Re:
Holy shit balls!!! PM incoming.
Edit - PM sent and eagerly awaiting a reply.
Just drooling over this, it looks, bar the saddle and tyres, completely stock. In fact, re-reading the spec from '97 it's a really odd mix for a frame and bike that was priced as high as the Explosif (which wasn't a custom frame). Re-reading some of Anthony's comments on this, it really does look like Kona got a bit confused on how they marketed it and probably explains why this was the only year it was positioned as it was - from 98 onwards it became pretty "normal" before a shift to nasty aluminium. It also explains why so few were sold.
Anyway, back to the spec. Nasty Rock Shox were the catalogue spec but this, thankfully, is sporting Bombers. I wonder if they were original to the order? It looks like it...
...getting very itchy over here...<need need need>