Help identifying a kona explosif ca 1995

[elllguapo]

Hi - looking for help from the seemingly veritable cornicopia of kona experts on this site in identifying the attached kona explosif. I have been told it was purchased mid 90s- XT (or mostly XT) equiped. From looking at catalogues from around that time - I cant identify the fork (aftermarket?) and Kona sticker doesnt seem to be correct placement... and I just dont have enough knowledge to figure it out from the minute details... (is that a rear hanger on the frame?). I understand it has XT hubs on it - what would the standard issue wheels have been??

What I want to pin down is year of the bike - and or the critical measurements to find out if I can swap the parts (components and forks + wheels) to another frame. Seller doesnt know much so I have not been able to confirm frame size even - so really need your guys help to save me some time here!

If anyone knows year and the associated seat tube measurement (front derailler setup), headset and bb setup on this I would appreciate it!

Cheers!

 

[Anthony]

I wouldn't like to say for certain that it isn't a Kona on the strength of such a rough photo, but it doesn't look like one to me.

It certainly isn't a 95 Explosif. If it's a Kona of any description, it would have to be a 1992, but it just doesn't look like one. It could be an earlier one if it's been chopped about when it was repainted. Even if it was a 92 Kona, it doesn't look like an Explosif - I don't see any taper in the top and down tubes.

The fork could be a Syncros Powerlite though, and if so would be worth more than the frame even if it was an Explosif. I'm not an expert in Syncros Powerlites though, it just looks a bit like one.

 

[elllguapo]

Someone else told me it looks more like a 92 Cinder cone... Hopefully it is a decent frame even if I am more interested in the components...

 

[taffy]

it's got a U brake on the rear so it's pre 90 (i'd say)
the rear dropouts appear to have 2 rack/mudguard eylets so i'd discount it as an explosif - unless heavily altered.
Plus what Anthony has mentioned about the tube flaring and tapering.

Better & bigger pictures with some close ups would help narrow it down to more than a red bike with, kona stickers and Xt kit.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Better pictures and the serial number of the frame ?

 

[elllguapo]

Thanks again. This is a potential purchase for me - as I said to probably cannibalise for parts - so I dont have access to the bike, and the seller is on vacation for another week now. So unfortunately - this dodgy foto is all I have at this time...

 

[Tad]

:? Doesn't look like a Kona to me, though I have no idea what it could be. I love the forks thoug, they look awesome

mvh

 

[sancho]

yokota?

 

[one-eyed_jim]

If anyone knows year and the associated seat tube measurement (front derailler setup), headset and bb setup on this I would appreciate it!

That looks very much like a 1" headset. The front derailleur will have a 28.6mm clamp. The bottom bracket axle is probably 122.5mm.

Hard to tell what's going on at the seat cluster, but could it be an '88 Explosif with an aftermarket Syncros fork?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/394 ... 4d42_b.jpg

Most of the visible details agree: seatstay U-brake, cable routing (noodle for rear brake), mudguard and rack eyelets, 1" headset ...

I think that what looks like a separate seat collar is a bracket for the rear lamp, combined with the quick release lever mounted on the right.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Compare the geometry of this '88 Cinder Cone frame. The taller head tube gives a better sense of the proportions of the bigger frame size:

Another clue is the relatively tall extension of the head tube above the top tube. The red bike looks to have the same feature.