mechagouki
Senior Retro Guru
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I've wanted an Explosif since a short while after I declined to trade my '93 Stumpjumper for a '92 Pro back in 1994. Bizarrely I've never managed to find one for sale in the size I want (19") and the year I want (1991 or 1992), but I've continued to search from time to time, I even owned a 2004 for a while, but it was too small (18"), and a lovely 1993 Kilauea (also too small). I figured one would show up eventually.
So today, whilst searching for some good pictures of the decals on a 1990 Explosif for a friend who needs repros made, I stumbled on something quite accidentially, and despite it not being the Explosif I want, managed to buy it and arrange for it to be shipped to me from the other end of Canada.
Some pictures:
So, what I appear to now own is a custom painted 1988 or 1989 TBG Explosif with custom painted Track Two fork. i don't in any way claim to be an expert on these bikes, but I suspect it's a fairly rare beast. There seems to be confusion about the years of the various splatter Konas, and I've seen both the black/pink and seafoam green bikes dated as 1988, 1989 and 1990. There's also a picture on an MTBR thread of a custom painted Explosif (with Track Two) dated by the owner as 1989 that appears to have 1991 style decals on the top tube:
.
Now the serial # on the bike does begin T90, but it has seatstay U-brake mounts, and the Shimano grease port BB which I think were 1989 - 1990 Explosifs had Suntour equipment. Tubing decal is Prestige Concept, I think 1990s just had the regular Prestige decal? the 1990 catalogue also suggests that some Explosifs were made in Canada at that time (custom braze-on options offered), does anyone know more about this?
Sooooo, can anyone tell me more about what I have bought? The guy who sold it to me told me that it was painted by a guy called Art Tyler, but no other specific information.
My other quandary is this: the paint is kind of rough in places, faded, and under the BB shell, flaking with some nasty rust. I understand that this is unique piece of mountain bike art, so would it be a crime to strip and repaint? If I was to attempt restoration, how would I go about that?
I look forward to being set straight on everything to do with this bike, Spanky? Anthony?
So today, whilst searching for some good pictures of the decals on a 1990 Explosif for a friend who needs repros made, I stumbled on something quite accidentially, and despite it not being the Explosif I want, managed to buy it and arrange for it to be shipped to me from the other end of Canada.
Some pictures:
So, what I appear to now own is a custom painted 1988 or 1989 TBG Explosif with custom painted Track Two fork. i don't in any way claim to be an expert on these bikes, but I suspect it's a fairly rare beast. There seems to be confusion about the years of the various splatter Konas, and I've seen both the black/pink and seafoam green bikes dated as 1988, 1989 and 1990. There's also a picture on an MTBR thread of a custom painted Explosif (with Track Two) dated by the owner as 1989 that appears to have 1991 style decals on the top tube:
Now the serial # on the bike does begin T90, but it has seatstay U-brake mounts, and the Shimano grease port BB which I think were 1989 - 1990 Explosifs had Suntour equipment. Tubing decal is Prestige Concept, I think 1990s just had the regular Prestige decal? the 1990 catalogue also suggests that some Explosifs were made in Canada at that time (custom braze-on options offered), does anyone know more about this?
Sooooo, can anyone tell me more about what I have bought? The guy who sold it to me told me that it was painted by a guy called Art Tyler, but no other specific information.
My other quandary is this: the paint is kind of rough in places, faded, and under the BB shell, flaking with some nasty rust. I understand that this is unique piece of mountain bike art, so would it be a crime to strip and repaint? If I was to attempt restoration, how would I go about that?
I look forward to being set straight on everything to do with this bike, Spanky? Anthony?