Kona Smoke Upgrade

[Andrew Gronow]

Hi all,
I have a Kona Smoke 2006 which I use for commuting and touring.
It was cheap to buy with budget components but it has a steel frame which Kona do well and more importantly it fits me.
The bike is in it's original form with all stock components.
Fitted is a cup/spindle BB which needs tightening every few months, so I thought it time to fit a replacement and while I'm at it, a new chainset.
I want to keep the BB square taper so I am considering a Shimano UN54 mated with an LX triple.
Will these be a direct replacements? As it's all Shimano Mega 9 I'm assuming it'll fit no problem.
I'll measure the spindle when I take it out but I think it's 113mm.
The rear mech is a Deore Mega 9 mated to a HG30 8 speed cassette.
More advice will be needed as I proceed...
Regards,
Andrew.

 

[Andrew Gronow]

33 views and no advice?

 

[djb1971]

What's wrong with a hollow tech bb?

 

[AndyPeace]

Hi all,
I have a Kona Smoke 2006 which I use for commuting and touring.
It was cheap to buy with budget components but it has a steel frame which Kona do well and more importantly it fits me.
The bike is in it's original form with all stock components.
Fitted is a cup/spindle BB which needs tightening every few months, so I thought it time to fit a replacement and while I'm at it, a new chainset.
I want to keep the BB square taper so I am considering a Shimano UN54 mated with an LX triple.
Will these be a direct replacements? As it's all Shimano Mega 9 I'm assuming it'll fit no problem.
I'll measure the spindle when I take it out but I think it's 113mm.
The rear mech is a Deore Mega 9 mated to a HG30 8 speed cassette.
More advice will be needed as I proceed...
Regards,
Andrew.

The SLX chainset/bearings is around twice the cost of your LX option. The listings at CRC have off road gearing (44,32,22) which you might find a little limited at the top end. were you looking for lower gearing?

 

[Andrew Gronow]

What's wrong with a hollow tech bb?

Thanks for the reply.
It had been my first choice but had no idea about compatability.
Little bit wary of BB width and chainset dish and other nasties...
So, is that your "Smoke" in the pic?
Would this bolt straight in?

 

[Andrew Gronow]

The SLX chainset/bearings is around twice the cost of your LX option. The listings at CRC have off road gearing (44,32,22) which you might find a little limited at the top end. were you looking for lower gearing?

I was just after replacing like for like really.
Currently using 42/34/24 with an 8speed, 11-32t.

 

[djb1971]

I had it a few years ago, it was a great workhorse and took some punishment. It's still going, I gave it to my paperboy because his bike got squashed!

The hollow tech fits easily, it comes with spacers to get the chainline right. You can get a cheaper deore version with a bb for under £30. I recently sold one complete with 2 bottom brackets for £30 posted. I also fitted a long cage slx rear mech and it all worked perfectly on the standard grip shift on the mega9. You just need the hollow tech bb tool to fit it.

Try the forums sales, eBay, bike discounts or rose bikes. You should get one for a decent price, you could put a wanted ad too.

 

[Andrew Gronow]

I had it a few years ago, it was a great workhorse and took some punishment. It's still going, I gave it to my paperboy because his bike got squashed!

The hollow tech fits easily, it comes with spacers to get the chainline right. You can get a cheaper deore version with a bb for under £30. I recently sold one complete with 2 bottom brackets for £30 posted. I also fitted a long cage slx rear mech and it all worked perfectly on the standard grip shift on the mega9. You just need the hollow tech bb tool to fit it.

Try the forums sales, eBay, bike discounts or rose bikes. You should get one for a decent price, you could put a wanted ad too.

That's music to my ears...
So, any Mega 9 crank will fit the frame?
I'm watching a couple of Deores and XT's on eBay.
Would you believe Iv'e been cycling for 40 years and don't know what fits with what.

 

[djb1971]

The nine speed chain sets are just the job

An 8 speed chain is fine on 9 speed chain sets but not on a nine speed cassette.

 

[Andrew Gronow]

The nine speed chain sets are just the job

This is going to sound stupid, but are all the Hollowtech spindles the same length?

 

[djb1971]

MTb spindles are, you use the spacers that comes with it to get the spacing right. You will need two spacers on the drive side and one on the non drive.

 

[Andrew Gronow]

MTb spindles are, you use the spacers that comes with it to get the spacing right. You will need two spacers on the drive side and one on the non drive.

Thank you so much for the info...

 

[mickle]

I designed the Kona Smoke

(I wish I'd managed to aquire one in my size but they'd butchered it with 700c tyres by the time they offered me one. So I got an Africa bike instead)

 

[Andrew Gronow]

I designed the Kona Smoke

(I wish I'd managed to aquire one in my size but they'd butchered it with 700c tyres by the tome they offered me one. So I got an Africa bike instead)

You designed it...?

 

[mickle]

You designed it...?

Yup.