'98 Kona Hot!

I recently purchased a Kona Hot by way of the MMBA (Michigan Mountain Bike Association) forum. From what I could determine from the photos that the seller emailed to me it was my best estimation that the frame was a '98 model and a 18" frame size (though I allowed the seller to convince me it was a 17" :roll: ). Not being the original owner the seller was unsure of the model year.

Received the bike today and here's the thing(s): 3 cable stops on the top tube, rack eyelets on the seat stays and Kona dropouts rather than Ritchey. Looking back at the photos that had been sent to me each of these details is just a bit obscured (I'm not suggesting an intentional deception). Though the paint and decals appear to be professional it appears to be a '99 Explosif repainted and decalled to appear as a Hot.

The first pic below is the best of the bunch that was emailed to me by the seller. The remainder I took today when the frame arrived.

Can anyone here better versed in Kona lineage than I deny my suspicions with knowledge of some '99 Hot model of which I'm unaware?

Full frame pics:

Sorry to say its a 99 Explosif (at best).

Hots from part way through 97 onwards had the rear derailleur cable routing on the top tube, so that wouldn't have been a give away.

The hardest fake Hots to spot are the dressed up 97-98 Caldera frames as these have the same drop outs and no rack mounts and were built alongside the Hot frames.

Frame wise size if the size is suspect on a Kona frame I get the seller to tell me the head tube measurement as this a give away to the frame size. Eg an 18" from the mid/late 90s to 03 wil have a 110mm head tube.

If it was the right sized frame for you i say build it and see how it rides, trying to recoup some of your cost is probably the only option you have.

Doesn't the serial number indicate what it is?

Damnit Andrew, you were only supposed to tell me I was wrong, not that I was correct in my assessment!

Yeah, it was clear that it was an Explosif when it arrived (it was wishful thinking someone might convince me otherwise). In all honesty the major disappointment is that it's an 18" which is a bit long for me. I've already got a 17" '99 Explosif which is the right fit, so if anyone's interested in this one PM me and I'll make you a smart deal on it.

I'm struggling to unpack AndrewL's suggestion that "The hardest fake Hots to spot are the dressed up 97-98 Caldera frames as these have the same drop outs and no rack mounts and were built alongside the Hot frames."

Surely the 97 Caldera was US-built with Altitude tubing, while the 98 Caldera was Taiwan-built with generic tubes? This looks like the original paint, the decals look authentic and the sticker says the tubes are 853. Surely there's no suggestion that Kona would put 853 stickers and decals from a 1998 Hot on bikes that weren't made of 853? But why would they put decals from a 1998 Hot on a 1999 Explosif?

It seems to me that the most likely explanation is Mr Zero's original one - that some pre-production prototypes of the 99 Explosif were built in the US and badged (legitimately) as 98 Hots. Having passed muster, the spec of the 99 Explosif then went off to Taiwan for series production.

But isn't SteveK's point about the serial number the way to go? Kona must have a record of what it is?

And you know my question - what does it weigh? (might tell us something about what it is)

I should have also said it looks like a very nice bike to me, and if Kona confirm that it is a Hot, you should surely be able to sell it on as such and not lose any money?

And just to show that I don't mind admitting to being sad - don't ever take the seller's word for the size. The chainstay is 16.75, whatever the size, so on a 17 the seat tube is going to be almost the same length as the chainstay, on an 18 5-10% longer. On my screen the original photo shows a 60mm stay and a 65mm seat tube, so it's an 18, no matter what the seller thinks, and no questions need be asked.

i have a 1997 kona hot i has the same decals as that frame. but everything thing else is diffrent, drop outs, no rack mounts and the flutted downtube, is your downtube flutted? (not sure if thats the correct word)

Regarding the weight and downtube queries I'll have to let you know later as the frame has already made its way out to the shop and its a bit colder out right now than I care to brave.

Any leads on a frame ID via serial number would be welcome.

Can anyone comment specifically as to whether the dropouts are correct or not for a '98 Hot? Was full custom still an option in '98? I'm reaching here, but is it possible someone may have ordered a Hot with rack brazeons?

I'm obviously in clear doubt that the frame is a Hot, but don't want to mistakenly discount it as one if there is any possibility that it may be genuine.