[Now with proper pics] Identify mystery Kona Explosif...

[Godwin_Austen]

[EDIT - proper pics on page 2]

(Sorry no pics yet - they will follow in a day or two).

So I saw what appeared to be a 19 inch Explosif frame (with P2s) gathering dust hanging half hidden in the corner of a second hand bike shop. No dents or cracks, surprisingly limited scratching, seatpost moved, BB looked newer than the frame (splined) so hopefully should be ok. It was so cheap I couldn't not take it home. But it perplexes me a bit...

It's midnight blue (very very dark - almost black), has silver threaded P2 forks, has a 'splined' effect on the down tube if you look closely (or feel it), and a rather well crafted 'bulge' toward the bottom of the seat tube below the front mech clamp. The decals seem original and from the 94-95 era (as does the seat clamp), but looking at the catalogues on here I can't place it. Now for the bit that really confuses me - it also has a canti hanger on the seat stays, which only seemed to be present on lower end models in the 97 era I think...

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Canuck]

Re: Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

Mmm, splined downtube, my absolute favorite
Tange Ultimate Ultrastrong Prestige Kona framesets were reserved for Hot's and the '93 & '94 Explosif's and they are very nice indeed! However the color and rear canti hanger is a bit of a mystery but with Kona, anything is possible
Would be able to date it with the frame number
Get some pic's up!!

 

[Godwin_Austen]

Re: Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

It is currently residing at my GF's flat...

...but she's currently been tasked with working out the frame numbers and calling me back

[please hold]

 

[Godwin_Austen]

[Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

OK - not quite sure how accurate this is - a few paint chips and slight paint bubbling was making it hard for her to read the numbers:

Text parallel with the direction of the BB shell next to chainstays = 4T05

Text perpendicular to BB tube by LH pedal = F3113722 [but she wasn't sure whether the first 1 was a scratch or a 1...]

Text perpendicular to BB tube by RH pedal = BT

And she even managed to take a couple of pictures with her ancient nokia - which should appear below if I have worked out how to upload pictures:

 

[Canuck]

Re: [Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

Wow, the plot thickens! :?
The frame number beginning with F is the one you want. It would suggest the frame was made at the Fairly Factory in November of '93. This would make it a '94 frame.
The pic's are less revealing :? Not only is the rear canti hanger an oddity but the gear cables running along the top tube is strange as well. Is there three sets of cable stops along the top tube?(2 gear, 1 brake) Kona's of this period ran the gear cables along the downtube requiring a bottom pull front mech, this one clearly takes a top pull.
Very strange...

 

[Godwin_Austen]

Re: [Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

Yes - three cable stops along the top tube (forgot that in original description - I too thought that was odd). They're slightly offset to the right I seem to remember.

I'll get some better photos up hopefully tomorrow eve so you can have a proper look.

 

[raidan73]

Re: [Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

Look forward to seeing more pics. Very interesting!

 

[al-onestare]

Re: [Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

Hmm, curious. Let's see some shots of the drop out's and more close up's of the canti bridge. The splines definitely indicate a 93 - does the tubing ovalise at all on the top tube?

 

[Godwin_Austen]

Re: [Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

Sorry folks - frame still at GF's place and she's away in Edinburgh for work. Will post photos as soon as I can get my mitts on it again.

I don't seem to remember the top tube ovalising, but it's been a few days since I've seen the frame...

Really keen to work this one out - I've either got a complete dud or a bit of a unique frame. Fingers crossed it is the latter. Pics galore to follow in due course...

Thanks for the interest / help. You're true gentlemen and scholars.

 

[raidan73]

Re: [Pics!] Help me identify mystery Kona Explosif...

If it's got the fluted down tube then there's nothing dud about it regardless of anything else