Kona Joe - the cruiser

[nonlineartom]

2006 Kona Joe, found whilst trawling eBay for cruiser parts for my Schwinn (build thread also on ES) I had never heard of it before and instantly fell in love with it's proportions and specs. I wasn't dissapointed when I got it and the build quality is just as good as the Stinky. It's an alloy frame with 24" wheels with 3" wide Kenda Flame tires. The brakes have been upgraded from Avids to Hayes 160mm discs that are vicious. The forks are at a very slack angle which makes cornering... interesting, the handle bars want to turn all the time, bit different from the Schwinn, it's not impractical though I went for an unpowered ride on the stock bike and It functions as a road bike very nicely indeed very little rolling resistance and lots of gears

So the plan... I only have one motor in a 24" wheel at the moment and thats the 5306, not the best road cruising motor but it will do for now. The plan is to build a battery box in the top half of the frame using thin plywood and shove as much LiPo in there as possible for long rides through the Yorkshire Dales.



I'd like to run an HS motor in the 24" wheel eventually and probably a Hua Tong 72v sensor-less controller I'll be getting shortly to keep costs down.





The base of the battery box is made, mounted using a pair of exhaust clamps which will make sure it can't wobble. I have the template made for the teardrop shape tank with cardboard and tomorrow I will cut and assemble it out of 3mm birch ply. CA and battery medics will be build into the tank and visible through a perspex window. There will also be a DC/DC converter for the lights and cut off key in there wedged in.



Confirmed room for 10 packs of 6s. I'm using 100mm x 50mm PVC pipe to hold and secure the packs, these will be glued down and the gaps filled with expanding foam so nothing can move around inside.

The tank is narrower at the back so you don't have to pedal like you've shit yourself. 6 in the front of the tank, 4 in the back of the tank.

more updates tomorrow night when (hopefully) the tank will be on

 

[dogman dan]

Got other 5300 motors in another size? Swap stators. Instant winding change.

 

[nonlineartom]

Dogman, wish I did, I've got 3 mac motors in 26's and 20's and the 5306 in a 24" rim. That's all I've got

 

[Deutch420]

Im normally not a big fan of those style bikes but that Kona looks awesome! I like it a lot! Would make for a great summer time boardwalk cruiser if u ask me. Nice find. Do you mind telling us what it cost you.? Good luck with your build.

 

[nonlineartom]

bike cost me £190 second hand in "like new" condition. It's a lot of bike for the money if you ask me with those really decent disk brakes and kona quality. Bottom bracket cranks and pedals are what you would expect on a mid range kona mountain bike. It seems to be a mix of a chopper and a beach cruiser but with hardtail mountainbike thrown in there too. Only made for one year and this is the first one I've ever seen.

 

[Jamzz]

That is a good looking bike. I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I'm also curious how the rid quality changes, when it is powered.

 

[nonlineartom]

getting some help with the build



testing the tank, the front is now slanted at the same angle as the forks so it doesn't clash with the steering

View attachment 2

10 packs of lipo, could fit 12 at a push but with 10 there is plenty of room for the hardness and other hardware





Glue is now drying holding the panels together, next up is some kind of lid for the whole thing and half a dozen coats of varnish.

 

[SamTexas]

Interesting battery box. Looking forward to the finished product.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Nice looking bike!

 

[nonlineartom]

Going to try my hand at pyrography and emblazon this on the side of the battery box, just to scare people in the know.