1991 Kona Explosif DX

[pencilman77]

I feel i had better start a thread for this new project for me.
Back story, built a few retro builds previously, but having recently returned from a fantastic weekend at the Malvern Classics, and much drooling over the bikes from our childhood, me and a friend have decided to each buy a retro, with the aim of entering the retro XC race in a few years!....
With that aim, i set out looking for my dream bike from the school days, a top end Kona, and i managed to find this beauty! Bought from the original owner who had it resprayed by Bob Jackson a good few years ago.

My plan is to strip it down, check condition of everything, and to make it usable, swap out the pedals for my crank bros clipless, new seatpost, saddle, grips and tyres (the original parts will be fully refurbished and kept)
For now...the only pic i will take pre stripdown.

 

[pedestrian]

What's the frame size?

 

[Spanky22b]

Ooh, mint condition 91 Explosif

 

[JCS]

very nice and that is a cool plan you have.

These Prestige Explosif’s have a real zip in their ride characteristics.

 

[pencilman77]

What's the frame size?

Its a 19", in true Kona style it looks smaller due to the frame shape

 

[pencilman77]

Strip down completed and first bit of fettling commenced.
As i will be using this some new parts have been ordered, a Ritchey Comp seatpost and mint Kona branded WTB saddle will be going on, new tyres are enroute too. The cleaning of parts and polishing is underway. The shifters are operating smoothly as is the bottom bracket.
Always nice to see 34 year old parts look virtually shop fresh again!

 

[pencilman77]

Quiet night shift, so i took the opportunity to strip down and clean the original Sakae Low Fat pedals and Joes Clips, completely stripped, cleaned, regreased and rebuilt. These will just be kept unused, as i run Crank Bros pedals on all my bikes
They came up really well, suggests this bike has only had fairly light use over the years.