2010 Explosif on STW new and half rrp

[haggis]

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/t ... -brand-new

Guy got it as a warranty and selling it for half rrp. Can't be bad at that. Any news on the tubing used on these yet?

 

[Anthony]

Any news on the tubing used on these yet?

Why keep something a secret, unless it's embarrassing?

 

[CTK]

Kona butted cromo.

 

[Charlieboy28]

what just cromo, i thought the whole point was that it was made of some fancy smancy steel?

 

[taffy]

Indeed they have been made out of some of the best steel tubeset's going in years gone by - Tange Prestige Concept, Columbus Max & Reynolds 853 to name a few.

 

[Anthony]

Then True Temper OX Platinum, then Dedacciai COM12.5. But actually the 'True Temper OX Platinum frame' only had two True Temper tubes in it. And Dedacciai COM12.5 is a lower level tube than Dedacciai COM14.5. So the down-grading has been going on for quite a while.

I guess people have become less interested in what tubes are used, as forks, brakes, geometry, wheels, drivetrain have predominated in buy decisions. The current Explosif appears to be a Lava Dome with Explosif stickers at an Explosif price. If that's what people want, then you can't blame Kona for selling it.

I would far prefer a 2010 Blizzard to a 2010 Explosif, but then a 2010 Blizzard is £900 for the frame alone!

 

[CTK]

It could still be a good ride even without a tubing manufacturers sticker.
But what is great about previous Explosifs is that they all use different tubesets and a nice debate can be had around them.

 

[Anthony]

Seeing as I'm currently riding a 97 Lava Dome in preference to a 96 Explosif etc, you might think maybe there wasn't much difference. Actually there's a huge difference. The heat-treated tubesets are far superior to generic d-b 4130 and the 96 Explosif is faster, more controlled, more comfortable, better at climbing and way better at descending. It's just that the Lava Dome is size 16 and I like small frames, whereas the Explosif is size 18 and I'm 5-7, only just in its height range (5-6 to 6-0).

I wouldn't dream of buying a 2010 Explosif, even for half price. A Cotic Soul is by no means cheap, but it's in a different league for value.