KONA EXPLOSIF 19" EBAY UK

[Ernie]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-Steel-Framed ... 2eb4095f77

i think its been resprayed and the decal are a later "era" , please feel free to correct me/input etc

Ernie

 

[Anthony]

Ah, you see he has made the mistake of having it repainted. Invariably an unwise move. And as you say, adding 97 decals to the nice but unauthentic paint just adds to the air of mystery about what it might actually be.

It is in fact exactly what he says it is, but its value is diminished because many potential bidders will doubt it.

 

[ncg]

Ah, you see he has made the mistake of having it repainted. Invariably an unwise move. And as you say, adding 97 decals to the nice but unauthentic paint just adds to the air of mystery about what it might actually be.

It is in fact exactly what he says it is, but its value is diminished because many potential bidders will doubt it.

Hi

Your absolutely right. And not repainted by me. I've updated the description to make that totally clear.
If I was going to keep it, it was going back to as close to the metallic olive green I think it was. Unfortunately I cant find an exact colour match anywhere, even in my brothers old kona brochures.

Cheers

 

[Anthony]

Your absolutely right. And not repainted by me. I've updated the description to make that totally clear.
If I was going to keep it, it was going back to as close to the metallic olive green I think it was. Unfortunately I cant find an exact colour match anywhere, even in my brothers old kona brochures.

Kona don't have paint codes, as they were painted at Fairly. Argos Cycles might know the closest code, as they have been the official Kona repairer/repainter since the dawn of time and must have done some of these. The only question is whether they keep records - and of course they would repaint in enamel, whereas the original was powder.

It's actually a very nice bike indeed and a bargain at that price. My only misgiving is about the stem. Being a 1994 frame, it is suspension-adjusted, but that length of stem would suit the original 50mm travel fork. That Judy looks like a 100mm, which can work well with the frame, but only if you use a much shorter stem - I would suggest 75/80mm. That will make it feel much more lively and eager to turn.

As you say, the second photo proves its authenticity, as only the high-end frames had the bulge-butted Tange Prestige seat tube and only the Explosif had the fluted Tange Prestige Ultimate Ultrastrong down tube. The 4th photo proves that it's a 1994 frame, as the 93 had different dropouts.

If it was mine, I would make the effort to pack and post it (which would add 50% to its realisable value) and I would auction it with a 99p start.