95 Kona Explosif - Long build history

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Quite ingenious but not particularly easy on the eye :?
I may have missed what material you used... aluminium ?
Does it add much weight ?

Yeah, its not pretty but was effective while I had it on the bike. Made it from aluminium and think it weighed around 130g which I think is pretty reasonable.

 

[Stu-SA]

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The disc conversion in my previous post was done late last year. Shortly afterwards I got a modern Trek Roscoe trail bike and the Explosif wasn't being used much. I decided to try mix things up a bit and try it as a single speed.

 

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Okay guys. The story is nearly complete. While the single speed was fun for a while but I found I didnt really use it much and felt like I had lost touch with the reason I initially wanted to buy a 95 steel Kona, because of sentimental feelings for my original Cinder Cone. A few weeks ago I decided that after having the bike for a few years it was time for a full period build, or as close as I could reasonably get it. I dug through my box of parts and found I would be able to get the bike reasonably close but a few key parts were missing, Specifically 8 speed shifters.

While chatting to the owner of one of my LBS's who I have know for over 20 years I mentioned what I wanted to do and that I was looking for 8 speed shifters. He mentioned he might have something laying around but he had something better, if I was interested. He took me to the back room in his shop and showed me a close to complete Amp Research B2. The frame previously cracked and had been rewelded and the fork also had a small crack in the crown so its essentially useless for anything other than a show piece. The important thing though is groupset. Almost complete XTR M900 in used but very good condition. The only thing missing was the brake cantilevers. We made a deal and shortly afterwards I took this home:

 

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After a few nights of cleaning and building this is the final result. I am super happy with the result. She isn't truly period correct, a few parts are a few years newer but I think the essence is there.

 

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Last few pics. Hope you enjoy!

 

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Great thread ... thanks for sharing.

 

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Ah, a flat bar at last That's a really nice frame from Kona's peak (IMO), definitely worth the nice bits you got in the end... an interesting tale too with all those different builds you tried before.

 

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Ah, a flat bar at last That's a really nice frame from Kona's peak (IMO), definitely worth the nice bits you got in the end... an interesting tale too with all those different builds you tried before.

Thanks although after a few short rides my back is begging me to fit a riser bar.