1997 Kona Explosif

[norton]

Hey,

A bit borderline as frame is 97 but all other staff are 99... Anyway hope you'll like my lil (non) garage queen I love it I took some pics in the park today.

Frame from here (thank you Chris) other parts (NOS or VGC) came from donor bike and ebay.

Probably '97 P2 will be put instead of SID. Will see...

Spec:

Frame: Kona Explosif ('97) size 18

Fork: SID XC (1999)

Headset: WTB momentum GG 1 1/8 (will be changed to WCS next week)
Stem: Ritchey WCS 100mm, 5
Handlebar: Ritchey WCS, 580mm, 5'
Grips: no name foam
Barends: n/a

Brakes: Avid SD 25 (1999)
Brake Pads: ? ceramic
Brake Cables: shimano
Cantilever cable hangers: n/a
Brake Levers: ST-M952 (1999)

Shifters: ST-M952 (1999)
Front Derailleur: FD-M953 (1999), downpull 28.6
Rear Derailleur: RD-M953 SGS (1999)
Derailleur Cables: shimano
Cassette: XT M750 11-34
Chain: XTR
Cranks: FC-M953 (1999)
Crank Bolts: XTR
Chainrings: XTR 46-36-26
Chainring bolts: XTR
Bottom Bracket: BB-M952 (1999)
Pedals: CB Egg Beater

Hub Skewers: XTR
Rims: Mavic X 517 Ceramic (1999?), ceramic titanium 36
Hubs: HB-M950 (1996) and FH-M950 (1996)

Nipples: red alu
Spokes: black DT 2.0
Tyres: Schwalbe Rocket Ron, 26×2.1
Tubes: Schwalbe Light

Saddle: Merida - X-Mission Comp
Seatpost: Pazzaz 27.2
Seatpost Binder: Kona

Weight: approx 10.2 kg

 

[norton]

more pics

 

[norton]

more pics 2

 

[norton]

more pics 3

 

[tintin40]

Lovely. But put the P2's on

 

[Anthony]

Great bike, and you've done it proud with the specification. I hope you don't really mean it when you say you see it as a garage queen. I would say the Columbus Max Explosifs are more effective than they are beautiful and Columbus Max is such an outstanding tubeset that it's a shame if any bike made out of it is not ridden.

Having said that, it's a bit of a brute by steel standards so with all due respect to Tony's aesthetic sensibilities, I think the SID is the ideal fork for it. It wasn't intended to have a P2 and as a result the 97 P2 doesn't even look all that good with the colour scheme they chose for the frame. The only thing I would do is remove the boots from the SID. I know they make it look more retro, but they're ugly and they don't do much good, so I would bin them.

I would imagine it would weigh slightly less than 10.5, unless those spokes really are 2.0 plain-gauge. I think that would add 150 needless grammes compared to DT Rev.

A great bike well built. I hope you enjoy riding it in the mountains. It will resent it if you make it stay in a garage.

 

[norton]

Thank you mates! Yeah, it's a perfect tubeset and an amazing frame. Black parts, XTR grey and SID blue matches gold very well One of the best design in '97 Kona IMO. Originally was supplied with RS indy sl, so the long travel SID is a bit long but I use it with 30 mm sag... Loaded AtoC is OK with this setup. I'll def keep the SID in.

I've calculated weight it should be around 10.2 kg. That's good!

 

[Thorpie]

Very nice, all these nice Kona's are making me wish I hung on to mine!

 

[KeepItSteel]

That colour scheme is completely gorgeous, its a fab build well done.

 

[steelhardtailer]

I`m going to have to sort my computers refusal to upload photos and show my 17" `97 Explosif on here,similar build to this one but with Fox Float 80RLC`s in gunmetal grey