuz Kona site is in inches, even if you click on the French flag.

How about a little more help? like, say, the geometry of the kona frames? IIRC they're 71* up front and 73* on the seat, but...

Oh man, I had a 2008 Cinder Cone. Loved the geo on those. In for more info on this, been looking for a winter alu frame to build.

Oh man, I had a 2008 Cinder Cone. Loved the geo on those. In for more info on this, been looking for a winter alu frame to build.

Youre getting off track bc now you are talking about an aluminum 26er with track ends?

To the OP: What about that kona w the long-ass name. Two toP tubes... The rat rodders love that frame. I think it has track ends.

Are you stuck on the track ends? Are horizontal dropouts ok?

Youre getting off track bc now you are talking about an aluminum 26er with track ends?

To the OP: What about that kona w the long-ass name. Two toP tubes... The rat rodders love that frame. I think it has track ends.

Are you stuck on the track ends? Are horizontal dropouts ok?

I think I know the frame you have in mind... it has the name of that Hawaiian bird Humuhumu...something :( I like the looks of that frame, but no idea about the geometry of it.

Not stuck on the track ends, but I assumed that if such a beast is to be found (basically a MTB frame), it'll probably have track ends, like the Surly 1x1. But of course, if you have something in mind with horiz dropouts, please do let me/us know!

Ok, what's the difference between a track end and a horizontal dropout?

Ok, what's the difference between a track end and a horizontal dropout?


I started writing you an answer, but one picture is worth a thousand words or more:
http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html

Surely there are more single seed specific mtb bikes/frames out there, correct? When I was racing mtb single speed class in the late 90's, there were quite a few different makers coming out with single speed specific frames. Are the Kona bikes you listed not typical mtb geometries?

Are the Kona bikes you listed not typical mtb geometries?
I don't know. They might be. Notice that I am appealing to the wisdom of the masses, because I lack it myself. Also, I am looking for something cheap-ish. The Kona Unit seems to have the right geometry, but the wrong price.

Hey Bat56, the frame you had in mind is the Humuhumu-Nukunuku-Apua'a, and it's awesome. I'll see what's the geometry and whether it's available for not too much moolah.

EDIT: apparently, not available as frameset. Too bad, because it looks rad/jackass.

Are the Kona bikes you listed not typical mtb geometries?

Yeah, they're pretty typical. OP never mentions what year Cinder Cone, tho.

Surly single speeds are probably pretty close to 1990s Cinder Cone geo.

Current Cinder cones are pretty slack and have longer travel forks, though.

68.5/72.5 HTA/STA for the med these days. Probably about 71/73 BITD.

Yeah, they're pretty typical. OP never mentions what year Cinder Cone, tho.

Surly single speeds are probably pretty close to 1990s Cinder Cone geo.

Current Cinder cones are pretty slack and have longer travel forks, though.

68.5/72.5 HTA/STA for the med these days. Probably about 71/73 BITD.

Indeed, I had in mind a 1990's Cinder Cone. Actually, my frame used to be on a Kona Kilauea, but it's basically exactly the same as the Cinder Cone (same frame, different Kona decals). And yes, it was/is a 1990's frame.

If you're on a budget, know how to assemble bikes and don't mind rollin' 29er, bikesdirect has a couple of SS MTBs

I'd only consider the Bullseye or Outcast though. Outcast has sproing fork, Bullseye is rigid.

They also don't exactly come with track dropouts. They are rear facing DOs, though, with a chain tug with built in derailer hanger so you can go geared if you want in the future.

If you're on a budget, know how to assemble bikes and don't mind rollin' 29er, bikesdirect has a couple of SS MTBs

I'd only consider the Bullseye or Outcast though. Outcast has sproing fork, Bullseye is rigid.

They also don't exactly come with track dropouts. They are rear facing DOs, though, with a chain tug with built in derailer hanger so you can go geared if you want in the future.

I have a 29er already (Redline Monocog). I specifically would like the Kilauea/Cinder Cone geometry. If the Surly 1x1 is a good fit, I'll look for that on eBay. There are occasionally good deals, sadly mostly in the US (Europe here). I'll keep an eye out, though.

EDIT: Bikesdirect does not ship outside of the US :(

Here is the geometry I am after (1993 Cinder Cone/Lava Dome/Fire Mountain/Kilauea):
For an 18" frame, head angle is 71 deg, seat angle is 74 deg, TT is 22.5", chainstay is 16.75", fork offset is 1.6", BB height is 11.75", standover is 28", wheelbase is 41.5"

A 2011 "Medium" (corresponds neatly to a 18" size) Surly 1x1 has the following geo: HT angle 71 deg, ST angle 73 deg, chainstay length 16.5", (TT length measured differently), wheelbase is 41.9", standover is 30.5"