The frame was built for a 41cm a-c fork, so 42.5 is too long and 44 is far too long. If you already have an Explosif with a P2, you will find the 99 frame with either of those forks would be an expensive way of getting something worse than what you already have.
Both frames are better with suspension, but of the two I would say the 96 would be better suited by a rigid fork. The 853 Explosifs were more explicitly designed for suspension.
Both frames are better with suspension, but of the two I would say the 96 would be better suited by a rigid fork. The 853 Explosifs were more explicitly designed for suspension.
