Kona Unit Single Speed Frame R.I.P.

[Goshawk]

Karl is dead, I killed him on Sunday, snapped his neck on a low speed technical rocky descent out in Staffordshire between Three Shire Heads and The Roaches

Luckily the crack in the top tube didnt get all the way round and managed to ride/push home and even got to the cafe (which had decided not to be a cafe anymore but still sold cake and tea???) absolutely gorgeous weather for nursing a very sick frame back home on the back roads, made even better by the distinct lack of people due to England Footie Match.

The moral of this: if you are riding a very light frame hard over very rough ground regularly over a period getting into years not months and fully intend to swap the frame for something a bit burlier at some point then do it soon before you break it!

I have 4 bikes and 1 of them even works

[Goshawk]

5 year warranty! Woo Hoo!

Pity the receipt isn't where I thought it was. So begins a paper chase, at the end of which I may/may not have a new frame.

[merlin]

Good Luck with the paper-trail, warranty claim and new frame...

Halfords / Boardman bikes were not helpful and would not replace my frame free of charge - 'crash damage is not covered under the warranty' even though it was only 6 months old! Offered a crash-replacement frame for £198 but none in stock for over two months! Hence the new frame purchased elsewhere - not a lightweight-alloy frame made of soft-cheese either (like the Boardman)!

If yours is not crash damage (and you can find the receipt) they should honour the warranty. Good luck!

B

[Goshawk]

Well I tracked down some proof of purchase and I am now the owner of a brand new Kona Explosif frame, result!
The tubing has changed from the Dedacciai custom butted, thin as a baccy tin to Kona's own brand and is simply named Chromoly Butted, so I am reassured that its a little stronger but its still sold as a XC Race frame.

Now I don't know whether to build it up into a bike or sell the frame and get something more suited to my natural style of riding. I feel that I may have to ride with a bit of restrain if I keep this frame and want it to stay in one piece.

Do you think there is a market for a new frame but obviously with no warranty as its a private sale and what would be a realistic price, they are £550 retail! Is 50% about right or what?

For anyone interested its a 20" so suit anyone 6ft and over and its got single speed dropouts but has full cable routing.
It is black

[Goshawk]

OK. I emailed Kona importer Paligap requesting more info on the tubing and how they think the new compares to the old.
See what they come back with.
Already have a black and purple theme planned for if I keep it, inspired by my recent broken toe

[Goshawk]

For sale now, see other topic.