Kona Explosif 2003 out and about

[bikeworkshop]

And relaxing in the evening sun...

 

[enigma]

I'm assuming you know that at this point, Kona's were sold in Halfords...

Yep, this is where I bought my matt grey Explosif with those decals as a frame only .. I would of said it was closer to 2000 but mists of time maybe.. Mine is canti not disc, but does have ritchey dropouts i think.
I was in a low paid job, popped in to Halfords to get some parts for a friends bike I was working on for pocket money, and see this frame hung up..
I cant remember what they had on it, but I already had my old kilauea for many years then so I remember saying to the guy, you don't even sell the kind of kit that thing deserves, I cannot afford it at that, but if your boss gets bored of seeing it and wants to talk about what it owes him, give me a call.. I also remember him calling a little while later and saying come give me £200 and take it away before I change my mind, which after borrowing £100 of me mum I did!
Then spent two years hunting down the bits, middleburn chainset, syncros post, hope wheelset, brand new xt v brakes etc.. I still love it, and lots of people have said shame its not 853 tubed etc, I dont see it would be any different, its a very light build with triple butted project twos those bits and now all xt other bits..

To the op I would say upgrade anything you don't like gradually , box up the og bits. I have found mine a very light and nimble ride and I love it, ive a very short stem, and some risers on mine, with the p2 forks ive not ridden anything anywhere as near as flickable and responsive, and its easily the lightest bike in my fleet.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Yep, this is where I bought my matt grey Explosif with those decals as a frame only .. I would of said it was closer to 2000 but mists of time maybe.. Mine is canti not disc, but does have ritchey dropouts i think.
I was in a low paid job, popped in to Halfords to get some parts for a friends bike I was working on for pocket money, and see this frame hung up..
I cant remember what they had on it, but I already had my old kilauea for many years then so I remember saying to the guy, you don't even sell the kind of kit that thing deserves, I cannot afford it at that, but if your boss gets bored of seeing it and wants to talk about what it owes him, give me a call.. I also remember him calling a little while later and saying come give me £200 and take it away before I change my mind, which after borrowing £100 of me mum I did!
Then spent two years hunting down the bits, middleburn chainset, syncros post, hope wheelset, brand new xt v brakes etc.. I still love it, and lots of people have said shame its not 853 tubed etc, I dont see it would be any different, its a very light build with triple butted project twos those bits and now all xt other bits..

To the op I would say upgrade anything you don't like gradually , box up the og bits. I have found mine a very light and nimble ride and I love it, ive a very short stem, and some risers on mine, with the p2 forks ive not ridden anything anywhere as near as flickable and responsive, and its easily the lightest bike in my fleet.

Personally I find 853 often a little stiffer than I like.
A lot of people view it as the best steel, but it ultimately depends on your application.