95 Kona Explosif - Long build history

[Stu-SA]

Hi Everyone, new member here from South Africa. Thought you guys might like to see my 95 Kona Explosif. I have had her for a few years now and she has been through a few different builds so I'll spread the pictures out over a few posts.

I have been mountain biking since 1994. Over the years I have bought and sold quite a few bikes but the one bike I regret selling was a 1995 Kona Cinder Cone. There was something about that bike was just "Special".

I cant recall exactly when it was but a while ago I decided to to start looking for one in the hopes or easing my regrets. The retro scene in South Africa is non existent. There is very few people interested in old mtb's and as such finding anything decent is impossible. After a few years of searching I had basically given up. Then one day as I was leaving my LBS I noticed a 95 Explosif half buried behind a pile of bikes in the used bike rack outside. I could hardly contain myself as I quickly ran back inside to inquire about the bike. Turns out they were selling it on behalf of the owner and it had been there for a few months with no interest. Without even checking the size and condition I bought it for the equivalent of 75 Pounds.

This is what she looked like when I brought her home. I dont think anything on her is original.







Very tired looking drivetrain


Sorry looking xt Front Derailleur


M900 XTR - Nice!


P2 Fork from a earlier model Kona. This one isnt suspension corrected so gave the bike a very steep head angle.


Faded purple Answer Hyperlight bar

 

[enc]

Re:

nice ! keep the pics coming stu

 

[Stu-SA]

Once I got home with the bike I didnt really know what to do with it. She was pretty much unridable and I had a few options:

1 - Restore to original spec
This would be basically impossible. As already mentioned there is pretty much no market for used retro parts in South Africa. It had taken me a few years just to find a steel kona from the year I wanted after all.

2 - Restore to a period correct build
This would be a bit easier but still hard.

3 - Retromod the bike with newer parts.

To be honest I was leaning towards option 3 but in the end decided to just build her up with what I had laying around. My thinking is that after riding it a bit I would have a better feeling of what I wanted to do. Below is the result:



1997ish Marzocchi Bomber Z1,s. I striped the paint of a while ago with the intention of polishing them but never got round to it.


Newish FSA bar and stem. The black goes with the seatpost quite nicely.


XT front derailleur that was on the bike cleaned up quite nicely.


XTR Rear Derailleur has seen some use but still worked well. Added a bit of bling too.


I cant recal where I read about this but its a pretty good way of installing V Brakes on old Kona's. Just rotate the cable guide 90 degrees and fasten it with a old derailleur barrel adjuster.


Black Bontrager Wheels from a 1999 Trek 7000.

 

[TheLoner]

There is a retro bike scene in SA, you just need to know where to look...

 

[Stu-SA]

After my first ride I wasn't disappointed. The Explosif definitely had that same "something" that made my old Cinder Cone special. She is a bit small for me but that didnt bother me. I think I have freakishly short arms as i have always favored small bike with long seatposts.

Here she is in her natural habitat:

 

[Stu-SA]

There is a retro bike scene in SA, you just need to know where to look...

Please share. I am aware of the retro discussions on The HUB but these are pretty much only road bike related. Otherwise I found a few Facebook groups but they are pretty much dead. Also doesnt help that I am based in Port Elizabeth.

 

[TheLoner]

Did you buy that Kona from Cyclepro? In William Moffet?

 

[Stu-SA]

Did you buy that Kona from Cyclepro? In William Moffet?

:shock: Yes, bought it November 2015. You from PE?

 

[TheLoner]

J'Bay

 

[al-onestare]

Re:

£75 for a highly desirable 95 Explosif. That's a steal and a big step up from the trusty Cinder Cone. Kudos!